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Work Unscripted

Marlo Lyons

Work Unscripted with Marlo Lyons offers a candid exploration into the realities of career advancement and leadership. Hosted by Marlo Lyons, executive career coach and former HR exec, this podcast brings unfiltered insights on work, leadership, and finding your path. Episodes feature in-depth discussions with industry leaders who share real stories and practical tools, and honest insights from Marlo. Work Unscripted is your guide to thriving in the professional world.

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29 episodes
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English

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S1 · E73
Wednesday · 17 min
Stop Waiting for January: 5 Steps to Get Hired During the Holidays
Everyone else is closing their laptops tip January. Good. Let them. Companies can keep interviewing and filling roles through November and December. While most candidates go quiet, the ones who stay in the game have a real shot at standing out. In this solo episode of Work Unscripted, executive, career, team and ADHD coach Marlo Lyons shares her five step playbook to get hired during the holidays, even in a tough job market. Find the right roles, tailor your resume, get past the applicant tracking systems (ATS), connect with real people and get on recruiters’ radar. You'll learn: Why the holidays can be the smartest time to job hunt while other candidates take a break. How to stop applying to everything and get specific about the roles you want Why reaching out to recruiters and hiring managers matters as much as hitting “submit” How to use LinkedIn to get noticed and build relationships with recruiters What rejection, ghosting, and making it to the final round reveal about your job search strategy If you've spent months applying, interviewing, and hearing crickets, this is your sign to change the playbook. Fewer applications. Sharper aim. A real human behind every one. Chapters: 00:00 Why the holiday hiring lull may be an opportunity 05:20 Step 1: Pick a job-search lane 06:56 Step 2: Match resume keywords to the role 07:53 Step 3: Make your resume scannable 09:17 Step 4: Find a human after you apply 11:04 Step 5: Use LinkedIn and respond promptly 12:25 Bonus: Build visibility with LinkedIn posts Next steps: Listen to next: How Recruiters Really Work: Insider Tips to Accelerate Your Job Search with Kristen Fife Share this episode with a friend Rate and Review to share your support Send Marlo your questions, suggest a future guest, or reach out about coaching at marlolyonscoaching.com/listener. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E72
November 4 · 38 min
What Leaders Miss About Workplace Trauma with Jessi Beyer
What if the employee you think has a performance problem is actually struggling with something you can't see? In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with crisis mental health professional and former SWAT negotiator Jessi Beyer to explore how workplace trauma and emotional distress can show up in ways leaders often misunderstand. From constantly changing expectations and toxic bosses to personal crises that spill into the workplace, Jessi explains why employees can shift into survival mode without anyone recognizing what's happening. She also shares why even the best corporate wellness programs fall short when leaders don't know how to have a meaningful conversation with someone who is struggling. Marlo and Jessi discuss the warning signs leaders may miss, the importance of psychological safety, and how simple moments of connection can change the trajectory of a difficult situation. You'll learn: How workplace trauma and distress can show up as changes in behavior or performance Why employees may not recognize the impact of a toxic workplace until after they've left What leaders should notice when a previously reliable employee starts struggling How active listening, curiosity, and small check-ins build trust and connection Why Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are important but cannot replace human support How to recognize potential suicide warning signs and respond without trying to become someone's therapist One simple behavior shift that can make you a more compassionate, effective leader This conversation is a reminder that leadership is about much more than managing outcomes. It's about recognizing the human beings who make them possible. Sometimes the most important thing you can do is stop talking and start asking better questions. Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide, suicidal thoughts, and mental health crises. Have a question for Marlo, a topic or guest you'd love to hear on Work Unscripted, or an interest in one-on-one coaching? Visit marlolyonscoaching.com/listener. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E71
October 28 · 10 min
The Me Manual: How Neurodivergent Professionals Can Stop Being Misunderstood at Work
Ever feel like your boss completely misunderstands you, even when you're doing great work? "You're like a dog on a bone. Tone it down." That's what a boss once told Marlo Lyons. And she had absolutely no idea what her boss was seeing. She was getting the work done, delivering results, and doing exactly what she thought was expected. So what was the problem? In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo shares how her experience with AuDHD helped her understand why she felt misunderstood throughout her corporate career. She also introduces a practical tool she wishes she'd had years ago: the Me Manual. A Me Manual is a simple personal guide that explains how you work best, communicate, process feedback, and what you need from your manager to succeed. No medical disclosure required. Just a better way to understand each other. You'll learn: Why neurodivergent professionals can feel misunderstood at work How ADHD, AuDHD, and rejection sensitivity can complicate workplace feedback What a Me Manual is and how to create one How to explain your communication style, working preferences, and feedback needs How to introduce a Me Manual to a new boss or reset an existing relationship Why understanding yourself is the first step toward helping others understand you Whether you're neurodivergent, starting a new role, or tired of feeling like your manager just doesn't get you, this episode offers a practical way to close the communication gap. Because being good at your job and being understood at your job are not always the same thing. Resources: Previous episode: What Does AuDHD Look Like at Work? My Late Diagnosis Explained My Career Work with Marlo: marlolyonscoaching.com Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E70
