Interviews and Workplace Strategies That’ll Have You Winning Every Time

Let’s be real, interviews can be intimidating, especially when you’re trying to secure a role that aligns with your purpose, peace, and paycheck. Over the years, I’ve learned how to navigate interviews and workplace culture with confidence, clarity, and discernment. I’ve been on both sides of the table, interviewing for roles and interviewing others, and one thing’s for sure: people remember how you make them feel.

Here are some of my go-to gems for walking into and out of every interview like the blessing you are.

1. Preparation is your superpower.

Before you even log into Zoom or walk into the room, research the organization. Know their mission, their values, and how the role contributes to their goals. Come ready with at least three thoughtful questions, not just to impress them, but to make sure they align with you.

2. Your non-verbal communication speaks first.

Before you say a word, your body language tells your story. Practice eye contact because it shows security and confidence. Keep your posture strong but relaxed. Don’t cross your arms (closed energy). Instead, use open hand gestures and a warm smile.

And sis, let’s talk about handshakes. A firm handshake says, I belong here.

No dead fish handshakes, aht aht. 

3. Dress to win, even virtually.

Whether you’re interviewing in person or on Zoom, how you present yourself matters. Dress professionally, but let your personality shine through. Keep your background clean with minimal distractions, and if it’s virtual, log in 10 minutes early. Show up calm, prepared, and centered in your greatness.

4. Don’t just answer, connect.

When they ask about your experience, connect your answers to the impact you made, not just the tasks you did. Use your stories to show your leadership, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills. Employers don’t just want to know what you did, they want to know how you did it and why it mattered.

5. Pay attention to their energy, too.

You’re not the only one being interviewed. Watch the panel’s body language. Are they engaged, warm, and present, or do they seem drained and dismissive? You can tell a lot about a workplace by how people show up in interviews.

If the interviewer looks exhausted, unorganized, or rude, that’s your sign. You deserve to work somewhere that values balance and respect.

6. Know your worth, and speak it.

Let’s stop lowballing ourselves. You’ve spent years building your experience, education, and professionalism. Say your salary number with your whole chest and don’t blink.

When negotiating, remember, it’s not just about the money. Ask about flexibility, hybrid schedules, vacation time, and professional development. These things add up to a healthy, fulfilling work life.

7. Keep your brand clean and consistent.

Do a quick Google search on your name. Make sure your LinkedIn reflects your current skills, achievements, and personality. Hiring managers look, trust me. Your brand should say: I’m credible, confident, and consistent.

8. Follow up and stand out.

After your interview, send a short, genuine thank-you email. Most people don’t do this, and it’s one of the simplest ways to leave a lasting impression.

9. Remember, you’re interviewing them too.

You are not desperate, you’re discerning. Ask yourself, does this environment feel peaceful or performative? Supportive or draining? If it doesn’t align with who you are and what you value, keep it moving.

10. Always show up as your authentic self.

Stop trying to perform or fit into boxes. You’ve already done the work, gained the experience, and earned your seat at the table. The healed, confident version of you doesn’t chase, overexplain, or overextend; she enforces boundaries, trusts her intuition, and protects her peace like it’s holy ground.

Final Word

You’ve got the skills to pay the bills. You don’t need another degree; you need courage, clarity, and strategy. The workplace is evolving, and so are you. Walk, act, and know that you’re the blessing.

 

How Women Can Advance Their Careers and Reach Their Dream Roles (Featured Blogger Kevin Ogle)

Success looks different for every woman — but one constant is the desire to grow, lead, and be recognized for the value you bring. Whether you’re early in your career or aiming for the C-suite, building your path with clarity, confidence, and strategy can change everything.

●     Define what success means to you — not what others expect.

●     Build a strong network and ask for mentorship early.

●     Learn to advocate for your worth with data, not emotion.

●     Keep learning new skills — tech, leadership, communication.

●     Don’t wait for permission to start your own thing.

Key Growth Strategies by Career Stage

 

Career Stage	Core Focus	Common Challenge	Strategic Move
Early Career	Building credibility	Self-doubt	Volunteer for visible projects
Mid-Level	Expanding influence	Plateauing	Learn to delegate + mentor others
Senior Leadership	Legacy + impact	Work-life balance	Protect your time like a resource
Transitioning to Entrepreneurship	Autonomy	Risk + overwhelm	Start lean, seek support from formation platforms

Ask, Don’t Wait — How to Navigate Growth Conversations

Too many women assume hard work automatically leads to recognition. It doesn’t. Prepare to negotiate your value using specific results (e.g., “I increased customer retention by 12%”) instead of vague contributions. Start tracking your wins weekly. Use simple tools like Notion, Google Sheets, or even your notes app. Those receipts matter when performance reviews roll around.

