What Your Boss’ Feedback Really Means

Treat Your Job Search Like a $7M Business Deal with Anna Belyaeva

The strategies that got you your last few roles will not get you your next one if it's at the VP level. Career strategist Anna Belyaeva joins me to reframe senior job search as closing a seven-figure deal, not submitting an application. Sign up for my newsletter to keep getting weekly insights like this: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter [http://morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter]  Have you been told the job market is brutal? That you should just keep applying and shoot more shots? Today's guest is going to flip that script. Anna Belyaeva is a career strategist and founder of The Career Diet. She works with high-achieving mid-to-senior professionals landing $150K to $300K+ roles. She's been on every side of the table: navigating senior job search herself, pivoting industries, and leading recruitment for some of the top employers in Canada. We've been in the same mastermind for years, and I trust her insight on this market completely. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN * Why your senior job search should be treated like closing a seven-figure deal, not customizing a PDF * The "target company" framework that builds your pipeline 6 months before the role is posted * How to send a cold LinkedIn message at the VP level that actually books the meeting * Why "fake jobs" aren't actually fake (they're posted because of policy, but the candidate is already chosen) and what that means for your strategy * The two non-negotiable priorities that should be on your calendar every week if you're job searching, with Anna's recurring time block rule RESOURCES MENTIONED * Anna Belyaeva on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annabelyaeva [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabelyaeva/] * Anna on Instagram: @thecareerdiet [https://instagram.com/thecareerdiet] * The Career Diet Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-career-diet-podcast/id1759430848]: Episode 54 - How much time should you really dedicate to interview prep | Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5O5uku3Qrh90LviufA2JEX?si=661b631762914578] or Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/54-how-much-time-should-you-really-dedicate-to-interview/id1759430848?i=1000763416029] * Never Eat Alone [https://www.amazon.com/Never-Eat-Alone-Expanded-Updated/dp/0385346654] by Keith Ferrazzi  * Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a [https://linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a] * Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter [https://morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter] MOST LOVED EPISODES  * S1 E1: Why 'Working Harder' Is Keeping You Stuck in Middle Management |  Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/more-women-promoted/id1799258767?i=1000700225716] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ulow6HKH3sALym2131YXV?si=136248c441b64be2] * S1 E5: My Morning Routine (And Why It Changed Everything) | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/more-women-promoted/id1799258767?i=1000700230549] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6uLMHwKyd60RYZGnuEatrw?si=69ae1d7c6b294a87] * S1 E6: Should You Stay or Should You Go? 3 Signs It's Time to Leave Your Job | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/more-women-promoted/id1799258767?i=1000700230684] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/37SJi63fuRHTyAI8rAW8nX?si=8a5cf932adf54f17] * S1 E8: How to Ask for More Money: The Negotiation Episode Every Woman Needs to Hear | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/more-women-promoted/id1799258767?i=1000701549471] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0SMNnn3AEmVPUS8HAAQCbz?si=b29d0576262f4502] * S1 E9: How to Be Assertive Without Being Labeled "Aggressive" | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/more-women-promoted/id1799258767?i=1000702483019] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0JAE8m5mCZk0jxh2e8b9V5?si=c8b9e553d98646a4] * S1 E10: Ask Like an Executive: The 3 Cs Framework for Business Requests That Get Approved | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/more-women-promoted/id1799258767?i=1000703433455] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VlMj6pDC1O95pEWvtKHhB?si=289f57b0a5624edc] * S2 E25: Stop Worrying About Your Non Traditional Background - Here's How to Frame It | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/stop-worrying-about-your-non-traditional-background/id1799258767?i=1000767159518] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/31yV70OYtrqzIraNextetL?si=bca01df046264927] * S2 E28: What Your Boss' Feedback Really Means | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/what-your-boss-feedback-really-means/id1799258767?i=1000770542995] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1WdP84Bxt6FVhlhrQVyUGc?si=d40d4feae1a1417f] * S2 E29: Are You Actually VP Ready? | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/are-you-actually-vp-ready/id1799258767?i=1000771652654] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6TWngIaJOsG4dUrPCL9s56?si=c9e828a2d1b649d2] * S2 E30: You're Visible, But for the Wrong Things! | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/youre-visible-but-for-the-wrong-things/id1799258767?i=1000772743816] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1yGWUXmKJwtmy7LOcHsVs1?si=6044948938654205] Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a] or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katy.mcfee/?hl=en] (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com [https://www.owntheroomsummit.com/?utm_source=Podcast]. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz [https://morewomenpromoted.com/quiz] Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