October 21 · 9 min
How to Manage Employees With ADHD: 6 Shifts Before You Lose Your Best People
You might have an employee who is brilliant, creative, fast, intuitive, and full of potential, and you might be managing them in a way that quietly makes it harder for them to succeed. In this solo episode of Work Unscripted, part of the Neurodivergence at Work series for ADHD Awareness Month, Marlo Lyons shares a practical guide for managers who want to better support employees with ADHD, executive function challenges, or simply diffe rent ways of working. A manager’s job isn’t to figure out whether someone has ADHD or another neurodivergence. It’s to create an environment where people can do their best work - the same changes that help neurodivergent employees make work clearer for everyone. You’ll learn six management shifts that help neurodivergent employees thrive. Follow verbal instructions with written follow-up Break big projects into checkpoints Make priorities explicit Praise the process, not just the outcome Separate behavior from character Normalize asking for what you need by modeling it yourself If you manage a high-potential employee who seems inconsistent, intense, disorganized, overly sensitive, or hard to read, this episode will help you look beyond the label and ask a better question: what system, expectation, or communication gap might be getting in the way? Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E69
October 14 · 29 min
ADHD Masking at Work is Quietly Wrecking Your Career with Otto Siegel
What if ADHD is not the full story? In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with Otto Siegel, a Genius Coach and expert in helping people decode and activate their innate brilliance. Otto has spent more than 20 years researching and practicing a non-medical approach to moving beyond ADHD, anxiety, and the feeling of “not enough” by helping people understand how they are uniquely wired. Marlo and Otto dig into what happens when brilliant people spend their lives trying to fit into systems that were not built for the way their brains work. They discuss why ADHD is often framed too narrowly as a disorder, how traditional definitions of intelligence miss entire categories of human brilliance, and why managers and leaders need to become more curious about the people they do not immediately understand. You’ll learn: Why Otto believes ADHD is often misunderstood as a deficit instead of a different design How early experiences of being misunderstood can shape confidence, anxiety, and career identity Why the better question may not be “How intelligent are you?” but “How are you intelligent?” How managers and leaders can get curious about neurodivergent talent without diagnosing or labeling anyone Why masking can be especially exhausting for high-performing executives and professionals How anxiety, stress, and body signals may be warning signs that something needs your attention Why self-understanding can be a powerful path toward confidence, fulfillment, and career success This conversation is for neurodivergent professionals, executives with ADHD, managers of brilliant but misunderstood employees, and anyone who has ever wondered, “Why do I feel like I am capable of so much more, but still feel like I am not enough?” Because your brain may be asking for a better way to be understood. Learn more at www.geniuscoaching.com. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E68
October 7 · 18 min
What Does AuDHD Look Like at Work? My Late Diagnosis Explained My Career
Moving too fast. Talking too much. Being too intense. Being “too emotional.” For years, Marlo Lyons heard versions of that feedback at work. She tried to make sense of it the only way she knew how: by pushing harder, masking more, and trying to become easier for other people to understand. In this personal episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo opens up about being diagnosed later in life with AuDHD, meaning both autism and ADHD. She shares what that diagnosis finally helped her understand about her career, her relationships, and how she moves through the world. In this episode, Marlo shares: What decades of masking in corporate environments really cost her Why vague feedback like “slow down” or “build relationships” can be so destabilizing for a neurodivergent brain How being highly sensitive or emotionally flooded can be misread by managers and colleagues What it’s like to be unable to name what you feel in the moment and how that shows up at work How a late autism and ADHD diagnosis can reframe years of career feebdack This episode kicks off a month-long series on neurodivergence in the workplace for ADHD Awareness Month. Whether you are neurodivergent, manage neurodivergent employees, or simply want to better understand the people around you, this conversation offers a new way to think about performance, communication, feedback, and what it really means to support people at work. Because sometimes the behavior you are judging is not the whole story. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E67
September 30 · 9 min
Where Is the Safe Space? What Leaders Get Wrong About Psychological Safety
