Secrets of the Career Game
This podcast reveals the hidden rules of the corporate world, treating it as a game that most employees don't realize they're playing. Host Kendall Berg, a career coach, helps listeners understand the unspoken dynamics of corporate life to accelerate their growth and progression. Each episode offers insights and strategies for navigating the workplace more effectively.
Episodes
157. Performance Review Prep: Turn Your Accomplishments Into Evidence
Stop listing tasks in your performance review — turn them into evidence for a raise. Description: Strong performance can still disappear inside a weak self-evaluation. In this end-of-year performance review guide, Kendall Berg shows how to turn accomplishments into evidence with impact, metrics, and stakeholders, plus stretch assignments, leadership growth, and professional development. You'll lea
156. Why Your Boss Gives You More Work—but Not a Promotion with Maya Grossman
Hard work alone won't earn your next promotion—executive presence, visibility, and strategic thinking will. Hard work can make you indispensable at your current level while keeping you out of senior leadership. Moving from high performer to executive requires different signals: strategic thinking, executive presence, and workplace visibility. Drawing on 17 rejections on her path to two VP roles an
155. Why Isn't Your Resume Getting Interviews? 4 Changes You Can Make
Hiring managers take 4 seconds to decide if they'll interview you. Here's how to make your impact clear before they move on. 👉 Improve your self-advocacy: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-my-promotion-guide-now Is your resume full of experience but getting zero interviews? You're not alone. Hiring managers give your resume 4 seconds before they decide. Career coach Kendall Berg has reviewe
154. How to Stop Applying for the Wrong Jobs with LinkedIn's Career Editor
Job search strategy for 2026: more applications are not creating better odds. AI made generic applying effortless, recruiters are drowning in identical resumes, and qualified people are getting ignored. Here's what actually earns interviews. 👉 Improve your self-advocacy: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-my-promotion-guide-now Kendall Berg sits down with Andrew Seaman, LinkedIn's Editor at
153. How to Build a Referral Network Before You Need a Job
Cold applications are broken. As AI floods ATS systems, referrals are the only way to reach a hiring manager. Learn how to build your referral network before you need a job. ⭐️ Get My Networking Guide Now https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-my-networking-guide-now-yhvpak6i Cold applications are broken. As AI job search tools flood ATS systems, referrals are the only way to reach a hiring ma
152. 9 Productivity Apps That Help Me Organize Work and Life as a Mom of Two
You're not disorganized — you're using the wrong systems. These 9 apps get every task, deadline, and commitment out of your head so you can stay on top of work, family, and business without the mental drain. FREE webinar: Your Difficult Boss Survival Guide https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/managing-up--even-when-theyre-impossible Your productivity isn't the problem — your systems are. Kendal
151. The Productivity Lie That's Destroying High Achievers with Sade Kelly
Time management for high achievers fails when every available hour becomes another opportunity to take on more. My Ideal Weekly Schedule Guide Now https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-my-ideal-weekly-schedule-guide-now High achievers often confuse capability with capacity — then wonder why their demanding workload leaves them exhausted. On Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg asks Sade Kel
150. Your Boss Has No Idea How Much You Do with Kelley Nolan
Is your calendar telling the truth about your workload — or are you silently drowning in invisible tasks? My Ideal Weekly Schedule Guide Now https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/p/get-my-ideal-weekly-schedule-guide-now Most professionals plan their day as if eight hours equals eight productive hours. It doesn't. That mismatch is why capable people keep overcommitting, drowning in meetings, and
149. 5 Rules That Keep My Week From Falling Apart
An overwhelming workload requires clearer priorities, protected capacity, and a realistic schedule—not simply more hours or faster work. In this episode of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg shares five practical workload-management strategies for busy professionals: How to use a daily Top Three Why stopping can be better than constantly adding more tasks How day blocking can work bett
148. Why You're Afraid of Getting Fired (Even Though You're the Best Performer)
