Most career goals depend on more than your effort. You can do everything right and still face a hiring freeze, an internal candidate, or a decision you cannot control. In this episode, Jill introduces the PROGRESS Framework, a more realistic approach to goal setting that accounts for setbacks, uncertainty, motivation, and changing information.

You’ll learn:

• Why a well-written SMART goal can still leave you without a workable strategy
• How to tell whether you have a skills gap, visibility gap, relationship gap, or positioning problem
• The difference between a bad week and evidence that it is time to change direction
• How to measure progress before the promotion, offer, or career change arrives

Support the show

Jill Griffin, is a leadership and career strategist, executive coach, and host of The Career Refresh podcast. She works with high achievers to strengthen their leadership, navigate career transitions, build effective teams, and create what’s next.

With 20+ years of experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton, and Martha Stewart, Jill brings a practical, real-world lens to leadership, decision-making, and career strategy.

 Visit GriffinMethod.com to learn more about working together:

The Next Era Leader
An 12-week cohort for women leaders ready to expand their capacity and lead through complexity with clarity and intention

Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory
1:1 strategic partnership for leaders navigating growth, transition, and what’s next

Connect with Jill for Leadership Development for Organizations and Speaking & Workshops

Instagram: @JillGriffinOffical

The hiring system has changed, but most job-search advice hasn’t caught up. From ghost jobs and AI screening to algorithms that can repeat bias across employers, there’s more happening between your application and a human than you may realize. In this episode, Jill Griffin breaks down what’s happening behind the scenes and why your strategy needs to go beyond applying for posted jobs.

• What the LinkedIn investigation, Workday lawsuit, and new AI hiring research reveal about the systems screening candidates

• Why applying to ten different companies may not mean you’re getting ten independent chances to be considered

• How to shift your strategy toward positioning, relationships, visibility, and opportunities that exist beyond the application process

Sources:
Lauren Weber & Leslie Kwoh, The Wall Street Journal, "Beware the Phantom Job Listing" (2013)

Te-Ping Chen, The Wall Street Journal, "Job Listings Abound, but Many Are Fake" (2023)

Isabel Berwick & Sophia Smith, Financial Times, "Beware of Ghost Job Listings" (2022)

Reuters Breakingviews, "Fake Jobs Hide Cooler Reality for US Workforce" (2023)

Reuters, Derek Mobley v. Workday lawsuit. 

Stanford University, Chapman University & Northeastern University, Algorithmic Monocultures in Hiring

Michael Sinkewicz, Fox Business, Linkedin Investigation

Support the show

Jill Griffin, is a leadership and career strategist, executive coach, and host of The Career Refresh podcast. She works with high achievers to strengthen their leadership, navigate career transitions, build effective teams, and create what’s next.

With 20+ years of experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton, and Martha Stewart, Jill brings a practical, real-world lens to leadership, decision-making, and career strategy.

 Visit GriffinMethod.com to learn more about working together:

The Next Era Leader
An 12-week cohort for women leaders ready to expand their capacity and lead through complexity with clarity and intention

Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory
1:1 strategic partnership for leaders navigating growth, transition, and what’s next

Connect with Jill for Leadership Development for Organizations and Speaking & Workshops

Instagram: @JillGriffinOffical

A portfolio career is about working smarter. More professionals are combining full-time roles, consulting, advisory work, board positions, teaching, writing, speaking, investing, and passion projects into careers that are more resilient, flexible, and rewarding.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What a portfolio career is and why it's becoming the future of work.
• The difference between a portfolio career and simply juggling side hustles.
• How to identify the skills, experience, and expertise you already have that can create new opportunities.
• Why your professional reputation matters more than ever.
• How to position yourself for greater career resilience, income diversification, and long-term growth.
• Practical steps to start building your own portfolio career, whether you're employed, self-employed, or somewhere in between.

Support the show

Jill Griffin, is a leadership and career strategist, executive coach, and host of The Career Refresh podcast. She works with high achievers to strengthen their leadership, navigate career transitions, build effective teams, and create what’s next.

With 20+ years of experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton, and Martha Stewart, Jill brings a practical, real-world lens to leadership, decision-making, and career strategy.

