Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast
For People Leaders Leading Bold Conversations | Ivna Curi
Speak Your Mind Unapologetically is the leadership communication podcast for people leaders — managers, directors, and VPs — who want to speak up, lead bold conversations, and influence outcomes that matter.
Whether you're addressing conflict, delivering feedback, leading meetings, or navigating difficult conversations, this podcast gives you practical strategies to:
👉🏼 Communicate with clarity, confidence, and conviction=
👉🏼 Influence decisions and build trust across functions
👉🏼 Speak up under pressure — without sounding aggressive or backing down
👉🏼 Encourage your team to share ideas, concerns, and feedback
👉🏼 Tackle conflict, disagreement, and misalignment early and effectively
You'll hear insights, frameworks, and stories from real workplaces — all designed to help you grow your leadership impact through communication.
🎙 With 400+ episodes, the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast is trusted by people leaders across Fortune 500s, healthcare, tech, startups, and global organizations.
ABOUT THE HOST
Ivna Curi is a Fortune 500 speaker, TEDx speaker, and host of the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast. She's a Forbes contributor, author of Unapologetic Voice, and founder of the Assertive Way Institute. A former corporate leader with an MBA from INSEAD and over 20,000 leaders trained, Ivna brings global experience and real-world strategies that help leaders drive results through bold communication.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Assertive Way Institute helps organizations empower people leaders to lead bold conversations, influence outcomes, and build courageous speak-up cultures. Our workshops and talks help people leaders become confident, clear communicators — and turn workplace communication into a competitive advantage.
Whether you're addressing conflict, delivering feedback, leading meetings, or navigating difficult conversations, this podcast gives you practical strategies to:
👉🏼 Communicate with clarity, confidence, and conviction=
👉🏼 Influence decisions and build trust across functions
👉🏼 Speak up under pressure — without sounding aggressive or backing down
👉🏼 Encourage your team to share ideas, concerns, and feedback
👉🏼 Tackle conflict, disagreement, and misalignment early and effectively
You'll hear insights, frameworks, and stories from real workplaces — all designed to help you grow your leadership impact through communication.
🎙 With 400+ episodes, the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast is trusted by people leaders across Fortune 500s, healthcare, tech, startups, and global organizations.
ABOUT THE HOST
Ivna Curi is a Fortune 500 speaker, TEDx speaker, and host of the Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast. She's a Forbes contributor, author of Unapologetic Voice, and founder of the Assertive Way Institute. A former corporate leader with an MBA from INSEAD and over 20,000 leaders trained, Ivna brings global experience and real-world strategies that help leaders drive results through bold communication.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Assertive Way Institute helps organizations empower people leaders to lead bold conversations, influence outcomes, and build courageous speak-up cultures. Our workshops and talks help people leaders become confident, clear communicators — and turn workplace communication into a competitive advantage.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 3, 2022 • 22min
10 Practical Examples Of Empathetic Assertiveness At Work
How can you be assertive and empathetic at the same time? Here are 10 practical examples on how to do it. Find out: ✔️ How to deliver bad news with empathy ✔️ How to give negative feedback to boss or team member with empathy ✔️ How to deal with an angry coworker or superior with empathy 👉🏼Links Episode 5 Reasons Why Being More Assertive Actually Makes You Kinder: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/5-reasons-why-being-more-assertive-actually-makes-you-kinder Episode Top 10 Daily Challenges Women Face At Work: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/top-10-daily-challenges-women-face-at-work Find out about our talks and workshops: https://assertiveway.com/services/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Aug 2, 2022 • 8min
How To Strategically Use The Awkward Silence In Communication To Help Resolve Conflict
Has someone with more power than you ever asked you to do something that you didn't want to do? Here's how I used awkward silence to regain some power when my boss asked me to pick up lunch for him or to do work on the weekend. ✔️ How people instinctively react to a moment of silence after they asked you for something ✔️ Why silence is a subtle but powerful strategy for superiors like your boss ✔️ Why non-verbals work well with more powerful people 👉🏼 Links Confidently Say No In A Respectful Way (In 7 Easy Steps): https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/confidently-say-no-in-a-respectful-way-in-7-easy-steps 10 day assertive & liked challenge: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/beassertiveandliked Find out about our talks and workshops: https://assertiveway.com/services/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Aug 1, 2022 • 48min
