Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos
146 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 31 ratingsAre you a leader holding back? What is that costing you? What if you could channel your fear and self-doubt? It’s actually possible. I know, because that’s my story. That’s what the Ignite Your Confidence podcast is all about. It’s for women in leadership who want to speak up and stand out. You’ll find both solo and candid conversations with real people sharing vulnerable stories to inspire you with simple tips to step into your confidence.
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Episodes
3 More Strategies to Lead Productive Meetings
November 23, 2022 12:00 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBMeetings don’t have to be boring and dull. Grab these practical tips to help you lead with efficiency and credibility. Tangible Takeaways: Ask open-ended questions. Close-ended questions prescribe their answers. You want to give space for new ideas and perspectives. Be aware that you’re typically navigating two conversations at work: one for discovery, one for action. You want to be aligned so you all know which kind of meeting it is! Stay focused! If you notice rambling or tangents, pau...
Transformed from Grief to Belief with Jessica Kriegel
November 16, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBFrom the outside looking in, Jessica Kriegel mastered success. She earned her doctorate, published her book, and became a keynote speaker. Jessica broke culture down to a science and turned this into a strategy, helping others transform their work culture. Despite all of this, she felt like she knew the secret, but was unable to apply it to her interpersonal life. Jessica shares that moment she realized there was a God, and how this new belief transformed everything. Jessica talks about ste...
3 Strategies to Lead a Productive Meeting
November 09, 2022 12:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MBWhen you lead a meeting you have the power to guide the discussion in a productive way. Some of these tips are surprisingly simple. When you add all three tips together, you’ll find your meetings become more effective. It’s important we remember that people are busy - they’re moving from meeting to meeting. It is your job to set the compass for your time together. Take the initiative to be inclusive and use your voice to show you’re in control. Listen and apply these tips to your next meet...
Navigating Male-Dominated Spaces with Charli Matthews
November 02, 2022 11:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBCharli Matthews is the Founder & CEO of Empowering Brands and has been working in a male-dominated space since 2005. Charli knows the inner backbone you’ll need to grow in your career and what to do when you face self-doubt. Surviving your career doesn’t mean putting on someone else’s pre-packaged persona, it’s about showing up as yourself. Listen to what your body is telling you and telling others, and become firm on your why and purpose. Tangible Takeaways: When it comes to working i...
How to Ask For Feedback
October 26, 2022 11:00 - 12 minutes - 11.1 MBFeedback is essential to great leadership, building trust among team members, and creating a culture you’re proud of. Asking and receiving feedback may not be easy, but it can be learned. Ultimately it’s about positioning yourself to receive feedback no matter what it may be. When asking, the power is in the details - carefully chosen words create space for honest feedback. If you’re a leader or a team member, your ability to receive and apply feedback will set you apart and transform the e...
Your Presence Is More Powerful Than Your Productivity with Sonia Miller
October 19, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBThere is one skill that most hard-working people are missing: how to receive. As a businesswoman, you know how to seek and tackle your to-do list. You get things done! Yet if you don’t know how to receive, a part of you will always be seeking and you will be operating from lack. What if what you’re seeking is already here? Sonia Miller shared amazing insights on how to make this transition, and the powerful impact it can have on our lives. Ever make a vision board and wonder why it didn’t ...
From 9-5 to Entrepreneur
October 12, 2022 11:00 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MBYes, it is true, the entrepreneur journey is hard but it’s also incredibly exhilarating! I’ve never regretted stepping out of the 9-5, yet I do have some advice for those considering it. Listen to how I applied the 3D’s in my start-up phase, the importance of marketing, and the lessons I’ve learned. If you have that restless itch and a dream burning inside, take these tips and let them be fuel to your fire! Tangible Takeaways: Carve out time and map out your 3D’s - decide what you wil...
