The real reason I can succeed as a CEO
Today I had the privilege of speaking at our partner Union Pacific's Women's conference about the themes women discuss and care about in our community. One of the things I was asked to specifically talk about during this speech was how these career themes manifest themselves in my personal career journey and life choices.
So during the part of the talk where I discuss work-life balance, I admitted how difficult it is to be an entrepreneur and mom to 3 little kids. (I don't really use the term "work life balance" because that balance word doesn't really register in any practical way). I talked about how despite having a very similar spouse who is very egalitarian in carrying his fair share of the workload at home, that it would only literally and physically be possible because our our nanny, Dixie.
I shared how in my case, we don't have grandparents or family nearby and therefore we picked someone who had very little of her own personal constraints / nearby family obligations, how Dixie has been on the plane and in hotel rooms with me and a newborn, how we didn't even dare have a third child without consulting her and agreement that she'd move in with us for a year.
This kind of transparency is something that many business book narratives about successful careers often don't mention. Whether its a spouse or partner that stays home and takes a step back in their careers, or whether its grandparents or daycare givers, friends or teachers or nannies, I'd love to hear how women in this community lean on others (so often they are, incidentally, other women) in order to pursue their ambitions outside the home.
PS After the talk, I immediately texted my husband to tell him we needed to give her a raise. =)
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Seniority vs. experience
I joined my org last year, and the lead I was assigned joined the org two years earlier. That said, I have more experience and credentials than the lead (I've worked for very large orgs in our sector, they haven't), but this person is considered "above" me solely due to seniority and the fact that they simply were hired first. Lately, we've started butting heads because I draw different conclusions and need to manage my own projects without the lead's micromanagement.
I feel I should have been hired as a standalone professional reporting to a higher-level manager, and this lead is becoming another layer of management that doesn't add value to my projects. I'm just another person for them to manage. The other staffers on the team are the lead's own handpicked employees (I was hired by someone else and sent to the team, the others on the team the lead had a say in hiring). I'm starting to feel like the annoying stepchild. Any way to fix this?
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Remote work has many perks, but it can also blur the line between work and personal time, leading to burnout.
I recently came across this insightful article that shares practical tips on setting boundaries, creating structure and avoiding isolation while working from home. I would love to hear what strategies have worked for you.
Read here:
https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/dealing-with-burnout-when-working-from-home/
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How many job boards are there?
There are over 25,000 job boards worldwide! ?
And yet, some folks will still tell you not to use them.
Their advice? “Skip job boards. Just network.”
I respectfully disagree.
Here’s the truth: Job boards still land people jobs. But you can’t rely on them alone. You need a multi-pronged job search strategy—one that combines:
? Smart job board use
? Intentional networking
? Direct outreach
? Targeted personal branding
In my latest newsletter, I break down:
✅ Which job boards actually get results in 2025
✅ Real application-to-hire data
✅ My top 10 strategies for using them effectively (spoiler: ditch those outdated alerts ?)
? Because with 25,000+ boards out there… the question isn’t “Should you use them?” It’s how you use them that counts.
? So let’s hear it: What’s one job board (or tactic) that actually worked for you?
Or… what’s totally overrated in your experience?
Let’s crowdsource the truth about job boards.
#jobsearchstrategy
#jobboards
#jobsearchtips
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/melaniemitchellwexler_jobsearchstrategy-jobboards-jobsearchtips-activity-7351600312064884738-FXRH?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAE7zOABz83nZb53qdeC66Dyj4MTQ6Hhhqw
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Does anyone want to share your experience finding a GOOD job that lasted years and years?
Not necessarily a dream job, but a job that paid well, treated you respectfully and allowed you to work with pride. Oh and have a true work life balance, so that you could raise your children and pursue interests in peace. I am looking for realistic life inspiration for myself!
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I made a big career change in January with hopes of taking a step back to have a lower intensity job.
I joined without a boss and that role was filled in April. Things have gotten extremely intense since my boss joined and I haven’t hit the very aggressive goals, that honestly seem unrealistic. I took a huge paycut for this job, over 50% thinking it would be worth it for lower stress. But it actually feels just as stressful as my prior field, with significantly less pay. My colleague keeps urging me to stick it out for awhile, but I actually think this role & environment is a bad fit for me. If I start job searching will being under a year in my role work against me? I haven’t job searched so quickly into a new job before. Any tips for navigating that?
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The Perfect Resume Won't Save a Poor Job Strategy.
Yes, your resume matters, but it’s not the magic key. Too many job seekers spend weeks tweaking bullet points while ignoring the bigger picture: Are you applying to the right roles? Are you networking? Are you tailoring your applications?
A polished resume supports your strategy, but it doesn’t replace one.
You could have the most beautifully written resume in the world, but if you’re applying blindly online, not leveraging connections, or chasing roles that aren’t aligned with your skills, the results will still be disappointing.
Here’s the truth: Job searching is a full system, not a single document.
Want results? Focus on:
- Clear goals
- Smart targeting
- Consistent outreach
- And yes, a great resume that reflects all that.
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