Lisa Williams spent her career across three consulting firms, and her path wasn't a straight line either: she touched recruiting, comp, and employee relations before landing on what she actually loved, coaching and leadership development.
Every week, Courtney (a former Fortune 500 SVP and Head of HR) sits down with senior leaders, executives, and career trailblazers to pull back the curtain on what really happens when talent gets assessed, careers get made, and promotions get decided
Latest Episode:
"You Get What You Work For": Ben Brooks on Standing Out, Being Indispensable, and Getting What You Ask For
Ben Brooks is the founder of PILOT and The Lift, and spent his early career at Lockheed Martin and top consulting firms before becoming a VP and SVP of HR in his late 20s, all without ever taking a single HR class. Ben and I unpack what it actually takes to stand out in a crowded field: the bold, unconventional pitches he used to break into industries with zero open positions, why most people optimize to avoid looking foolish instead of optimizing to get what they actually want, and the "psychological contract" that determines whether your manager fights to keep you or lets you go without a second thought. We also dig into why attitude, not technical skill, becomes the real differentiator the higher you climb, and the one simple question that can transform how your boss sees you. A high-energy, no-nonsense conversation about hunger, ownership, and building a career people fight to keep.
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
"From Garbage Truck to Fleet Director": Michelle Martin on Blockers, Self-Belief, and Building Relational Capital
Michelle started her career as a temp garbage collector, and rose to Director of Fleet Maintenance at a massive multinational environmental services company, proving to herself along the way that a senior leader's doubt didn't have to be the final word.
Your Brand Isn't a Tagline": Lisa Williams on Perception, Sponsors, and Letting Go of Outcomes
"No Is a Complete Sentence": Denise Moss on Grit, Boundaries, and Building Your Own Path
Denise Moss went from bank teller to VP of HR, and her path wasn't a straight line: married at 17, a mom at 18, she rebuilt her career more than once and spent years stuck at the director level before figuring out what actually moves the needle.
Michael Kubit on Executive Presence, Trust, and Letting Go of Control
Michael Kubit went from hotel maintenance to CIO at some of the largest universities in the country, and he's got strong opinions on what actually makes a leader. A grounded, no-jargon conversation from someone who took the non-traditional road to the top.
"Don't Take the Butter": What Executive Presence Actually Looks Like with Kacy Wickenhouser
Kacy went from staffing welders to Chief HR Officer at a Fortune 500 energy company. She and Courtney unpack the trust jar, the "don't take the butter" rule, and why you're always auditioning for your next promotion.
From Art to Tech Leadership: A Journey of Courage, Growth, and Authenticity With Lauren Newton
Lauren went from art school to Head of People at Facebook and Medium. She shares the time a manager nearly blocked her promotion over one pushback, and how her network fought for her in that room.
From Hollywood Extra to HR Leader: The Power of Storytelling With Patrick Sutton
Patrick went from teenage actor (yes, cast in A Time to Kill) to HR leader who's mentored talent at hyper-growth startups. He and Courtney get into the 60-second elevator pitch, why "unicorns" burn out but legends last, and how reading the room comes down to the first pitch you throw.
Unlocking Authenticity and Resilience in Your Career with Colleen Lauria
Colleen went from performing perfection in HR to embracing her full self, mental health and all, as her biggest professional asset. She and Courtney get into why executive presence is really about resonance, the three skills that never go out of style, and why "am I in the right place" beats "why am I not getting promoted."
"From Covering to Belonging": Richard Hinton on Identity, Trust, and Learning to Lead as Yourself
Richard Hinton spent 16 years rising through the ranks at one company, from HR coordinator to Head of HR, and his path wasn't easy: covering who he really was for years, until a moment in 2020 made him stop and ask who he was underneath it all.
