#CareerConvos™️with Nikki

I Said NO to my Manager | #CareerConvos™️

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast]: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place. We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation. If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development [https://nikkwinstoncpa.myflodesk.com/careerconvos-365-days-of-career-development]. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/cpaexam] helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast] as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast] podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@nikkwinstoncpa] (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelwinston/], and on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSiyJiok53mIozKsfavCeQ].  In this episode of #CareerConvos™️, I’m sharing a true story from earlier in my corporate accounting career when I was the youngest and least tenured person in the department, applied for an internal role anyway, and created a one pager to help me stand out in the interview. I didn’t get the job, but I did get powerful feedback from the hiring manager. Then my manager asked me to share the one pager with her, and I said NO. This conversation is about managing your manager, workplace boundaries, internal interviews, corporate politics, protecting your work, and having the audacity to go after opportunities even when the odds look stacked against you. In this episode, I talk about: *  Why I applied for the role even though my colleagues had more tenure and more experience.  *  How I used a one pager to walk through my experience, accomplishments, and value proposition.  *  Why I didn’t let the outcome of the interview define the value of the experience.  *  What happened after my manager asked me to share the one pager with her.  *  Why professionals need to stop feeling guilty for protecting the things they created.  *  Why conversations with your manager matter when it comes to raises, promotions, visibility, and career growth.  *  How to think about difficult managers, workplace dynamics, and professional boundaries.  A few career lessons from this episode: *  You cannot disqualify yourself before leadership ever gets the chance to evaluate you.  *  Years and impact are not always the same thing.  *  Some people are comfortable with your ambition as long as it feels non threatening.  *  You need to know what your manager is saying about you in rooms you are not in.  *  Your career belongs to you, even when your manager has influence over the path.  Resources mentioned: *  Read the full conversation on #CareerConvos™️ on Substack [https://careerconvos.substack.com/p/i-told-my-manager-no-careerconvos] *  Download the Conversation Starter With Your Manager [https://careerconvos.substack.com/p/managing-your-manager] template *  Book a one on one career coaching session [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/one-on-one-career-coaching] This episode is for corporate employees navigating difficult managers, workplace politics, internal interviews, burnout, microaggressions, promotion conversations, workplace visibility, and the emotional side of advancing in corporate America. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/career If this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/career].  We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back. CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/cpaexam]. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@nikkwinstoncpa] (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelwinston/], and on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSiyJiok53mIozKsfavCeQ].  ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/career]

Hiring Managers Are Looking at Your LinkedIn Profile More Than Your Resume

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast]: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place. We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation. If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development [https://nikkwinstoncpa.myflodesk.com/careerconvos-365-days-of-career-development]. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/cpaexam] helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast] as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast] podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@nikkwinstoncpa] (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelwinston/], and on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSiyJiok53mIozKsfavCeQ].  Join thousands of corporate employees who are getting the career advice they need to navigate the dynamics, politics, and microaggressions at work from #CareerConvos™️365 Day of Career Development [https://nikkwinstoncpa.myflodesk.com/careerconvos-365-days-of-career-development].  Hiring managers are paying closer attention to your LinkedIn profile than your resume, and many candidates do not realize how much weight it carries in hiring decisions. In this episode, I break down how hiring managers and recruiters actually evaluate candidates, why LinkedIn has become a primary screening tool, and what professionals need to understand about how their profile is being interpreted before an interview ever happens. We talk about the differences between resumes and LinkedIn profiles, how hiring managers use LinkedIn to assess credibility and fit, and the common mistakes professionals make when their LinkedIn profile does not align with their experience. This conversation is especially relevant for professionals navigating corporate roles, accounting and finance careers, and anyone preparing for a job search or career transition. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/career If this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/career].  We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back. CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/cpaexam]. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@nikkwinstoncpa] (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelwinston/], and on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSiyJiok53mIozKsfavCeQ].  ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/career]

CPA EXAM SERIES: Pushing Past Excuses

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast]: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place. We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation. If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development [https://nikkwinstoncpa.myflodesk.com/careerconvos-365-days-of-career-development]. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/cpaexam] helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast] as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast] podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@nikkwinstoncpa] (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelwinston/], and on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSiyJiok53mIozKsfavCeQ].  In this episode of Career Convos™ with Nikki, I’m taking it back to the beginning of my CPA exam journey. I share what life looked like right after graduating from Thee Ohio State University with my accounting degree, when the CPA exam had just gone from paper to computerized and the profession was changing fast after Enron and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX). I talk about why I started my career in industry instead of public accounting and what those first few years taught me about the real world of accounting. I moved around a lot early in my career, but each job taught me something different: from manufacturing cost accounting to joint ventures, intercompany reconciliations, and managing financial close processes. Within a few years, I went from financial analyst to accounting manager, leading a team and learning the technical and nontechnical lessons that shape how I coach accountants today. I also share what it looked like to balance all of that with becoming a mom, starting The Winston Accounting Group (now The Winston CPA Group) before I had my CPA license, and figuring out how to grow a business while still working full time. And then there’s the moment that changed everything - a conversation with a fellow board member who challenged every excuse I had for not taking the CPA exam. That conversation lit the fire that pushed me to finally start. In this episode, you’ll hear about the early years that set the foundation for everything I’ve built since. It’s the start of my CPA exam story, told the way it organically happened. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/career If this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/career].  We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back. CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/cpaexam]. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@nikkwinstoncpa] (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelwinston/], and on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSiyJiok53mIozKsfavCeQ].  ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/career]

