In episode 97, I’m joined by Errika S. Brooks, founder of Gen Z Times (GZT), a platform created to amplify and empower Gen Z by helping them navigate career challenges, build meaningful connections, and define success in their own way.

With over seven years of experience across higher education, nonprofit leadership, and youth-focused partnerships, Errika blends strategy, creativity, and student development to design spaces that reflect the needs and values of Gen Z, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ audiences. As a youth advocate, community strategist, and Gen Z’s biggest cheerleader, she brings an authentic and heart-centered perspective to every conversation about connection and belonging.

Together, we explore how Gen Z is redefining networking, moving beyond the question “What do you do?” toward authentic, community-driven connection. Networking has long been seen as awkward or transactional, but Gen Z is shifting that narrative by focusing on shared interests, values, and belonging. Errika shares how her After 5 Experiment networking events help people connect without the pressure of titles or business cards and what professionals of all generations can learn from this human-centered approach to building relationships.

In this episode, I cover:

• How Gen Z is moving beyond the question “What do you do?”

• Why authentic networking starts with shared humanity, not hierarchy

• What it looks like to create safety and inclusion in professional spaces

• How to network across, not just up, and why peer connections matter

• The mindset shift needed to make networking feel natural instead of forced

Key Takeaways:

• Networking doesn’t have to be transactional—it can start with friendship

• You don’t need to “network up” to grow; building across your peers matters just as much

• Authenticity and inclusion make spaces safer and more effective for everyone

• Community and consistency are key to meaningful connections

Chapters:

00:12 Guest Introduction and Networking Shift

02:32 Errika Brooks’s Career Journey

05:39 Critique of Prescriptive Networking

09:14 Gen Z Networking Principles

12:53 DC Networking Experiment Format

17:52 Prompt Effects and Accessibility

22:37 Networking as Peer Community

26:53 Alignment, Career Pivots, and Next Steps

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In episode 96, we’re talking about how to make bold career moves without spiraling into overthinking or second-guessing every step.

Big decisions, whether it’s pivoting industries, leaving corporate, or starting a business, will always come with fear and uncertainty. That’s why I use a framework with my clients called the ABC Plan, designed to help you name what you really want, prepare for the hard moments, and create the safety net you need to move forward with confidence.

In this episode, I cover:

• How to define your Plan A, your boldest vision, without worrying about practicality

• Why creating a Plan B helps you navigate the messy middle when things get tough

• How Plan C builds the psychological safety to take risks without panic

• Real client stories of making big career pivots, from corporate jobs to new cities and businesses

• Practical ways to reduce stress, detach from outcomes, and keep momentum even when challenges show up

If you’ve been stuck in hesitation or caught in loops of “what ifs,” this episode will show you how to ground your decisions in clarity and create the confidence to finally move forward.

Key Takeaways:

• Your boldest goals must be named before they can be achieved

• Challenges are inevitable, prepare for them instead of quitting when they come

• A safety net creates the confidence to take calculated risks

• Detaching from outcomes helps you show up with clarity and energy

Chapters:

00:00 ABC Plan: Define Plan A Vision

04:06 Start with a Bold Desired Outcome

06:41 Plan B: Prepare for Hard Moments

09:50 Navigating the Messy Middle

15:04 Plan C: Build Psychological Safety

18:28 Managing Uncertainty with a Safety Net

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So many people sit on a side business idea for months or even years because they think they need the perfect plan before taking the first step.

If you’ve been circling your idea, asking yourself if you’re “ready,” or stuck in research mode, this episode is your reminder that clarity comes from action, not overthinking.

I’m sharing client stories and my own experience of waiting too long to start, along with the practical steps I now guide clients through to move from hesitation into momentum.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why hesitation and self-doubt keep you stuck in the “what ifs”

• How to start small by offering one simple service with skills you already have

• The first concrete steps to test your idea with real feedback instead of procrastinating

• How to identify your first clients and where to find them

• Why consistency, not intensity, is what builds a sustainable side business

If you’ve been sitting on an idea but don’t know where to start, this episode will help you move forward with clarity, strategy, and energy that lasts.

Key Takeaways:

• The first version of your business won’t be the final version, start anyway

• You don’t need a perfect plan, you need one clear step

• Testing with real people builds clarity faster than more research

• Consistency is what creates momentum

Chapters:

00:00 Internal Hesitation Blocking Side Businesses

03:17 Start Small Using Existing Expertise

07:38 Concrete First Steps to Avoid Procrastination

11:17 Define Ideal Client and Test Reach Channels

13:50 Start Small and Protect Energy

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In episode 94, we’re talking about what happens when career clarity sparks something bigger, a vision for your life.

For many of my clients, clarity doesn’t just lead to the next job title or salary increase. It opens the door to freedom, creativity, and the possibility of building a business alongside their career. In this episode, I share how clients are exploring both paths at once, from testing side business ideas to creating boundaries that prevent burnout, and why you don’t have to choose between being a leader in your career and building something of your own.

In this episode, I cover:

• How career clarity often reveals deeper values and life goals beyond titles and paychecks

• Why you don’t need to quit your job to start a side business

• The mindset shift required to move away from “all or nothing” thinking

• How to experiment with small projects before going all in

• Practical strategies to balance career advancement with entrepreneurship

  
  

If you’ve been wondering whether you have to choose between stability and freedom, or career growth and entrepreneurship, this conversation will show you that it’s possible to build both, without burning yourself out.