You climbed the ladder. You hit the goals. So why do you still check your phone at 2 AM, terrified it'll all disappear? High-achiever burnout doesn't look like exhaustion — it looks like success with a side of constant anxiety. FREE Communication Guide Now: https://stan.store/thatcareercoach/thatcareercoach_funnel Anna Wojtowicz joins Kendall Berg on Secrets of the Corporate Game, together they
147. High Achievers Who Make Work Their Identity Always Hit This Wall
Why do high performers get so defensive, reactive, and emotionally raw at work? It's not a personality flaw — it's what happens when your job becomes your entire identity. When you're a high achiever, every piece of feedback can feel like an attack, every mistake feels catastrophic, and every friction with a coworker feels deeply personal. This is burnout in its earliest form — and it's an identit
146. How I Stopped Working 24/7 and Finally Got Noticed as a Leader
I worked 24/7 thinking it would get me promoted. It did the opposite. Here's how slowing down made leadership finally notice me — and how you can do the same. High performers are often the worst at one thing: rest. We wear busy like a badge of honor, convinced that constant productivity is the path to career growth. But here's what nobody tells you — career progression requires strategic thinking,
145. Your Job Title Is Not Your Identity with Katy Culver
Kendall Berg and Katy Culver challenge the job title identity trap that keeps high performers tied to outdated roles, titles, and versions of success. If your career identity is built around overworking, control, weak boundaries, or proving your value through corporate achievement, professional growth starts to feel harder than it needs to. Katy explains how future self work and the "I'm the type
144. How to Play the Corporate Game: The Strategy That Actually Gets You Promoted
Hard work alone won't get you promoted; here's what actually drives career progression. If you've been overlooked, passed over, or stuck wondering why your boss keeps choosing someone else, this video breaks down the real rules of how to get promoted at work. Kendall Berg explains why your career is a game, and pretending the corporate rules don't exist only keeps you playing small. You'll learn
143. Your Career Is Bigger Than One Bad Job with That Corporate Lawyer, Henry Nelson-Case
Sometimes the job is not the problem. The problem is that we let one role become our identity, our confidence, and our entire sense of security. Henry Nelson-Case, who shares workplace and legal humor online as That Corporate Lawyer, joins me to talk about career confidence, workplace mental health, and why leaving a bad job can feel so terrifying. If you feel stuck, over-attached to your title, o
142. My Husband Spent 13 Years in Corporate Sales — Here's What He Taught Me About the Rules No One Share
Most professionals think selling yourself at work means bragging. A career sales executive says that's exactly wrong. Kendall Berg sits down with her husband, David Berg, a sales executive with 13+ years at AT&T, to break down how to play the corporate game, build executive presence, and communicate your value without feeling fake. In this episode: • Why "selling yourself" is actually about list
141. Why Quitting Your Corporate Job Might Be the Worst Way to Start a Business with Mike Shannon
There is a very loud version of entrepreneurship online right now: quit the job, burn the safety net, go all in, and figure it out later. I get the appeal. I also think that advice can get expensive very quickly, especially when the business has not been validated yet. Mike Shannon joins me to talk about the much messier, smarter side of starting a business. Mike has built multiple companies, appe
140. Your Schedule Is Full But You're Getting Nothing Done — 3 Time Management Tips That Actually Work
I will be the first to admit I am pretty good at managing my time. But here is the part nobody wants to say out loud: you still cannot do everything. Every goal, every career move, every family priority, every business idea, and every "quick thing" on your calendar has a tradeoff. Productivity is not about cramming more into your day. It is about deciding what actually deserves your time — and hav
139. You Keep Canceling on Yourself and Calling It Productivity with Dr. Shannon Burge
I know what it feels like to have a "productive" day that somehow leaves you completely disconnected from yourself. You made every meeting, answered every email, handled every priority, and then realized your own health never made it onto the calendar. That is the part of ambition we do not talk about enough. Dr. Shannon Burge joined me on Secrets of the Career Game to talk about what happens when
138. The Real Reason Working Moms Burn Out (It's Not What You Think)
