Mastering Information Interviews for Internal Networking Success

Over the last several episodes, we have outlined 1) how best to write powerful reviews and 2) how to define results oriented action plans. Now, we'll revisit how best to give and receive feedback that will align you and your team member(s) to elevate ones success. In this high-impact encore episode of Shedding the Corporate Bitch, executive coach  powerhouse trainer, Bernadette Boas, pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to give and receive performance feedback that drives results—not resentment.Whether you’re a seasoned executive, HR professional, or a corporate manager navigating your first review cycle, this episode offers a bold new approach to turning feedback into a year-round leadership advantage.🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:How to reframe feedback as a gift, not a threatWhy most performance reviews fail—and how to make yours matterA simple framework (SBI: Situation, Behavior, Impact) to deliver impactful feedbackHow to prepare for reviews with clarity, confidence, and collaborationPowerful tips to eliminate vagueness, bias, and blind spots in your evaluationsThe #1 mindset shift you need before entering any feedback conversationHow to transform reviews into continuous career development conversations💡 Bonus: Bernadette also shares her top coaching tips on how to ask more questions than you make statements, build trust through transparency, and create a feedback culture that fuels team performance—not fear.If you’re ready to ditch the anxiety and master performance reviews that actually matter—this encore episode is your playbook.Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you stream.Check out episodes: From Performance Reviews to Action Plans to Results, and Power Plays for Writing Powerful Performance Reviews. ➡️ Subscribe and share it with fellow leaders who are ready to lead with intention.Support the show

Are you doing the work… but still not getting noticed? Do promotion decisions happen without your name in the room?In this powerful episode of Shedding the Corporate Bitch, host Bernadette Boas sits down with executive coach and author Monique Daigneault to unlock one of the most underutilized leadership tools in corporate life: the informational interview.Whether you're navigating layoffs, aiming for a promotion, or just tired of being the best-kept secret in your organization—this episode is your wake-up call. 🔥Monique reveals how strategic internal networking can help you:Expand your visibility across departments and leadership levelsClarify and communicate your personal brandCultivate powerful relationships before you need themMentor your team to think and network like leadersTake control of your career trajectory—starting nowKey Takeaways:Why visibility is often the missing link to getting promotedHow to structure impactful informational interviews with intentionCommon fears professionals have—and how to overcome themThe #1 action you should take today to build your influenceHow to subtly weave your brand and accomplishments into every conversation📘 Special Bonus:Monique shares insights from her new book: "Survive and Thrive Toolkit for Leaders" – loaded with leadership strategies, personal branding tips, and a deep dive on informational interviews.Learn more at mdconsultingglobal.com🔗 Resources:Visit Monique: mdconsultingglobal.comConnect on LinkedIn: Monique DaigneaultPick up the book: Survive and Thrive Toolkit for LeadersWatch more powerhouse episodes: Ball of Fire Coaching Podcast📲 Follow the Show:Never miss an episode! Subscribe, rate, and review Shedding the Corporate Bitch on your favorite podcast platform.Support the show

What’s the point of a performance review if nothing changes afterward? In this power-packed episode of Shedding the Corporate Bitch, Bernadette Boas calls out the outdated review process and empowers both employees and managers to rethink how feedback is delivered, received, and transformed into measurable results.Whether you’re a mid-level professional looking to grow or a manager committed to developing high-performing teams, this episode gives you a proven, 4-part framework for turning static performance reviews into dynamic action plans that drive clarity, confidence, and career momentum.This episode is your wake-up call to stop checking boxes—and start building people.What You’ll Learn:The 3 biggest pitfalls of performance reviews (and how to avoid them)How disengaged employees impact retention, morale, and ROIA 4-step framework for professionals to take control of their developmentA manager’s blueprint for coaching, accountability, and follow-throughThe powerful shift from managing tasks to leading peopleKey Takeaways:Don’t wait for a roadmap—create your own and advocate for itFeedback isn’t the finish line—it’s the launchpad for growthSpecificity in feedback is key to clarity and motivationDevelopment is leadership’s #1 job—otherwise, you’re just managingRetention begins with relevance: make people feel seen, valued, and future-focusedPerfect For:Corporate professionals seeking growth and directionManagers struggling to engage and retain talentHR leaders rethinking their performance review strategyExecutive coaches and leadership development professionalsNeed guidance on developing, communicating, or coaching actions plans toward growth, schedule a call and let's talk - www.coachmebernadette.com/discoverycallVisit https://balloffirecoaching.com/podcast for this and other high-impact episodes. Don’t miss the companion episode: Power Plays for Writing Powerful Performance Reviews.Call to Action:➡️ Employees: Stop waiting for someone to hand you your career plan. Own it. ➡️ Managers: Shift from feedback to action. That’s real leadership.Subscribe, rate, and review Shedding the Corporate Bitch wherever you listen!Support the show