Changing the World Through Your Story with Carrie Fox
October 05, 2022 11:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBCarrie Fox always knew she wanted to make an impact through her work. At the age of 25, she jumped into some pretty big shoes and launched her own social impact communications agency. From being mistaken as an intern to helping change the foster age-out range from 18 to 25 (in 28 states!) - Carrie utilizes communication to change the world. Carrie shares her tips for creating effective stories, and the importance of having a clear purpose. Listen and be inspired to define your purpose in...
Move Beyond Self-Doubt
September 28, 2022 11:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBMost people don’t have to dig deep to find their self-doubt, in fact for some, the messages of doubt are a constant companion. Struggling with self-doubt may not make you unique, but how you handle it does. My goal is to provide practices you can start today to move forward in confidence. Some of my tips suggest journaling, speaking over yourself, and even singing! All of these are designed to hack your brain so you can move from being paralyzed to immobilized. It’s time to change the narra...
From Cult Life to Dream Life with Mindi Rosser
September 21, 2022 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBWhat do you do when everything you believed becomes a lie? Mindi had to grapple with this reality in her early 20s when she decided to leave a cult where she grew up. Listen how her passion for curiosity transformed the trajectory of her life. Mindi’s courage and positivity will inspire you as she reminds us that an awesome life is built on creating awesome days. Listen to your intuition and pursue your dreams, one day at a time. Tangible Takeaways: Pick a goal, and set a 30-day challe...
What to do when you’re misunderstood
September 14, 2022 11:00 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBEpisode Notes: Nothing prepares you for that moment: you’re accused of something you didn’t do or mean. It takes your breath away, and not in a good way. Being misunderstood happens to everyone - yes, even communication experts! If we’re not careful, we can fall into this pitfall and make the situation even worse. It’s so important to have a plan ready. Even if you’re not experiencing this right now, you’ll want to listen! These tips apply to every tense situation, so you can navigate thes...
What To Do When You’re Misunderstood
September 14, 2022 11:00 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBEpisode Notes: Nothing prepares you for that moment: you’re accused of something you didn’t do or mean. It takes your breath away, and not in a good way. Being misunderstood happens to everyone - yes, even communication experts! If we’re not careful, we can fall into this pitfall and make the situation even worse. It’s so important to have a plan ready. Even if you’re not experiencing this right now, you’ll want to listen! These tips apply to every tense situation, so you can navigate thes...
The Power of Persistence with Karen Haller
September 07, 2022 11:00 - 42 minutes - 39 MBHave you ever done something and thought, “that wasn’t it.” For Karen Haller this phrase came back over and over as she explored new things throughout her life. Until one day it hit her: it's color! Karen dove deep into all things color and now sheds light on the psychology behind color. Karen’s book, “The Little Book of Colour”, and one-on-one consultations teach others to select colors that reflect them and give confidence. Listen to how her adventurous spirit led her on some crazy adven...
Why You're Missing Opportunities
August 31, 2022 11:00 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBAfter listening to this episode you will have 3 tangible ways to step into more opportunities. When practiced consistently, you will be amazed by the doors that open. In many ways, these tips aren’t revolutionary, but rather subtle power moves that will transform you from a hard-working individual to a leader. Step into the awkward spaces, share your thoughts, and be direct! Tangible Takeaways You know those few seconds of awkward silence in a meeting? Everyone is waiting for someone to...
Fear as the Path to Success with Kendel Paulson
August 24, 2022 11:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBKendel is on a mission to empower women to find their strength and live the life they deserve. As a certified life and career coach, Kendel empowers women to boldly look at their fears, name them, and avoid letting them control their future success. As a past client of Karen Laos, Kendel shares how she learned to communicate effectively and speak up with boldness. She also explains her own journey of growing up in a male-dominated military family and how she came to find her own voice. List...
How Not to Lead a Sales Call
August 17, 2022 11:00 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBEver been on the receiving end of a discovery call and it feels like a sales pitch? This has happened to me twice in the last two months. It’s painful. In this episode I share my experience of what happened and what to do differently when you’re in the driver’s seat, leading the call. Commit to giving everyone an experience of care, connection and clarity - and transform your next opportunity! I provide specific sentences and questions you can use immediately. Because the last thing I want...
