

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

Jun 29, 2022 • 14min
4 Reasons Why It Is Important For Leaders To Speak Up
People pleasing and passive leaders do not exist! Leaders need to speak up every day. Do they need to be caring? Yes. Listen to the team? Yes. Have empathy? Yes. But don't forget that assertive communication is also a must. Here are 4 reasons leaders need to speak up. 👉🏼 Links Episode How to handle frustrations as a leader: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-to-handle-frustrations-as-a-leader Episode Important Assertiveness Skills You Need At Your Job Level: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/042-assertiveness-skills-you-need-at-your-job-level Episode What Makes Managers Great? https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/what-makes-great-managers-with-soft-skills-expert-scott-asai 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 a rating and review guide: https://youtu.be/iN96MGnmFdk

Jun 27, 2022 • 58min
How To Get Noticed At Work If You Are A Minority, Underrepresented, or Underprivileged
How do you go from minority, immigrant, underprivileged waste picker to senior executive VP at Johnson & Johnson? You get noticed! Samuel reveals all the secrets he used to stand out, get noticed, and make himself and his ideas more visible at work. And so can you! In this episode you'll discover: ✔️ His approach to selling and talking up his ideas at work. ✔️ What Samuel every time someone tried to put him down or tell him he didn't belong there. ✔️ How he decided what skills to focus on and which ones to drop. ✔️ A winning tactic to disagree with superiors that worked like magic. ✔️ How he challenged superiors when they told him he was too aggressive or difficult. ✔️ 2 strategies he used every time he heard a "no." ✔️ And much, much more! Samuel Moody Santos is a retired senior executive in Vice President at Johnson & Johnson, Engineer, MBA, and also minister, author, honorary consul, polyglot (5 languages), former university professor, and also husband, dad, grandfather. He is a complete man. He is the author of "In Spite of the Headwinds: My Journey from Waste Picker to Vice President at a Top-Forty Fortune 500 Company" (link below). He is also an experienced public speaker. 👉🏼Links: Book "In Spite of the Headwinds: My Journey from Waste Picker to Vice President at a Top-Forty Fortune 500 Company": https://www.amazon.com/Spite-Headwinds-Picker-Senior-Executive-ebook/dp/B09KGRQ61W Samuel Moody Santos Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-moody-santos-56601a10/ Episode Find Courage To Speak Your Mind In These 9 Episodes (May 25, 2022) https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/048-find-courage-to-speak-your-mind-in-these-9-episodes Episode 6 Conflict Myths: Lies Teachers Like To Tell About Confrontation (Feb 9, 2022) https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/029-6-conflict-myths-lies-teachers-like-to-tell-about-confrontation Episode 12 Questions To Know When To Ignore Criticism and Judgment (Feb 28, 2022) https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/12-questions-to-know-when-to-not-take-judgment-seriously Episode A New Way To Think About Being Nice: Why Niceness Is The 51st Shade Of Grey (May 4, 2022) https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/047-a-new-way-to-think-about-being-nice-why-niceness-is-the-51st-shade-of-grey Episode 18 Tips To Attract Endless Opportunities For Yourself (Oct 18 2021) https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/18-tips-to-attract-endless-opportunities-for-yourself Episode How Passion, Feedback, Persistence, and "Not Yet" Can Help You Achieve Your Dreams (Oct18) https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-passion-feedback-persistence-and-not-yet-can-help-you-achieve-your-dreams Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Assertive & Liked 10-Day Challenge: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/10daychallengeoffer

Jun 25, 2022 • 17min
Overcoming Failure: My Lowest Low
We will all experience our own lowest lows at work, in relationships, in our health, in our finances, as a student. Failure is guaranteed to happen, especially when you stretch yourself. The question is, how will you overcome it. In this story, you'll discover: ✔️How to enlist support through your lows ✔️How to communicate negative news to people without discouraging them ✔️How to pivot after you receive very negative feedback 👉🏼LINKS Episode How Passion, Feedback, Persistance, and "Not Yet" Can Help You Achieve Your Dreams: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/how-passion-feedback-persistence-and-not-yet-can-help-you-achieve-your-dreams Episode 10 Real-life Examples of How Assertiveness Can Boost Your Career: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/044-10-real-life-inspiring-examples-of-how-assertive-communication-can-boost-your-career Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Leave a rating and review guide: https://youtu.be/iN96MGnmFdk

Jun 24, 2022 • 10min
How To Handle Frustrations As A Leader
Managers and leaders will experience frustration at work. The question is, how do you handle those frustrations in the most productive way possible that makes you feel proud afterwards? In this episode you'll discover: ✔️ How to use frustrations to set you apart from others. ✔️ A mindset shift to help you choose to raise to the challenge. ✔️ Questions to help you prepare for frustrations in advance. 👉🏼Links: Important Assertiveness Skills You Need At YourJob Level: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/042-assertiveness-skills-you-need-at-your-job-level First Day As A Manager: The Day I Discovered I had To Be More Assertive: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/first-day-as-a-manager-the-day-i-discovered-i-had-to-be-more-assertive Work with AssertiveWay: https://www.assertiveway.com/services Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Leave a rating and review guide: https://youtu.be/iN96MGnmFdk