Are you navigating a major life or career shift—and silently struggling to keep it all together?This powerful episode of Shedding the Corporate Bitch with executive coach Bernadette Boas features Wendy Alexander, founder of Happy Career Hub, career coach, and author of Internal Uprising. Wendy shares her raw, real story of overcoming single motherhood, burnout, and the unspoken corporate impact of menopause—and how she reclaimed her power every step of the way.Together, they break down:What it means to truly reclaim your power (and how to do it)How to renegotiate your career on your terms—without apologyWhy journaling, reflection, and owning your story are game-changersHow HR leaders can better support midlife women in the workplaceThe bold career move that changed everything for WendyWhether you're a corporate executive, team leader, or HR decision-maker—this episode offers real talk, tactical takeaways, and inspiration to lead with courage, clarity, and confidence.✨ Your career doesn’t end at change—it begins there.🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your shows.📘 Learn more about Wendy and grab her book Internal Uprising at https://happycareerhub.com🔖 Timestamps Highlights: 0:00 – Introduction to the episode 3:00 – Wendy’s journey from corporate burnout to career coach 10:00 – How she negotiated flexible work while raising a child 16:00 – The journaling question that changed everything 24:00 – The unspoken corporate impact of menopause 31:00 – Strategies for women to ask for support and advocate at work 35:00 – What HR leaders must understand to retain midlife talent 38:00 – Final takeaway: Power comes from within🔗 Follow & Connect: 📲 Follow Wendy on LinkedIn: Wendy A Alexander 📲 Follow Bernadette on LinkedIn: Bernadette Boas 🌐 Visit: https://balloffirecoaching.com/podcast🎯 Perfect For: Corporate professionals, mid-career professionals, executives, HR leaders, DEI champions, wellness coordinators, and anyone navigating change while trying to lead with impact.#SheddingTheCorporateBitch, #ReclaimYourPower, #WendyAlexander, #BernadetteBoas, #CareerReinvention, #WomenInLeadership, #ExecutiveWomen, #MidlifeCareerChange, #CorporateWellness, #HRLeadership, #BoldCareerMoves, #InternalUprising, #CareerCoach, #AuthenticLeadership, #LeadershipMindset, #PodcastForProfessionalsSupport the show

 What if your performance review wasn’t just a task… but a career-defining opportunity?In this episode of Shedding the Corporate Bitch, leadership coach Bernadette Boas flips the script on how corporate professionals — both employees and managers — should approach performance reviews.Whether you're writing your own self-assessment or giving feedback to your team, this episode is your blueprint for using performance reviews to own your impact, build trust, and elevate careers.In this episode, you'll learn:🎯 Why your performance review is your personal press release✍️ The 4 essential elements every self-assessment must include🚫 The dangerous cost of vague, sugar-coated feedback💡 How managers can turn reviews into true leadership moments📈 How to align your story with strategic business outcomes🤝 Why trust and growth begin with the words you useWhether you're aiming for your next promotion or striving to lead with impact, this episode will help you make your review — and your voice — truly powerful.🔗 Resources & Links:🎯 Book a discovery call with Bernadette: CoachMeBernadette.com/discoverycall🎧 Follow the podcast: BallOfFireCoaching.com/podcast📺 Watch on YouTube: Shedding the Corporate Bitch TV🌐 Learn more: BallOfFireCoaching.com📢 Connect with Bernadette:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bernadetteboasInstagram: @SheddingTheBitchYouTube: Shedding the Corporate Bitch TV📣 Share the episode & leave a review!Loved the episode? Leave a review, share with your team, and tag us on social! Your support helps us empower more powerhouse leaders like you.Support the show