Key Takeaways:

• Career clarity can reveal bigger life visions, not just job titles

• You don’t need to burn it all down to start a side business

• Experimentation creates clarity without the pressure of full commitment

• Boundaries, timelines, and support systems make balancing both paths possible

Chapters:

00:00 Career Clarity Reveals Life Vision

03:44 Transition Toward Wellness-Focused Work

07:13 Reframing Mindset for Side Businesses

11:47 Experimentation Over Full Commitment

17:01 Parallel Career Advancement and Ventures

20:42 Practical Pathways for Dual Careers

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In episode 93, we’re talking about how AI can actually support your job search and why it’s a tool, not a strategy.

If you’ve been stuck in research mode, endlessly tweaking your resume, or wondering if using AI is “cheating,” this episode will give you a grounded perspective on how to use it effectively. I share how my clients integrate AI into their job search and career pivots, from resumes and cover letters to networking and interview prep, so they can move faster and with more clarity.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why AI alone won’t get you unstuck in your job search

• How my clients use AI to streamline resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn updates

• Ways AI can make networking and interview prep less overwhelming

• How workshops and accountability create space to learn and apply new tools

Key Takeaways:

• AI is a tool, not a job search strategy

• Clarity must come first, AI amplifies what you bring to it

• Using AI can speed up tedious tasks so you can focus on strategy and confidence

• Accountability and community make learning new tools more effective

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to AI in Job Search

07:16 AI as a Tool, Not a Strategy

15:10 Streamlining Job Search with AI

21:44 Workshops and Continuous Learning

Learn more and stay connected:

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In episode 92, I’m joined by my client, Jasmine, who shares her journey from feeling stuck at the manager level to stepping into leadership, building confidence in networking, and navigating a major industry transition.

Over the last year and a half, Jasmine has transformed how she approaches her career, from advocating for promotions and leading with visibility to embracing new opportunities with clarity and confidence. In this conversation, we explore what it looks like to set clear goals, push past perfectionism, and build a leadership style rooted in trust and celebration.

In this episode, I cover:

• How Jasmine went from dreading networking to becoming a city ambassador for a women’s networking group

• The strategies she used to advocate for a promotion and increase her visibility at work

• Why direct, concise communication and accountability shifted her confidence in leadership

• What it looks like to embrace an industry change and lean on transferable skills

• The role coaching played in helping her stay accountable, celebrate wins, and step into her leadership voice

Key Takeaways:

• Networking confidence can be built step by step with the right strategies

• Visibility and self-advocacy are essential for career growth

• Celebrating small wins fuels confidence and momentum

• Transferable skills allow you to thrive, even when changing industries

Chapters:

01:32 Introductions and Coaching Context

04:11 Clarifying Career Goals and Plan

10:17 Networking Transformation and Strategies

14:29 Developing Direct, Concise Communication

19:29 Advocating for Promotion Through Visibility

25:49 Practical Leadership Development and Decision-Making

31:19 Emotional Arc of Industry Transition

34:28 Onboarding Strategies and Managing Perfectionism

38:44 Changing Industries and Transferable Skills

44:01 Evaluating Coaching Fit and Next Steps

Learn more and stay connected:

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In episode 91, we’re talking about why overperforming is not a strategy for advancement and what to do instead when you’re working harder than ever but still not being recognized.

If you’ve been the go-to person, taking on extra tasks, staying late, and doing more than your share only to feel undervalued or overlooked, this episode is for you. I’m breaking down why overperforming doesn’t guarantee promotions, the emotional toll it takes, and how to shift into strategies that actually get you seen and supported.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why overperforming often backfires when it comes to career growth

• The hidden emotional cost of working harder but still feeling undervalued

• How boundaries and visibility create real opportunities for advancement

• Practical strategies for self-advocacy, recognition, and sustainable success

Key Takeaways:

• Overperforming is not a promotion strategy

• Recognition comes from visibility, not just hard work

• Boundaries and communication are essential for sustainable success

• You don’t have to prove your worth over and over, you get to own it

Chapters:

00:46 Challenges of Overperforming in Professional Settings

04:29 Visibility and Recognition in Career Advancement

09:18 Emotional Impact of Feeling Undervalued

12:39 Mindset and Self-Perception in the Workplace

14:04 Setting Boundaries to Prevent Burnout

17:00 Self-Advocacy for Overperformers

21:02 Emotional Toll of Overperforming

Learn more and stay connected:

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In episode 90, we’re talking about how to recognize when your job is quietly draining you and the hidden costs that come with staying in misalignment.

If you’ve been brushing off your fatigue, telling yourself it’s just “busy season,” or rationalizing that things will eventually get better, this episode is your reminder to take those signals seriously before burnout takes over. I’m sharing the subtle signs of early burnout, the deeper costs of staying too long in the wrong role, and client stories that show how confidence and clarity can be rebuilt when you choose change.

In this episode, I cover:

• The early signs your energy is being drained (and why it matters to notice them)

• How staying in the wrong role chips away at your confidence and clarity

• The hidden cost of overriding your intuition and self-trust

• Why you don’t have to “burn it all down” to create change and how small, intentional steps make the difference

Key Takeaways:

• Ignoring early signs of burnout only delays progress and recovery

• Staying in the wrong environment erodes self-confidence and motivation

• You don’t have to wait until everything falls apart to make a move

• Small steps toward alignment help you rebuild clarity and self-trust

Chapters:

00:47 Recognizing Job-Related Exhaustion Signs

04:21 Creating a Personal Support Plan

07:58 Hidden Costs of Unfulfilling Jobs

12:03 Challenges of Career Changes

17:48 Recognizing Early Signs of Discomfort

20:02 Aligning Personal Values with Workplace Culture

Learn more and stay connected:

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