Secrets of the Career Game

• 115. Why Women Get Stuck at Director Level and How to Break Out with Katy McFee

  So many brilliant women get stuck at director level because they're too good at their jobs. That's the quiet trap executive coach Katy McFee breaks down in this episode of Secrets of the Career Game. Kendall Berg sits with Katy to unpack the habits, mindset shifts, and strategic practices women need to finally be seen as leaders instead of doers. Katy shares what actually signals VP readiness, why "be more strategic" is useless guidance, and how high-performing women accidentally pigeonhole themselves as execution machines. Kendall and Katy dig into deep work, real-time feedback, and the identity shifts required to show up as a strategic leader — not just the person who saves the day. If you feel like you've been doing everything right and still not getting promoted, this episode gives you the clarity and momentum you've been missing. In this episode, we discuss: Why do women get stuck at the director level What does "be more strategic" actually mean How do you show executive presence at work Why doing more doesn't lead to promotion How to demonstrate VP readiness when no one tells you how What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Katy McFee is an executive coach and the founder of Insights to Action, where she helps high-performing women finally break through the Director-to-VP ceiling. With an 18-year career in biotech and tech, including senior roles where she drove nine-figure revenue growth, Katy knows firsthand what it takes to rise in male-dominated environments. Despite years of over-delivering, she was repeatedly passed over for promotion until she discovered the real barrier: perception, not performance. By shifting how she communicated and led, she landed her first VP role and was soon recruited as an EVP. Website: https://insightstoactioncc.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katy.mcfee https://insightstoactioncc.com/vp-ready-quiz/

  --------  

  28:07

  --------

  28:07
• 114. The One Percent Career Hack Nobody Talks About

  Kendall Berg reveals why the real career hack is not a promotion or a lucky break. It is the quiet one percent improvements in soft skills that reshape your communication, visibility, and leadership presence. She shares how small daily habits build reputation, influence, and long term career momentum without burnout. In this episode, Kendall Berg breaks down how to take tough feedback without spiraling, speak up without creating resistance, and build relationships before you need them. She also explains three common career traps that stall growth and the practical soft skill habits that help you stand out, earn trust, and open doors to new opportunities. In this episode, we discuss: • How do small daily soft skill habits improve career growth • What is the best way to ask for feedback without getting defensive • Why visibility drives faster career progression than perfect performance • How do you build a strong workplace reputation over time • How do you avoid job hopping that hurts long term growth What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/  

  --------  

  25:23

  --------

  25:23
• 113. Stop Climbing, Start Leading: Career Moves That Actually Work with Whitney Faires

  Most professionals chase the next promotion without ever asking if it's the right move. In this conversation, Kendall Berg and executive coach Whitney Faires expose the myth of the linear career path and why the most fulfilled leaders often take strategic sideways moves instead of climbing straight up. Whitney shares her Courageous Leader Roadmap, a framework for showing up with authenticity, self-awareness, and fearless communication, the traits that separate high performers from true leaders. Together, they unpack the messy middle of leadership transitions, how to navigate corporate politics without selling your soul, and why your reputation starts forming long before you enter the room. In this episode, we discuss: What are the most overlooked skills when moving from contributor to director? How can leaders build influence without self-promotion? How do you navigate corporate politics without losing authenticity? What's the right moment to make a lateral move instead of chasing a promotion? How can specific feedback requests accelerate leadership growth? What does it mean to lead courageously — and how can you start today? What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/  About Whitney Faires Whitney Faires is an internationally recognized executive coach, keynote speaker, and leadership advisor with 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Formerly Chief of Staff to the CFO at Intuitive Surgical, she led high-impact organizational health initiatives, launched global leadership development programs, and coached rising professionals into senior roles. Her multifaceted career spans sales, finance, and commercial operations, where she spearheaded the creation of a $2 billion international leasing portfolio. As the founder of Whitney Faires Coaching, she developed the Courageous Leader Roadmap — a practical approach for leaders to show up authentically, navigate adversity, and drive meaningful results. She is an ICF-accredited PCC coach and is passionate about helping leaders elevate their influence and build high-performing teams. Connect with Whitney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitney-faires-14955a38/ https://www.instagram.com/whitney_faires https://www.facebook.com/WhitneyFairesCoaching/ https://www.whitneyfaires.com/  