This week on Shedding the Corporate Bitch, Bernadette sits down with powerhouse executive coach and social psychologist Dr. Benah Parker of Level 42 Consulting to unpack the real habits sabotaging today’s high-achieving leaders — and how to reclaim your power through presence, resilience, and redefining success.From overworking and under-delegating to struggling with control and burnout, Dr. Parker shares how the very habits that got you promoted may now be holding you — and your team — back. Through actionable insights and bold truths, you'll learn how to lead with trust, authenticity, and alignment, while still crushing results.This conversation is for ambitious professionals and executives ready to stop surviving and start leading — with presence, purpose, and power.🎧 Listen now to learn:Why “executive presence” is NOT about confidence or clothing — and what it truly takesHow perfectionism is actually self-sabotage (and how to overcome it)Why redefining success is essential for sustainable leadershipWhat overachievers must do to lead without burning outThe surprising power of boundaries, delegation, and trustWhy managing up and gathering feedback are leadership superpowers💥 Whether you're climbing the ladder or managing a large team, this episode will shift how you think about leadership, success, and showing up as your best self — at work and beyond.Dr. Benah Parker Executive Coach & Founder, Level 42 Consulting 🔗 level42consulting.com 📲 LinkedIn: @BenahParker | Instagram: @Level42Consulting🔗 Connect with Bernadette Boas:Website: balloffirecoaching.comYouTube: Shedding the Corporate Bitch - https://www.youtube.com/@ShedtheCorpBitchTV LinkedIn & Instagram: @BernadetteBoasSupport the show

Are you really showing up for your team—or just checking the boxes?In today’s high-pressure corporate landscape, being “available” isn’t enough. Your team craves something deeper: leadership that’s emotionally present, strategically engaged, and physically connected—even in a remote world.In this bold and transformational episode, Bernadette Boas, executive coach and former corporate exec, pulls back the curtain on what it truly means to lead with presence. If your team is burned out, disengaged, or quietly quitting, this episode will hit home—and give you a plan to turn things around fast.You’ll discover:🔍 The difference between availability and true presence🚩 The hidden costs of leaders who don’t show up (think: burnout, turnover, lost trust)🛠️ 5 powerful strategies to lead with clarity, connection, and confidence💬 Why recognition, listening, and emotional intelligence are your greatest leadership tools🔁 The leadership mindsets that stop progress—and how to flip themWhether you’re leading 2 people or 200, this episode is your roadmap to becoming the kind of leader your team brags about—not bails on.🔥 Perfect for:Corporate professionals, executive managers, team leaders, HR executives, and any ambitious leader ready to ditch burnout leadership and show up with power and purpose.👉 Listen now and take the first step toward becoming a powerhouse leader. 🎯 Subscribe, rate, and share with a leader who needs to hear this.Support the show