How to Start a Conversation with Strangers
August 10, 2022 11:00 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBYou’re standing in a room, surrounded by strangers. Whether it be a networking event, conference, or simply a new position, the fact is clear: it’s your job to make connections. If this situation triggers anxiety, listen and learn some tips to help you change strangers into connections. Find out how to insert yourself into a group and how to effectively communicate, even if you’re nervous. Walk into that room with confidence! Tangible Takeaways Think of an AUTHENTIC compliment to start...
What are you Standing For? With Amy Wong
August 03, 2022 11:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBSometimes, the biggest transformation comes from the smallest mental shifts - and Amy proves this to be true! Amy applies the neuroscience and psychology of human behavior and lifts the veil to reveal what drives our reactions and how to become more intentional. You will be surprised how powerful these small perspective shifts can be. Discover what drives your desires, why you must assess how you feel, and what it means to become intentional with what you stand for. After listening to this...
Five Tips to Nail an Interview
July 27, 2022 11:00 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBWhen you sit before that hiring manager, it’s common to come in with the perspective of simply answering the questions that are asked. What if you traded that passive role with something more powerful? You have more control over the conversation than you may think! Listen and discover how you can stand out and showcase your brilliance. Tangible Takeaways You’re not at the mercy of the interviewer: you can control the conversation (and sometimes, you need to!) Know in advance what you w...
Be the Culture Your Workplace Needs with Rita Ernst
July 20, 2022 11:00 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBAs a recently published author myself, I am excited to celebrate with Rita about her newly published book, “Show Up Positive!” Rita’s career has been all about teams and organizations, helping people come together in the workplace to find common purpose and accomplishments. She wrote her book to help you do the same in your workplace, as well. If you’ve been struggling to find common ground in your work community, this episode is for you. You will be challenged to be introspective and find ...
How to Stop Rambling and Get to the Point
July 13, 2022 11:00 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBCaptivating your audience is so important, and nothing will tune out your audience faster than a rambling session. Rambling comes in many forms - sometimes it’s too much detail, circling around a topic, or simply rephrasing things over and over. Whatever your rambling style may be, you want to learn how to stop it! Tangible Takeaways Notice when you’re rambling, pause, and say out loud, “and my point is this.” Avoid the curse of knowledge and eliminate jargon. Speak in plain language. ...
How’s Your Ripple Effect? With Lisa Even
July 06, 2022 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBIn many ways Lisa describes finding her place in the world similar to goldilocks and the three bears: she had to bump around a bit until she settled with the fact she simply needs to be herself. It turns out, that YOU are exactly what the world needs, not someone else. Lisa delivers many nuggets of truth that challenge you to try on new perspectives, be conscious of how you impact others, and chase after joy intentionally. Lisa also shares how she has created a joy calendar and explains how...
How to Start a Presentation
June 29, 2022 11:00 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBWe are conditioned to start our presentations with pleasantries because that’s exactly what most people do! Our impulse is to thank everyone and explain how excited we are to be here…avoid doing this! In this episode, I share three different ways you can start your presentation that will engage your audience. You do not need to be a great storyteller or have funny jokes - in fact, I don’t recommend jokes when presenting. Every presentation has the potential to captivate with some intention ...
Investing in Your Dreams with Elyse Kaye
June 22, 2022 11:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBElyse is nothing short of a warrior when it comes to running her business. She built Bloom Bras from the ground up, navigated a male-dominated investing industry, and has had to come back from major setbacks in her business. She’s passionate about providing the best bra you’ll ever own, but also reminding you to take care of yourself. It’s like putting money into BAD investments.. it’s not a way to run a business! This applies to our lives as well. Apply your time and energy to good invest...
You Are Enough
June 15, 2022 11:00 - 17 minutes - 15.9 MBOne thing I’ve discovered after coaching powerhouse women across industries, is that the feeling of not being enough is universal. Listen and explore four tips on how to remember you’re enough. I share the importance of moving behind passive asks, connecting with your tribe and learning how to let go. Tangible Takeaways Before you ask for what you need, first KNOW what you need. If you're not feeling enough, call in your reinforcements! Make connections with those you trust and who can ...