I used to think balance meant everything in my life would somehow get equal attention. Career, kids, marriage, health, friendships, ambition, personal goals, all of it perfectly arranged like a very unrealistic calendar invite. The truth is, working mom balance does not work that way. Trying to give everything equal priority is usually how burnout starts. What changed for me was realizing that suc
137. Stop Succeeding. Start Unbecoming. | Lauren Kerr on Feminine Leadership
What if success isn't the problem — it's that you've outgrown it? Lauren Kerr introduces the concept of "unbecoming": shedding who you were to step into who you're becoming — without burning out in the process. Lauren Kerr is a bestselling author and high-performance coach who helps high-achieving women lead with clarity, recover from burnout, and redefine success — without blowing everything up t
136. Most Candidates Waste the First 5 Minutes of Their Interview — Here's What to Do Instead
Hiring managers decide who they want within the first five minutes of an interview. If your answer to "tell me about yourself" sounds like everyone else's, you are already behind. In this episode, I break down how to lead with your personal brand, handle small talk strategically, and explain your experience in a way hiring managers actually remember — so you stop losing offers to people with the s
135. You're Qualified But Still Getting Overlooked — Here's Why with Nicholette Hemingway
You're qualified. So why does it feel like no one notices? The problem usually isn't your experience. It's how you talk about it. In this episode, I sit down with career coach, Amazon best-selling author, and self-proclaimed "interview ologist" Nicolette Hemingway to unpack one of the most costly — and completely fixable — mistakes professionals make: assuming their work speaks for itself. Spoiler
134. How to Plan a Job Search Before You Burn Out and Make the Wrong Move
Too many people wait until work becomes unbearable before they start looking, and that is how smart professionals end up making desperate career moves. I have seen it happen over and over again. A toxic boss, a role that stopped fitting, a project that drains you, and suddenly you are trying to escape fast instead of thinking clearly. A strong job search starts long before you hit that breaking po
133. You're Not Bad at Interviews, You're Preparing the Wrong Way with Irina Posan
Qualified professionals are getting rejected for jobs they should absolutely be landing. That's why I wanted to chat with fellow career coach Irina Posan. We've both seen too many smart, ambitious professionals treat interviews like a memory test instead of a strategy exercise. Irina knows this world well as a former HR director and the host of the Career Cravings podcast. In our conversation, we
132 Stop Applying to Everything | The Job Search Strategy That Actually Gets Interviews
Applying to more jobs is not the answer if your search has no strategy behind it. Too many smart professionals spend weeks applying, tweaking, and refreshing their LinkedIn profiles, yet still feel nothing is moving. In this episode, I talk about why a scattered job search creates more frustration, not better results, and what to focus on instead if you want to land the right role. I walk through
131. Everyone Looks Rich Online: The Spending Reset You Need | Lucy from The Lucy Space
Everyone looks rich online. New houses, European summers, luxury cars, and somehow no one ever mentions what it costs or whether it is intentionally helping you build the life you actually want. We work 40 hours a week, so of course we want to treat ourselves to nice dinners and beautiful trips. The difference is not whether we spend, but how we approach those decisions so we can build generationa
130. Invisible at Work? Your Personal Brand Is the Problem
Your personal brand is going to be the single most important investment that you make this year. Not your resume, not another certification, not even your performance review. Your personal brand is essentially your professional reputation personified. It shapes what senior leaders, peers, and stakeholders say about you when you are not in the room, and those conversations directly influence your o
129. Don't Make a Career Pivot Until You Answer These 5 Questions with Michelle Schaefer
Making a career pivot without clarity is how smart professionals end up in the wrong job twice. Before you make a career change, you need a clear destination. That's exactly why I wanted to interview Michelle Schaefer, bestselling author of Cultivating Career Growth, to talk about what actually creates a successful career transition. We walk through the five questions that create real career direc
128. How to Communicate So Senior Leaders Actually Listen