 Visit GriffinMethod.com to learn more about working together:

The Next Era Leader
An 12-week cohort for women leaders ready to expand their capacity and lead through complexity with clarity and intention

Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory
1:1 strategic partnership for leaders navigating growth, transition, and what’s next

Connect with Jill for Leadership Development for Organizations and Speaking & Workshops

Instagram: @JillGriffinOffical

What if failure wasn’t something to avoid—but a skill to master? In this episode, I share a fresh take on how to handle setbacks, manage your mind, and turn mistakes into momentum.

• Why your brain resists failure (and how to outsmart it)
• The mindset shift that transforms “mistakes” into data
• How to stop hiding in research and start taking action
• Understand what creates confidence 

Support the show

Jill Griffin, is a leadership and career strategist, executive coach, and host of The Career Refresh podcast. She works with high achievers to strengthen their leadership, navigate career transitions, build effective teams, and create what’s next.

With 20+ years of experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton, and Martha Stewart, Jill brings a practical, real-world lens to leadership, decision-making, and career strategy.

 Visit GriffinMethod.com to learn more about working together:

The Next Era Leader
An 12-week cohort for women leaders ready to expand their capacity and lead through complexity with clarity and intention

Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory
1:1 strategic partnership for leaders navigating growth, transition, and what’s next

Connect with Jill for Leadership Development for Organizations and Speaking & Workshops

Instagram: @JillGriffinOffical

When motivation fades it's an opportunity to get curious. This episode unpacks why we often stall before what’s next, and how to reignite your drive by shifting your thoughts just slightly toward possibility. Learn how believable, neutral thoughts can rebuild momentum, confidence, and clarity.

In this episode:

• Why motivation fades when your future feels unclear
• How to use believable thoughts to shift your mindset and energy
• The simple mental reset that helps you take action again

Support the show

Jill Griffin, is a leadership and career strategist, executive coach, and host of The Career Refresh podcast. She works with high achievers to strengthen their leadership, navigate career transitions, build effective teams, and create what’s next.

With 20+ years of experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton, and Martha Stewart, Jill brings a practical, real-world lens to leadership, decision-making, and career strategy.

 Visit GriffinMethod.com to learn more about working together:

The Next Era Leader
An 12-week cohort for women leaders ready to expand their capacity and lead through complexity with clarity and intention

Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory
1:1 strategic partnership for leaders navigating growth, transition, and what’s next

Connect with Jill for Leadership Development for Organizations and Speaking & Workshops

Instagram: @JillGriffinOffical

In this episode of The Career Refresh, Jill Griffin breaks down the hidden cost of comparison at work—and how to replace assumptions with evidence-based clarity. Also in this episode:

• Learn how your brain fills in the blanks with fear
• How confirmation bias can derail trust
• Jill shares practical tools to help you lead with facts, regulate your thoughts, and stay grounded under pressure.
• You’ll walk away knowing how to stop unhealthy comparison, build emotional steadiness, and lead with consistent, trusted confidence.

Support the show

Jill Griffin, is a leadership and career strategist, executive coach, and host of The Career Refresh podcast. She works with high achievers to strengthen their leadership, navigate career transitions, build effective teams, and create what’s next.

With 20+ years of experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton, and Martha Stewart, Jill brings a practical, real-world lens to leadership, decision-making, and career strategy.

 Visit GriffinMethod.com to learn more about working together:

The Next Era Leader
An 12-week cohort for women leaders ready to expand their capacity and lead through complexity with clarity and intention

Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory
1:1 strategic partnership for leaders navigating growth, transition, and what’s next

Connect with Jill for Leadership Development for Organizations and Speaking & Workshops

Instagram: @JillGriffinOffical

Everyone has experienced anxiety at one point in time. But as high-achieving individuals, we need tools to be able to get us out of anxiety and back into action. 

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

• Why you experience anxiety
• How anxiety shows up in high-performing individuals
• Recommendations for managing anxiety
• Tools you can use anywhere at anytime to manage your anxiety 

Mentioned on the show

Box Breathing Technique

Mental Health Resources

• Worldwide Support Hotline
• U.S. Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255

Mental Health & Suicide Resources 

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) on Suicide Prevention
• Mental Health List of Educational Programs
• Befrienders Mental Health Resource

Final Local Support

• Mental Health Center Locator
• Early Serious Mental Illness Treatment Locator
• Substance Use Treatment Locator
• Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator 

Support the show

Jill Griffin, is a leadership and career strategist, executive coach, and host of The Career Refresh podcast. She works with high achievers to strengthen their leadership, navigate career transitions, build effective teams, and create what’s next.