Claim Your Worth with Amy Valdivia & Rica Ruiz
June 08, 2022 11:00 - 35 minutes - 28.6 MBHave you ever realized that you missed an opportunity to claim your worth? Maybe you accepted a salary too low or you missed out on getting promoted because you didn’t ask. Amy Valdivia and Rica Ruiz are two powerhouses who understand this deeply and share their stories and advice in today’s episode. They will encourage you to do the deep work and invest in yourself because that’s where it all begins! Tangible takeaways from today’s episode: Find the root cause of your actions with some...
How to Ask for What You Want
June 01, 2022 11:00 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBI love talking about how to ask for what you want! This is one area if you get right, will transform everything. When you know how to ask for what you want effectively everyone involved receives clarity and the power to move forward. In today’s episode I unpack the differences between passive and direct asks. I offer three examples of questions that FEEL direct, but are actually passive. In this episode I share with you moments in my past where I got this wrong and was caught up in the ring...
Sentence Prompts + Questions for Better Communication
May 25, 2022 11:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBThe words we use matter and can have a huge impact! In my upcoming book, “Trust Your Own Voice” I provide an entire chapter on sentence prompts that you can put in your back pocket and use as needed. If you want to read the rest, you can purchase my book on June 3, 2022 You always want to be ready with questions or responses that can elevate your influence! Tangible Takeaways When introducing yourself, have a lead to your story. Start your calls by asking, “How can I best support you?”...
Trust Your Own Voice
May 18, 2022 11:00 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBAre you holding back from sharing your ideas? Maybe it’s self-doubt due to fear of judgment, not wanting to rock the boat, or you’re worried about what others will think. I’ve been there! I struggled with trusting my own voice due to self-doubt–even as a senior leader in the corporate world. I wanted to be free. In this episode, I read the first chapter of my book: Trust Your Own Voice: Growing Your Influence through Confident Communication. You’ll hear about the meeting I was supposed ...
Stand your Ground with a Difficult Manager with Kristen Geez
May 11, 2022 11:00 - 18 minutes - 16.6 MBStruggling with a difficult manager may not be new for Kristen, but shrinking back and allowing him to run her over was. Kristen talks about the mindset she lived with for months and how she began the journey of turning the tables and taking back her power. When reflecting on a season when Kristen gave up her voice and defaulted her power to others, she realized she was taking a child’s posture in an adult role. Defining who she is became the foundation for stepping out and speaking up. Ta...
Refuse to be Bulldozed with Mary Snyder
May 04, 2022 11:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBWhat do you do when someone steals the credit for your success? How do you respond when someone literally closes the door in your face? Mary Snyder shares these experiences and what she learned about herself through her journey in the corporate world. She had to fight against her Southern gal upbringing and claim her voice, and it was a process. Mary stopped holding back and continues to be a powerhouse of solutions. She will inspire you to embrace who you are and have the confidence to s...
3D’s to Reaching Your Vision
April 27, 2022 11:00 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MBHolding your dream in one hand and reality in the other can feel as if your dream has no place to actually come true. I want you to feel hope and walk away with a clear formula to create your vision. The 3D’s to reaching your vision may be simple, but when applied make a huge difference. Hint: it requires action. Tangible Takeaways: Identify your dream and give yourself permission to own it! Allow yourself the freedom to explore what you want to do. Find ways to experiment. Tell people...
I Thought I was Over This with Kimber Del Valle
April 20, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBKimber has always been a confident powerhouse, but it became apparent that there was a disconnect: internally she was depressed and suicidal. Listen to how therapy and learning how to silence the internal judge have transformed Kimber’s confidence. Her external confidence is now an expression of who she is on the inside. Her new podcast, I Thought I was Over This, was born out of what many of her clients say over and over. It’s become such a theme that she created her entire podcast fro...