When You're Growing and the People Around You Aren't

You're growing and feeling distance from the people around you - friends, your partner, your family. The advice online says cut them off. The real answer is more nuanced. Join me on June 23rd for my Visibility & Recognition Workshop morewomenpromoted.com/workshop [https://workshop.insightstoactioncc.com/?utm_source=Podcast]. http://morewomenpromoted.com/newsletterHave you been told to "level up and leave them behind"? Or to "find your tribe" and let the rest go? That advice is everywhere online, and it's a little too black-and-white for me. I share the three truths to hold at once when you're changing faster than the people you love. Here's the truth most growth content gets wrong: when you're growing faster than the people around you, the answer isn't "cut them off" or "pretend nothing has changed." It's three things at once, and they're easier to hold than you'd think. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN * Why expecting one person (especially your partner) to serve every purpose in your life is the recipe for resentment nobody warns you about * The reframe that turns frustration with your partner's lack of growth into deep gratitude (and how this changed how I think about my marriage) * Why the friendships with the deepest roots are worth protecting even when they can't relate to every part of your current life * How to know when a friendship is actually pulling you backward (and the Mel Robbins quote that gave me permission to let one go) * Where to actively find women on the same growth path as you, and why proximity is the key RESOURCES MENTIONED * Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a [https://linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a] * Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter [https://morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter] Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a] or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katy.mcfee/?hl=en] (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com [https://www.owntheroomsummit.com/?utm_source=Podcast]. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz [https://morewomenpromoted.com/quiz] Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

You're Visible, But for the Wrong Things!

Being visible isn't the same as being visible for the right things. If your name comes up but you're known as "so reliable" or "the fixer," you have a visibility problem. Join my strategic visibility workshop on June 23: morewomenpromoted.com/workshop [https://workshop.insightstoactioncc.com/?utm_source=Podcast] Have you been told you're "so reliable"? Or that "we couldn't do this without you"? Those compliments feel great, but they may be exactly what's keeping you stuck at director. Here's the truth about visibility most leaders won't tell you: you can be very visible and still not get promoted. The leadership team can know your name, your kids' names, your hobbies, and still not picture you at the next level. Because visibility without strategic positioning just means they know you as a person. It doesn't mean they're thinking of you for what's next. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN * The 3 visibility traps that quietly keep smart, high-performing women stuck at director level * Why being the most reliable executor on the team is a ceiling, not a ladder * What strategic visibility actually looks like, and the 4 specific moves to start making this month * How to shift your visibility from being known for your doing to being known for your thinking * The reframe that takes you from "great team manager" to "business leader" in how leadership perceives you RESOURCES MENTIONED * Visibility Workshop, June 23: morewomenpromoted.com/workshop [https://workshop.insightstoactioncc.com/?utm_source=Podcast] * Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a [https://linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a] * Weekly newsletter: insightstoactioncc.com/newsletter [https://insightstoactioncc.com/newsletter/]  Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a] or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katy.mcfee/?hl=en] (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com [https://www.owntheroomsummit.com/?utm_source=Podcast]. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz [https://morewomenpromoted.com/quiz] Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

Are You Actually VP Ready?

Being VP-ready and being seen as VP-ready are two very different things, and the gap is rarely what you think it is. Take my free quiz to find out exactly where you stand: morewomenpromoted.com/quiz [http://morewomenpromoted.com/quiz] Have you ever been told you need to be "more strategic"? Or that you need to "demonstrate more readiness" before that next promotion? Vague feedback like this is exactly what kept me stuck for years as a director. Here's the truth most leaders won't tell you: VP readiness has almost nothing to do with how well you're doing your current job. The skills that got you to director are table stakes at the next level. What gets you the role is a completely different set of skills that nobody has explicitly taught you. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN * Why being VP-ready and being seen as VP-ready are two completely different things (and which one is actually keeping you stuck) * The four specific areas leadership uses to evaluate whether you're ready, broken down with concrete examples * The most common ways high-performing women unintentionally signal "not ready" without realizing it * What strategic thinking actually looks like at the VP level (and why getting more certifications won't get you there) * Where to start if you've been investing in the wrong skills and didn't know it RESOURCES MENTIONED * Are You VP Ready? - free quiz: morewomenpromoted.com/quiz [https://morewomenpromoted.com/quiz] * Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a [https://linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a] * Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter [https://morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter] Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a] or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katy.mcfee/?hl=en] (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com [https://www.owntheroomsummit.com/?utm_source=Podcast]. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz [https://morewomenpromoted.com/quiz] Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.

What Your Boss’ Feedback Really Means

You've been told to "be more strategic" but no one ever explains what that means. In this episode, I decode three of the most common pieces of vague promotion feedback and tell you what your boss is really saying. Newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter [http://morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter]. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN * What your boss really means when they tell you to "be more strategic" and the three specific shifts that close the gap fast * The three drivers of executive presence you can actually control, no matter how vague the feedback feels * Why "keep doing what you're doing" with no promotion conversation might be the most dangerous feedback you can get * How being the indispensable "go-to person" is quietly making you unpromotable, and what to do about it * Why this is a perception problem, not a talent problem, and what that means for your next move RESOURCES MENTIONED * Weekly newsletter from Katy: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter [http://morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter]  * Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a [http://linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a]  Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a] or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katy.mcfee/?hl=en] (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Join me live in Ottawa, Canada, on October 23rd. Save your seat at owntheroomsummit.com [https://www.owntheroomsummit.com/?utm_source=Podcast]. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz [https://morewomenpromoted.com/quiz] Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.