You finally work up the courage to tell your boss something you are still trying to understand about yourself. They listen. They might even say, “I appreciate you trusting me with this.” Then they tell someone else. In this solo episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons talks about one of the most damaging leadership failures: creating a safe space, then failing to hold it. Psychological safety at work has two parts: inviting honest conversations and protecting what an employee trusted you with after the door closes. Many leaders do the first and forget the second. Marlo shares a personal story about how a secondhand comment from one leader to another created a narrative she never wrote, and why leaders need to understand the real cost of casually sharing vulnerable information about employees. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why psychological safety has two parts: creating the space and holding the space How leaders break trust when they share employee information out of context Why good intentions do not erase the impact of broken confidentiality How secondhand comments can shape an employee’s reputation and career Why leaders are stewards of an employee’s story, not owners of it What to do when a legitimate concern about an employee needs to be shared Why broken trust can hit neurodivergent employees especially hard What leaders owe employees who trust them with vulnerable conversations If you lead people, this episode is a reminder that what is said behind a closed door shouldn’t casually leave that room. The question isn’t whether your team feels comfortable coming to you. The question is whether you are actually safe. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E66
September 23 · 45 min
Are You the Hero or the Villain in Someone Else’s Story? Multiperspectivity at Work with Valerie Gordon
Everyone is the hero of their own story. But we don’t always want to admit: sometimes, we may be the obstacle in someone else’s. In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with storyteller, keynote speaker, and storytelling strategist Valerie Gordon to talk about why people misunderstand each other at work, at home, and in the stories we tell ourselves. Valerie spent more than two decades telling stories on television before turning that same lens toward real life, career growth, leadership, and the inner narratives that shape how we show up. Marlo and Valerie explore the unreliable narrator in our heads, the stories we create when we do not have all the information, and how multiperspectivity can help us build better relationships and stronger teams. You’ll learn: How the stories we tell ourselves shape our confidence, choices, and careers Why your inner critic may be an unreliable narrator How to recognize when you are emotionally reasoning instead of seeing clearly What multiperspectivity means and why it matters at work Why you can be the hero of your own story and still be the villain in someone else’s How curiosity can help reduce conflict and misunderstanding Why the person challenging your idea may be your best supporting character How leaders can create space for more voices, better questions, and deeper understanding If you’ve ever wondered why a coworker, boss, partner, or friend misunderstood you, or why you may have misunderstood them, this conversation gives you a new way to think about perspective. The narrator has been running in your head for a long time. This conversation is about thwart happens when you finally question it. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E65
September 16 · 6 min
Why the Wrong Promotion Can Cost You More Than You Think
What if the role you worked your whole career toward is actually the wrong destination? In this solo episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons shares a personal story about turning down a role that looked like the next obvious career move, and why saying no became one of the most important decisions of her career. This episode is about career alignment, values, leadership fit, and why the most strategic thing you can do sometimes is walk away from the thing everyone expects you to say yes to. You’ll learn: Why the “next level” is not always the right direction How to tell the difference between upward mobility and upward alignment Why leadership fit matters more than a title on paper How values show up as data in career decisions Why FOMO is a terrible career strategy The three questions to ask before accepting a promotion Why a strategic no can protect your career and your life If you’re considering a promotion, career move, leadership opportunity, or role that looks good on LinkedIn but feels wrong in your gut, this episode is the pause you need before you say yes. Think of your career less like a ladder and more like a compass. The goal is not always up. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E64
September 9 · 43 min
Why Executive Presence Breaks Down Under Pressure with Kathryn Janicek
Some leaders communicate beautifully when the environment is controlled. But then the stakes shift and suddenly, the clarity, authority, and confidence they had in rehearsal starts to collapse. In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with executive presence coach Kathryn Janicek to talk about why executive presence breaks down in high-pressure moments, and how leaders can rebuild it in real time. As former TV news reporters, Marlo and Kathryn both understand what it means to think on your feet, stay present under pressure, and recover when something does not go perfectly. You’ll learn: Why strong leaders lose clarity when the environment becomes unpredictable The hidden gap between prepared communication and real-time executive performance How mindset affects body language, tone, and credibility Why nonverbal signals can reinforce or erode trust in seconds How to recover when you stumble, freeze, or get triggered Why sleep, stress, burnout, and self-care show up in your leadership presence How leaders can prepare for investor conversations, board scrutiny, unscripted Q&A, and high-stakes meetings If you are a leader, executive, founder, or high-performing professional who needs to communicate clearly when the pressure is on, this episode will help you understand what your presence is really saying. Because executive presence is not just how you perform when everything goes according to plan. It is how you lead when it doesn’t. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E63