You've probably left a meeting thinking, I said all the right things… so why did nothing move? I've been there. I once had an executive tell me that talking to me felt like drinking from a fire hydrant. I was giving context. I was giving data. I was giving analysis. What I wasn't giving was clarity on what I needed. In senior rooms, information is not influence. Alignment is. In this episode of Se
127. Why Your Team Waits for You: The Hidden Cost of Solving Every Problem with Leah Marone
If your team can't move without you, you don't have leadership; you have dependence. Kendall Berg sits down with Leah Marone to unpack the Support, Don't Solve leadership model. This is the shift that stops constant interruption. It also builds real ownership. Leah explains why leaders often jump in too quickly, how this creates a dependency loop, and what to do instead. You will hear the first mo
126. Before You Quit Your Job Over a Bad Raise, Listen to This First
You didn't get the raise or promotion you wanted, and suddenly quitting feels like the only way to get unstuck. Kendall Berg explains why that reaction is exactly how people end up hurting their long-term careers. She breaks down the difference between staying too long because of empty promises and leaving too fast without using all the information available to you. Kendall talks about the trap so
125. Why High Performers Can't Slow Down Even When They're Successful with Dr. Margie Warrell
High performance rarely looks calm from the inside, especially for the people who are doing everything "right." Promotions, praise, and visible wins don't always translate into ease. For many high achievers, success comes with constant pressure, blurred boundaries, and a lingering fear of slowing down. Kendall Berg and Dr. Margie Warrell name what's driving this pattern: the insecure overachiever
124. How People Actually Achieve "Impossible" Goals with Sarah Arnold Hall
Impossible goals are rarely impossible. They just require a different way of thinking, acting, and deciding when things stop feeling obvious. Kendall Berg sits down with Sarah Arnold Hall to unpack why most people abandon big dreams right at the moment progress actually begins. They break down why obstacles are not a signal to pivot, quit, or start over. Obstacles are part of the process. Sarah ex
123. Success Is Invisible Until You Track Your Accomplishments Like This
Success doesn't stall because you are bad at your job. It stalls because your work becomes invisible by the time it actually matters. Kendall Berg breaks down why high performers forget months of work by review season and how that gap quietly costs them recognition, leverage, and momentum. This episode explains how to track your accomplishments in a way that saves time later instead of creating la
122. You're Hitting Every Goal and Still Falling Behind with Radhika Dutt
Hitting every goal should feel like progress. Instead, it often leaves high performers stuck, frustrated, and quietly falling behind. Kendall Berg breaks down why traditional goal setting systems like OKRs and KPIs reward performance optics while hiding the problems leaders actually need to see. In this conversation with Radhika Dutt, author of Radical Product Thinking, Kendall challenges the beli
121. Make 2026 Your Biggest Career Year Ever: The Goal Setting Playbook
Being busy is not the same thing as moving forward in your career. In 2026, growth comes from alignment, not effort. If your goals are not tied to what your company is actually measured on, they will not move your career forward. Kendall breaks down how to set career goals that match company priorities like AI, efficiency, and revenue so your work gets noticed and rewarded. This episode lays out a
120. Why High Performers Get Stuck Even When They're Doing Everything Right with Tracy Nolan
Strong performance does not automatically translate into influence at work. Many high performers deliver results yet still get misread, underestimated, or quietly sidelined. That gap is where careers slow down, not because of skill, but because leadership presence and perception do not always match capability. Kendall sits down with Tracy Nolan to break down what actually moves careers forward in
119. Office Politics: How to Build Influence at Work Without Being Fake
Office politics is not optional. It is the job if you want director-level and above. Ignore it, and you stay the hardest working person in the room with the least control over what gets decided. This episode breaks down office politics the way high performers actually need it explained: not gossip or brown-nosing, but influence, stakeholder management, and reputation. Kendall walks you through the
118. Why Goals Don't Grow Your Career Systems and Identity Do
