You’re at the cusp of the best time of the year. Everything seems sweeter in summer, doesn’t it? The days are longer, the sun is shining, and the pace of the world slows down for a moment. The thing about summer is it never lasts as long as you wish it would! I want you to arrive on Labor Day weekend with no regrets. Let’s talk about how you can bu…

Do you ever look back and wish you had a do-over? You dissect your actions and wonder how things could have played out differently, if only you knew then what you know now. But, give yourself a break because hindsight is always 20/20. I don’t like to spend time on regret. It’s a waste of mental and emotional energy and keeps you in the past. I want…

Here you are. Fresh college degree in hand. And ready to enter one of the most challenging job markets in recent history. How do you apply all of your academic knowledge to a real-world job where you earn money doing something you love? It IS possible. And I have a tool to help you start. It’s a book called REAL-WORLD FEMINIST Handbook: Practical A…

Do you have a work BFF? Your ride-or-die on impossible projects. That person who sends you hilarious memes during the most painful meetings. The one you share the best and worst parts of your personal life with. They make everything about the workday better, don’t they? But, what about the flip side? Is there someone on your team that you can’t sta…

Are you trying to be better at managing your money? Perhaps you are trying to save for a dream vacation or a down payment on your first home. You have the goal but just can’t seem to build up your savings account. Let’s be real, it can be a daily struggle in a world full of interesting things to spend money on. The easiest way to earn more money is…

You’re bold, ambitious, and extremely capable. But, sometimes, you need help. Whether it’s a workload that’s pushed you beyond your limits or a problem that seems impossible to solve, there are times when the best option is to ask your boss for help. Asking for help goes against our nature as Type-A corporate badasses! It feels uncomfortable. Awkwa…

One of the most overused buzzwords directed toward women is “self-care.” Each time this term comes up in popular news outlets or social media, it comes with to-do lists of assorted treats to purchase or New Age activities to try. I have a very different view on this important topic. Self-care is at the core of my everyday routine. It’s one of the t…

The rise of remote working has completely changed the corporate landscape. Companies are no longer limited by location to hire the talent they need, and employees have a level of flexibility that most people never dreamed would be possible even just a couple of years ago. It’s easy to see the advantages. But, we’re now starting to feel the disadvan…

We often see advice about how to ace an interview as a job candidate. But, what about the flip side? How do you rate yourself as an interviewer? What kind of impression are you leaving on job candidates? Are you so focused on vetting them—that you lose sight of the fact that they are vetting you? When you are asked to participate in job interviews,…

Ever felt like you spend all day in meetings and all night catching up on your work? As much as you and your teammates acknowledge that this is no way to work, nothing ever seems to change. You’re stuck. The good news is there is a way to break the cycle. It starts with you and the meetings that you schedule. There are ways you can effectively—and …

What if I told you there’s a 20-minute hack that could improve your day? Feeling stressed? It will help. Feeling tired? It will help. Writer’s block? It will help. Stuck and don’t know what to do next? It will help. Worried about hitting a deadline? It will help. Pissed off? It will help. Frustrated with your team? It will help. Feeling triggered b…

Spring feels so good when it’s getting started. You notice the sun is sticking around longer. The air feels crisp—yet you know warmer days are coming. The trees are starting to bud. It’s a time that helps us all feel a little more hopeful and energetic. It’s a perfect time to think about letting go of what no longer serves us so that we can better …

The pandemic forever changed the way that we work. We proved that we didn’t need to sit in a cubicle 40 hours a week to get our work done. Three years later, most of us are working in hybrid environments—a mash-up of remote and in-office working—and adjusting to this new normal. There have been countless advantages to hybrid life. But, real talk ti…

Dreaming about buying a house? You don’t have to wait until you find the perfect partner in order for this dream to come true. You can absolutely do this on your own. One of my proudest moments as a single woman was when I purchased my own home. I wasn’t making a six-figure income, and I didn’t fall into a lucky fortune. Hard work and smart financi…

Have you ever worked on a project that went completely sideways? One of those situations where mistakes get made, tempers run high, and all attempts to course-correct fail. It happens to the best of us. Yet, these situations seem to pull out the worst in us. Everyone gets so caught up in protecting their own behinds that team dynamics and performan…

Everyone makes mistakes at work. Yes, even we type-A personalities that want to think we are flawless. It happens. The unfortunate typo that gets printed on 10,000 brochures. The emotional outburst in a very public team meeting. The bad formula in a spreadsheet that results in an unfortunate billing error. Yes, everyone makes mistakes. But, not eve…

