Build Your Brave Career for Women in Tech

You are looking for a new job. You're qualified. You're experienced. You're doing everything right — and nothing is moving. Instead, you are spinning in applications, silence, and rejection. In this fifth episode of the What Now series, I walk you through what isn’t working and what you need to do instead of move past Ghost Jobs and into a new career phase. If you've been applying to hundreds of roles and not landing that job, you're not failing. You're navigating a system full of ghost jobs — postings that exist for data mining, salary research, compliance requirements, or optics, not actual hiring. Right now the traditional online application process is statistically the lowest-probability path to getting hired, and it's quietly eroding your confidence, your identity, and your energy. Listen to this episode to fix it.The Solution: The Build Your Brave FrameworkClarity: Stop applying harder and start getting clearer. Define what you're no longer available for, what energizes you, and what life you're building. Clarity moves you out of the spiral and into strategic momentum.Momentum: Shift from mass applying to real conversations. Reconnect with former colleagues, attend events that genuinely interest you, and identify companies you're authentically curious about. Build relationships from a place of who you are — not desperation.Accountability: You don't have to do this alone. Having a partner who provides insight, coaching, and governance changes everything. Anna applied to 180 jobs over four months with minimal results. Within four months of working through this framework, she landed a leadership role — better pay, healthier culture — that was never publicly posted.Your next career phase is possible. Real opportunities exist. You just need a smarter, braver strategy to find them. If you are ready to change your career growth strategy from what doesn’t work anymore into what does work, specifically for you, click here to start working together through 1:1 career coaching with me. Connect with Me:You can be a woman in tech and enjoy your career. When you build the skill of bravery, you will stress less, work less, and then earn more. Check out the following resources designed to help you thrive in your career: Check out my websiteJoin my mailing list for more insights, opportunities, and inspirationConnection with me on LinkedIn

What would change if you chose to see adversities not as tests, but as confirmation of your decisions, values, and goals? This episode will help you explore an option for shifting your perception so that you stress less, work less, and then earn more as a woman in tech. I share two specific stories and one call to action to help you challenge the idea of adversity as a "test" so that you can decide if you want to shift towards perceiving adversity as an opportunity to be confirmed. 1. A personal story 2. A client’s storyKey Takeaways:Shift from "test" to "confirmation" to transform how you view adversity.Bravery isn't about being perfect—it's about being human and learning from the process.Mindset shifts can lead to better boundaries, more energy, and greater career alignment.Reframing challenges can help you stress less and create opportunities for growth.To submit your question for me to answer on an upcoming episode, send me an email at Nicole@TrickSteinbach.comYou can be a woman in tech and enjoy your career. When you build the skill of bravery, you will stress less, work less, and then earn more. Check out the following resources designed to help you thrive in your career: Check out my websiteJoin my mailing list for more insights, opportunities, and inspirationConnection with me on LinkedIn

We're diving into a brave, empowering topic: the strength and freedom that come with choosing to allow others to disliked you. Yes, you heard that right! As women in tech, we're often conditioned to seek approval and avoid conflict, but embracing the reality that not everyone will like us is a powerful step for our careers.In this episode, I share examples, including a personal story, to illustrate how being disliked can actually be a sign you're on the right career grwoth track. This episode is designed to challenge you and inspire self-reflection on your values and the company you keep.Take a few minutes after listening to identify who you wouldn't want to praise you because their values don't align with yours. Write it down and keep it handy for those moments of self-doubt.To submit your question for me to answer on an upcoming episode, send me an email at Nicole@TrickSteinbach.comYou can be a woman in tech and enjoy your career. When you build the skill of bravery, you will stress less, work less, and then earn more. Check out the following resources designed to help you thrive in your career: Check out my websiteJoin my mailing list for more insights, opportunities, and inspirationConnection with me on LinkedIn

Can you love your colleagues enough to let them experience the consequences of their behavior?Women in tech are great at solving problems. But sometimes we leap in to protect others from their errors and shoulder burdens that aren’t ours. It slows down our careers and increases our stress. This episode unpacks how stepping back, setting boundaries, and trusting others to handle their responsibilities empowers not just your colleagues but also yourself. You’ll hear real-world strategies to navigate these situations with courage, kindness, and clarity.Key Takeaways:How societal conditioning impacts women in tech.Why rescuing others is not the same as being a team player or leader.The power of discomfort as a catalyst for growth.How respecting others’ growth creates space for your own.To submit your question for me to answer on an upcoming episode, send me an email at Nicole@TrickSteinbach.comYou can be a woman in tech and enjoy your career. When you build the skill of bravery, you will stress less, work less, and then earn more. Check out the following resources designed to help you thrive in your career: Check out my websiteJoin my mailing list for more insights, opportunities, and inspirationConnection with me on LinkedIn

Bravery doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, bravery in your career as a woman in tech can be simple, nurturing, collaborative, and even easy.For women in tech who often feel that being brave at work means facing monumental stress, this episode will give you a fresh and empowering perspective.Through two unique client stories, I illustrate how bravery may start in moments of discomfort but end with greater confidence, ease, and more personal and professional growth. Bravery can include speaking up in meetings, asking more questions, setting boundaries, and expecting you get the respect, visibility, and pay you deserve. This episode serves as a guide for you to redefine bravery in a modern, holistic way, and taking action that brings you closer to your goals and dreams.To submit your question for me to answer on an upcoming episode, send me an email at Nicole@TrickSteinbach.comYou can be a woman in tech and enjoy your career. When you build the skill of bravery, you will stress less, work less, and then earn more. Check out the following resources designed to help you thrive in your career: Check out my websiteJoin my mailing list for more insights, opportunities, and inspirationConnection with me on LinkedIn

