Welcome to the Career Insights Blog / Bienvenu.e au blog Perspectives carrière
For those who have been told to “wait their turn,” to “tone it down,” or to let their work speak for itself, who have worked twice as hard, spoken twice as carefully, and still wonder if they belonged or if it was enough.
Pour les personnes à qui l’on a dit d’attendre leur tour, de modérer leurs propos ou de laisser leur travail parler pour elles. Celles qui ont travaillé deux fois plus dur, parlé deux fois plus prudemment et qui se sont encore demandées si leur place était légitime ou si cela suffisait
BLOGS / BLOGUES
(En français ci-dessous)
Sleep to Lead Better
We often talk about distractions, motivation, and time management, but rarely name exhaustion and sleep loss as core leadership challenges. Yet the science is clear: when we cut sleep, we cut capacity. Focus, patience, memory, sound judgment—they all depend on rest.
This piece explores how sleep supports leadership, not just recovery. From cognitive clarity to emotional regulation, sleep is what allows us to show up with discernment and presence. It’s not about perfection or rigid routines; it’s about recognizing rest as an essential part of how we lead, decide, and sustain ourselves over time.
Time Off is Part of the Job
Taking time off isn’t a luxury, it’s part of your career path. In this short August reflection, I explore why stepping away from work is essential to showing up fully, building trust, and creating healthier team dynamics. Sometimes, the best way to lead is to unplug…. Once in a while .
Not Every Day Is a Power Day (And That’s Fine)
In our pursuit of productivity, we often overlook the fact that energy, clarity, and focus don’t operate on fixed schedules. This piece explores the natural rhythm of work—the cycles of output and integration—and how what feels like a “slow” day may actually be doing essential work behind the scenes. Drawing on neuroscience and lived experience, I reflect on why honouring your internal rhythm isn’t about doing less—it’s about working differently.
Whether you’re in a sprint or a slowdown, this blog is a reminder: you’re not behind. You’re just in a different part of the cycle.
Working With Boundaries
Boundaries aren’t just about time management—they’re about how we protect our energy, focus, and presence at work. But in many environments, setting limits can feel risky or misunderstood. This blog explores why boundaries often go unnoticed until they’re crossed, and why navigating them takes more than confidence. It’s about timing, tone, and understanding the unspoken rules that shape how we work—and how we’re seen.
Saying no (Even When Yes is Easier)
Saying no at work isn’t always easy—especially when the request is reasonable, the stakes feel high, or the person asking is someone you respect. But every yes has a cost. Time, energy, focus—something has to give.
This piece offers practical ways to say no without damaging relationships or your reputation. Whether you're navigating last-minute requests, competing priorities, or the pressure to always be available, learning to say no clearly and respectfully is a valuable skill worth developing. It’s not about being difficult—it’s about staying focused on what matters most.
A Success Story in Progress
Success isn’t static. What once felt like achievement—recognition, results, visibility—can eventually feel mismatched, even hollow, as our roles evolve and priorities shift. But that doesn’t mean we’ve lost our way. It often means the definition of success needs to be updated to reflect who we’ve become.
This reflection explores what happens when the old benchmarks no longer fit, and how redefining success—on your own terms—can bring renewed clarity, confidence, and direction. If you’ve been questioning whether you’re still “on track,” this might be the conversation you didn’t know you needed.
Working with the Inner Critic: Inside and Out
We all know that inner voice—the one that questions your competence, downplays your progress, or tells you you’re not ready. It often shows up just when you’re about to stretch, speak up, or step forward.
This reflection invites a different approach: not to silence the inner critic, but to understand its role. Rooted in coaching principles and grounded in real-world experience, it explores how to shift from automatic self-judgment to intentional leadership—without ignoring the deeper context that shaped those inner doubts in the first place.
Because real confidence doesn’t come from pretending the voice isn’t there. It comes from learning how to lead yourself through it.
The Break Is Part of the Story
Resilience isn’t about returning to how things were. It’s about carrying forward what remains—and reimagining what’s possible from there.
In this reflection, I draw on the Japanese art of kintsugi and a personal story from the 2010 Haiti earthquake to explore how cracks, breaks, and disruptions, both personal and collective, can become part of what strengthens us. Not everything needs to be hidden or restored to its former shape. Sometimes, what’s most enduring is what has been lived through, repaired, and carried forward with care.
If you’ve ever felt changed by what you’ve experienced—this one is for you.
From Doing to Leading
Learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms. For most new managers, the real learning happens in the hallway after a tough meeting, in the pause before responding, or in quiet moments of reflection. This piece explores the shift from doing to leading and the support that can make it less overwhelming, and more intentional.
Emotional Intelligence at Work: It Works….