5 Steps to Move Toward Your Dream Role

1. Clarify your “north star.” Write down what you want your career to look like in 5 years — title, impact, income.
   
   
2. Get visible. Speak up in meetings, publish thought pieces on LinkedIn, or contribute to professional communities.
   
   
3. Cultivate sponsors, not just mentors. Mentors advise — sponsors open doors.
   
   
4. Build resilience. Rejection, slow progress, or bias — it’s all part of the process. Bounce forward.
   
   
5. Audit your environment. If your current company doesn’t value growth or inclusivity, prepare your exit plan — with intention.
   
   

The “Own It” Era — Starting Your Own Business

There comes a moment when some women realize: climbing someone else’s ladder just isn’t the goal. Entrepreneurship offers autonomy, flexibility, and creative fulfillment — but also risk.

One smart step? Simplify the setup. Platforms like ZenBusiness help you form an LLC, design a logo, build a website, and manage finances — all in one place. You don’t need a massive budget; you need momentum.

Pair that with reading The Lean Startup for strategy to brand your ideas visually.

The Power Moves List

●     Find mentors who look nothing like you — diversity of experience equals depth.

●     Negotiate early and often — the gender pay gap starts with the first job.

●     Say “no” to roles that don’t serve your longer vision.

●     Use an all-in-one business platform if you’re exploring independence.

●     Document your expertise: blog, podcast, or online workshop.

●     Build “social capital” before you need it. Attend conferences, engage on Eventbrite or Meetup.

●     Learn financial literacy — try Ellevest or Mint for personal growth.

FAQ — Navigating Work and Ambition

Q1. How do I ask for a raise without sounding aggressive?
Frame it with data. Use phrases like, “Based on market benchmarks and my recent results, I’d like to discuss aligning compensation.”

Q2. What if my company doesn’t support women in leadership?
Leave, strategically. Companies that resist diversity limit your growth ceiling. Research inclusive organizations on Glassdoor.

Q3. I’m balancing family and career — is that even possible?
Yes, but redefine balance as “rhythm.” Some weeks lean into work, others into life. Tools like Todoist can help manage both.

Q4. How do I handle imposter syndrome?
Name it, reframe it, and act anyway. Confidence grows from doing, not waiting.

Featured Product Highlight — Elevating Your Workspace

Let’s talk about productivity. If you often juggle multiple projects, consider upgrading your workflow with Trello. It’s a simple, visual board system that helps organize career goals, side hustles, or team projects. Bonus: it integrates with Slack, Google Drive, and calendar tools for seamless collaboration.

Glossary

●     Sponsor: A senior advocate who actively champions your career.

●     Imposter Syndrome: Feeling unqualified despite success.

●     Glass Ceiling: Unseen barriers preventing advancement for women.

●     Equity: Fair opportunity and representation — not identical treatment.

●     Soft Skills: Communication, empathy, and leadership — often undervalued but career-defining.

Every woman’s career journey is a mosaic — built from resilience, mentorship, courage, and sometimes, rebellion. The key is not just climbing the ladder but building your own staircase. So, wherever you are: take the next small, bold step. Your dream role isn’t a destination — it’s a direction. Keep walking.

 

 

Brown Girl Wisdom: Set the Boundary. Don’t Second-Guess It. | Storytime

Sis, let’s talk about the moment you choose you.

In this Brown Girl Wisdom audio episode, I share a real and raw storytime about what happened when a long-lost family member reached out after 10 years... not to reconnect, but to manipulate me into paying a bill.

But here’s the part that matters:
I said no — calmly, clearly, and without guilt.

This wasn’t just a “no.”
It was a sacred reclaiming of my energy, my softness, and my emotional safety.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
✨ The exact moment I leaned into my discernment and trusted it
✨ How I avoided the emotional buildup trap and kept it respectful but real
✨ Six tips for setting boundaries without guilt or overexplaining
✨ A grounding affirmation to help you walk in your power

This is for the women healing from people-pleasing, breaking generational cycles, and choosing peace over performative loyalty.

You are not wrong for setting boundaries. You are just finally loving yourself louder.
Let this be your confirmation.

📚 Recommended read:
Dodging Energy Vampires by Dr. Christiane Northrup – a powerful guide for empaths learning to protect their peace and energy.

🎧 Listen to the full audio episode and let it pour into you.

Therapy Ain’t a Luxury: A Healing Talk with Professor Drea

Some of y’all might’ve caught the previews 👀 but now the full conversation is up in blog form.

I’m talking:
✔️ Why therapy isn’t just for “rich folks”
✔️ What happens when we keep skipping healing
✔️ The excuses we use to avoid doing the work
✔️ How therapy saved me — and why it might save you too
✔️ Resources to actually start your therapy journey

Whether you’re in therapy, thinking about it, or still side-eyeing the whole thing — this post is for you. I’m writing from the heart, as a professor, a social worker, and someone who’s had to do my own healing. 💛

Share it. Sit with it.
Drop a comment on the blog if it resonates. Let’s normalize therapy and break the cycles.