It’s the last day of Dry January. Now what? Sure, you’ve been craving that nice glass of red. But, have you noticed how much better you’re feeling? There are reasons why you’ve been sleeping better and getting to the gym more often than usual—and one big one is the fact that you haven’t been drinking alcohol. If you want to keep feeling the benefit…

As ambitious women, we talk a lot about goals. Setting goals, chasing goals, achieving goals. We’re driven by what’s next to chase. The next promotion, the next career move, the next health target. And to be perfectly honest, the journey toward the next achievement is a key ingredient in feeling fulfilled. What if I told you it can’t all be about c…

If you are spending your day racing from meeting to meeting—and starting your actual work at 5 pm—you are getting it wrong. “I have too many meetings,” you sigh to yourself and to your co-workers. “I need to go to these meetings,” you adamantly believe. “My team can’t meet without me,” you say to yourself. I’m calling BS on all of these beliefs. It…

Returning to the office is one of the hottest topics in corporate America right now. The 2020 lockdowns have forever changed the way we work. While most of us have no desire to go back to the way things were, there are distinct advantages to in-person work and collaboration. For the past few months, I’ve experimented with a hybrid work schedule, an…

Slow your scroll… I’m popping into your feed with a gentle reminder. It’s okay to unplug! I know you are used to being 100% connected 24/7. We all are. But, even badasses like us need the space to rest and rejuvenate. Let’s all slow down this holiday season and savor the moment. I’ll share what works for me and give insight into how I plan on unplu…

There’s something on your to-do list that you’re avoiding. You know it, I know it, and certainly, your boss knows it. This is your sign to stop procrastinating and get your self-review done. Yes, the timing of it always feels inconvenient. The end of the year is hectic. With calendars full of work deadlines and holiday preparations, it’s hard to im…

Hangovers suck. The only thing worse after a work holiday party? Waking up with a hangover AND regret. Regret that you said too much to the wrong people. Flirted with a cube mate. Went on a tirade about your boss. Danced on a table in a mini skirt. There are so many ways that a work holiday party can go sideways. That said, it’s a party. It’s also …

Sometimes, we need a little emotional pick-me-up. We’re worried or stressed out, and we just can’t seem to calm down our feverish thoughts. You can try meditation, yoga, prayer, or other mindfulness practices. But, if you’re like me—one of those people who wonders “how long do I need to sit in this silence” when attempting meditation—there’s an eas…

Have you been dreaming about starting a side hustle? Maybe it’s a business idea, a creative project, or a skill you’ve been dying to learn. You have the desire, but you never seem to have the follow-through to make it come to life. You are not alone. I felt that way for many years! But, I finally found a way to break my old destructive patterns and…

Ask anyone how they’re doing today, and most likely you are going to hear about how busy they are. We have filled our calendars with activities, tasks, obligations, and events. We feel the pressure of non-stop interruptions, from our email, phones, and social media feeds. We’re a stressed-out society. And yet, much of the stress we feel is unnecess…

Every year has an ebb and flow. There are obvious factors that shape our experiences like seasonal changes and major holidays. But, much of it is shaped by our own personal experiences and preferences. The better we can understand how our energy changes throughout the year, the better we can plan our time and stretch goals. We’re not designed to re…

Real talk time. Too many of us women are uncomfortable talking about money. Yes, as a whole, we are getting better at it. We’re negotiating better starting salaries. We’re speaking up when we feel overdue for a raise or promotion. But, would you be surprised if told you there’s a good chance you gave yourself a pay cut and you don’t even know it? I…

It’s time to spill the tea on bosses. Let’s face it. They come in all varieties. Some are in it for themselves. Some are generous mentors and coaches. And, the real MVPs become your champions, ensuring that your name and efforts are known and fairly rewarded. No matter where your boss falls on that spectrum, your relationship with them is critical …

As badass women, so much of what we do every day comes to us naturally. We’re Type-A personalities. We are hard-wired to put our heads down and do the work. We don’t need an audience to see the effort we put in—we know the final result will speak for itself. But, as you build your career, there will be times when you need to show up and perform you…

You have a great idea that you know could make a difference at your company. So, why aren’t you speaking up? Too often we undervalue our ideas, thinking “well, someone must have thought of this already.” It’s easy to fall prey to these doubts. But, what IF you were the first person to have that idea? What IF you indeed are the best person to solve …

I simply can’t hold back from making some bold statements about a hot topic in the pop-business media. Let’s talk about “quiet quitting.” So, what is quiet quitting? In short, it’s the idea of rejecting hustle culture by literally doing the bare minimum at your job. I speak to you from the heart when I say these are some of the most toxic and destr…

The REAL-WORLD FEMINIST® Podcast is back, baby! New season. New look. New website. Same attitude. Fresh episodes start dropping on Tuesday, October 4th. In the meantime, get a little taste of what's coming. Hit play on the trailer.By Michelle Kinsman

