Why Are We Racing? How to Navigate The Modern Rat Race
2026/04/21 | 38 mins.
Why are we racing—and who decided the pace? In this episode, Lauren sits down with UCLA Anderson career coaches Jenna Migliaccio and Jessica Christopher, co-founders of Glimmers, to unpack the modern rat race and how to build a career rooted in clarity, not comparison. If you’ve felt busy but misaligned, this conversation will help you slow down strategically—without falling behind. You’ll learn: How to tell the difference between healthy ambition and misalignment Why “clarity comes from engagement” (and how to experiment without derailing your career) A simple mindset shift to stop running someone else’s race and start running your own
Show Notes Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Book career coaching w/ Jenna: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/profile/Jenna-Migliaccio/71365/ Alan Watts “Life & Music” video: https://youtu.be/eUzgSyfiF2s?si=pATgHCaRd_lI_MT6
Career Contessa Resources: Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/
Sponsors: Head to vitaclean.co and use code CONTESSA at checkout for 20% off your first purchase. Open a Found account for FREE at Found dot com. That’s F-O-U-N-D dot com. Found is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
How to Design & Run Effective Meetings
2026/04/14 | 40 mins.
Are your meetings driving results—or just draining your calendar? This week, Lauren sits down with organizational scientist and Your Best Meeting Ever author Dr. Rebecca Hinds to rethink how meetings are designed, measured, and led. Learn how to eliminate meeting debt, reclaim your time, and turn collaboration into a competitive advantage. You’ll learn: Why “meeting debt” is costing companies trillions—and how to reset your calendar The simple design shifts (like ROTI and the Rule of Halves) that instantly improve meetings How to run inclusive, energizing hybrid meetings people actually want to attend
Show Notes Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW New Manager course: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/the-new-manager-manual/ Efficient Meetings course: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/building-efficient-meetings/
Career Contessa Resources Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/
Sponsors Go to momentumshake.com/careercontessa to get a free Welcome Kit and Travel Collection ($70 value) to get you started! Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/careercontessa. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Soft Incompetence: The Subtle Drain on Your Time & Energy
2026/04/07 | 33 mins.
Ever feel like the default project manager at home or work? In this episode, Lauren sits down with Dr. Regina Lark to unpack soft incompetence—a subtle dynamic that quietly shifts emotional labor onto one person, often with good intentions. Learn how to spot it, talk about it, and rebalance responsibility without resentment. You’ll learn: How soft incompetence differs from weaponized incompetence. Early signs of emotional labor imbalance. One simple shift to redistribute responsibility more fairly.
Show Notes Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW
Guest Resources: Dr. Regina Lark: https://www.reginalark.com/
Career Contessa Resources Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/
Sponsor Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month Shopify trial today at shopify.com/careercontessa. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
5 Communication Shifts That Transform How You Lead, Speak, and Sell
2026/03/31 | 33 mins.
Communication isn’t just a soft skill—it’s the foundation of influence, trust, and leadership at work. In this episode, Ravi Rajani, author of Relationship Currency, breaks down the five habits that make communicators truly influential. From reframing the stories you tell yourself to building trust without being the loudest voice in the room, Ravi shares practical, immediately usable shifts that help you communicate with more clarity, credibility, and impact—starting this week. You’ll learn: How to build trust through the Three C’s: connection, character, and competence Why patience (not charisma) is the secret weapon of influential communicators Simple habits introverts can use to speak with confidence and be taken seriously at work
Show Notes Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW
Guest Resources: Relationship Currency book: https://www.theravirajani.com/book Ravi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theravirajani/ Ravi website: https://www.theravirajani.com/
Career Contessa Resources Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The New Career Path: Flexible Work, Blended Teams, and What’s Next
2026/03/24 | 33 mins.
The way we work is changing—and it’s not going back. In this episode, we sit down with Brea Starmer, founder and CEO of Lions & Tigers, to break down the rise of blended teams, where full-time employees work alongside independent experts. They explore why women are leaving rigid career structures, how AI is widening skills gaps, and what companies must do to build flexible, high-performing teams for the future of work. You’ll learn: Why blended teams are becoming the new standard How flexible work can still support growth and stability What leaders need to rethink in the AI era
Show Notes Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW
Career Contessa Resources Book 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/
Sponsors Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/careercontessa. Open a Found account for FREE at found.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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