Returnships: An Overlooked Path to Equitable Workplace Practices

Two women at a table having a conversation about returning to the workforce

I’ve led several workshops recently for organizations that are deeply committed to the goal of building inclusive workplaces. Many leaders have spoken with me about the challenges of recruiting and retaining a diverse team in a highly competitive hiring market. My advice to these leaders is ➡️: Don’t mind the gap. I say this because […]

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Is It Worth It? Focus On Your Goals To Navigate A Career Lull

Why am I doing this? At some point in your career, you’ll ask yourself this question. It might be triggered by the pressure of relentless deadlines, or an executive who expects you to be available 24 hours a day, or a daily assignment that never sparks joy. Early in my career, I worked as a […]

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Stepping Into The New Year: Moving With Purpose On The Spiral Staircase

Slowly. Slowly. I’ve been seeing a lot of high-energy motivational posts with the start of 2023, messages that encourage me to believe that I can be/achieve/lose/gain whatever I set my mind to, as long as I don’t wait. But, in my experience, it’s the slow and steady, gutting-it-out approach that is much more effective. Careers […]

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Ask For What You Want: Tactics For Successful Negotiating

My first real experience with negotiating happened very early in my career. A consulting firm offered me three times my salary if I would leave my employer and join their organization. I loved my job, but this was a significant pay increase, so I went to my manager, tenured my resignation, and explained why I […]

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Authenticity Is Overrated: Building A More Effective Leadership Style

I bristle a bit when I’m asked to asked to speak to the “quest for authenticity,” especially in the context of women’s leadership. I’ve seen authenticity and vulnerability depicted as uniquely female skills that are even described as leadership “superpowers.” But my worry is that authenticity and vulnerability are often oversimplified or conflated in a […]

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Take Control: Questions To Help You Advocate For Yourself

Whenever I speak with women about the importance of taking ownership of their career, I think about a conversation with my dad. This conversation happened when I was in college. We were talking together, and I was complaining about something. I don’t remember what had upset me that day, but I’ll never forget how my […]

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Ask Leanne: What’s So Bad About Being Perfect?

Dear Leanne, I’ve been with my current employer for five years. I consistently receive top performance evaluations. I’m always willing to go the extra step, work weekends, and take on projects no one else wants. Yesterday, I saw that my company has posted a senior-level opportunity that I’m fully qualified for. I can’t believe that […]

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Intentional Networking: Building Purposeful Networks Of Influence

This summer, I’ve been speaking at diversity and inclusion conferences and women’s leadership forums and sharing strategies to help women accelerate their professional success. It’s a topic that I explore in my new book, Climbing the Spiral Staircase. After many months spent working remotely and finalizing the book’s content, I’ve been grateful not only for the […]

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