Let me take you back 10 years - I was a high-performing HR professional, but I hit a career wall. 

I didn’t see a path forward. Promotion felt out of reach. 

And what made it harder? My organization wasn’t even interested in looking at internal candidates for promotion … because our HR department had a reputation problem.

We were seen as transactional. As blockers. As the “no” people. Can you relate to that? 

And leadership feared that promoting someone from within would just keep things the same.

I knew that if I didn’t change something - I would stay stuck. So I made three crucial shifts. They weren’t easy, and they didn’t happen overnight - but they worked.

✅ I was offered the HR Director role.
✅ We completely shifted how the organization sees HR.
✅ The department is now known as a strategic partner, not a roadblock.

Keep listening as I’m going to dive into the three things I discovered are essential in moving your career forward.

👉 Save your spot for the free 3-part HR leadership series here → https://lnkd.in/epERAEZC

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Welcome back to the HR Higher Version Podcast — the show dedicated to helping HR professionals unlock their leadership potential and build intentional, executive-level careers.

I’m Kristen Wade, your executive coach, and today we’re going to talk about one of the most powerful but often overlooked tools you have in your career toolbox: your personal brand.

If you missed last week’s episode, I announced a free 3-part leadership series to help HR pros like you break through career plateaus and build clear paths to executive roles. 

At the end of this episode, I will give you the link to sign up. In part of that series, I will dive into Personal Branding. So let’s prime that discussion today. 

👉 Save your spot for the free 3-part HR leadership series here → https://lnkd.in/epERAEZC

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Welcome back to the HR Higher Version Podcast, where I help HR professionals unlock their full leadership potential and intentionally build the careers they deserve.

I’m Kristen, your executive coach specializing in helping HR leaders break through the glass ceiling and land director and executive roles.

Today, I’m thrilled to share something very special with you — a free, live, virtual, 3-part leadership series designed specifically for HR professionals who want to accelerate their career growth and build a clear, intentional path to executive leadership.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or uncertain about your next move, this series is for you. And I’m going to explain why and what I will be covering in each session. 

👉 Save your spot for the free 3-part HR leadership series here → https://lnkd.in/epERAEZC

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Welcome back to the HR Higher Version Podcast — where I talk about what it really takes to grow your career in human resources, from the inside out. I’m Kristen Wade — executive coach, HR leader, and your go-to guide for getting unstuck and stepping into the next, higher version of your career.

I’m especially excited about today’s episode, because it’s a message so many HR professionals need to hear — maybe even you.

 I’m talking about something I see stall careers over and over again: the pursuit of perfection.

And here’s the thing: the HR professionals I work with are smart, thoughtful, and deeply committed to doing things right. But sometimes, that strength turns into a trap — one that keeps them overthinking, second-guessing, and holding back from taking bold moves forward.

Today, we’re going to talk about what it means to choose perseverance over perfection — and how making that one shift can change the entire trajectory of your career.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Let me ask you something: Have you ever looked around and thought, “Why am I not further along by now?” 

You’ve done the work. You’ve gained the experience. You’re respected and reliable—and yet, the next level feels just out of reach.

If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. 

Let’s dig into a career pattern I see all the time among incredibly talented HR professionals - and more importantly, we’re going to unpack what to do about it.

So if you’re ready for an honest, strategic conversation about what might be slowing your growth - and how to shift into forward motion - you’re in the right place.

Let’s get into it.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Welcome to the Higher Version Podcast - the space where HR professionals and leaders like you explore intentional leadership, executive growth, and the messy but beautiful balance between work and life.

Here’s a reflection for you today:
 
 

Do you need a break from what you’re supposed to do?

 Not because it’s wrong. Not because it’s overwhelming. But because even the good things can become heavy if you never pause.

Today I’m sharing a personal story about family dinners, quiet nights, and how a shift in routine helped me reconnect with what really mattered - and how this applies to you as an HR leader trying to balance your work and your life.

Let’s talk about how breaking the pattern, just once, can actually bring you back to center.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Welcome back to the HR Higher Version podcast! I'm so glad you're here. 

Today, I want to talk about something that’s deceptively simple - but incredibly powerful. It's a mindset shift that helped me get through a chaotic week and still feel like I was making real progress. 

And I think it’s going to resonate especially well with you - my fellow HR professionals and leaders - who are often juggling a million priorities at once.

Let me start with a question:

What was your win last week?

No, really. I want you to pause for just a moment and think about that. What was your actual win last week?

You might be surprised by what comes to mind. And that’s exactly what today’s episode is all about.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

I had some dental work done the other day and as I was sitting there with my mouth wide open, that little suction tube gurgling in my ear, it occurred to me… the dentist and I have a lot in common.

And not just because I’ve had my fair share of dental work done over the years.

But because I’ve regularly heard through the years – 

“You never want to be called into a room and then see HR sitting there.” 

“You don’t ever want to go see HR.” 

“The only time to call HR is when something is wrong.”

Sound familiar?

Just like no one wants to go to the dentist, no one really wants to get called to the HR office. 

It usually signals a problem - conflict, compliance issues, maybe even job uncertainty.

But the truth is: both dentists and HR professionals play essential roles in preventing long-term damage. 

The earlier you as an HR professional are involved, the healthier the outcome - whether we’re talking gums or teams.

So today, we’re diving into how to transform the perception of HR - particularly in those hard moments - by using your executive leadership skills to build trust, navigate tough conversations, and shift the culture.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Today’s episode is centered around a quote I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. It’s from Michelle Obama. She said:

“Don’t be afraid. Be focused. Be determined.”

Simple. Powerful. And incredibly relevant to HR leaders.

Because let’s be honest - fear is part of the journey. 

Whether you're navigating a tough conversation, advocating for a seat at the executive table, or preparing to step into your first C-suite role, fear shows up.

But it’s what you do with that fear that matters.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Early in my career, I thought success meant being perfectly polished all the time. 

You know the look: tailored suit, calm voice, always in control, never showing emotion. 

I believed that was what executive presence meant - and honestly, a lot of us in HR were taught to think that way.

But that version of leadership? It’s outdated.

Today’s workplaces are craving something different. Leaders who are real. Leaders who are relatable. Leaders who are human.

The real secret to executive presence? Drop the act.

In this episode, I’m going to talk about how to be a truly authentic leader and why being vulnerable is a game changer.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.