Boston to Bama: Why I Chose My HBCU (Audio-Only Episode)

In this audio-only reflection, I share my journey from Boston to Tuskegee University, how I chose my HBCU, and what it means to honor legacy, identity, and purpose as a Black woman in higher ed.

🎧 Listen to the episode

Long-Term Growth Without Burnout: A Realist’s Guide: Featured Blog Article by Kevin Ogle

Progress that sticks doesn’t rely on sheer force. It relies on structure, the kind you can return to when motivation dies. In a world obsessed with reinvention, the real power lies in rhythm and repeatability. That means development shouldn’t feel like a firework. It should feel like a steady drumbeat. What follows are practical, sustainable moves for people who want real progress without wiping themselves out.

Trade Urgency for Continuity

Most people default to intensity when they want change; think sprinting through projects, pushing hard, collapsing, then starting over. That cycle might work once or twice, but it doesn’t hold over the years. What you need is a durable cadence, a system you can show up to regardless of how you feel. That starts when you shift from quick fixes to long-range thinking, letting your development become a background process, not a crisis response. It’s not about chasing outcomes; it’s about removing friction from forward motion. Build a loop that you can live inside, not just survive through.

Use Compassion as a Stabilizer

Ambition without emotional stability burns hot and fast. What keeps people from imploding isn’t just discipline, it’s kindness applied to their own pace. You need to protect your drive from turning on you. That means building in recovery time, emotional recalibration, and compassion-focused strategies to prevent burnout so that effort becomes sustainable instead of self-destructive. The harsh voice in your head doesn’t keep you going; it just wears you down. A gentler one helps you return faster.

Let Habits Carry the Weight

Discipline fades. Habits stay. When your progress hinges on how inspired you feel, it’s already unstable. Instead, design rituals that reduce friction, not willpower. In Japan, a practice called Shukan focuses on slow, cumulative habit building, not grand gestures, but small behaviors repeated until they stop being negotiable. And once something stops being negotiable, it starts becoming inevitable.

Turn Reflection Into Fuel

If you’re never adjusting, you’re drifting. The best growth systems don’t just run, they review. Momentum improves when you build in space to look back and make changes, not just push forward. That’s why deliberate reflective practice matters more than most people realize. Reflection isn’t indulgent — it’s diagnostic. It prevents wasted energy and reinforces clarity.

Anchor to What You Can Sustain

You can have solid goals and still sabotage yourself if the process ignores your energy limits. Too many people design systems for their best day and then wonder why they collapse on an average one. Sustainability means structuring your inputs around your actual capacity, not your idealized one. That includes your time, attention, and stamina. Build habits that flex when needed, and center your daily actions around managing your energy to stay sustainable. That’s not laziness. That’s smart load management.

Add Support to the Loop

Progress stalls in isolation. Systems break when no one else sees the cracks forming. Whether you’re chasing career growth, personal change, or a new identity entirely, you need people in that system. Not as pressure, as presence. Accountability is fine, but what you really need is stability. Building a support network boosts resilience and helps momentum outlast your bad days.

Structure Bigger Moves Strategically

Some inflection points require more than habit tweaks; they need scaffolding. A formal education path can serve as both a skill builder and a credibility lever. When flexibility matters, online programs offer a structure that doesn’t derail your life while helping you climb. For example, you could earn an HR degree to learn how to recruit and manage employees, shape company culture, administer benefits, and set policies. A bachelor's in human resources unlocks specialized knowledge that translates across sectors. Whatever your career direction, there’s likely a program that fits without breaking your rhythm.

The best development systems aren’t about keeping pace; they’re about still being in the game years from now. That means skipping the drama, the massive overhauls, the self-punishment. It means showing up, not showing off. Sustainability isn’t passive; it’s deliberate design. And the person who learns how to keep going without breaking down? That’s the one who wins by default.

 

Discover a world where culture, clarity, and creativity converge at Brown Girl from Boston, and let every ‘Dear Sis’ letter guide you on your journey to personal evolution and mental wellness!

 

Review of Katrina: Come Hell and High Water

In this timely and powerful conversation, I joined as a co-host to reflect on the legacy of Hurricane Katrina—a disaster that was far more than a storm. Nearly two decades later, Katrina still stands as a symbol of systemic failure, racial and economic inequality, and the resilience of displaced and devastated communities.

We dove into what really made Katrina so catastrophic—not just the wind and water, but the collapse of levees, delayed emergency response, and long-standing neglect of vulnerable communities like the Lower Ninth Ward. We explored how the aftermath of the storm reshaped the population and soul of New Orleans, why some neighborhoods recovered quickly while others remain scarred, and how failed recovery programs like “The Road Home” left thousands behind.

Our discussion also highlighted the deeper truths about housing injustice, infrastructure failures, and how disaster response must be rooted in equity. With climate change bringing more intense storms, the lessons of Katrina remain painfully relevant.

This is not just a history lesson—it's a call to remember, rebuild, and demand justice.

🔗 Tune in to the full conversation and join us in honoring the stories of those who lived, lost, and survived.