September 2 · 6 min
Stop Waiting For Permission To Grow
There are people waiting for their boss to care about their career more than they do. Pause on that. In this Cracking the Code episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons calls out the permission trap: the career pattern where people wait to be noticed, developed, promoted, sponsored, or picked before they take ownership of their own growth. Your manager may care about you. But your manager is not your career coach. They are managing a team, hitting goals, sitting in meetings, and putting out fires you may never see. Your growth is your job. You’ll learn: Why waiting to be picked keeps you passive in your career Why your manager is not responsible for unlocking your full potential How exhaustion can quietly stall your professional growth Why investing in yourself can actually create energy How AI and automation are changing the skills professionals need Why vague growth goals lead to vague results How small, consistent learning compounds over time Why you need a direction, not a perfect five-year plan If you’ve been waiting for your company, boss, or someone else to tell you it’s time to grow, this episode is your reminder: You already have permission. Now act like it. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E62
August 26 · 41 min
The Hidden Loneliness of Successful Women Leaders with Siri Swahari
Senior women in leadership are often surrounded by people and still completely alone. It is one of the least talked about realities of making it to the top. And Sirisha “Siri” Swahari decided to stop waiting for someone to fix it. In this episode of Work Unscripted, host Marlo Lyons talks with Sirisha “Siri” Swahari, executive leader and founder of Women Executives Circle, about leadership loneliness, peer community and what it actually looks like to build a space where senior women can stop performing and start being real. In just one year, Women Executives Circle has grown to nearly 300 members across 22 locations, completely free to join. Siri built it because she needed it herself. She was overseeing a $55 million budget and 200 employees and still had nowhere to go for honest conversation. Unlike transactional networking spaces, WeC is built around real conversation, vulnerability, active listening, and peer-level support. In this conversation you will hear: Why senior women leaders often feel isolated even when they are surrounded by teams, meetings and full calendars What Women Executives Circle is, how it works, and why it has grown so fast How real peer connection is built on vulnerability and active listening, not resumes and referrals How the WEC framework creates space for wins, challenges, and the conversations women rarely get to have at work Why women face specific barriers to be seen, heard, and represented in leadership rooms Why vulnerability and active listening are executive leadership skills How one personal pain point became the foundation of a fast-growing movement If you are a senior woman leader, a woman executive, or high-achieving professional who has quietly wondered why success still feels this isolating, this episode is for you. The top can be a very lonely place. But it doesn’t have to be. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E61
August 19 · 8 min
Why Perfectionism Is Keeping You Stuck
Stop calling yourself a perfectionist like it’s a compliment. Perfectionism is not a personality trait, or a strength in disguise. It is fear with a really good publicist. In this solo episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons, executive coach and workplace strategist, calls out the version of perfectionism so many high achievers wear like a badge. It’s the kind that keeps the draft unfinished, the idea unshared, the business unstarted, the post unpublished, and the conversation delayed. Because most of the time, “it’s not ready yet” does not mean it needs more polishing. It means you’re scared to be seen. And that fear, whether it’s fear of failure, fear of judgment, or fear of success, is what perfectionism is actually protecting. You’ll learn: Why perfectionism is often fear disguised as professionalism How perfectionism fuels procrastination and delays your life, your work, and your momentum Why imperfect things that exist are more powerful than perfect things that don’t and “why done is better than perfect” is more than a cliché. How fear of failure, fear of judgment, and fear of success keep high achievers stuck Why “done” is the only thing that can ever become great What to ask instead of “Is this perfect?” to break through perfectionism and take imperfect action How to take one real step toward done today If you’ve been circling the same idea, draft, project, post, or decision for weeks, months, or years, this episode is your push. Whether perfectionism shows up as procrastination, creative block, or endless over-editing, this episode will help you make a move. Because the world does not need your perfect version. It needs your real one. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E60
August 12 · 44 min
How Women Can Build Confidence and Career Agency with Kirsteen Williamson-Guinn
