Inside the Promotion Room
Courtney O'Connell 16 episodes Nov 10, 2026
Inside the Promotion Room is a career advancement and leadership podcast for corporate professionals who want to get ahead. Host Courtney O'Connell, a former Fortune 500 SVP and Head of HR, interviews senior leaders, executives, and career trailblazers about how talent is assessed and promotions are decided. The show focuses on the unwritten rules, relationships, mistakes, and pivotal moments that shape careers. It aims to help high performers understand why some people rise while others plateau.
Episodes
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and People-Pleasing at Work With Joan Gaffney
How do you build a fulfilling career without relying on job titles, salary or other people’s approval to feel successful? On The Promotion Room, host Courtney O’Connell talks with Joan Gaffney about career development, imposter syndrome, people-pleasing and finding more confidence at work. Joan shares lessons from her career in marketing, including how to communicate your achievements, make your i
Successful But Unfulfilled? Why "Fine" Is Stalling Your Career
Coach Junna Liao shares her journey from $500 in her pocket to financial planner of the year, and how to find what's missing in your career and life.Episode summaryMany high achievers feel "fine" but unfulfilled. In this episode of The Promotion Room, host Courtney O'Connell talks with transformational coach and MMDC Alchemy founder Junna Liao. Junna grew up in a humble family in China, moved to t
How to Turn Workplace Enemies Into Career Allies
What if the person making your work life miserable could actually become one of your biggest career advocates?Navigating office politics, difficult coworkers, and unsupportive leaders is part of corporate life. But how you handle those relationships can make or break your career advancement.In this episode of Inside the Promotion Room, former Fortune 500 SVP and Head of HR Courtney O'Connell sits
Why Your Reputation Matters More Than Your Job Title with Chris Lynch
Chris Lynch on corporate navigation, mentorship, and staying realCourtney reconnects with Chris Lynch about his career in corporate America, from Bank of America to Sony, PayPal, and US Bank. The conversation centers on what really drives success behind the scenes: relationships, authenticity, and learning how to navigate dotted-line management, setbacks, and change without losing yourself.Chris s
Why Your Best Work Is Keeping You Stuck
Why Your Best Work Is Keeping You Stuck and What To Do When You're At a Career PlateauCourtney O'Connell shares a solo episode on how high performers get stalled in corporate careers and what it actually takes to move into executive-level roles. She breaks down the difference between being a top performer and being seen as high potential, then gives a practical framework for spotting the blind spo
What Executive Presence Really Means (and How to Play the Corporate Game) with Shari Chernack
What does executive presence actually mean and how do you navigate the corporate game without becoming someone you're not?In this episode of Inside the Promotion Room, Courtney O’Connell sits down with former Chief People Officer and transformation leader Shari Chernack to talk about the unwritten rules of career growth. They unpack executive presence, mentorship, imposter syndrome, tough feedback
What Gets You Promoted? Darrell Fincher-Crusan on the Truth About People-Pleasing and Career Pivots
Courtney reconnects with a former Bank of America colleague for a conversation that goes further behind the promotion room door than most. Darrell spent nine years as a bank collector before making the pivot into HR, eventually rising to head of HR roles across financial services and biopharma, and he's candid about what it actually took to get there: the degrees earned while working full time wit
Mandy Wong on being coachable, self-mastery, and rising through corporate leadership
Mandy Wong on being coachable, self-mastery, and rising through corporate leadershipCourtney speaks with Mandy Wong, a Canada Post leader with 15 years in the same organization, about career pivots, taking risks early on, and what actually drives promotion: coachability, trust, and self-awareness. The conversation is especially useful for ambitious professionals trying to balance confidence withou
Ben Brooks on getting hired, standing out, and taking the initiative to create the career you want
My conversation with Ben Brooks focuses on how to create opportunity, prove hunger, and become the person a boss would fight to keep. In this episode, Ben shares specific lessons from merit-based environments, career pivots, and the difference between being technically good and being promotable. He also explains why clarity, attitude, and visible initiative matter more than polished resumes.Timest
