Career Contessa

Bria Starmer, founder and CEO of Lions & Tigers who builds blended teams combining full-time staff and independent specialists. She discusses the rise of blended teams and why they matter. She explores why many women choose flexible work and how to transition to freelance roles. She breaks down practical logistics like scheduling, retention strategies, and AI’s role in shifting—not replacing—work.

Margaret C. Andrews, a Harvard professor and author who teaches leadership rooted in self-awareness, explains why lack of self-awareness derails careers. Short, punchy takes on how intentions differ from impact. Tips on tiny daily practices to improve emotional control. A forward-looking look at why human skills matter as AI reshapes work.

Jesse Mecham, founder of You Need A Budget and personal finance expert, shares his approach to easing money anxiety. He discusses why higher income often raises stress, how assigning every dollar a job removes second-guessing, simple steps to allocate paychecks, the pitfalls of Buy Now, Pay Later, and using AI as a thinking partner for clearer financial choices.

Greg Lawson, public information lead at California's EDD who helps people navigate unemployment benefits and job services. He walks through the first steps after a layoff. He explains when to file, common application mistakes to avoid, and what state job-seeker programs can support your search. He also covers benefit timing and how to prepare to avoid delays.

In this episode, Lauren turns the mic on co-host Marnie Lemonik to unpack her journey from corporate professional to Career Coach.Marnie shares the behind-the-scenes story of how she “shot her shot” with Career Contessa years before officially joining the team, what pushed her to start coaching and how she financially (and mentally) prepared to bet on herself. If you’ve ever considered starting your own thing, whether as a side hustle or full-time job, this is for you.You’ll Learn:The timing and circumstances that led Marnie to transition from corporate to coaching What it actually looks like to build a side business before leaving your full-time jobThe importance of financial preparation and rejecting the “struggle to hustle” mindsetThe entrepreneurial skill of “figuring it out” (and why self-trust is everything)Show NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Follow Career Contessa: http://bit.ly/2TMH2QP  Marnie’s  Podcast (Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/7KaVZm8QWlC8RWwiajYcs9?si=a2a5187a63674a76 Marnie’s Podcast (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-marnie/id1875804683 Marnie’s Career Contessa Articles: https://www.careercontessa.com/meet-the-team/Marnie-Lemonik/87101/ Follow Marnie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marnielemonik/ Follow Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmcgoodwin/ Resources Marnie’s Resume Template: https://www.marnielemonik.com/resources/p/template-marnies-resume-with-written-examples 10% Discount Code: CCPOD The Job Search Dashboard: https://careercontessa.teachable.com/p/the-job-search-dashboard-notion-template?affcode=70732_cx6_j5wnCareerFitter Online Assessment:https://www.careerfitter.com/free_test/careerbuilder?afid=2218Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Browse open jobs: https://www.careercontessa.com/jobs/SponsorsSign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/careercontessa. Take back control of your business today. Open a Found account for FREE at Found.com dot com. Found is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. Share a little extra love this February in comfort that truly feels special. Head to cozyearth.com and use my code CONTESSA for up to 20% off.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Carolyn Dewar, senior partner at McKinsey and coauthor of A CEO for All Seasons, shares leadership research from interviews with top CEOs. She explores why mid-career plateaus happen and how outsider thinking and anonymous feedback can reignite momentum. Carolyn discusses quiet ambition, using AI as a challenger, protected thinking time, and practical resets to reinvent impact within your role.

Dr. Vanessa Druskat, associate professor and leadership expert on team performance and emotional intelligence. She explains why team norms matter more than individual talent. Short, concrete examples show how small changes like eye contact and check-ins boost respect and results. Learn quick routines to assess, change, and lock in emotionally intelligent team behaviors.

Julie Zhuo, author and product leader who rose from intern to VP of Product Design at Facebook and co-founded Sundial. She talks about leading teams with AI as collaborators. Discussion covers how AI exposes clarity gaps, why productivity gains can create new bottlenecks, using AI to rehearse hard conversations, and which leadership skills grow in importance.

Kate Murphy, journalist and bestselling author who studies human connection, explores interpersonal synchrony—how our brains and bodies subconsciously sync. She explains what synchrony is and why it shapes empathy and quick impressions. She talks about listening, leadership rhythms, hiring for fit, the limits of remote work, and simple shared activities that build trust.

In this discussion, career coach Michelle Schafer shares her insights on creating a quarterly career playbook for sustainable growth. She emphasizes the importance of breaking down goals into manageable chunks and staying accountable. Michelle reveals how to initiate valuable career conversations, increase visibility, and seek constructive feedback. Each quarter focuses on specific actions like clarifying your brand, networking, and celebrating achievements. With practical tips and a structured approach, she ensures listeners can drive their own development.