Ask Katy: Career Setbacks, First 90 Days, and Escaping the "Second Job Trap"
Feeling stuck after a career setback? Drowning in your first 90 days? In this Ask Katy episode, I tackle your burning questions about bouncing back from disappointment, mastering your first 90 days, and escaping the "second job trap" that's keeping you from promotion. Plus, DM me if you have a coaching question you'd like answered!BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:A four-step framework to overcome career disappointments without losing your motivation (including when it's actually okay to wallow!)My proven 30-60-90 day roadmap for excelling in a new leadership role—including what to prioritize and when to make strategic changesHow to escape the "second job trap" that's burning you out and blocking your promotion (with a practical task audit method)Why women are 30% more likely to take on non-promotable tasks and how to break this patternThe counterintuitive leadership approach that impressed senior executives when I stepped into VP and EVP rolesRemember, your career is not your whole life—and sometimes the best way to advance is to do less, not more.When you finish listening, I'd love to hear your biggest takeaway from today's episode. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, share it to your Instagram stories and tag me, @katy.mcfee!LEARN MORE FROM KATY:LinkedIn | Website | InstagramLet's continue the conversation! Let’s connect on Linkedin and let me know what you think about the episode or if you have any follow up questions. Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
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The Exact Questions That Turn Generic Feedback Into Career-Changing Guidance
Feedback can make or break your career, yet most of us struggle with both sides of this critical conversation. In this episode, I'll show you how to master feedback to accelerate your path to executive leadership—and don't miss my 5 Simple Shifts for Strategic Thinking to elevate your leadership today!BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:Why so many of us women struggle with receiving feedback (hint: that "good girl syndrome" might be playing a bigger role than you think!)How I've created a "culture of feedback" with my teams that actually strengthens relationships while improving performanceThe exact questions I use (and you can too!) to transform your manager's vague "looks good" into the guidance you actually need for promotionWhy when your boss says "keep doing what you're doing" it might actually be a red flag—and what to do about itMy practical strategies for setting healthy boundaries around feedback that help you grow without the emotional spiralLet's continue the conversation! Let’s connect on Linkedin and let me know what you think about the episode or if you have any follow up questions. Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
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Ask Like an Executive: The 3 Cs Framework for Business Requests That Get Approved
Ever wonder why your brilliant ideas aren't getting approved? I'm sharing my game-changing 3 Cs framework that transforms how you make requests to leadership. Plus, grab my free "Speak Like a VP" guide and learn exactly how to communicate with the confidence that gets results.What You’ll Learn From This Episode:Why your great ideas are getting rejected (it's rarely about the idea itself—it's how you're framing it)My proven 3 Cs framework that turns frustrating "nos" into enthusiastic "yeses"How to shift from communicating personal needs to demonstrating clear business valueThe powerful "so what" technique that makes your requests impossible to dismissReal examples of how to apply this framework when asking for headcount, development funding, and more!If you have questions about this topic, send me a message on Linkedin. I love hearing from you!And if you need help sounding like an executive, make sure to grab my free guide “Speak like a VP”.Let's continue the conversation! Let’s connect on Linkedin and let me know what you think about the episode or if you have any follow up questions. Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
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How to Be Assertive Without Being Labeled "Aggressive" - The Secret Every Female Leader Needs
Master "kind candour" - the perfect blend of assertiveness and warmth that transforms how you communicate as a woman leader. Get my free guide "Speak Like a VP: 10 Powerful Language Reframes" to immediately elevate your executive presence.What You'll Learn From This Episode:Why most women fall into communication traps of being either too passive or too aggressiveHow to practice "kind candor" to deliver direct feedback while maintaining relationshipsSpecific language reframes to sound more confident Practical techniques for handling interruptions and challenging situations in meetingsNeed help mastering your communication? Get my free guide "Speak Like a VP: 10 Powerful Language Reframes" and get tips you can implement right away.Let's continue the conversation! Let’s connect on Linkedin and let me know what you think about the episode or if you have any follow up questions. Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
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How to Ask for More Money: The Negotiation Episode Every Woman Needs to Hear
Want to earn what you're really worth? Get my free Negotiation Guide and learn the exact phrases and timing strategies that will help you confidently ask for—and actually receive—the salary you deserve. Episode SummaryAre you negotiating but still not getting paid what you deserve? Contrary to popular belief, women DO ask—we're just not getting. Discover how to effectively negotiate your worth, combat the likability backlash, and potentially add seven figures to your lifetime earnings.What You'll Learn While ListeningThe myth-busting truth about women and salary negotiation (and why we're still getting paid less)Exactly when and how to negotiate for maximum impact (including surprising opportunities most women miss)Practical techniques to combat the "likability backlash" while still getting what you deserveWhy giving your salary number FIRST could actually lead to better results (backed by research)--> Get my free Negotiation Guide <--Sources mentioned:"Women Don't Ask" by Linda Babcock Academy of Management Discoveries study on MBA graduates Women who make specific, data-backed requests in negotiations are 2-3 times more likely to receive what they ask for compared to general requests. (Source: McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org (2022). "Women in the Workplace" report)Women with negotiation training or mentorship achieve salary gains of 10-30% more than those without such support. (Source: Movius, H. (2019). "How Women Can Develop—and Promote—Their Personal Brand." Harvard Business Review)When trained to set strong anchors, women's outcomes improved by 10-15% Source: Kray, L. J., Galinsky, A. D., & Thompson, L. (2004). "Anchoring in Negotiations: Gender Differences in Anchoring and Negotiation Outcomes." published in the journal "Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes," Volume 93, Issue 1, pages 83-97.Let's continue the conversation! Let’s connect on Linkedin and let me know what you think about the episode or if you have any follow up questions. Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.
Are you an ambitious woman who's been stuck at the sr. manager or director level, watching peers advance despite your consistently stellar performance? Do you find yourself drowning in back-to-back meetings, unable to carve out time for lunch, much less time for professional development? You are not alone. Breaking through to the executive level isn't about working harder—it's about transforming how others perceive your leadership.Join Katy McFee, a former tech executive and Forty under 40 winner turned leadership coach. Through her leadership programs, Forbes.com writing and keynote speaking, she's empowered hundreds of women to secure promotions and thrive in their roles. When she's not helping over 100,000 women on social media crush their career goals, she's raising 3 kids and running ultramarathons—proving that resilience isn't just a buzzword, it's a lifestyle.Each week on More Women Promoted, dive into practical strategies for navigating career challenges: advancing to the next level, overcoming gender bias, balancing motherhood, preventing burnout, and thriving as an executive—on your terms. Learn how to transform from a go-to executor to a respected, confident strategic leader who belongs in the boardroom.Through targeted leadership development, strategic career planning, and professional empowerment techniques, you'll unlock your executive potential and redefine workplace success.Ready to redefine success and claim your seat at the leadership table? Hit play, and let's do this together.
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