Michelle Martin on Self-Belief, Office Politics, and the Real Path to Promotion
Michelle Martin's career didn't start in a boardroom. It started as a temp garbage collector at a waste management company in Hamilton, Ontario, a job she took because she needed the money, not because she had a plan. Decades later, she was a Director of Fleet Maintenance at a Fortune 500 environmental services company, one of the few women to reach that level in a male-dominated industry.In this
Richard A. Hinton on Career Growth, Intuition, and Leading With Authenticity
Richard A. Hinton on career growth, intuition, and leading with authenticityCourtney sits down with Richard A. Hinton for a candid conversation about his path from early jobs in customer service to a long corporate HR career. They discuss the role of intuition, the reality of being “the only one” in the room, and how leadership, belonging, and self-awareness shape promotion and growth.Key topicsRi
Personal Branding at Work: Control Perception & Build Authentic Leadership With Lisa Williams
Personal Branding at Work: Control Perception & Build Authentic Leadership with Lisa WilliamsKey topics:Lisa's diverse career trajectory, from collections at a bank to internal coaching leadershipThe importance of self-awareness, values, and authenticity in career developmentStrategies for effective interview preparation and self-promotionHow to develop and control your personal brand within
Grit, Influence, and Boundaries: How to Get Promoted Faster With Denise Moss
Denise Moss climbed from bank teller to VP of HR, but not before spending years stuck at the director level, watching less-qualified peers get promoted around her. In this episode, Courtney O'Connell sits down with Denise Moss (aka "Your HR Homegirl") to unpack exactly what changed.Denise shares the real story behind her rise through corporate HR: starting as a temp receptionist, getting promoted
The Leadership Skills AI Can Never Replace With Former CIO Michael Kubit
What if the biggest thing holding you back from your next promotion isn't your technical skills… but how people experience you as a leader?Today's guest is Michael Kubit, former Chief Information Officer and executive leader with decades of experience building teams, leading transformation, and making high-stakes leadership decisions.In this conversation, we unpack why emotional intelligence is be
Unlocking Authenticity and Resilience in Your Career with Colleen Lauria
In this episode, Colleen Lauria shares her inspiring journey of embracing her authentic self in the workplace, navigating mental health challenges, and building a fulfilling career in HR and coaching. Discover how core skills like emotional intelligence, curiosity, and thriving amid ambiguity can elevate your professional life, no matter your industry.Key Topics - We discuss:The importance of ment
From Hollywood Extra to HR Leader: The Power of Storytelling With Patrick Sutton
Patrick Sutton shares his inspiring journey from Hollywood extra to HR executive emphasizing authenticity, storytelling, and strategic influence in career growth.In this episode:Patrick shares his unexpected startThe crucial skills acting and storytelling develop for effective communication and executive presenceTransition from Hollywood to corporate, highlighting the transferability of soft skill
Career Advice from a CHRO:
Kacy Wickenhauser on Resilience & Trust-Building
In this episode, Kacy Wickenhauser shares her inspiring journey from aspiring ER physician to CHRO in the energy industry, highlighting the importance of resilience, authenticity, and strategic thinking in career development.Key Topics:The value of starting in unglamorous roles to build foundational skills in HR and corporate settingsThe significance of partner choice and support systems in shapin
From Art to Tech Leadership: A Journey of Courage, Growth, and Authenticity With Lauren Newton
In this inspiring conversation, Lauren Newton shares her unconventional career path from art school to senior leadership in HR and recruiting. Her story highlights the importance of vulnerability, strategic risk-taking, and fostering authentic relationships in professional growth.The leap of faith: transitioning from creative arts to staffing without prior connectionsLessons learned from working a
The Trailer
I spent 23 years inside Fortune 500 companies, the last decade as SVP and Head of HR sitting in the rooms where promotion decisions actually get made.I've watched talented people get passed over for reasons no one ever explained to them, and I've watched others rise because they understood something the rest of the room didn't.I'm Courtney O'Connell, and this is Inside the Promotion Room.This trai
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