3 Lessons Learned from Being on TV
April 13, 2022 11:00 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBI had an opportunity to step into a dream of being on TV that would not have happened if I didn’t seize the opportunity when it was offered. More importantly, the whole experience gave me some powerful lessons to share with you. Most of us are not on TV, but many of us are in boardrooms, meetings, and/or stepping into leadership roles. In today’s episode, I share the importance of sound bites and sticking to the point. I’ll encourage you to grab your besties and be uniquely interesting (and...
Hot Flash to Hot Idea with Michelle Newman
April 06, 2022 11:00 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MBMichelle shows that good things can come from a hot flash: she coaches women in their midlife journey to live with abundance and intentionality, making a difference in this world. She’s made it her mission to teach women to put themselves first in this season of their lives. In this episode, Michelle explains how surviving a brain hemorrhage gave her the reset she needed. She also explains how mistakes provide amazing opportunities to thrive in the “after” and what it means to “own it”. L...
Shyest Girl to Confident Woman - Esther Littlefield
March 30, 2022 11:00 - 33 minutes - 26.6 MBWhen Esther started UpLift, a mastermind program for women, she created a faith-based program she wished she had when she was struggling and growing her business. Esther loves bringing women together and creating a space where they can truly connect and grow. In this episode, Esther shares her transformation from being the shyest girl you’d ever meet to a confident woman. She now leads others to not only grow their businesses but also thrive in the process. Esther’s story shows perseveran...
Shyest Girl to Confident Woman with Esther Littlefield
March 30, 2022 11:00 - 33 minutes - 26.6 MBWhen Esther started UpLift, a mastermind program for women, she created a faith-based program she wished she had when she was struggling and growing her business. Esther loves bringing women together and creating a space where they can truly connect and grow. In this episode, Esther shares her transformation from being the shyest girl you’d ever meet to a confident woman. She now leads others to not only grow their businesses but also thrive in the process. Esther’s story shows perseveran...
Put Down your Bag of Rocks with Ryann Dowdy
March 23, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBRyann Dowdy’s mission is to create a safe space for women to come together and be fearlessly themselves. She’s committed to community and connection and believes strongly in the power of networking. Her movement is called “Be in the Room,” a space for powerhouse women who are creating waves in the business world and living a life they love. You will be reminded to trust your gut and avoid deferring to others' decisions. Ryann explains that often the very thing we need to do is counterintui...
From Appearing Confident to Becoming Confident with Stacy Mayer
March 16, 2022 11:00 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBWith her experience in theater and improv, Stacy spent years crafting the skills of confidence and communication. It was not until she started her own business did she realize she had to transform from appearing confident to becoming confident. Stacy helps powerhouse corporate women get promoted to executive roles, and has started a revolution that has transformed lives and continues to make an impact. She shares the surprise outcomes of publishing a book and how it forced her to come to t...
No More Missed Opportunities
March 09, 2022 12:00 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBLearn how one of Karen’s clients realized she had been missing opportunities, and how three powerful strategies will stop that from happening again. 3 Ways to Be Visible: Speak up (and speak first) Have a point Share relevant examples Tangible Takeaways: Speak up Speak first Share your thoughts Follow the 5 second rule from Mel Robbins research - volunteer quickly! Have a point Prepare your point in advance Stick to it Avoid rambling Share relevant examples Share something r...
Powerful Stories Start with this One Skill with Becca Habegger
March 02, 2022 12:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBBecca is present for some of the worst and best moments of people’s lives. As a reporter, she has mastered the skill of arriving with confidence in any situation she is assigned. Becca holds space for grief, joy and everything else in between, creating the psychological safety people need to share their stories. She has grown in confidence through empathy and learned the art of truly listening in order to tell stories that best serve the community. Hear some of her favorite news moments. O...
Find Your Voice Through Creativity with Hollis Citron
February 23, 2022 12:00 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBAs an art teacher, Hollis realized she kept asking the same question over and over: “Why am I not good enough?” It wasn’t until her daughter asked a life-changing question did the journey of pursuing her passions and purpose really begin. In this episode, Hollis shares her journey through negative self-talk. We talk about the disparity gap between our personal perceptions and reality, and how Hollis learned to not give that tension so much of her time and energy. Hollis uses creativity to ...