Career growth feels harder when you're doing everything "right" and still not seeing momentum. Kendall breaks down why traditional goal setting quietly stalls your progress and why the real catalysts for advancement are systems, identity, and daily habits that actually fit your work life. She shares how high achievers unintentionally set themselves up for burnout, why New Year energy fades so qu
117. How Tiny Daily Habits Create Big Career Growth with Julie DeLucca-Colllins
Kendall digs into the truth about career growth with Julie DeLucca Collins, a coach who teaches that real leadership begins long before a title. Julie explains why self-leadership, emotional regulation, and a strong leadership mindset are the foundation of confidence at work and mid-career growth. They talk about the discomfort that comes with asking questions, navigating rejection, and showing in
116. Why the Work-Life Balance Myth Is Ruining Your Career
If you feel like you're failing at work and at home, Kendall explains why the problem isn't you — it's the myth you're trying to live up to. She breaks down why "balance" was never realistic, how it fuels guilt and burnout, and why integration offers a more practical, sustainable path forward. Through personal stories and real client examples, Kendall shows how aligning your values, redefining suc
Corporate Politics Explained in 5 Minutes
Corporate politics isn't about manipulation, it's about relationships. Learn how to master workplace dynamics, communicate clearly, and build trust fast. In this 5-minute episode, career coach Kendall Berg breaks down the unspoken rules that shape every workplace. She explains why likability, clarity, and reciprocity matter more than hard work when it comes to getting promoted—and how to use those
115. Why Women Get Stuck at Director Level and How to Break Out with Katy McFee
So many brilliant women get stuck at director level because they're too good at their jobs. That's the quiet trap executive coach Katy McFee breaks down in this episode of Secrets of the Career Game. Kendall Berg sits with Katy to unpack the habits, mindset shifts, and strategic practices women need to finally be seen as leaders instead of doers. Katy shares what actually signals VP readiness, why
114. The One Percent Career Hack Nobody Talks About
Kendall Berg reveals why the real career hack is not a promotion or a lucky break. It is the quiet one percent improvements in soft skills that reshape your communication, visibility, and leadership presence. She shares how small daily habits build reputation, influence, and long term career momentum without burnout. In this episode, Kendall Berg breaks down how to take tough feedback without spir
113. Stop Climbing, Start Leading: Career Moves That Actually Work with Whitney Faires
Most professionals chase the next promotion without ever asking if it's the right move. In this conversation, Kendall Berg and executive coach Whitney Faires expose the myth of the linear career path and why the most fulfilled leaders often take strategic sideways moves instead of climbing straight up. Whitney shares her Courageous Leader Roadmap, a framework for showing up with authenticity, self
112. How to Write a Performance Review That Gets You Promoted
Your performance review might be enough to save you from getting fired, but it's definitely enough to keep you from getting promoted. Kendall Berg unpacks why most professionals underestimate their self-evaluations and how a well-written review can make or break your next career move. She explains how to turn your performance review into your best internal marketing tool: one that showcases impact
111. Why Smart Women Still Play It Safe in Their Careers: How to Stop | Dr. Candace Steele Flippin
Too many smart, capable women stay stuck in roles that feel "safe." In this episode, Kendall Berg and Dr. Candace Steele Flippin unpack why — and how to finally break free. Drawing on groundbreaking research from her book and her SHAPE Framework (Safe, Hard Work, Advocate, Persevere, Educate), Dr. Candace reveals the hidden connection between financial stability and career confidence — and why mon
110. The Confidence Gap: Why Soft Skills Beat Technical Skills
Most professionals don't plateau because they've hit their technical limit; they plateau because no one can see their value. In this episode, Kendall Berg breaks down the confidence gap and exposes the real reason talented people stay invisible at work: not a lack of skill, but a lack of visibility, presence, and confidence. Kendall explains how soft skills like communication, influence, and execu
109. Job Security Is a Myth: Become the CEO of Your Career with Renata Bernarde
True "job security" as guaranteed lifetime employment was never a reality, though the perception of it was stronger in previous generations. In this episode, Kendall Berg sits down with career strategist Renata Bernarde to talk about what it really takes to stay relevant when the rules of work keep changing. From quiet layoffs to invisible promotion ceilings, they dig into why waiting to be "disc