Lost Your Job But Found Yourself: Navigating Layoffs and Career Transition

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast]: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place. We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation. If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development [https://nikkwinstoncpa.myflodesk.com/careerconvos-365-days-of-career-development]. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/cpaexam] helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast] as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast] podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@nikkwinstoncpa] (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelwinston/], and on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSiyJiok53mIozKsfavCeQ].  What happens when your job disappears, but your bills and ambition Don’t? In this raw and powerful episode of Career Convos™️ with Nikki, I talk candidly about what it really feels like to be laid off, and how to navigate the messy middle between endings and new beginnings. From that gut-punch calendar invite from your boss and HR that changes everything to the silence that follows, this episode is your voice of reason and reminder: you may have lost your job, but you haven’t lost yourself. We get into: * How to emotionally and strategically handle being laid off, let go, or impacted by a RIF * Why pausing before jumping into the next job matters more than ever * The art of rediscovering your value, purpose, and voice post-employment * How to prep for interviews with clarity and without bitterness * What “other duties as assigned” really means, and why it’s your career goldmine * How to use rejection as redirection and avoid the resume black hole * A word on manifesting better, not just working harder If you're navigating career transition or feeling stuck after a job loss, let this episode walk with you. Additional Resources: The Self-Exploration Exercise - start yours for free. Book 1:1 Career Coaching on NikkWinstonCPA.com Let’s Connect: Website: nikkwinstoncpa.com/career [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/career] Substack: Supercharged Self-Care [https://substack.com/@superchargedselfcare] Threads: @NikkWinstonCPA [https://www.threads.com/@nikkwinstoncpa] Share this episode with someone you know who's between jobs, rebuilding their confidence, or needs to be reminded that they are still that person - with or without the title. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/career If this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/career].  We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back. CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/cpaexam]. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@nikkwinstoncpa] (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelwinston/], and on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSiyJiok53mIozKsfavCeQ].  ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/career]

Why You Keep Landing in Toxic Jobs: Career Advice for Healthy Work Environments

You’re tuned in to #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast]: unfiltered conversations about what it takes to build a career you actually want in corporate America. If you’re an accountant, analyst, finance manager, controller, or just trying to figure out what’s next in your career… you’re in the right place. We talk about navigating layoffs, dealing with microaggressions, managing up, and advocating for yourself in rooms where no one looks like you. Grab your coffee, an old fashioned, or some lemon mint water and let's get into this conversation. If you haven't already, join thousands of corporate employees who seek out my career advice to navigate the things they deal with at work everyday with #CareerConvos™️365 Days of Career Development [https://nikkwinstoncpa.myflodesk.com/careerconvos-365-days-of-career-development]. Each week I'm giving you a new piece of career advice plus career development resources you can use right now. And of course as a Black CPA, I must address the accounting pipeline issues, the fear future CPAs feel about the CPA exam, and how my proven CPA exam review and coaching programs have helped CPA candidates finally pass those exams they keep failing. CPA candidates tell me my CPA exam coaching program [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/cpaexam] helps them easily understand difficult accounting concepts and they appreciate my way of CPA exam review that's less boring. You'll come across special edition episodes of #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast] as I'll occassionally pause (like you should at work) and talk about wellness, money, kids, entrepreneurship and more. I'm glad that you found the #CareerConvos™️with Nikki [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/podcast] podcast and excited for you to come along for the ride. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@nikkwinstoncpa] (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelwinston/], and on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSiyJiok53mIozKsfavCeQ].  How do you start your day? Are you rushing from one thing to the next before you’ve even had a chance to breathe? In this episode, I share how creating intentional morning rituals - like my WOOSAH Room - transformed not only how I start my day but also how I approach my career decisions. But let’s talk about interviews. How many times have you walked into an interview hoping they’d like you? What if they do like you - even love you - and still lead you straight into a toxic work environment? The interview isn’t about being liked. It’s about finding out if the company is worth your time and energy. If you’re preparing for an interview, especially as an accountant, this episode will teach you how to avoid toxic work environments by asking the right questions. You’ll learn how to evaluate company culture and ask the key interview questions that professionals often overlook.  This is the career advice you need to stop making bad job decisions and start taking control of your career development. I'm breaking down: * How rushing through your day or career decisions can set you up for burnout. * The importance of starting your day with intention and clarity to improve your career decisions. * Why accountants and other professionals keep landing in jobs they hate - and how to stop it. * Practical career development strategies to prepare for interviews and evaluate potential employers. If you’re ready to transform your mornings, make smarter career decisions, and learn how to avoid toxic workplaces, this episode is for you. Tune in for actionable career advice and insights designed to help you thrive in your accounting career and beyond. Let’s keep the conversation going at nikkwinstoncpa.com/career If this episode reflects what you’re living through at work, book time on my calendar for career coaching [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/career].  We’ll talk through the realities of your current job, what’s shifting around you, and how to position yourself for the job you love - and loves you back. CPA exam coaching sessions are available on my CPA Exam page [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/cpaexam]. I've also shared CPA exam coaching session replays, exam tutorials, and the exact steps I took to pass the CPA exam over there. Make sure we're connected - I hang out on Threads [https://www.threads.com/@nikkwinstoncpa] (@nikkwinstoncpa), LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelwinston/], and on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVSiyJiok53mIozKsfavCeQ].  ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.nikkwinstoncpa.com/career]