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Do you sound like a leader, or a pleaser? Asking for permission to speak up and using apologetic language can cost you promotions, recognition, and influence. Discover 30 subtle language shifts that transforms how people see your authority.
In this episode of the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast, host Ivna Curi shares easy language shifts to speak with power at work, that will instantly project and make you feel more confident. You'll get practical tips on how to rephrase common workplace requests, updates, and disagreements to sound more assertive and influential. You'll also get a free guide below with 30 powerful language shifts to help you implement these changes and enhance your professional presence.
What You'll LearnHow "permission language" quietly undermines your credibility
Simple, powerful word swaps that make you sound confident and clear
How to speak up without sounding aggressive — and be heard every time
🎁 Free Resource: Download the 30 Power Shifts Guide — a free, practical cheat sheet with real-life "weak vs. powerful" word swaps for meetings, presentations, and everyday conversations.
Replace soft, hesitant phrases with powerful, natural ones.
Speak with clarity, conviction, and calm authority.
Be heard without apology.
👉 Get your free guide here: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/30power
✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/
✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader
✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2
✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story:
https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/
✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/
✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops
Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
✅ Chapters
00:00 Introduction: The Cost of Asking for Permission
01:03 The Power of Language: Shifting Perceptions
02:18 Practical Tips for Confident Communication
04:44 Real-Life Examples: Transforming Your Speech
07:01 Powerful Phrases for Professional Situations
11:50 Owning Your Voice: Assertiveness in Action
28:55 Conclusion: Embrace Your Unapologetic Voice
Do you ever hesitate to speak up in tough situations at work, worried about backlash, bias, or saying the wrong thing?
In this powerful episode of the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast, I sit down with Sadia Khilji, Global Chief Information & Technology Officer at Coverys, to explore how leaders and professionals can find the courage to speak their minds.
You'll discover:
How to confront colleagues who undermine your credibility without damaging relationships.
The right way to disagree with your boss, and avoid backlash while building respect.
Mindset shifts to stop overthinking in meetings and finally share your ideas with confidence.
How to recognize bias early and decide when to walk away from unhealthy environments.
Simple strategies leaders can use to help their teams speak up with courage.
If you've ever held back your voice in a meeting, struggled with self-promotion, or wanted to advocate for your team with more confidence, this episode will give you the tools and inspiration to do it.
Listen now and start building the courage to lead boldly, speak with conviction, and create impact in your career.
✅ Connect with Saadia Khilji: linkedin.com/in/saadia-khilji-techexec
✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/
✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader
✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2
✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story:
https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/
✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/
✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops
Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
Discvoer 14 surprising strategies to finally speak up at work with confidence. These practical tips will help you stop holding back and start owning your seat at the table. In this episode, discover how to find your confident voice to share ideas (even half-baked ones), set boundaries, negotiate with ease, and stop people-pleasing for good.
These are practical, tested tips, not the tired "just breathe" or "use positive affirmations" advice.
🎧 Tune in now and unlock the courage to make your voice matter at work. You'll find out:
✔️The untold truth about confidence at work: what nobody teaches you ✔️The ultimate confidence blueprint to speak up, advocate, and get heard ✔️14 Non-obvious confidence hacks every professional needs✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/
✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader
✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2
✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story:
https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/
✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/
✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops
Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
Chapters: 00:00 Does The Lack Of Confidence Shrinks Your Voice? 02:55 Tip 1: Borrow Someone Else's Confidence 05:23 Tip 2: Train in Discomfort 08:21 Tip 3: Speak for Something Greater Than Your Fear 10:34 Tip 4: Ask Yourself Better Questions 12:48 Tip 5: Use Questions to Reduce Risk 15:18 Tip 6: Train With Micro Courage 19:41 Tip 7: Realize It's Not About You 22:26 Tip 8: Overwhelm the Fear with Action 25:04 Tip 9: Speak Early, Speak Often, Consistently 26:43 Tip 10: Make More Intentional Decisions to Speak 27:36 Tip 11: Build Mastery To Beat Nerves 30:19 Tip 12: Increase Certainty With Evidence 31:23 Tip 13: Find and Speak From Conviction 32:30 Tip 14: Practice Communication 34:25 Conclusion: Take Action to Build Confidence
What's the right way to self-promote without sounding arrogant? How do you confidently speak about your work (and get credit for it)? How do you talk about your achievements assertively? In this episode, you'll discover:
Chapters:
✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/
✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader
✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2
✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story:
https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/
✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/
✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops
Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
How can leaders can bridge cultural divides, welcome diverse team members, and cultivate respectful conversations? How can you be civil with uncivil people? These are some of the questions that Dr. Shaun Carver, Executive Director of International House at UC Berkeley, answers in this episode. He's spent over two decades leading in global education, from China to California, creating spaces where people from all backgrounds and cultures can connect, communicate, and thrive.