Jun 23, 2022 • 24min
The Missing Bottom-Up Approach To DE&I
Even with the best DE&I programs, minorities will still experience microaggressions, implicit bias, and fear of retaliation. That' why top-down DE&I programs are needed but not enough. A bottom-up DE&I aimed at giving the minorities the skills to advocate for themselves is also needed. Assertive communication is the best bottom-up approach to DE&I. Here's how. 👉🏼Links: Work with AssertiveWay: https://www.assertiveway.com/services Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Leave a rating and review guide: https://youtu.be/iN96MGnmFdk

Jun 20, 2022 • 45min
What Makes Great Managers (With Soft Skills Expert Scott Asai)
75% of people leave their managers, not their salary, says soft skills speaker, Scott Asai. Do you have the rights skills to excel as a manager? In this episode, you'll discover: ✔️ How managers are the x-factor in companies ✔️ What makes managers great ✔️ What soft skills differentiate managers Scott Asai is a professional speaker specializing in teaching soft skills. He focuses on improving communication, leadership and emotional intelligence. Scott's brief, conversational and practical style makes it easy for audiences to implement new strategies. His experience includes: B.A in Psychology, M.A. in Organizational Leadership, Certified Professional Coach, Certified Strengths Coach (Clifton Strengths) and TEDx Speaker. In his free time, Scott enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, working out and playing. Links: Scott Asai: scottasai.com & linkedin.com/in/scottasai Episode Important Assertiveness Skills You Need At Your Job Level: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/042-assertiveness-skills-you-need-at-your-job-level Episode 10 Real-life Examples of How Assertive Communication Can Boost Your Career: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/044-10-real-life-inspiring-examples-of-how-assertive-communication-can-boost-your-career Assertiveness free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Assertive & Liked 10-Day Challenge: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/10daychallengeoffer

Jun 18, 2022 • 18min
First Day As A Manager: The Day I Discovered I had To Be More Assertive
How was your very first day as a manager? Was it a breeze or was it stressful? In this episode I share how I realized that I would need to be more assertive if I wanted to succeed as a manager. And why you need a boss or mentor that will push you to speak up outside of your comfort zone. 👉🏼LINKS Episode Important Assertiveness Skills You Need At Your Job Level: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/042-assertiveness-skills-you-need-at-your-job-level Episode How Project Manager Joy Became a Manager For The First Time: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=manager Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Leave a rating and review guide: https://youtu.be/iN96MGnmFdk

Jun 17, 2022 • 15min
4 Powerful Ways To Stop Ruminating Now
Rumination and overthinking a bad situation is not helpful to anyone. But it's also very hard to stop that negative thinking pattern! In this episode, you'll discover 4 powerful strategies to help you stop your ruminating, even if you haven't been able to control it in the past. 👉🏼LINKS Episode 12 Questions To Know When To Ignore Criticism And Judgement: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/12-questions-to-know-when-to-not-take-judgment-seriously Episode Top Hack To Stop Worrying About What People Think Of You: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/top-hack-to-stop-worrying-about-what-people-think-of-you Episode How To Stop Worrying About Being Judged: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/top-hack-to-stop-worrying-about-what-people-think-of-you Episode How To Respond To Desmissive Comments: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/5-steps-to-respond-to-are-you-on-your-period-and-mistakes-to-avoid Show Notes: https://assertiveway.com/4-powerful-ways-to-stop-ruminating-to-build-more-confidence/ Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Leave a rating and review guide: https://youtu.be/iN96MGnmFdk

Jun 15, 2022 • 37min
What Is Your Appreciation Language At Work?
People feel appreciated in different ways and crave different things from others. That why it is important to know your own appreciation language and that of your team and coworkers. In this episode you'll discover: ✔️ The 4 languages of appreciation – which one is yours (take quiz) ✔️ How to get appreciated in your preferred language ✔️ How to appreciate others in their language 👉🏼Links: Quiz - What is your appreciation language: https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/61c366b3b5a4aa001810ec95 Get More Recognition Episodes 6 Big Differences In How Women And Men Speak Up At Work 7 Tips To Confidently Speak In Large Meetings Ladies: 10 Credibility Killer Mistakes That Undermine You At Work (And What To Do Instead) Confident And Assertive Non-Verbals To Be Taken Seriously Get More Opportunities Episodes 18 Tips To Attract Endless Opportunities For Yourself The Secret To Creating Opportunites Your Yourself Where Career Opportunities Really Come From Get More Appreciation Episodes Responding to Compliments You Hate (As a Woman) 5 Better Ways To Say Good Job Get More Freedom Episodes How To Find The Courage To Ask For What You Want Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Leave a rating and review guide: https://youtu.be/iN96MGnmFdk

Jun 10, 2022 • 16min
7 Compelling Reasons You Need To Start A Bragging Ritual
Bragging is often seen very negatively. But the reality is that bragging can be positive or negative, depending on how you choose to use it. In this episode, you'll discover: ✔️How to have a bragging ritual and party ✔️7 Reasons you need to brag more ✔️3 "Bad Bragging" myths debunked 👉🏼LINKS Easy Self-Promotion: https://assertiveway.com/5-easy-ways-to-promote-your-work-more-organically/ Assertive Communication Newsletter: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter/ Assertiveness free resources: https://assertiveway.com/free/ Assertiveness free training: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/getahead Leave a rating and review guide: https://youtu.be/iN96MGnmFdk