With 20+ years of experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton, and Martha Stewart, Jill brings a practical, real-world lens to leadership, decision-making, and career strategy.

 Visit GriffinMethod.com to learn more about working together:

The Next Era Leader
An 12-week cohort for women leaders ready to expand their capacity and lead through complexity with clarity and intention

Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory
1:1 strategic partnership for leaders navigating growth, transition, and what’s next

Connect with Jill for Leadership Development for Organizations and Speaking & Workshops

Instagram: @JillGriffinOffical

Anxiety doesn't stay in your head. It shows up in how you decide, how you communicate, and how you lead your team. This episode names the anxiety-driven patterns senior leaders default to under pressure and gives you concrete tools, pausing and journaling, to interrupt overthinking and lead with more intention.

Key Takeaways:

• Name the anxiety-driven leadership patterns that surface under pressure.
• Use pausing and journaling to interrupt overthinking in real time.
• Shift to a power-with approach for more collaborative, less reactive leadership.

Support the show

Jill Griffin, is a leadership and career strategist, executive coach, and host of The Career Refresh podcast. She works with high achievers to strengthen their leadership, navigate career transitions, build effective teams, and create what’s next.

With 20+ years of experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton, and Martha Stewart, Jill brings a practical, real-world lens to leadership, decision-making, and career strategy.

 Visit GriffinMethod.com to learn more about working together:

The Next Era Leader
An 12-week cohort for women leaders ready to expand their capacity and lead through complexity with clarity and intention

Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory
1:1 strategic partnership for leaders navigating growth, transition, and what’s next

Connect with Jill for Leadership Development for Organizations and Speaking & Workshops

Instagram: @JillGriffinOffical

Networking doesn't have to feel awkward, transactional, or like you're asking for a favor. In this episode, I share a practical approach to reaching out with confidence, making it easier for people to say yes, and building relationships that last beyond a single conversation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why networking is about genuine connection, not finding the perfect words.
 • The overlooked incentive that often motivates people to make introductions: employee referral bonuses.
 • How to make one clear, specific ask that increases your chances of getting a response.
 • The simple mindset shift that makes networking feel more natural and less uncomfortable.

Support the show

Jill Griffin, is a leadership and career strategist, executive coach, and host of The Career Refresh podcast. She works with high achievers to strengthen their leadership, navigate career transitions, build effective teams, and create what’s next.

With 20+ years of experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton, and Martha Stewart, Jill brings a practical, real-world lens to leadership, decision-making, and career strategy.

 Visit GriffinMethod.com to learn more about working together:

The Next Era Leader
An 12-week cohort for women leaders ready to expand their capacity and lead through complexity with clarity and intention

Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory
1:1 strategic partnership for leaders navigating growth, transition, and what’s next

Connect with Jill for Leadership Development for Organizations and Speaking & Workshops

Instagram: @JillGriffinOffical

Some people, companies, and opportunities look impressive at first glance but don't hold up under closer inspection. In this episode, Jill Griffin explores why even experienced leaders get drawn to polish over substance and how to sharpen your ability to tell the difference before you commit your time, energy, or reputation.

In this episode:

• Why we're naturally drawn to confidence, polish, and compelling stories, even when substance is missing

• The questions that help you distinguish real capability from a good presentation

• How to make better decisions about people, partnerships, and opportunities by looking beyond first impressions

• Why this skill matters even more in an AI world, where separating what's real from what's manufactured takes more mental energy than ever

Show Notes

The Gray Area podcast, The end of the human internet 

Support the show

Jill Griffin, is a leadership and career strategist, executive coach, and host of The Career Refresh podcast. She works with high achievers to strengthen their leadership, navigate career transitions, build effective teams, and create what’s next.

With 20+ years of experience at companies like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton, and Martha Stewart, Jill brings a practical, real-world lens to leadership, decision-making, and career strategy.

 Visit GriffinMethod.com to learn more about working together:

The Next Era Leader
An 12-week cohort for women leaders ready to expand their capacity and lead through complexity with clarity and intention

Executive Coaching & Leadership Advisory
1:1 strategic partnership for leaders navigating growth, transition, and what’s next

Connect with Jill for Leadership Development for Organizations and Speaking & Workshops

Instagram: @JillGriffinOffical