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
Oct 29, 2021 • 19min
[023] How To Stop Worrying About Being Judged
Do you feel like you're always being judged by others? Do you feel like people judge you unfairly? Does it bother you? Let me show you how to worry less about being judged. Judgement always feels like a threat, but most of the time it isn't. And in the few moments where there is a real threat, you have more influence over the outcome then you think. Not all judgement is created equal. You can't get rid of others judgment of you, but you can police the access doors to your sanctuary. In this episode you'll discover 12 questions to help you know when to not take judgment seriously. To learn more about how to advocate for yourself, sign up for our assertiveness newsletter at www.assertiveway.com/newsletter.
Oct 29, 2021 • 20min
[022] 7 Tips To Confidently Speak In Large Meetings
It can feel intimidating to speak up in meetings with many people, that have people more senior than you, or where everyone speaks at the same time. Speaking and participating in meetings doesn't have to be difficult! In this episode, you'll discover 7 great techniques to easily insert yourself into those meeting conversations, so that you never have to enter and leave a meeting in complete silence ever again. To learn more about speaking up in various situations, signup for our assertive communication newsletter at: https://www.assertiveway.com/newsletter
Oct 29, 2021 • 33min
[021] How To Handle Rude Interruptions In A Polite Way
No one likes to be interrupted. Everyone likes to feel heard. If you feel like people interrupt you often, walk all over you, and don't listen to what you have to say, then there are some techniques that can help you better handle interruptions in an elegant way. In this episode, you'll find out many strategies to handle rude interruptions graciously. To learn more about how to stand up for yourself, learn assertive communication. Start right now by signing up for our assertiveness newsletter as www.assertiveway.com/newsletter.
Oct 29, 2021 • 39min
[020] How Women Can Ensure They Succeed In Their Careers (Interview with Asia)
In this interview, Asia shares 3 ways to promote your work in a non-weird way, how to become the CEO of your career, and the dangers of people-pleasing for your career. Asia is the founder of the bad boss breakthrough initiative and Bridgewell professional services. Asia is a leadership and empowerment expert, professional coach and speaker, and coaches accomplished professionals who are already to be fully recognized for their contributions. You can find her at linkedin or her company website bridgewellpro.com. To learn more about assertiveness, sign up for our newsletter at www.assertiveway.com/newsletter Check the full article and transcript based on this interview at: https://assertiveway.com/interview-with-asia-bribiesca-hedin/
Oct 29, 2021 • 44min
[019] Confident And Assertive Non-Verbals To Be Taken Seriously
If you don't have a confident assertive non-verbals and body language, people won't take you seriously even if your words are impressive. Non-verbals include posture, eye contact, hands, head, voice, and gestures. In this episode, you'll discover how to master your non-verbals so that you feel more confident, feel respected, and heard. To learn more about boosting your confidence with assertive communication, sign up for our free newsletter at www.assertiveway.com/newsletter.