108. The Secret to Career Growth: Learning to Emotionally Detach
Kendall Berg reveals the truth about how to emotionally detach from work—without losing your ambition. Most professionals don't burn out from overworking; they burn out from over-caring. In this episode of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall breaks down why emotional detachment is the real power skill behind sustainable success. You'll learn how to stop tying your self-worth to work performance, f
107. The Secret to Leadership Confidence No One Teaches You with Sara Anderson
Kendall Berg and Sara Anderson go deep into why authentic confidence isn't about "faking it until you make it"—it's about rewiring your nervous system so your leadership presence becomes undeniable. From grounding exercises that calm anxiety before high-stakes meetings to mindset shifts that make you more memorable in the boardroom, this episode unpacks the hidden mechanics of influence that no on
106. Corporate Politics and Career Growth—The Truth No One Tells You
Kendall Berg doesn't sugarcoat it: if you refuse to engage in corporate politics, your career will stall. Hard work alone gets you to middle management at best, while those who master influence, relationships, and reputation move into senior leadership. Politics isn't about gossip—it's about power dynamics, alliances, and timing. In this episode of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall breaks down h
105. LinkedIn Networking Secrets You're Not Using Yet with Catherine Fisher
Networking isn't just for job hunting — it's the long-term career insurance policy that carries you through promotions, layoffs, and everything in between. And in a world of AI, real career decisions still rely on real people. In this episode of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg sits down with Catherine Fisher, LinkedIn's career expert and author of the Career Companion newsletter, to unpac
104. How to Build a Side Hustle That Pays While Keeping Your 9-to-5
Corporate careers don't offer the same safety net they once did. Pensions are gone, promotions are slow, and many roles feel like dead ends. That's why more professionals are turning to side hustles—and Kendall Berg is one of them. In this episode of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall shares how she built a career coaching business while still working a demanding corporate job. She breaks down wh
103. Your Career Is Not Who You Are With Kelly Poquiz Burke
Kendall Berg sits down with Kelly Poquiz Burke, a former Doritos brand manager who walked away from Super Bowl campaigns, corporate titles, and nonstop promotions to build a life that actually aligned with her values. Kelly's story begins at the peak of success—meeting celebrities, managing billion-dollar brands, and collecting promotions—but underneath, she was burning out while holding it all to
102. Your Boss Doesn't Know What You Do (and Why That's Dangerous)
Most of us give our boss way too much credit — for the raise we didn't get, the promotion we hoped for, or the recognition we thought was overdue. Kendall Berg pulls back the curtain to reveal the truth: your career outcomes are rarely decided by one person. Promotions, raises, and opportunities happen by committee, and your boss can't advocate for you if they don't even know what you're doing. Th
101. Addicted to Stress? Your Nervous System Might Like It That Way - Dr. Nona Djavid
Your calendar doesn't cause burnout. It's caused by your nervous system. After building multiple seven-figure businesses in her twenties, Dr. Nona Djavid found herself sobbing on the closet floor—exhausted, overwhelmed, and completely burned out. That breakdown became a breakthrough. She didn't just change her habits—she rewired her subconscious and trained her nervous system to feel safe with res
100. 8 Pieces of Mediocre Career Advice I Wish I Ignored
"Just work hard and you'll get promoted." If you've heard this before and it still hasn't worked out… Kendall's here to tell you why. In this 100th episode of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall calls BS on the most common career clichés that keep high-performers stuck and overlooked. From toxic loyalty traps to the myth of passion-driven success, this episode breaks down the 8 most mediocre piece
99. Stop Wasting Time on Goals You Don't Even Want — Michelle Niemeyer
Most people say they're "too busy" before they've even checked their calendar. Michelle Niemeyer wants to change that. After burning out as a high-performing attorney (and landing in the hospital because of it), Michelle realized the problem wasn't her productivity. It was her lifestyle. Her nervous system. Her goals. And the way she defined success. In this episode, she breaks down The Art of Ben