Confidence matters. But does confidence alone move your career forward? In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with Kirsteen Williamson-Guinn, founder of Elevate Women, to talk about what it really takes for women to grow, lead, and future-proof their career advancement in high-pressure, political workplaces. After 32 years in banking, including senior leadership in a male-dominated environment, Kirsteen knows what it feels like to perform, push, navigate politics, and slowly lose connection with yourself in the process. Now, through Elevate Women, she helps women build confidence, strategic leadership, self-trust, and real career agency. Marlo and Kirsteen talk about imposter syndrome, vague feedback like “you need more executive presence,” and what it really means for women in leadership, the shift from high performer to strategic leader, and why women have to stop taking on work that keeps them busy but does not move them forward. You’ll learn: Why confidence alone is not a career strategy for women in leadership How women can move from performing to leading strategically and advancing their careers with intention What “executive presence” feedback for women may actually be pointing to Why imposter syndrome show up even at senior levels and what to do about it How to build strategic relationships and visibility at work before you need them Why non-promotable tasks can quietly stall women’s career advancement How to own your brand, your value, and your next move What future-ready women’s leadership looks like in a rapidly changing workplace If you are a woman in leadership, a mid-career professional, or someone trying to build more confidence, visibility, and agency at work, this episode will help you stop waiting to be chosen and start leading your career with more intention. Whether you work in a male-dominiated industry, have been told you need more executive presence, or are navigating imposter syndrome at the senior level, thai conversation is for you. Because the goal is not just to look confident. It is to trust yourself enough to act. Learn more: elevate-women.co.uk/ Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E59
August 5 · 10 min
What HR Really Does When You File a Complaint
HR works for the company, not for you. Have you ever walked into HR thinking, “Finally. Someone is going to listen. Someone is going to help.” And then nothing changed, or things got worse. In this solo episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons breaks the code on what HR is really designed to do, and why employees need to stop confusing HR with personal advocacy. HR may listen, investigate, and say they are taking things seriously, but at the end of the day, HR works for the company. And if you are dealing with a serious workplace complaint or conflict, you need to understand the system before you walk into the room. You’ll learn: Why “we’re here to listen” does not always mean HR is there to advocate for you Why HR conversations are not truly confidential and what HR confidentiality really means for you What “we take this seriously” really means and why it’s about company risk, not your wellbeing Why the HR investigation prpocess may focus on both the workplace complaint and the person making it What can happen after a workplace complaint is closed and employees are expected to “move on,” including the risk of workplace retaliation. Why companies should invest in real repair after workplace conflict How to document workplace issues before going to HR, including dates, messages, and your employee rights If you’ve ever felt confused, dismissed, or blindsided after bringing a workplace complaint to HR, this episode gives language to what may actually be happening behind the scenes. Whether you’re navigating a hostile work environment, considering filing a workplace complaint, or want to understand your employee rights before taking action, this episode is your guide. Because HR may care about people. But HR was hired to protect the company. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E58
July 29 · 46 min
The AI Shift at Work: What Executives and Mid-Career Professionals Need to Do Now with Tatsiana Maskalevich
Using AI once in a while is not the same as changing how you work. In this episode of Work Unscripted, executive coach Marlo Lyons talks with AI product leader Tatsiana Maskalevich about how to move beyond one-off chatbot prompts and start thinking in terms of compounding AI workflows. AI is changing how work gets done, how leaders make decisions, and how professionals stay valuable in a rapidly shifting workplace. Marlo and Tatsiana talk about the fear of AI taking jobs and why collaboration matters more as AI becomes part of everyday work. You’ll learn: Why one-off AI prompts barely scratch the surface How compounding AI workflows can create long-term value Why feedback is essential if you want better AI outputs Why human judgment and critical thinking matter more, not less, as AI scales How AI will change jobs instead of simply replacing them What executives and mid-career professionals should do right now If you’re a leader, executive, mid-career professional, or employee wondering how to stay relevant as AI changes work, this episode gives you a practical place to start. Because the future of work will not belong to the people who ignore AI. It will belong to the people who learn how to think with it, without letting it think for them and future-proof their careers in the process. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E57
July 22 · 6 min
What Leaders Carry: The Emotional Labor of Leadership No One Talks About
Your boss may know things about the future of your job long before you do. A reorganization. A budget cut. A project ending. Even layoffs. And still, they have to walk into meetings, look everyone in the eye, and act completely normal. In this Cracking the Code episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons explores the emotional labor and the hidden cost of leadership: the invisible work leaders do to manage pressure, protect their teams, navigate competing priorities, and carry information they cannot always share. Leadership is often framed as strategy, authority, and decision-making. But behind the scenes, leaders are also translating pressure from above, advocating for their teams, managing stakeholders, absorbing chaos, and making hard calls that employees may never see. You’ll learn: What emotional labor in leadership really looks like Why managers often know about reorgs, budget cuts, or layoffs before their teams do How leaders balance pressure from above with the needs of their team Why good leaders protect their teams in ways employees may never notice How to give leaders more grace without excusing poor leadership Why understanding emotional labor makes you a better employee, manager and advocate If you’re a leader, aspiring leader, or employee trying to understand what may be happening behind the curtain at work, this episode offers a more honest look at the hidden weight of leadership. Because leadership is not just about having more control. It is about carrying more responsibility. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
