In this episode of Career Clarity Unlocked, Theresa White sits down with Tami Reiss, influence-driven leadership expert and CEO of Leader Within, to break down what real leadership is actually made of: clarity, alignment, and trust. Not charisma. Not titles. Not performative confidence.

Tami shares her zig-zag career path, how she built her influence framework, and why the best leaders are not the loudest in the room, they are the clearest. You will also learn how to spot strong company cultures, communicate with more confidence by removing a few sneaky “disqualifier” words, and show your value in interviews without sounding rehearsed.

If you are stepping into leadership, navigating a career pivot, or trying to feel more confident in high-stakes moments, this episode will resonate.

1. Influence > Authority: Why "command and control" kills joy, while influence inspires teams to bring their best selves.
2. The Clarity Superpower: How clear directions and decisive leadership kill ambiguity and build immediate follower-ship.
3. Spotting Culture Green Flags: What Southwest Airlines can teach us about bringing your whole self to work.
4. Communication Power Moves: Why you must ditch "disqualifiers" like just, kind of, and does that make sense? to instantly boost your executive presence.
5. Leadership in the AI Era: Why AI can replace hard skills but will never replicate empathy, system thinking, and genuine human connection.
6. The "Zig-Zag" Career: How to abstract your skills (like an ER nurse becoming a project manager) to pivot without starting over.

00:00 Introduction to Career Clarity Unlocked

00:53 Redefining Influence: Clarity, Alignment, and Trust

01:23 Spotting Great Company Cultures

02:33 Meet Tami Reiss: Influence-Driven Leadership

03:17 Tami’s Career Journey: From Physiological Science to Leadership

05:01 The Power of Influence in Leadership

07:35 Building Confidence and Executive Presence

20:43 Effective Communication: Eliminating Disqualifiers

26:28 Consulting and Transferable Skills

27:54 Career Shifts and Finding Fulfillment

29:00 The Role of Soft Skills in the AI Era

29:50 Leadership Qualities in the Age of AI

32:02 The Importance of Decisiveness in Leadership

42:35 Balancing Confidence and Humility

47:03 Company Culture and Leadership

49:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🔗 Next steps:

1. 3 ChatGPT Prompts to Find Career Clarity → https://www.careerbloomcoaching.com/offers/Mr7xm4zG
2. Deepening Your Self-Worth for Career Confidence →

In this episode of Career Clarity Unlocked, career clarity expert and 5x certified career coach Theresa White takes you inside a real, live coaching session with Anna, a high-performing marketer who’s climbed fast, checked all the right boxes… and still felt a quiet pull for something more.

On paper, Anna’s career is impressive. In reality, she wants to understand what actually energizes her, why certain projects light her up while others drain her, and what her next level really looks like.

Together, Theresa and Anna unpack her Sparketypes:

1. The Scientist — problem-solver, system-fixer, puzzle-cracker
2. The Maven — curious learner, deep diver, driven by the need to know more

If you love solving messy problems, get energized by research and strategy, and feel your soul slowly leave your body when work shifts into maintenance mode… this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar.

This conversation is a masterclass in what career clarity actually looks like in real time. Not reinventing yourself. Not starting over. But seeing the pattern of who you already are, naming it, and building a career that fits how you’re wired.

00:00 Introduction to Career Clarity Unlocked

00:54 The Power of Career Clarity

01:43 Meet Anna: A Marketing Pro

02:21 Unpacking Anna's Sparketype

04:16 Anna's Professional Journey

07:08 The Scientist and Maven Sparketype

10:57 Anna's Favorite Projects and Challenges

19:59 The Importance of Growth and Problem-Solving

25:33 Navigating Mundane Tasks and Seeking New Challenges

28:41 Finding Motivation in Repetitive Roles

30:33 Exploring Consulting and Fractional CMO Roles

33:02 Understanding Sparketypes and Personal Fit

37:31 The Value of Mentorship and Teaching

41:40 Balancing Learning and Doing

48:08 Defining Your Personal Brand

49:17 Session Insights and Career Clarity

57:09 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

🔗 Next steps:

1. 3 ChatGPT Prompts to Find Career Clarity → https://www.careerbloomcoaching.com/offers/Mr7xm4zG
2. Deepening Your Self-Worth for Career Confidence → https://www.careerbloomcoaching.com/offers/4KENh8tF
3. 35+ Progressive Companies Hiring Now → https://www.careerbloomcoaching.com/offers/xTDHFSpJ
4. 17 Fill-in-the-Blank Templates to Reach Out to Recruiters →

Ever feel like the corporate world is one giant, confusing chess game, and no one gave you the rules? You’re not alone.

In this special bonus episode from the 12 Days of Career Goals, host Theresa White teams up with two game-changing experts, Kendall Berg (Career Coach and Content Creator) and Shabnam Golmohammadi (Silicon Valley Leadership Coach), to help you navigate the unspoken rules of corporate politics, tackle workplace challenges, and break through to senior leadership roles, all while staying authentically you.

This episode is packed with actionable strategies for ambitious professionals who are ready to stop playing small and start playing smart. Whether you’re managing up, building influence, or addressing workplace biases, Kendall and Shab share insights that will empower you to take control of your career and make 2026 your breakout year.

👉 Ready for career clarity in record time? Request a free consultation with Theresa at www.careerbloomcoaching.com/consultation.

1. 00:00: Introduction to Career Clarity Unlocked
2. 02:51: Cracking the Code of Corporate Politics
3. 09:19: Women in Leadership: Overcoming Biases and Breaking Barriers
4. 23:45: Burnout-Proof Strategies for Corporate Success
5. 39:45: Balancing Your Authentic Self with Corporate Expectations
6. 47:19: Setting Bold Leadership Goals for 2025
7. 51:47: Ageism in Tech and Beyond: How to Push Back
8. 56:48: Building Influence as an Introvert
9. 01:01:39: Next Steps: Personalized Coaching and Goal Setting

Connect with Kendall Berg:

1. LinkedIn: Kendall Berg
2. Instagram: @thatcareercoach_
3. YouTube: That Career Coach_
4. Podcast: Secrets of the Career Game
5. Website: ThatCareerCoach.net

Connect with Shabnam Golmohammadi::