Oct 28, 2021 • 59min
[018] Training How To Be More Assertive (for more confidence and productivity)
Do you struggle with any of these communication challenges at work? Feel underappreciated, under-valued and not recognized for your hard-work? Often find yourself quiet in situations where you wish you had said something? Ruminate and replay responses over and over in your mind? Feel conflicted between speaking up and being a decent nice person? Are afraid of sounding mean, aggressive, or rude when you stand up for yourself? Find it hard to ask for what you want? Want to feel in control over your career and time? Miss out on opportunities at work because others don't notice you? Do you feel these emotional challenges at work? Guilt Impostor syndrome Overwhelm Shame Stress Hopeless Non-Assertiveness may the reason for your frustrations! Don't worry, you'll learn how to be more assertive without being rude in this straightforward podcast training. You'll: Understand what assertiveness means and how it can help you Identify the 4 communication types Know when to communicate assertively Adopt these 5 assertiveness beliefs Identify assertive expressions Recognize 20 assertiveness strategies Join our newsletter to get new soft skill and assertiveness tips every week. Sign up at: www.assertiveway.com/newsletter Visit our website to see our offerings and free resources: www.assertiveway.com
Oct 28, 2021 • 22min
[017] Confidently Say No In A Respectful Way (In 7 Easy Steps)
Saying no and setting boundaries is challenging for giving people. Do you ever: skip your already short vacations; take work calls during dinner? Work more after hours more than you'd like? Accept unreasonable deadlines? Take more work trips than you'd like; Take on a work that is other's responsibility? Take the hit for other people's mistakes? Work often during your vacations? My friend, it's time for you to defend your happiness and say no! And it doesn't have to be impolite... In this episode you'll learn exactly how to say no in a kind and caring way, so that you don't have to feel guilty about it! Saying no and setting boundaries is part of assertive communication skills. Assertiveness is about expressing your boundaries, desires, rights, views, feelings, needs in an polite and respectful way, without getting nervous about it. Start to master assertiveness with this 35 min free introduction course that you can get here: www.assertiveway.com/free Signup for our newsletter to get tips like these every week: www.assertiveway.com/newsletter.
Oct 28, 2021 • 51min
[016] Gain Massive Confidence With Assertive Communication (With Ph.D. Paulette Dale)
Confidence makes us feel good, increases our performance, and also changes how other people treat us. The question is, how can you quickly increase your confidence? I interview Paulette Dale, Ph.D., professor Emeritus, and author of "Did You Say Something, Susan? How Any Woman Can Gain Confidence With Assertive Communication" to find out how to build confidence with assertive communication. In this episode, Paulette talks about how to respond to unfair accusations like "you are too aggressive / selfish / sensitive", why so many women fail to assert themselves, assertiveness, compliments, and much more. Get this episode's summary, article, infographics, and mp3 / podcast version here: https://assertiveway.com/paulette Read Paulette's book "Did You Say Something, Susan? How Any Woman Can Gain Confidence With Assertive Communication": https://www.amazon.com/Did-Something-Susan-Second-Communication/dp/B09J1S6DCS Get a free 35 training on how to be assertive at www.assertiveway.com/free.
Oct 28, 2021 • 26min
[015] How This Female Lawyer Advocates for Others Without Being "Difficult" or Burning Out
Want to be a better advocate for others without coming across as difficult while still taking care of your own needs? Attorney Dorian Morello describes her best strategies to achieve that fine balance. She also talks about how she handles people who challenge her credibility as a female lawyer. And how to earn respect from people who don't take you seriously. Find the transcript and key points from this interview in this article: https://assertiveway.com/advocate-for-others-like-an-attorney Learn to better advocate for yourself and others with assertive communication skills, that you can start learning for free at www.assertiveway.com/free
Oct 28, 2021 • 37min
[014] Secrets To Thrive In A New Country Or Culture (And Critical Mistakes To Avoid)
Moving to a new country can be overwhelming, lonely, and stressful. What's the secret to thrive in a new culture? I interviewed Henri Nkuepo, international lawyer and author of "New Immigrant Playbook – Strategies for Success in Your New Country" to find out. Henri gives inspiring examples from his own experience adjusting to a new culture as a professional. He shares how to get the right sources for advice, how to reach out to the right people, and some of the most important skills needed. He also shares his biggest mistakes and what he would have done differently. One important skill that Henri talks about is becoming his best advocate. Assertive communication allows you to advocate for yourself. Assertiveness is the skill of expressing your needs, wants, desires, rights, thoughts, and feelings in an anxious-free and respectful way. Start learning assertiveness with one of our free introductory trainings at www.assertiveway.com/free. To learn more about how to adapt in a new culture, get Henri's book, "New Immigrant Playbook – Strategies for Success in Your New Country". To see the summary article, infographics, and transcript from this interview visit: https://assertiveway.com/henri/
