In todays episode I speak with Executive Career Coach and Personal Branding Expert Daniela Sarmiento from Barcelona who shares with me why personal branding becomes increasingly important in todays world.

Daniela shares her experience in transitioning from working as a recruiter and headhunter to starting her own personal branding and image consulting business. She speaks about helping professionals, particularly those in leadership roles, stand out by improving how they communicate, not just in their CVs but also in person. It's about making sure their personality, leadership, and values shine through in interviews and conversations.

We explore the challenges women face in the workplace, including self-doubt and the need for mentorship. The discussion highlights the necessity of authenticity, negotiation skills, and the impact of executive presence.

We also discuss the importance of building a personal brand, especially for introverts who might find it challenging to stand out. She offers guidance on how women can craft a strong personal image that reflects not only skills but also presence and personality. We touch on networking, self-presentation, and the ongoing process of personal transformation, encouraging people to take control of their professional narrative. Often, people are so used to their roles that they forget to showcase their unique strengths, which is crucial for career growth.

Talking points are:

• The importance of having a personal brand message
• Why you need to have a career portfolio defined
• Ways to exude executive presence to attract more leadership opportunities
• Self-doubt often holds individuals back from achieving their goals.
• Networking and mentorship are crucial for professional growth.
• Women often face unique challenges in the workplace.
• Negotiating work-life balance is vital for personal well-being
• Defining your non-negotiables in your job
• Authenticity in professional settings fosters trust and connection.
• Career transitions require self-discovery and clarity.

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Your decisions are only as good as the information you have. As your information changes, so should your decisions.

At one point in my career I approached an Australian beauty media company to create a joint venture and launch their business in Europe. I partnered with a very close friend. Which made matters even worse when I started to realize that this is not the right path for me. It became my biggest founders f*kk up. Lots of money down the drain and a very close friendship ruined.

So why did I no longer want to do it?

I realized the legal setup was increasingly unideal for me.

I learnt that my friend and I were not suited for the roles we were meant to take on.

I learnt that what I was meant to do going forward in the business did not bring me joy.

So in essence - I learnt A LOT.

About myself.

About friendships and work partnerships.

About strengths in work and business.

About fluffy ideas and the reality of founding a company.

I hope you enjoy the conversation.. with myself.

Did you enjoy this episode? If you feel someone would benefit from listening to it, please share it with friends or on social media via screenshot :) and rate Mama, what's next? on iTunes or Apple Podcasts, so these stories reach even more mamas.

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8 Schritte zum Traumjob: So gelingt der Wiedereinstieg für Mütter spielend leicht

A journey of pain to purpose

Imagine battling the heartache of infertility, navigating the complexities of IVF treatments, and lastly trusting someone else to carry your hopes for a family.

Now imagine losing it all. Twice.

This episode takes you deep into the raw, emotional journey of IVF, surrogacy, loss and grief.

Hear how Lia struggled to balance her high-pressure career as an executive with fertility treatments and how she moved through unimaginable heartbreak into hope—and why the conversation around workplace support, surrogacy, and IVF is more urgent than ever.

In todays episode of Mama, what's next? Lia de Feo shares her deeply personal journey through motherhood, fertility challenges, and the heartbreaking loss of her two children. She discusses the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare, and the importance of intuition when it comes to our own bodies. We talk about the complexities of surrogacy, and the emotional rollercoaster of IVF that many women have to go through. Lia talks about the need for support and understanding for those navigating similar paths and shares her mission to help others through their struggles.

Ultimately, she reflects on how her own grief and heartbreaking experiences have moved her to connect even deeper with spirituality and explore what deeper meaning her journey could have. Ultimately asking herself the question: can I make something positive, out of my pain? This then led her to advocate for womens reproductive rights in New York and now she work on a book about her own journey and the history of reproductive rights.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey to Motherhood Begins

03:03 Navigating Fertility Challenges

06:10 The Heartbreaking Loss of a Child

12:02 The Importance of Self-Advocacy

15:00 Exploring Surrogacy as an Option

20:06 The Complexities of Surrogacy

24:46 The Emotional Rollercoaster of IVF

30:04 Finding Hope After Loss

36:01 The Birth of a New Hope

42:06 Turning Pain into Purpose

47:52