In this groundbreaking episode I dive deep into the dynamics of the glass ceiling and the glass floor, specifically focusing on how men in tech can play a pivotal role in fostering inclusive workplaces. With detailed statistics and compelling arguments, I highlight why inclusive cultures are essential for financial growth, innovation, and overall business success.I unpack the metaphors of the glass ceiling and glass floor, exploring how systemic barriers impact career advancement for underrepresented groups. Through five actionable strategies, I guide men on how to leverage their positions of power to break these barriers, creating a more equitable tech industry.For all my women in tech, this episode is also for you. It is a gift and call to action ll to stop self-blame and recognize the invisible systems you navigate. Learn what you can do to advocate for yourself and others.20 stats for why inclusive leadership matters for the business and your career: 1. Higher Financial Performance: Companies with more women in leadership positions are 25% more likely to have above-average profitability. (McKinsey, 2020)2. Increased Innovation: Diverse companies are 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders in their industry. (Josh Bersin Research, 2020)3. Greater Revenue from Innovation: Firms with inclusive teams are 45% more likely to report improved market share and capture new markets. (Center for Talent Innovation, 2013)4. Better Decision-Making: Inclusive teams make better business decisions up to 87% of the time. (Cloverpop, 2017)5. Improved Team Performance: Diverse teams outperform individual decision-makers 66% of the time. (Cloverpop, 2017)6. Higher Employee Retention: Inclusive workplaces have a 50% lower employee turnover rate than less inclusive companies. (Deloitte, 2017)7. Higher Return on Equity (ROE): Companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 21% more likely to experience above-average profitability. (McKinsey, 2020)8. Enhanced Company Reputation: 67% of job seekers consider diversity an important factor when evaluating companies and job offers. (Glassdoor, 2020)9. Increased Employee Engagement: Companies with higher diversity scores have 2.3 times higher employee engagement levels. (Gartner, 2018)10. Reduced Turnover Costs: Replacing an employee costs 33% of their annual salary; inclusivity reduces turnover, leading to substantial cost savings. (Work Institute, 2021)11. Faster Problem Solving: Diverse teams solve problems faster than cognitively similar people. (Harvard Business Review, 2016)12. Better Customer Understanding: Companies with more diverse management teams have 19% higher revenue due to innovation. (BCG, 2018)13. Market Performance: Ethnically diverse companies are 36% more likely to outperform competitors in market share. (McKinsey, 2020)14. Increased Workforce Productivity: Inclusive companies are 1.4 times more likely to outperform less inclusive organizations in terms of productivity. (Deloitte, 2017)15. Reduced Absenteeism: Inclusive cultures see absenteeism rates drop by 75%. (Deloitte, 2017)16. Lower Legal Risks: Companies that foster inclusivity face fewer discrimination claims and lower associated costs. (EEOC, 2020)17. More Competitive Talent Pool: 78% of companies that prioritize diversity attract top talent more easily. (PwC, 2017)18. Improved Company Sustainability: Firms with more diverse boards of directors are more likely to prioritize sustainability and environmental goals. (Harvard Business Review, 2019)19. Higher Customer Loyalty: Diverse teams are better equipped to understand and cater to a broader customer base, leading to increased customer loyalty. (Gartner, 2018)20. Better Performance During Crises: During the COVID-19 pandemic, companies with more women in leadership roles outperformed their peers. (Fortune, 2020)To submit your question for me to answer on an upcoming episode, send me an email at Nicole@TrickSteinbach.comYou can be a woman in tech and enjoy your career. When you build the skill of bravery, you will stress less, work less, and then earn more. Check out the following resources designed to help you thrive in your career: Check out my websiteJoin my mailing list for more insights, opportunities, and inspirationConnection with me on LinkedIn

Listener question: My colleague doesn’t trust my skill. What do I do? Many women in tech face the drama: dealing with colleagues who don’t trust your skills. If you’ve ever felt sidelined in meetings, excluded from important emails, or observed others taking over your responsibilities, this episode is for you.In this episode, we cover the important internal work you must undertake to address disrespectful colleagues. Then I offer practical advice for how to get specific about when and how you are being undermined so that you can evaluate the situations objectively.I also guide you through initiating crucial conversations with your colleague, setting clear expectations, and confronting the situation head-on.Conflict is necessary for growth and better working relationships, and I provide strategies to navigate these difficult discussions effectively.Remember, as women in tech, we often face unique challenges, but by confronting these issues proactively, we can build the careers we deserve.Mentioned episode: How People Pleasing Can Hurt Your Career and How to Fix ItTo submit your question for me to answer on an upcoming episode, send me an email at Nicole@TrickSteinbach.comYou can be a woman in tech and enjoy your career. When you build the skill of bravery, you will stress less, work less, and then earn more. Check out the following resources designed to help you thrive in your career: Check out my websiteJoin my mailing list for more insights, opportunities, and inspirationConnection with me on LinkedIn