Feeling stuck in the grind of a “successful” career that doesn’t light you up anymore?This episode of Shedding the Corporate Bitch is a no-fluff conversation every high-performing leader, HR executive, and ambitious professional needs to hear. Host Bernadette Boas sits down with Tammy Alvarez, former Wall Street executive turned CEO of Career Winners Circle, who left the corner office behind to build a life and business she actually loves—and now teaches others to do the same.Tammy pulls back the curtain on the corporate myths that keep professionals stuck, including the biggest lie we tell ourselves about career control. You’ll walk away with bold, actionable strategies for taking back your power, building a personal brand that gets noticed, and even negotiating for your worth—without waiting for permission.In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why loving Mondays isn’t a fantasy—and how to make it your realityThe “CEO of You” mindset and how to use it to drive your careerWhat really happens behind closed doors in the C-suite (and how to play the game)How to create a Stakeholder Heat Map to build influence across your companyHow to say “yes, and…” to your boss while setting boundariesWhy it's time to stop waiting for recognition—and start leading your own narrativeWhether you're an executive leader, HR professional, or someone at a career crossroads, this episode will give you the clarity and tools to move from burnout to boldness.👤 About Our Guest:Tammy Alvarez is the founder of Career Winners Circle, a career and leadership coaching firm that empowers professionals to build fulfilling careers they love—without sacrificing income or impact. A former Wall Street Managing Director, Tammy now lives in Mexico City and coaches professionals across the globe to break the rules and thrive on their own terms.🔗 Learn more: https://www.careerwinnerscircle.comTammy’s book: Escaping the Career Traps (Available on Amazon)💥 Ready to Shed the Corporate Bitch?Subscribe, rate & review the podcast to never miss a leadership breakthrough.👉 Need help navigating your next career move or building a powerhouse team?Visit https://balloffirecoaching.com to connect with Bernadette.Tammy Alvarez on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tammyalvarez1Bernadette Boas on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bernadetteboas#SheddingTheCorporateBitch, #LeadershipPodcast, #CareerReinvention, #LoveMondaysAgain, #TammyAlvarez, #BernadetteBoas, #ExecutiveCoaching, #CorporateLeadership, #HRLeadership, #WomenInBusiness, #CareerGrowth, #PersonalBranding, #PowerhouseLeaders, #BreakTheRulesSupport the show

We are celebrating working moms. Happy Mother's Day! In this episode, Bernadette Boas shines a spotlight on working moms—both celebrating their invaluable role in our lives and in today's corporate world. Whether you're a mom, colleague, manager, or executive, you won’t want to miss Bernadette’s deep dive into the unique skills and perspectives that working mothers bring to the professional table.Bernadette answers real questions from her clients and listeners, tackling everything from how working moms can leverage their multitasking and organizational superpowers, to setting boundaries and battling workplace bias. She offers powerful, tactical advice on how mothers (and all women in business) can focus on their professional development, manage guilt, and honor their own achievements—while blending career aspirations with personal fulfillment.Tune in for actionable strategies that help you build a rock-solid support system, set clear goals, assert your value, and maintain that ever-important work-life integration. This episode is a must-listen for corporate professionals striving for success, authenticity, and balance—especially those looking to support or become outstanding working parents.**What You’ll Learn:**- The unique leadership and management strengths working moms contribute to teams and organizations- Practical strategies to prevent burnout and set boundaries at work and at home- Key pitfalls to avoid as you pursue your personal and professional goals- How to combat guilt, overcome bias, and advocate for your advancement- Steps to build a strong support network, seek mentorship, and prioritize continuous learningSUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW the show so you don't miss a single episode or guest.Support the show

Hold on tights, as this episode is all about thriving as your authentic self during transformative times, and our guest, Tracy Nolan, Senior Vice President with Humana, is sharing her journey from growing up with prim and proper roots in upstate New York to leading through historic transformations, including the Sprint T Mobile merger during COVID and spearheading hurricane relief in Puerto Rico.In this episode, Tracy shares:The critical leadership skills needed to navigate large-scale crises and transformations.Why women don’t have to choose between compassion and strength—and how embracing both makes you a more effective leader.How to build a strong, actionable culture that drives results far beyond PowerPoints and posters.And the power of taking risks, leaning into change, and believing in yourself to grow your career and your team.If you’ve ever wondered how to lead authentically while driving transformation, Tracy’s insights will inspire and challenge you to embrace bold opportunities.Key Discussion Points:Authentic LeadershipNavigating ChallengesMentors and SponsorsBuilding a Culture Beyond PostersTaking RisksConnect with Tracy Nolan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyenolan/Instagram: @10BenarskiFor further insights, strategies, and guidance on becoming a powerhouse leader, don't forget to follow the show at ballafirecoaching.com/podcast.Join us in this riveting conversation to learn how you can embrace bold opportunities and transform your leadership path by thriving as your most authentic self.Support the show