Every company has guidelines and processes for how employees get officially recognized with promotions. Yes, there are factors that are outside of your control. The good news is there are plenty of factors that are squarely and exclusively within your direct control. In this episode, I break down a deliberate method to empower you to level up your …

No matter what your current skill level, there is always something new you can learn. I don’t care if you are the CEO. No one gets a pass! You can never stop being committed to learning. The wonderful news is there are so many resources that are easily accessible. That said, where do you start? In this episode, I break down a simple framework that …

There is a direct connection between how you treat yourself and the quality of your life. So, I must ask the question. What are you doing to take care of you? Before you can level up your career and your life, you have to ensure you are taking care of the basics. In this episode, I share learnings from my own personal journey that can help your bod…

Let’s talk about leveling up. There have been about a billion TikTok videos created with that soundtrack, right? That song is so popular because it taps into a core human thought. We all want more; we all want better. We all have our own unique versions of it, but we all have the same basic instinct. But, no matter what your vision is, you need to …

Even the best-planned days go sideways. There’s only so much you can control, right? Grit is the ability to keep moving, despite the emotional ups and downs of the day. It’s the resilience required to overcome obstacles and make the best of a situation. If you struggle with effectively dealing with the unexpected, I have good news for you. You CAN …

In last week’s episode, I gave you tangible advice on how to come out on top in a conflict. But, what about the flip side? What should you do when you have to take the L? Let’s be honest. Ls come with an assortment of feelings, none of which feel great. In this episode, I want to talk about your Ls. I will help you reframe these moments and provide…

Conflict is necessary in business. A natural question that you may have is, “Well, if conflict is necessary in business, HOW DO I WIN?” Life is short, so let’s have a little fun with this uncomfortable topic. In this episode, I break down the rules and show you how to win in Corporate Fight Club. Tune in and get after it! GET YOUR FREE “UPLEVEL YOU…

I’d like you to take a hard look at those with ordinary career journeys versus the truly extraordinary. There is one thing that the extraordinary has that the ordinary don’t. And that is GRIT. Allow me to get South Philly on you for a moment. It’s time for some real talk about why you should embrace your gritty side. In this episode, I give you fou…

As an up-and-coming leader, you are focused on doing the right things. You’re putting in the extra work. You’re making a visible impact on the business. You’re making a difference with all of the big things—and that’s the hard part of becoming a leader. But, it’s time for a quick reality check. Are you undermining yourself with the small things? In…

Your communication style is a critical part of your leadership presence. Your words matter. How you express them matters. Leaders need to be deliberate with the words they use and the style in which they communicate them. Great leaders have a communication style that is authentic to their true selves. Communication styles vary, but there is one lan…

I simply can’t give you advice about building your leadership presence without giving you one big, fat warning. There is one misstep that I must caution you against. As you build your professional reputation, there is one thing a leader should never, ever do. I break it down in this episode. Tune in and get after it! GET YOUR FREE “UPLEVEL YOUR PRO…

Great meetings don’t happen by chance. They happen because a great leader made it happen. If you want to be seen as a leader, a core basic skill that you need to master is running an effective meeting. Meetings present you with awesome opportunities to build and flex your leadership muscles. In this episode, I present you with a simple framework th…

If you want to be seen as a leader, there’s more to it than picking up experience and expertise in hard skills. There are certain intangibles—leadership qualities—that you must possess. One critical leadership quality is presence. Presence is how you show up in the world. In the office and outside of the office. Of course, this includes a critical …

Setting professional goals that push you to grow in your career and get you noticed as the badass you are is only half of the equation. Goals without action are daydreams. Goals without a plan are useless. I am a certifiable goal crusher with a track record to prove it. In this episode, I break down the methods to my madness and give you three tool…

Since childhood, most of us have been fed healthy doses of pep talks to help us build our confidence. Once we start our careers, we are bombarded with articles, seminars, and messaging encouraging us to be confident women. All of this girl-power & girl-boss energy is a wonderful thing. But, there is such a thing as overconfidence. And it can be you…

I’m willing to bet that even seeing the word “feedback” you had some kind of emotional reaction. Maybe it made you smile because you are used to hearing praise. But, for most folks, I’m willing to bet it gave you an uncomfortable twinge in the pit of your stomach. We tie up so much emotional baggage on the word “feedback.” It’s time to look at feed…

Most people dread work performance reviews. Not you. You see the opportunities that performance reviews give you. You’re not going to just check the box and create professional goals that you think your boss wants to hear. Oh no, you are going to seize this moment and create goals that get you noticed in the best way. In this episode, I am going to…