Shayla Smith is a Chief Operating Officer with experience leading across operations, HR, recruiting, IT, finance, and client services. Her career has taken her through leadership roles in law, wealth management, and corporate environments, giving her a unique perspective on what it really takes to keep an organization moving.

In this episode, Shayla and Nikki go behind the C-suite title to talk about the work that happens when no one is watching, the decisions, people, systems, and relationships that keep a business running. They explore what it means to navigate power structures as a minority woman, advocate for yourself in rooms where decisions are made, and balance the demands of executive leadership with motherhood. It's a conversation about the work behind leadership, the realities of being seen and heard, and building a career without leaving the rest of your life behind.

Alexander Smith has built a LinkedIn community of almost 70,000 followers by sharing his perspective on careers, content, and professional life. He's also a published author whose writing has appeared in HuffPost and USA Today.

In this episode, Alexander and Nikki explore how to make LinkedIn more authentic and less performative. They discuss finding your voice, creating content that feels natural, building a genuine network, and why your personal brand doesn't have to look like everyone else's.

Gigi Robinson is a keynote speaker, bestselling author, creator economy strategist, and chronic illness advocate. Featured by Forbes, The TODAY Show, NBC, and more, she helps creators and organizations navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

In this episode, Gigi and Nikki explore how the creator economy is changing the way people build careers and businesses. They discuss creator etiquette, the opportunities AI is creating, and what it takes to build a sustainable business in an increasingly digital world.

Mita Mallick is a two-time bestselling author and corporate changemaker on a mission to fix what's broken in today's workplaces. Drawing from decades of leadership experience in both marketing and HR, she helps organizations rethink what great leadership really looks like.

In this episode, Mita and Nikki unpack the habits that create bad bosses, why toxic leadership often develops over time, and what good leaders can learn from difficult workplace experiences. They also discuss the power of community, and how Mita's LinkedIn audience helped turn her latest book into a bestseller.

Tameka Bazile has spent years helping brands grow while building a recognizable brand of her own. Through content, strategy, and community-building, she's become a trusted voice on career growth and entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Tameka and Nikki discuss how professionals can build a personal brand within a corporate environment. They explore visibility, authenticity, and why creating a reputation that follows you, not just your employer, can be one of the most valuable investments in your career.

Chris Koehler brings 25 years of experience across marketing, sales, and product, giving him a unique perspective on how organizations grow and adapt to change.

In this episode, Chris and Nikki explore what happens when AI becomes part of the marketing team. They discuss how AI is reshaping roles, workflows, and team structures, as well as the new skills marketers need to stay relevant. They also dive into the growing reality of creating content for both human audiences and the AI systems that increasingly influence how information is discovered.

Hailey Felt is a marketing and brand management professional with experience leading international projects across French and English markets. At MagicPost, a France-based SaaS company, she works across bilingual campaigns, influencer partnerships, and cross-channel content strategy.

In this episode, Hailey and Nikki talk about how a French immersion program at age five sparked Hailey’s curiosity about the world, and how that curiosity eventually shaped her career in international marketing. They explore global experiences, creative growth, and building a career fueled by both ambition and adventure.

Sarah Whittle is the creative mind behind billions of views across brands like Crocs, Duolingo, Smosh, and more. After years in brand marketing, she recently left Duolingo to build her own creative empire as a director, producer, strategist, and creator.

In this episode, Sarah and Nikki talk about navigating algorithm changes, bringing journalism instincts into social media, and why expertise is built through experience, not job titles. They also explore what it means to keep evolving in an internet-first world.

What happens when the career you’ve built no longer fits the life you want?

Brett Trainor spent 25 years in corporate before stepping into a new path. Today, he’s the founder of the Escapee Collective and host of The Corporate Escapee Podcast.

In this episode, Brett and Nikki talk about leaving corporate, from layoffs to intentional change, and what it means to rebuild your life around what truly matters.

There’s no single version of who we are meant to be.

In this episode, Nikki speak with Jenny Altman, Brand and Editorial Director and Founder of Midlife Mom, a collective storytelling platform for mothers.
We talk about how careers evolve alongside life, and how motherhood often becomes the turning point for redefining identity, direction, and success.

Learn more about Midlife Moms
Socials
Website