The other day, I asked a woman what she had done before she retired. Presumably, a simple question. One that might take two or three minutes, max, to answer. What ensued was a 36-minute monologue: Barely a breath taken.No pauses.No questions.No awareness that her audience had mentally checked out by minute five. Now, this is…
When my book, BRAG! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It, came out in 2003, social networking was just beginning. In 2005, only 5% of American adults used social media. Today, there are approximately 5.8 billion social-media users worldwide—roughly seven out of every ten people on Earth. And that number grew by…
“Being authentic doesn’t mean showing up exactly the same way in every situation.” ~Peggy Klaus Every day, you move through a variety of situations—naturally, you adjust how you communicate, lead, and connect because the situation calls for it. Sometimes the moment calls for you to be forceful and decisive. Other times, it calls for patience,…
According to multiple reports, tensions reached a boiling point during a June 1 meeting between CBS News leadership and the 60 Minutes staff when veteran correspondent Scott Pelley reportedly told newly appointed Executive Producer Nick Bilton, “You’ll never be welcome here.” He also accused management of “murdering 60 Minutes.” Pelley may have had every reason…
Multiple reports, veteran correspondents, and producers at CBS’s 60 Minutes described the arrival of CBS’s new leadership as abrupt, dismissive, and, at times, tone-deaf. Explanations surrounding key personnel decisions—including the firing of two highly respected journalists and their executive producer—were either limited or nonexistent. Longtime employees who had spent decades building one of the most…
Commencement literally means “a beginning.” And as anyone over the age of 18—or 22—quickly discovers, beginnings are constant. When a career transitions.When relationships begin.When relationships end.When children arrive.When parents age.When expectations shift.When dreams disappear. And when we suddenly realize the life we thought we wanted—or the life we meticulously built—no longer fits the life we…
Call me old-fashioned, but experience and expertise are not optional when it comes to doing the work. They’re what build your knowledge base, your judgment, and your ability to actually deliver results especially when the stakes are high. And yet, more and more, we’re seeing people skip this part of the equation and convincing others…
Last fall, I found myself asking the same question many of my clients ask: Now what? I was flummoxed. I couldn’t see a clear path forward. Even as I brainstormed and asked others for input, I just kept spinning. Then I asked myself different questions: What is my purpose for being here right now?What do…
Not surprisingly, 2026 has brought an uptick in clients and friends seeking career advice. Ongoing attrition in the labor market, combined with geopolitical uncertainty, is a clear barometer of the anxiety many people are carrying into the new year. Across every workplace demographic, I’m hearing a familiar refrain. People in their late 20s are questioning…
Last month, I had the privilege of spending two unforgettable days in Cape Town, South Africa, working with forty brilliant women—medical doctors, scientists, and professors—from around the world. Together, we explored what it really means to lead, communicate, and live with Unstoppable Confidence. “In between the laughter, reflection, and tears, something remarkable happened: they found…