What Every Professional Woman Must Know About How To Be More Visible (With Speaker Trainer Elizabeth Bachman)
Not being visible enough at work will eventually leave you feeling undervalued. How can you be more visible at work as a woman? Elizabeth Bachman, presentation skills trainer and former director of international operas including Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, shares: ✔️ How women can stop sabotaging their careers ✔️ The differences between single-focused vs. multi-focused communication and why it matters ✔️ Communication strategies for women to increase their visibility and be more valued at work 👉🏼Links: Elizabeth Bachman website: https://elizabethbachman.com/ Elizabeth Bachman resources: https://elizabethbachman.com/resources/ International podcast, Speakers Who Get Results: www.ElizabethBachman.com/podcast Elizabeth Bachman Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethbachman Podcast playlist for professional women: https://assertiveway.com/81 How Can Women Close The Gender Gap Even If They Suffer Gender Bias: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-can-women-close-the-gender-gap-even-if-they-suffer-gender-bias Find out about our talks and workshops: https://assertiveway.com/services/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Jul 29, 2022 • 11min
20 Reasons Why Successful Leaders Have Assertive Teams
Successful leaders and managers choose assertive employees because of these 20 factors. The good new is that if your team members are not assertive, they can learn assertiveness, because it is a communication skill. 👉🏼Links: What Is Your Appreciation Language At Work? https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/what-is-your-appreciation-language-at-work Quiz - What is your appreciation language: https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/61c366b3b5a4aa001810ec95 Important Assertiveness Skills You Need At Your Job Level: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/042-assertiveness-skills-you-need-at-your-job-level 10 day assertive & liked challenge: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/beassertiveandliked Find out about our talks and workshops: https://assertiveway.com/services/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Jul 27, 2022 • 10min
It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It
You can say anything to anyone if you say it in the right way. You can even avoid hurting feelings, being disliked, and retaliation when you speak your mind with the right delivery. Because people won't remember what you said or did, but they will remember how you made them feel. In this episode, you'll discover: ✔️ The 3 elements of communication ✔️ The elements of your communication delivery ✔️ How my employee criticized my performance evaluation methods during his evaluation 👉🏼 Links: How To Speak Up At Work And Never Have To Fear Of Retribution Again: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-to-speak-up-at-work-and-never-have-to-fear-of-retribution-again Avoid These 2 Toxic Assumptions That Kill Your Relationships Like Termites: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/avoid-these-2-toxic-assumptions-that-kill-your-relationships-like-termites Find out about our talks and workshops: https://assertiveway.com/services/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Jul 26, 2022 • 53min
5 Self-Advocacy Lessons That Will Pay Off And Make You Feel Powerful (With DEI Leader Zahida Sherman)
Here's a fantastic example of how you can make advocating for yourself and for others work for you with vulnerability. This is a story of how to use self-advocacy and advocating for others for more dignity and respect with the one and only, cheerful, light-hearted, yet courageous Zahida Sherman, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Southern California Institute of Architecture. In this episode, you'll discover: ✔️ How to speak up for others when you witness microaggressions happening. ✔️ A self-advocacy journaling practice to fuel your courage and self-confidence. ✔️ Learning data talk to successfully advocate for yourself and for your ideas. ✔️ When confused about your career path, how to use interviews to find out what you really want. ✔️ The secret to take a leap of faith while defying the messaging from society, colleagues, and family about what your life is supposed to be and look like. Zahida Sherman (she/her) is a compassionate and strategic educator, consultant, and writer. As a Seattle native with Afrocentric and social justice centered roots, she draws on her lived experience as one of the few Black people in predominantly white spaces to empower others to create safe and inclusive cultures. Zahida holds a master's in African history from Northwestern University, and a bachelor's from Ithaca College, with majors in Africana Studies [self-designed] and anthropology. She currently works as the inaugural director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the Southern California Institute of Architecture. You can find her musings on adulthood, culture, race, and gender in Bustle, Globe & Mail, and the Onbeing podcast, among others. 