July 15 · 40 min
Executive Search Secrets: How Boards, Recruiters, and Decision-Makers Choose Leaders with Neill Marshall and Kurt Mosley
In executive search, by the time a senior leadership role is posted, the conversation may already be well underway. Search firms are building lists. Boards are asking who they trust. Decision-makers are comparing reputations. And leaders are being discussed in rooms they may not even know they’re in. In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons sits down with executive search leaders with Neill Marshall and Kurt Mosley HealthSearch Partners, who executive search leaders with more than thirty years experience, to talk about how senior leaders really get hired, and what it takes to become the candidate people actively champion. We go behind the scenes on executive search, board trust, reputation, visibility, cultural fit, and the first 90 days in a new leadership role. You’ll learn: Why executive search starts long before a role is posted What makes a candidate “championed,” not just considered Why boards care about trust, culture, and reputation as much as qualifications How senior leaders can build visibility before they need a new role What behaviors quietly disqualify executive candidates Why the first 90 days matter so much for board trust and long-term credibility How to think about your career as a reputation built over decades If you’re a senior leader, aspiring executive, or ambitious professional thinking about what’s next, this episode gives you the behind-the-scenes guidance most candidates never hear directly from executive recruiters. Because at the executive level, your résumé matters. But your reputation gets there first. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
S1 · E55
July 8 · 4 min
Cracking the Code: Try This Leadership Experiment: Only Ask Questions for 30 Days
Most leaders are trained to have answers. But the best leaders know when to ask questions instead. What would happen if, for the next 30 days, you stopped giving answers and only asked questions? In this Cracking the Code episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons challenges leaders to try a simple but uncomfortable leadership experiment: stop fixing, stop directing, stop jumping in with the answer, and start leading with questions. Most leaders think their job is to solve problems quickly. But when leaders constantly provide the answers, teams can become dependent, creativity shuts down, and people stop owning their decisions. Strong leadership is about asking the questions that unlock better thinking from everyone else. You’ll learn: Why “Why?” questions can make people defensive and what to ask instead How jumping in with answers can become lazy leadership Why silence can be a powerful leadership tool How questions help teams think for themselves and own solutions The to tell the difference between interrogation and genuine curiosity Practical coaching questions to use in your next meeting If you want to build a more independent team, improve decision-making, and shift from a problem-solver to a people developer, this 30-day leadership challenge is a powerful place to start. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.
July 1 · 35 min
How Introverts Can Network Without Feeling Fake, Forced, or Drained with Stephanie Thoma
Networking can feel awkward, transactional, and exhausting, especially if you’re an introvert. So how do introverts network without feeling fake, forced or drained? In this episode of Work Unscripted, Marlo Lyons talks with speaker, coach, and author Stephanie Thoma about how introverts can build real professional relationships, speak up with more confidence, and create career visibility without losing themselves in the process. Author of The Confident Introvert, Stephanie shares practical strategies for redefining networking as relationship-building, managing your energy before and after events, calming internal self-talk, starting better conversations, and following up in a way that feels natural instead of cringe. This conversation is for anyone who wants to grow their career, build a stronger network, contribute more in meetings, or become a more confident public speaker, without pretending to be someone they’re not. You’ll learn: Why networking is relationship-building, not self-promotion, and why that distinction changes everything for introverts How introverts can manage energy before and after events Why aiming to make one new connection can be more powerful than working the whole room How to interrupt negative self-talk when you feel awkward or self-conscious Better conversation openers that go beyond “What do you do?” How to follow up without feeling pushy or performative Why public speaking is a skill introverts can build with practice How to speak up more clearly and confidently in meetings If you’ve ever felt overlooked, drained by networking, or unsure how to make your voice heard at work, this episode will help you approach connection and visibility in a more authentic, sustainable way. Because confidence means learning how to show up as yourself, with intention. Connect with Marlo Website: www.marlolyonscoaching.com Instagram: @marlolyonscoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlolyons/ ----------- Work Unscripted is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

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