In this episode, you'll discover:
03:24 Experiences in China and joining international house
04:19 Learning from cultural communication missteps
05:27 Civility and respect in disagreement in a diverse environment
08:35 The food strategy in connecting diverse people
12:43 The secret to not feeling offended
14:18 Ideas to seek out diverse interactions beyond comfort zones
17:27 Why a mission statement doesn't create a culture that bridges team divides
20:45 How smart leaders hire even smarter people and invite challenge and dissent
25:57 How to not censor free speech yet ensure civility
29:35 Conflict comes from not understanding others
30:15 Why hating a person is harter than hating a label
32:35 How to be civil with uncivil people
34:33 When is it appropriate to speak about taboo topics like politics, religion, and cultures
37:07 Why hatred comes from opinions based on ignorance, not experience (and how to fix that)
✅ About Dr. Shaun Carver: Dr. Shaun Carver, Executive Director and CEO, International House at UC Berkeley. With over 20 years of experience in international education and higher learning, Shaun is the Executive Director and CEO of International House at UC Berkeley, a renowned institution that fosters intercultural respect and understanding among people from around the world. Prior to I-House he served as Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs in the Rady School of Management, UC San Diego (2017–2020) and as Executive Director of the Hult International Business School (Boston, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai; 2013–2017), where he oversaw 750 students representing 82 countries. Before that he served in leadership positions in institutions of international higher education in China (2002–2013) at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, Tsinghua University, and the Sino-British College of the University of Shanghai Science and Technology (USST). He holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California and an MBA from California State University San Marcos.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauncarver/
✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/
✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader
✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2
✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story:
https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/
✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/
✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops
Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
✅ Support The Podcast
Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Have you ever walked out of a meeting thinking, I should have said something. They didn't take me seriously. Someone else said what I wanted to say, and then they got credit for it.
Most smart, capable people struggle to make themselves heard, to be respected, to be taken seriously, especially when we are naturally thoughtful, humble, or we prioritize people and relationships.
So what can you do to get yourself to speak up and make yourself respected? You need some power moves. In this episode you'll discover 20 actionable 'power moves' to help you communicate confidently and assertively at four levels of leadership voice: Thoughtful Listener, Emerging Voice, Bold Communicator, and High Impact Leader.
00:00 The Struggle to Speak Up & Be Heard
02:51 The Four Levels of Communication
05:17 Power Moves for Thoughtful Listeners
15:23 Power Moves for Emerging Voices
20:58 Power Moves for Bold Communicators
23:43 Power Moves for High Impact Leaders
✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/
✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader
✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2
✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story:
https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/
✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/
✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops
Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
✅ Support The Podcast
Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Dhwani Trivedi is a distinguished leader in Program and General Management with over 25 years of experience in the defense industry. She currently serves as the Director of Program Management Excellence at L3Harris Technologies, supporting the Airborne Combat Systems sector. Prior to this role, she was the General Manager of L3Harris' Imaging and Laser Systems Division, where she led strategic initiatives and operational performance across the organization. Since joining L3Harris in 2014 as a Program Manager, Trivedi has risen through the ranks, holding progressively senior positions across multiple divisions, demonstrating exceptional leadership, business expertise, and a commitment to excellence.
Before her tenure at L3Harris, Trivedi was a Customer Program Leader at GE Aviation. Prior to that, she spent a decade at Parker Hannifin Corporation, in roles spanning Software Engineering and Program Management.