98. Why You're Not Getting Noticed on LinkedIn—And How to Fix It with Courtney Johnson
Most people aren't lazy—they're just scared of being seen. Kendall Berg sits down with digital strategist and Slay the Gatekeeper founder Courtney Johnson to unravel the truth about personal branding in the age of LinkedIn, TikTok, and trolls. Spoiler alert: it's not about going viral—it's about getting honest. Courtney breaks down the emotional blocks that keep high achievers hiding their brillia
97. 5 Planning Habits That Save Me Hours Every Week (And My Sanity)
Kendall Berg reveals the 5 planning habits that keep her from losing it—while balancing a corporate tech role, coaching business, content creation, pageant prep, and parenting two kids. If your to-do list never ends but your energy does, these five systems will shift how you manage your time, reduce mental load, and finally build a week that works. Kendall breaks down how to simplify your goals, d
95. What Is 'Rizz' in the Workplace? A Modern Guide to Charisma + Leadership with Milam Miller
Berg interviews Milam Miller, the former AS Roma exec known as the real-life Ted Lasso, about the leadership superpower most people misunderstand: charisma. Milam breaks down his modern framework for connection, communication, and rizz—the kind that helps you lead across cultures, industries, and personalities. Drawing from his new book, The Charisma Craft – A Modern Leadership Guide to Enhance Yo
96. How to Respond to Rude Comments at Work (Without Getting Emotional)
What do you do when someone makes a condescending remark in front of your team—or worse, during a board meeting? In this episode, career coach Kendall Berg breaks down the exact language to use when you're belittled, talked over, or insulted at work. This non-confrontational tactic forces aggressors to repeat their words and publicly own their behavior—without you losing your composure or professi
94. Why Your Personal Brand Matters More Than Your Résumé Hilary Hartling
Hilary Hartling doesn't believe in branding fluff—and after 15 years at Disney working on global campaigns for Pixar, Marvel, and DreamWorks, she's earned the right to say so. In this episode, Kendall Berg sits down with Hilary to unpack what a personal brand really is (hint: it's not your color palette). From corporate burnout to building an executive brand agency, Hilary's story is a masterclass
93. 4 Types of Toxic Bosses and How to Handle Them
Toxic bosses are more common than you think—and Kendall Berg isn't afraid to name names and break down the real strategies you need to survive them. From micromanagers who hover over every move to credit-stealers who take your wins and make them theirs, this episode of Secrets of the Career Game reveals what actually works when your manager is the biggest obstacle to your career growth. Kendall ex
92. Why Staying at One Job Too Long Might be Financial Suicide with Amanda Wolfe
Amanda Wolfe built a 300K+ community from her bedroom—but that's not where her story starts. Growing up in poverty, with parents addicted to drugs, Amanda moved 12 times before sixth grade. She became the first person in her family to graduate college, only to discover that a salary alone wasn't enough to build financial security. In this candid conversation, Amanda reveals how staying at her firs
91. 10 Phrases to Stop Saying at Work (If You Want to Be Taken Seriously)
Your words at work matter more than you think. If you've ever been told to "work on your communication" or felt unsure how to respond to vague feedback about being "too assertive"—this episode is for you. I'm breaking down 10 common workplace phrases that can quietly sabotage your professional image—and giving you smarter alternatives that build influence, show leadership, and help you play the co
90. How to Say No at Work (Without Burning Bridges or Burning Out) with Amy Green Smith
Kendall Berg pulls no punches in this conversation with certified life coach and communication expert Amy Green Smith. From the outside, high achievers seem like they have it all together—but beneath the promotions and packed calendars is a brewing identity crisis. Amy unpacks why burnout hits the most accomplished professionals the hardest—and how tying your self-worth to your performance is the
89. The Butterfly Effect of Career Change: Small Shifts, Big Results
The smallest move in your career could change everything. That's the power of the butterfly effect—and it's already at work whether you realize it or not. In this episode of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg unpacks how one tiny shift (a certification, a networking event, even a pause after a layoff) can ripple into massive career transformation. Drawing from real client stories and her own