We often think professional growth is all about competence, delivering results, staying composed, and doing the work. But what truly sets trusted leaders apart isn’t just what they know; it’s how they show up. Emotional intelligence is the ability to navigate what’s happening inside and around you and to respond with intention rather than instinct. It shapes handling pressure, building trust, and leading when things are unclear or emotionally charged.
Emotional intelligence isn’t a bonus skill in complex, high-stakes environments; it’s foundational. This blog explores what it really means, why it matters at every stage of leadership, and how you can begin to build it without becoming someone else.
Highjacked by the Urgent —Over and Over
When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters.
This blog explores how constant urgency becomes normalized in professional environments—and how it quietly reshapes roles, focus, and energy. For mid-level professionals navigating complex systems, it offers grounded reflections that validate the experience, clarify what’s at play, and help reclaim a sense of direction.
Staying Present in Uncertainty
Not all uncertainty is loud and abrupt. Sometimes it shows up in the in-between moments—when timelines slip, decisions are postponed, or the mission that once felt clear becomes harder to connect with. For professionals navigating this kind of unease, this blog offers a way to respond without retreating, to stay engaged without losing yourself, and to find movement even when the path is unclear
Emotional Agility: Between Emotion and Action
Emotional agility is what helps you stay present when emotions run high and outcomes shift. It’s the space between feeling and reacting—where you can pause, make sense of what matters, and move forward with more clarity and confidence.
Emotions Are Data: Navigating Feelings for Empowered Leadership
We often think of emotions as something to manage or suppress at work—but what if we viewed them differently? This blog explores how emotions are not a weakness or distraction, but valuable data. They offer insights into what matters, when something is off, or when it’s time to pay closer attention. For emerging leaders, especially in social impact spaces, learning to interpret emotions as information can lead to more intentional decisions, stronger confidence, and leadership that stays grounded in both clarity and purpose.
Why Leadership Coaching Isn't a Luxury—It's a Game-Changer
Leadership coaching isn’t just for senior executives—it’s for professionals who are ready to grow, question, and lead with more clarity. Whether you're stepping into new responsibilities or quietly wondering if there's more for you, coaching can help you navigate complexity without losing yourself.
In this post, I explore why leadership coaching is especially valuable for mid-level professionals, the myths that hold us back from seeking support, and how coaching can help you shift patterns, gain visibility, and lead with purpose in systems that don’t always make it easy
When Work Relationships Get Messy
Some of the hardest workplace challenges aren’t about strategy or performance—they’re about people. A manager who shuts you down. A team member who won’t meet you halfway. A colleague whose presence just seems to drain you. These dynamics can leave even the most thoughtful professionals feeling stuck, frustrated, or invisible.
This article explores what to do when relationships at work become messy—drawing on real coaching conversations and grounded principles for navigating complex dynamics. It’s not about fixing others. It’s about regaining clarity, protecting your energy, and finding steady, sustainable ways forward—even when nothing around you seems to change.
Likable or Respected? Why You Don’t Have to Choose
Have you ever worried about seeming uncooperative just for setting a boundary? This post dives into the tension between likability and leadership—and offers a more sustainable path built on confidence and mutual respect.
Speak Up. Take Space. Lead Now
Too often, we wait to speak up until we feel more experienced or fully ready. But your voice matters now. This blog challenges the idea that only seniority equals value and explores how contributing, being visible, and showing leadership don’t require decades in the field. You don’t have to wait to take up space.
Listening: The Communication Skill That Speaks Volumes
In our roles, we’re often focused on action—solving problems, making decisions, and keeping things moving. But what if the most transformative professional skill is one we tend to overlook? This piece explores the power of listening—not just as a communication tool but as a way to build trust, confidence, and deeper connection. Whether you’re working with a team, collaborating with partners, or supporting a colleague, intentional listening creates space for understanding and meaningful progress.
Navigating Difficult Conversations with Confidence (Part 2)
Navigating difficult conversations is part of life in international organizations, especially when diverse perspectives and competing priorities are involved. This post offers practical tools to help you prepare, manage emotions, and communicate with clarity and confidence so you can handle tough discussions and strengthen working relationships.
The information provided in these blogs is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace therapy, mental health services, or career counseling provided by a licensed professional. As a certified coach, my role is to support professional growth, not to offer psychological or regulated career counseling services.
Les informations fournies dans ces blogs sont à titre éducatif et informatif uniquement et ne remplacent pas la thérapie, les services de santé mentale ou l’accompagnement en orientation professionnelle offert par un·e professionnel·le réglementé·e. En tant que coach certifiée, mon rôle est d’accompagner le développement professionnel, et non d’offrir des services psychologiques ou d’orientation réglementée.