Elevate Your Career Nicole McMackin

In today's episode of Elevate Your Career, Nicole is joined by Brian Kirkland, Chief Information Officer for Choice Hotels International.
During this conversation, you'll discover the significance of mentorship and advocacy in career advancement, as Brian highlights how strong mentors and advocates can open doors and provide invaluable support. Get a glimpse into the importance of being proactive in your career, from obsoleting yourself in a current role to being ready for the next opportunity.

The conversation explores the role of networks in professional success, as well as the value of building a robust network of peers and industry leaders. Brian also reflects on the challenges of impostor syndrome and the need for self-belief and continuous learning. 

This episode offers a fascinating look at the importance of effort, curiosity, and leveraging one's network to achieve career goals.

Don't miss another episode of the Elevate Your Career podcast. Leave a review and subscribe today! 


What You Will Learn In This Show:
The need for leaders to understand financials and engage with various departments to gain a comprehensive view of the business.Why mentors and advocates are vital to career advancement, providing support, opening doors, and helping individuals find growth opportunities within an organization.The importance of creating and nurturing a robust professional network for learning, support, and career advancement.The concept of impostor syndrome, and how it can be mitigated by taking leaps of faith, recognizing one’s qualifications, and seeking mentorship.The importance of taking initiative, filling gaps, and actively contributing to differentiate oneself in a competitive environment.And so much more...

Resources:
Brian's LinkedIn
Choice Hotels International

In today's episode of Elevate Your Career, Nicole is joined by Rick Doten, lecturer and expert in the field of neurodiversity in the workplace.
In this fascinating conversation, Nicole and Rick explore the nuanced experiences of individuals with unique cognitive traits, both the challenges and strengths they encounter in daily life and professional settings. 
Get a glimpse into specific tools and techniques that can aid in navigating tasks that might otherwise seem daunting. You'll find practical advice, with a focus on ways that these methods can help achieve efficiency and balance.

Rick also offers insights into the importance of recognizing and accommodating diverse talents in the workplace, as well as the significance of adapting interview and hiring processes to ensure that all candidates have the opportunity to showcase their true potential.

Don't miss another episode of the Elevate Your Career podcast. Leave a review and subscribe today!


What You Will Learn In This Show:
How tools and apps can help individuals with cognitive challenges manage their time and tasks effectively.How technology can support neurodiverse individuals in the workplace and accommodate diverse work styles.Why neurodiverse individuals need to be upfront about their cognitive traits during job interviews to better manage expectations and accommodations.The difficulties neurodiverse individuals face with standardized interview processes and how traditional methods can overlook unique talents and capabilities.The increasing use of AI to review resumes and conduct interviews; the potential drawbacks and the loss of personal interaction.The importance of trust in building effective teams, and the tendency of neurodiverse individuals to possess high levels of trustworthiness and reliability.And so much more...

Resources:
Rick's YouTube
Rick's LinkedIn
Carolina Complete Health

In today's episode of Elevate Your Career, Nicole is joined by Ivy Chin, author of 'Your Mind is What Matters: How to Think Your Way to Your Full Potential.' The discussion begins with Ivy sharing her insights on the importance of self-awareness, positive energy, and the proactive management of one's mindset in achieving professional and personal goals. Ivy emphasizes the significance of demonstrating enthusiasm, passion, and a strong work ethic immediately, rather than waiting for prompts from others. This approach, she explains, can significantly influence how one is perceived and remembered during interactions such as job interviews.
The conversation then explores the practical aspects of goal setting and prioritization. Ivy advocates for setting realistic and manageable goals, suggesting that focusing on just two or three objectives at a time can prevent cognitive overload and enhance productivity. She highlights the importance of embedding new habits into existing routines to facilitate progress. Nicole and Ivy discuss the ABC method of prioritization, which categorizes tasks into levels of importance and urgency, helping individuals focus on what truly matters. This method, Ivy notes, transformed her approach to work and significantly boosted her efficiency and effectiveness.