88. Secrets of the Career Game: The Career Advice No One Tells You
Kendall Berg doesn't just coach careers—she rewrites the rules of corporate success. At her Tattered Cover book signing and live Q&A, she breaks down the unwritten rules no one teaches you: what leaders really say behind closed doors, how promotions actually happen, and why your job isn't responsible for your growth—you are. With humor, vulnerability, and hard-won experience, Kendall shares the be
Play the Corporate Game or Get Played (Secrets of the Career Game #6)
The game is real—and most people are losing. In this final secret of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg breaks down the ultimate truth of corporate life: if you don't understand how leadership shapes culture, you will keep getting blindsided. The real culture isn't in the handbook—it's in your manager's behavior. This is the sixth and final episode in our special podcast mini-series. And the
87. From Customer to CEO: How Natasha Cornstein Transformed Blushington During a Crisis
Natasha Cornstein didn't set out to become a CEO—but when opportunity knocked, she was ready with a curious mind, a humble heart, and a killer red lip. In this episode, Kendall Berg sits down with the powerhouse behind Blushington to unpack how Natasha went from skeptic customer to transformational CEO of a brand redefining beauty for all. With zero experience in the beauty industry and no prior C
Leadership Isn't Enough (Secrets of the Career Game #5)
Here's the truth: managing and leading are not the same. And if you're only doing one—you're not getting promoted. In Secret #5 of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg breaks down the critical difference between management and leadership, and why so many professionals get stuck in middle management because they've mastered task execution but never learned how to create vision. Or vice versa. I
86. This Is Why You're Burned Out at Work (And What I Did About It)
Burnout is everywhere—and I get why. We've wrapped our entire identity around our job titles, performance reviews, and LinkedIn headlines. I've been there. In this episode, I'm breaking down why so many of us are teetering on the edge of burnout and how I've learned (the hard way) to separate who I am from what I do. This isn't your average career pep talk. I'm sharing how hobbies—yes, actual non-
Your Opinion Isn't the Problem (Secrets of the Career Game #4)
This might be the most misunderstood feedback in the workplace. You're not too direct. You're not too opinionated. You're just communicating disagreement the wrong way. In Secret #4 of Secrets of the Career Game, Kendall Berg unpacks the career-limiting communication habits that hold people back from promotions, leadership roles, and real influence. If you've ever been told to "work on your tone"
85. STOP Applying to Jobs You're NOT Qualified For | Farah Sharghi
Kendall Berg sits down with viral career coach and former Google recruiter Farah Sharghi, and the conversation is a corporate culture reality check. From bad résumés to bad advice, Farah calls out what most job seekers are doing wrong—and what actually works if you're trying to stand out in today's messy job market. With firsthand experience at companies like TikTok, Uber, Lyft, and The New York T
Without a Network, You Will Fail (Secrets of the Career Game #3)
This one stings—but it's the truth. Without a network, you will fail. You can be a high performer, great at your job, and still get passed over—because no one outside your manager even knows who you are. That's the career cliff Kendall tackles in Secret #3 of Secrets of the Career Game. In this episode, Kendall shares the harsh realities of performance reviews, cross-calibrations, and how internal
84. How to Outsmart a Micromanaging, Credit-Stealing, Gossip-Loving Boss
Some bosses are great. Others… force you into a game you never asked to play. In this episode, Kendall Berg unpacks the real rules of surviving the workplace when you're dealing with toxic leadership—micromanagers, credit thieves, and internal gossip machines. Whether you're trying to manage up, navigate internal politics, or just stay sane in a dysfunctional team, Kendall gives you the scripts, m
Your Skills Aren't Enough Without This (Secrets of the Career Game #2)
Most people think skills are what get them promoted. But if those skills don't match what the company needs or values—they're not worth much. That's the hard truth behind Secret #2 of Secrets of the Career Game. Kendall unpacks why skill alignment is the real key to professional growth. She explains how even high performers can fail when their talents don't line up with team culture or leadership
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