  --------  

  36:15

  --------

  36:15
• 112. How to Write a Performance Review That Gets You Promoted

  Your performance review might be enough to save you from getting fired, but it's definitely enough to keep you from getting promoted. Kendall Berg unpacks why most professionals underestimate their self-evaluations and how a well-written review can make or break your next career move. She explains how to turn your performance review into your best internal marketing tool: one that showcases impact, influence, and growth. From gathering 360 feedback to crafting measurable goals and starting promotion conversations at the right time, Kendall shares the proven strategies she used as a corporate leader to help people actually get rewarded for their work. In this episode, we discuss: How do you write a performance review that gets you promoted? What should you include (and avoid) in your self-evaluation? How can you collect 360 feedback that actually helps your career? When is the right time to talk to your boss about a raise or promotion? What separates average reviews from the ones that get noticed? What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way?   ⭐️Get our FREE Accomplishments Tracker: https://fabulous-butterfly-83716.myflodesk.com/n8yzvrtw9v  🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/ Build out the tools you need to navigate the corporate game: — Self Driven Mastermind  

  --------  

  21:47

  --------

  21:47
• 111. Why Smart Women Still Play It Safe in Their Careers: How to Stop | Dr. Candace Steele Flippin

  Too many smart, capable women stay stuck in roles that feel "safe." In this episode, Kendall Berg and Dr. Candace Steele Flippin unpack why — and how to finally break free. Drawing on groundbreaking research from her book and her SHAPE Framework (Safe, Hard Work, Advocate, Persevere, Educate), Dr. Candace reveals the hidden connection between financial stability and career confidence — and why money literacy isn't just about saving, it's about power. Together, they explore how self-advocacy, financial readiness, and strategic visibility help women move from fear to freedom. Whether you're hesitating to take a promotion, negotiate your worth, or leave a role that no longer fits, this conversation gives you the mindset and tools to stop playing it safe and start shaping your next chapter. 💡 Key Takeaways Financial stability is the foundation for taking bold career risks with confidence. "Hard work" doesn't guarantee advancement — visibility and alignment do. Poor negotiation skills can cost up to $2M over a career; advocacy pays off. Resilience means knowing when to persevere and when to move on. Continuous learning and feedback fuel long-term self-efficacy. The SHAPE Framework helps women assess where they're playing small — and how to grow. Career success starts with self-awareness, not perfection. What's one "corporate game" rule you've learned the hard way? 🎯 Take the full Level Up Leadership Course: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-started-with-my-play-the-corporate-game-course About Your Host: That Career Coach, Kendall Berg Kendall Berg is a career coach and creator, helping ambitious professionals master the unspoken rules of corporate life. Through Secrets of the Career Game, she shares honest conversations and practical tools to help you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and navigate work with strategy — not stress. ☕️ Want personalized career advice? Book a free 15-minute Coffee Chat with me — let's talk strategy, leadership, or your next move. Book your Coffee Chat → https://calendly.com/thatcareercoach/15-min-follow-up Want to know more about Kendal Berg, that career coach? Follow her on Instagram: @thatcareercoach_ Check out her courses on the website: https://thatcareercoach.net/  Dr. Candace Steele Flippin is a three-time bestselling author and career strategist who helps professionals advance with clarity and influence. She is the founder of the Global Career Advancement Institute and creator of the SHAPE Career Accelerator program, developed from more than a decade of research on career advancement and leadership. A former corporate communications executive, she has led teams in healthcare, financial services, and industrial technology and now teaches leadership development at Johns Hopkins University. Her work is trusted by companies and organizations that want practical solutions for career growth, retention, and engagement. She shares strategies you can use right away to move your career forward with purpose and confidence. Follow Her On: LinkedIn Dr. Candace Steele Flippin https://www.linkedin.com/in/candacesteeleflippin/ Instagram @candacesteeleflippin https://www.instagram.com/candacesteeleflippin/

  --------  

  42:01

  --------

  42:01

Mais podcasts de Negócios

Podcasts em tendência em Negócios

Sobre Secrets of the Career Game