Finally, Ivy reflects on the power of networking and managing one's personal brand. She shares a pivotal lesson from a former boss: it's not just about who you know, but who knows you and what they say about you when you're not in the room. Ivy recounts her journey from focusing solely on hard work to recognizing the value of building relationships and seeking mutual benefit in networking. Nicole echoes these sentiments, sharing her own experiences with creating a women in leadership program. The episode concludes with Ivy offering advice to young immigrants facing language barriers, encouraging them to embrace cultural differences, build self-confidence, and seek support from mentors and peers.

Join Nicole and Ivy for this fascinating and inspiring conversation!

Enjoy!


What You Will Learn In This Show:
The importance of showing your excitement and skills immediately, rather than waiting for prompts from others.How your attitude and energy can significantly impact how others feel about you.The value of setting manageable and realistic goals, such as focusing on two or three objectives at a time to avoid cognitive overload and ensure steady progress.Tips on integrating new habits into your daily life to achieve your goals, including practical advice on making small adjustments to existing routines to adopt new behaviors effectively.The ABC method for organizing tasks by importance and urgency, helping you focus on what truly matters.Insights into the significance of networking and personal branding, and why it's not just about who you know, but who knows you and what they say about you when you're not in the room.The benefits of approaching networking with the intent to offer help and build genuine connections.Ivy's personal story around embracing cultural differences, building self-confidence, and seeking support from mentors and peers.Strategies for continuous personal and professional development, including setting realistic goals, seeking feedback, and incorporating small, actionable steps into daily routines.And so much more...

Resources:
'Your Mind is What Matters' book

In today's episode of Elevate Your Career, Nicole is joined by Meghan Weeks, recent graduate of the University of California and IT Manager for the city of Long Beach, California. During the conversation, they explore the challenges and strategies for women in IT leadership roles. They emphasize the importance of confidence, fearlessness, and continuous learning. Women are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, apply for roles even if they don't meet every qualification, and assert themselves in meetings to ensure their contributions are recognized. Meghan highlights the value of professional networks and proactive networking, suggesting that women set goals for networking events to make meaningful connections and create opportunities for themselves.
The conversation touches on the need for women to recognize and address biases in the workplace. They discuss the importance of having difficult conversations with supervisors about unequal treatment or pay discrepancies, emphasizing the need for a calm, unemotional approach focused on seeking solutions and understanding. Meghan also stresses the importance of negotiation, noting that women often settle for less when it comes to salary and benefits. They encourage women to push back and ask for what they deserve, whether it's a higher salary, more vacation time, or flexible work arrangements.
They also offer advice to women starting out in their careers, emphasizing resilience and the importance of building a strong professional network early on. They stress the value of having mentors and peers to support and guide them through challenges. Overall, the episode serves as a rallying call for women in IT to advocate for themselves, push boundaries, and strive for the success they deserve in their careers.

Join Nicole and Meghan for this fascinating and inspiring conversation!

Enjoy!


What You Will Learn In This Show:
Why women in IT leadership roles often face challenges related to confidence and assertiveness.The importance of fearlessness and continuous learning when seeking success in IT careers.Why women should apply for roles even if they don't meet every qualification, and speak up in meetings to ensure their contributions are recognized.The value of building a strong professional network and attending networking events as part of an IT career.Why it's important for women to recognize and address biases in the workplace, and to have calm, unemotional conversations with supervisors about unequal treatment or pay discrepancies.The importance of developing negotiation skills to allow women to advocate for themselves in terms of salary, benefits, and work arrangements.Why resilience and the early building of a professional network are key factors for success for women starting out in IT careers.And so much more...