👉🏼Links: Zahida Sherman Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahida-sherman-a8b9b97a/ Zahida's Instagram: @sweetiezeezee and @zcrownconsulting ZCrownConsulting: https://zcrownconsulting.com/ Want to be featured in podcast? Email info@assertiveway.com The Missing Bottom-Up Approach To DE&I: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/the-missing-bottom-up-approach-to-dei How This Female Lawyer Advocates for Others Without Being "Difficult" or Burning Out: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-this-female-lawyer-advocates-for-others-without-being-difficult-or-burning-out How To Speak Up At Work And Never Have To Fear Of Retribution Again: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-to-speak-up-at-work-and-never-have-to-fear-of-retribution-again Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertive Way Website: https://assertiveway.com/ Assertive & Liked 10-Day Challenge: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/beassertiveandliked Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Jul 23, 2022 • 20min
How I Finally Got Noticed At Work Doing Only One Thing
How to get your ideas noticed by the right people? Do you share your ideas even if you think it's not good enough? Here's why you need to give your ideas a chance. 👉🏼 Links: How To Speak Up At Work And Never Have To Fear Of Retribution Again: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-to-speak-up-at-work-and-never-have-to-fear-of-retribution-again Want Unfair Advantage? Show Up With Courage When Others Avoid Rejection: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/want-unfair-advantage-show-up-with-courage-when-others-avoid-rejection Find out about our talks and workshops: https://assertiveway.com/services/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Jul 22, 2022 • 21min
How Can Women Close The Gender Gap Even If They Suffer Gender Bias
Can women combat the negative effects of gender bias in their work and careers? Not entirely, but it is possible to minimize it. Discover: ✔️ Why fighting the negative impact of gender bias is as important as fighting bias ✔️ Everyday challenges women face at work ✔️ 6 thing assertiveness is not 👉🏼Links: Find out about our talks and workshops: https://assertiveway.com/services/ Episode Top 10 Daily Challenges Women Face At Work: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-10-daily-challenges-women-face-at-work/id1623647915?i=1000560577533 Episode Dear Professional Woman, It's Unfair and Unjust: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dear-professional-woman-its-unfair-and-unjust/id1623647915?i=1000569251883 Episode 6 Big Differences In How Women And Men Speak Up At Work: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-big-differences-in-how-women-and-men-speak-up-at-work/id1623647915?i=1000560577382 Episode The Missing Bottom-Up Approach To DE&I: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-missing-bottom-up-approach-to-de-i/id1623647915?i=1000567452271 Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Jul 20, 2022 • 14min
Do You Feel Invisible At Work? It's Time To Leave Obscurity
What do you do when you feel invisible at work? When you feel insignificant, rejected, as if you didn't matter at all? You need to get yourself out of obscurity. Here's some inspiration to help you start making yourself visible. 👉🏼Links Get a talk on speaking up assertively in your company, team, or women's group: https://assertiveway.com/services Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915
Jul 18, 2022 • 1h 3min
How You Can Assemble a Powerful Advisory Team To Support Your Career (with Sabeen Syed)
Engineering Director Sabeen demonstrates the power of having mentors and advisors to support you and catapult your career through several examples. In this episode, you'll discover: ✔️ A framework to help you decide your next best career move. ✔️ The smartest way to get new mentors at work. ✔️ Why using mentors can spark your ambition and elevate your career. ✔️ The mindset hack to get you to finally share your half-baked ideas in meetings. ✔️ A strategic power move that gets even the most uncollaborative coworker to collaborate without any conflict. Links: Episode Discover How To Make People Listen To You When They Try To Ignore You (With Vishwaa Vaidya): https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/discover-how-to-make-people-listen-to-you-when-they-try-to-ignore-you-with-guest-vishwaa-vaidya Episode How To Get Noticed At Work If You Are A Minority, Underrepresented, or Underprivileged (with Samuel Santos): https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-to-get-noticed-at-work-if-you-are-a-minority-underrepresented-or-underprivileged Assertiveness free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertive & Liked 10-Day Challenge: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/10daychallengeoffer Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Rate the podcast on apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-your-mind-unapologetically-podcast/id1623647915 Leave the podcast a rating or review guide: https://youtu.be/iN96MGnmFdk
