The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You

How to Advocate for Yourself at Work and Lead with Confidence

In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with leadership coach and BAM Leadership founder Brandon Maslan for a powerful conversation about personal agency, self-advocacy, and what it really means to lead with courage. Brandon shares his journey from overcoming childhood bullying and self-doubt to becoming a trial attorney, executive coach, and passionate advocate for gender equity in the workplace. Together, he and Dr. Cynthia explore the internal narratives that hold professionals back, the importance of challenging your own limiting beliefs, and how authentic leadership begins with owning your voice. They also discuss why allyship is a behavior, not a title, how AI can help professionals better articulate their accomplishments, and why sometimes the most courageous career move is refusing to play small, even if it means being "spectacularly fired." Whether you're navigating self-doubt, advocating for yourself, or striving to become a better ally and leader, this episode offers practical insights and a powerful reminder: you're probably not as alone as you think. Sometimes leadership starts with being the first person willing to speak up. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/] Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer [https://www.instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer] Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen [https://www.facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen/] TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer [https://tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer]

The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You

Most leaders believe they're good listeners. Few have ever been taught how to listen strategically. In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with Christine Miles, Founder and CEO of The Listening Path and author of What Is It Costing You Not to Listen?, to explore why intentional listening may be one of the most overlooked leadership skills in business today. Together, they unpack the hidden costs of miscommunication, the "listening gap" that exists between what is said and what is understood, and why our natural tendency to fix problems often prevents us from truly hearing others. Christine shares her practical Compass Framework, a six-question approach designed to uncover the story beneath the surface, along with her powerful Flashlight Technique for building trust, influence, and understanding. You'll learn: • Why listening is a competitive advantage for leaders • How closeness bias limits curiosity and decision-making • The difference between listening and advising • How intentional listening helps both introverts and extroverts increase their influence • Ways to apply listening skills to your team, your relationships, and even yourself Whether you're leading an organization, managing a team, or looking to strengthen your own leadership presence, this conversation will challenge the way you think about communication and reveal why listening may be your most valuable professional superpower. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/] Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer [https://www.instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer] Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen [https://www.facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen/] TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer [https://tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer]

Your Resume Is Missing the Most Important Number

Most women have been taught to negotiate with confidence. Cynthia Barnes says that's the wrong starting point. In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with Cynthia Barnes, founder of the Black Women's Wealth Lab, to unpack the difference between the wage gap… and what Barnes calls the extraction gap. This conversation explores the hidden financial value women create inside organizations, why more education doesn't always lead to equitable compensation, and how women can begin documenting their true economic impact with hard data instead of assumptions. Barnes breaks down her "Value Audit" methodology, the forensic process used to calculate a professional's measurable contribution to a company, and explains why many women discover they've generated millions more in value than they were ever paid. Plus: one practical habit every professional should start immediately to build a paper trail of their impact, negotiation leverage, and long-term career protection. This episode will change the way you think about compensation, contribution, and your worth in the workplace. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/] Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer [https://www.instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer] Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen [https://www.facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen/] TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer [https://tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer]

Building Wealth Without Losing Yourself

In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder without Breaking a Heel, Dr-Cynthia sits down with Mary Lyons, founder of WealthWoman, to discuss financial agency, abundance, and what it really means to build a life that feels aligned. Together, they unpack the pressure many high-achieving women feel to prove their success, the mindset shifts required to move from scarcity to abundance, and why wealth should be viewed as a tool for freedom rather than just a number on a spreadsheet. Mary also shares practical strategies for building long-term financial confidence, overcoming shame around money conversations, and defining success using your own scorecard instead of someone else's expectations. This episode is a reminder that your dream life is built through intentional decisions, not external validation. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/] Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer [https://www.instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer] Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen [https://www.facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen/] TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer [https://tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer]

What It Really Takes to Earn a Seat at the Table

In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with Dr. Keith D. Dorsey, founder and CEO of Boardroom Journey, to unpack what it actually takes for women to intentionally position themselves for corporate board service. From early-career professionals to seasoned executives, this conversation breaks down the long game behind building influence, visibility, and strategic leadership capital. Dr. Dorsey introduces his framework of the Five Capitals that shape a successful boardroom journey: • Human Capital • Social Capital • Director Capital • Cultural Capital • Commitment Capital Together, they discuss why waiting until you "feel ready" is one of the biggest mistakes ambitious women make and how intentional career decisions today can shape opportunities decades down the road. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/] Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer [https://www.instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer] Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen [https://www.facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen/] TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer [https://tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer] CONNECT WITH DR. KEITH D. DORSEY LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-keith-d-dorsey-798a2681 [https://linkedin.com/in/dr-keith-d-dorsey-798a2681]