Resources:
Meghan's LinkedIn

Today's episode of Elevate Your Career is a recast of a conversation between Nicole and the hosts of the Women in Tech Trailblazers podcast.
During the conversation, Nicole shares her journey and challenges in a sector where women are significantly underrepresented. The discussion openes with Nicole's extensive accolades and her efforts in spearheading initiatives aimed at empowering women through leadership programs and mentorship. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and resilience for women striving to elevate their careers in technology, highlighting the need to maintain one's true self amidst professional challenges.
Throughout the episode, Nicole discusses her innovative approaches to overcoming barriers for women in tech, such as her cost-free career development programs which have significantly impacted women's advancement in the industry. These programs, coupled with her leadership, have facilitated a 71% elevation rate for participants, showcasing her commitment to actionable change. Nicole's strategy involves not just addressing the challenges women face but also actively creating solutions that foster an inclusive environment. This proactive stance is reflected in her personal story of choosing a tech career over law, driven by her desire to make a substantial impact.
The conversation also explores the broader implications of mentorship and networking in enhancing career trajectories for women. Nicole stresses the transformative power of having a supportive network and mentors, particularly highlighting her involvement with the Young Presidents Organization which helped her initiate a women-focused subgroup. Nicole also offers advice to women aiming to amplify their influence in tech, urging them to define and cultivate their personal brand and to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. Her insights not only shed light on the hurdles women encounter but also illuminated pathways to leadership and success in the tech industry.
Join Nicole, Jordan and Tiffany for this fascinating and inspiring conversation!

Enjoy!

What You Will Learn In This Show:
How Nicole champions authentic leadership and the importance of staying true to oneself in the male-dominated tech industry.How mentorship plays a critical role in career development, with insights from studies showing that women with mentors are 55% more likely to advance in their careers.The challenges women face in tech, such as lack of visibility and mentorship, and the various solutions Nicole has implemented through her initiatives.Nicole’s approach to facing fears and building confidence, especially in public speaking and leadership roles.The importance of creating networks and how these relationships can help propel women’s careers in technology.How women can build and manage their professional brand to increase their influence in the tech sector.And so much more...

In today's episode of Elevate Your Career, Nicole focuses on essential interviewing techniques, particularly for virtual interviews, emphasizing the importance of preparation. She recommends researching the organization and its employees via LinkedIn and social media to understand their backgrounds and values. Understanding common interview questions—like those about weaknesses or handling unexpected changes in project scope — is crucial. Nicole stresses the need to think through these responses beforehand, highlighting the importance of acknowledging weaknesses while also detailing strategies used to address them, demonstrating both self-awareness and proactive problem-solving.
Nicole also explores the technical aspects of virtual interviews. She advises candidates to ensure their technology is tested, usernames appear professional, and backgrounds and attire are suitable for the interview setting. Personal presentation tips include minimal hand movements and controlled speech pace to counteract nervousness. Additionally, Nicole warns against common pitfalls such as using oversized headphones or looking up answers during the interview, as these can be detected by monitoring technologies. She emphasizes making a positive first impression, advocating for a professional and courteous demeanor throughout the interview.

Nicole covers the post-interview phase, encouraging thoughtful engagement with the interviewer by asking insightful questions and avoiding redundancy. She suggests sending personalized thank-you notes to all involved in the interview process, including a direct note to the hiring manager’s supervisor, to stand out as a memorable and considerate candidate. She emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself and seeking alignment with the company’s values, advising against pursuing unsuitable opportunities merely out of necessity. Her guidance aims to equip candidates with strategies to not only succeed in securing the role but also to ensure it is the right fit for their career goals and personal values.

Join Nicole for this fascinating and inspiring conversation!

Enjoy!


What You Will Learn In This Show:
How to thoroughly research a company and its employees using LinkedIn and social media to better understand the culture and values of the organization.The types of questions frequently asked in interviews, such as explaining your biggest weakness or handling unexpected changes in projects.Tips on ensuring your technology works smoothly, presenting a professional background, and dressing appropriately for video interviews.The importance of controlling your speech pace, minimizing hand movements, and being aware of the visual impression you make in a virtual format.How to handle the close of the interview, including what questions to ask that reflect your insight into the role and the company.The best practices for following up after an interview, including the recommendation to send personalized thank-you notes to everyone involved.The significance of knowing yourself and what makes you happy in your career, and the importance of choosing opportunities that align with your values.And so much more...