Beyond her professional achievements, Trivedi is deeply committed to giving back to the community. She serves on the board of Orlando Bal Vihar, a nonprofit organization focused on instilling leadership, independence, cultural values, and social responsibility in children. She also leads as the Enterprise Chair of the Asia Pacific Employee Resource Group (ERG) at L3Harris and is an active member of several other ERGs within the company. A passionate advocate for youth development and diversity, she dedicates her time to mentoring and supporting initiatives that inspire the next generation of leaders.
Trivedi leads a vibrant and fulfilling life outside of work. She is an accomplished dancer, avid writer, and an enthusiastic vocalist of Indian Classical music. Deeply rooted in her cultural and spiritual heritage, she enjoys reading scriptures and philosophical texts, and is currently learning Sanskrit. A devoted family person, she cherishes spending time with her large extended family and networking with professionals both within and beyond her organization.
An immigrant from India, Trivedi moved to the United States at the age of 14. She earned a Master's degree in Executive MBA from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics, with a minor in Business, from Stony Brook University.
Trivedi's career is a testament to her passion for innovation, people leadership, and making a meaningful impact—both in the workplace and in the broader community.
✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/
✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader
✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2
✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story:
https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/
✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/
✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops
Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
✅ Support The Podcast
Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/
✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader
✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2
✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story:
https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/
✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/
✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops
Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
✅ Support The Podcast
Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
How can you communicate your unique personal branding to advance your career without feeling like a fraud? In this episode, Andrea Wonjnicki, an executive communication coach at Talk about Talk, shares how to develop and communicate your authentic personal brand. You'll learn and easy three-step framework for self-introductions and how to not sound fake or robotic in elevator pitches.
Tune in:
✔️ Understand and manage your personal brand
✔️Develop your personal brand
✔️Build your personal brand without sounding like everyone else
✔️A tool to identify and communicate your personal brand (even if you're not sure what makes you unique)
✔️Examples of unique personal branding to advance your career without feeling like a fraud
✔️How to use ai and ChatGPT to discover your personal brand
✔️A simple 3-step self-introduction technique that is easy to remember (without buzzwords or bragging)
✔️Exiting conversations gracefully without the awkwardness
✔️How to not sound fake, robotic and inauthentic in elevator pitches
✔️3 easy strategies you can implement today to build your unique personal brand
✔️When and how to use ethnicity, gender, race in your personal branding
✔️Examples of building personal brand: leveraging global experience
✅ About Andrea Wojnicki Andrea Wojnicki is an executive communication coach and the founder of Talk About Talk, where she empowers ambitious professionals through 1:1 coaching and corporate workshops. With a focus on executive presence, personal brand, and presentation skills, Andrea helps her clients communicate with clarity and confidence. She's also the host of the Talk About Talk podcast, where she shares expert insights on how to elevate communication in the workplace. Learn more at TalkAboutTalk.com or connect with Andrea on LinkedIn.
✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/
✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader
✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2
✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story:
https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/
✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/
✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops
Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
✅ Support The Podcast
Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Are you tired of being talked over, cut off, or interrupted in meetings and not knowing how to respond without sounding rude, emotional, or aggressive?
In this episode of Speak Your Mind Unapologetically, you'll learn exactly what to say and how to say it when someone interrupts you at work, whether it's a peer, a manager, a client, or someone you lead.
We'll cover:
Whether you're in a high-stakes meeting or a casual conversation, these strategies will help you stop getting steamrolled and start commanding the room with clarity and calm authority.
If you've ever wondered, "How do I speak up without sounding defensive?", this episode is for you.
✅ Free Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/
✅ Take the Quiz 'Do You Speak Like a High-Impact Leader?': https://myassertiveway.outgrow.us/highimpactleader
✅ Listen on the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically podcast on Apple Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
✅ Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L1myPkiJXYf5SGrublYz2
✅ Order our book, 'Unapologetic Voice: 101 Real-World Strategies for Brave Self Advocacy & Bold Leadership' where each strategy is also a real story:
https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Voice-Real-World-Strategies-Leadership-ebook/dp/B0CW2X4WWL/
✅ Follow the show host, Ivna Curi, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2/
✅ Request A Customized Workshop For Your Team And Company: http://assertiveway.com/workshops
Contact me: [email protected] or [email protected]
Contact me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivna-curi-mba-67083b2
✅ Support The Podcast
Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
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