Inside Out Confidence with Sue Revell
February 16, 2022 12:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBAs a young professional Sue’s confidence revolved around assessment and validation from others. It was when she started her own business that Sue began to realize she needed to discover her true confidence, creating an identity that pulls from internal sources, not external. We discuss the need to embrace being a human BEING and not a human doing, and how we need to start treating self-doubt like an infection and get it out of our systems! How do we build internal confidence? It first begi...
3 Ways to be More Powerful
February 09, 2022 12:00 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBHear Karen’s best negotiation story in this episode: how she got nearly 3x as much money for an engagement than originally agreed upon. The three ways to be more powerful are: 1) Use your voice 2) Trust yourself 3) Set boundaries Tangible Takeaways: Use your voice Project, speak with conviction, avoid a breathy tone Think about your whole body working for you to support your voice Speak up when you have an idea and have a point to avoid rambling Trust yourself Trust your gut Cle...
How to Transfer Confidence with Megan Leasher
February 02, 2022 12:00 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBMegan shares mentors in her life that may surprise you. She calls them “accidental mentors” who forced her to lead in a different way and helped her see the impact of her words on others. We discuss how we both love public speaking. She feels unstoppable and fearless! What would she do differently? Speak up: she vulnerably shares how not speaking up to her boss’s boss kept her in an imprisonment of sorts. Tangible Takeaways: Borrow confidence from an area of your life when you need it s...
How to Interrupt with Grace
January 26, 2022 12:00 - 17 minutes - 15.6 MBWhen you want to interrupt, how you do it has two critical components: both what you say and how you say it. See below for the takeaways. Tangible Takeaways: Your presence: Be mindful of your body language and voice - shoulders back, lean forward, project your voice and speak with conviction over hesitation. Look into the camera so people feel a connection to you, which also builds trust. Eye contact is super important. Your words: Use an acknowledgement bridge which is simply a way to ac...
Rise Above Your Fears with Dana Bowling
January 19, 2022 12:00 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBGrowing up in Beverly Hills with incredibly rich people, Dana wanted to be the cute, popular one. But, she lived in a $300/month rental with her mom and always grew up feeling less than. She had massive amounts of envy. This motivated her to work her tail off and get the things she wanted. She always knew she wanted something big. Her dream was to be Barbara Walters because she loved interviewing people. She was obsessed with TV and knew she wanted to be in the industry. That led her to be ...
Declare Who You Want to Be (and go be it!) with Jess Ekstrom
January 12, 2022 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBJess and her husband “pretend declared” that they were living in an Airstream doing a book tour - and it actually happened! This speaks to the power of “trying it on.” Listen for what Karen first thought of Jess when she saw her video ad from the Nashville airport and how that led to a milestone moment in September 2019 when she signed up for Jess’s Mic Drop workshop. This led Karen to create a formula for women called the 3D’s: Decide, Declare and Deliver. Tangible Takeaways: You can re...
Make Bold Moves to Gain Confidence
December 22, 2021 12:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBTangible Takeaways: We need to celebrate moments in which we have taken steps of courage when we didn’t think we could. We’re all unique and our uniqueness should be welcomed and celebrated. Celebrating your own wins will make you more confident. Everyone has stories if we look for them. You have the choice to look for the stories in the lessons you’ve learned in your life. We have the ultimate decision to decide our future. We have the power to choose our response. No one can control th...
Make Bold Moves to Gain Confidence with Lucy Liu
December 22, 2021 12:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBTangible Takeaways: We need to celebrate moments in which we have taken steps of courage when we didn’t think we could. We’re all unique and our uniqueness should be welcomed and celebrated. Celebrating your own wins will make you more confident. Everyone has stories if we look for them. You have the choice to look for the stories in the lessons you’ve learned in your life. We have the ultimate decision to decide our future. We have the power to choose our response. No one can control th...