Developing Career Mastery

I’ve had four completely different careers. Every decade, I’ve stripped my life back to its core, reexamined my direction, and reimagined my purpose. With each reinvention, I’ve moved closer to the truth of who I am and to the work I believe I was made to do. Here are the four changes I’ve gone through: – Classical musician: Learned discipline, beauty, and the cost of perfection. – Economics professor: Studied human behavior through the lens of financial choice. – Think tank president: Led ideas with impact at a national scale. – Writer and teacher on happiness: Now I help others build lives of deep meaning. In our early careers, many of us chase fluid rewards: novel problems, fast wins, accolades, and advancement. But as we age, something shifts, and our minds start to change, our priorities evolve, and the rewards that once satisfied us begin to feel hollow. Research shows that as fluid intelligence fades, crystallized intelligence (the ability to teach, synthesize, and lead with wisdom) rises. But to access it, we have to let go of who we were and embrace who we’re becoming. By rebuilding with intention, you let go of the ego that says, “I can’t afford to change.” And listen instead to the voice that asks, “What am I being called to do next?”

Too many designers still build portfolios like it’s 2015. Pretty screens. Trendy mockups. No context. That used to work. It doesn’t anymore. Today’s portfolios need clarity, not just aesthetics. Strategy, not just style. Outcomes, not just interfaces. Hiring managers don’t want eye candy. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸. They’re not guessing what you 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 do. They’re looking for proof of how you think, how you solve, and how you make decisions under real constraints. Show how you think, not just what you made. Talk about the problem, your process, your role, the tradeoffs, and the results. That’s what separates a designer from a decorator. (𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘐-𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦!) Your portfolio isn’t a museum of your favorite work. It’s a business pitch. Treat it like that! Tell the story of how you create value. Clearly, confidently, and fast. ✌️ ↓ Here’s a comparison between bad portfolios and good ones. P.S. Share your favorite portfolio tip in the comments. Let's help the design community grow!

I've interviewed 100s of job seekers in the last 4 years. What truly sets a successful candidate apart? It's not experience. It's interview preparation. 🔖 Save my ultimate cheat sheet to crush your next interview. And here are 6 more practical tips: 1. Prepare for the "Salary Question" • When asked about salary expectations, flip it around: "I'm excited about the role and would love to hear the range you've budgeted for this position." • If pressed, give a researched range: "Based on market research, roles like this typically range from $X to $Y. Is that within your budget?" 2. Tackle the "Why Should We Hire You?" Question • Use the PAR formula: Problem, Action, Result • "Your job description mentions [specific challenge]. In my previous role, I [action you took] which resulted in [quantifiable outcome]. I'm excited to bring that same problem-solving approach to your team." 3. Handle "Tell Me About a Time You Failed" • Choose a real failure, but focus on the growth • "In my last role, I missed a critical deadline because I underestimated the project scope. Here's what I learned and how I've prevented it from happening again..." 4. Prep Powerful Questions to Ask the Interviewer: • "What would success look like in this role in 6 months?" • "How does this position contribute to the company's long-term goals?" • "Can you tell me about a challenge the team is facing and how this role might help address it?" 5. Avoid the "Where Do You Want to Be in 5 Years" Trap • Align your answer with company growth: "I'm excited about [company's future plans]. In 5 years, I hope to have contributed significantly to those goals by [specific relevant examples]." 6. Win the "Tell Me About a Conflict" Question • Use SEAL: Situation, Effect, Action, Learning • Focus on resolution and positive outcomes 💡 Also remember to: • End strong: "Is there anything about my background or qualifications you need clarification on?" • Send a thank-you email within 24 hours, referencing specific discussion points Your preparation: ✅ Shows respect for the interviewer's time ✅ Demonstrates your genuine interest in the role Be confident. Be authentic. Be prepared. Your dream job is within reach. Go get it 💪! ♻️ Find this valuable? Repost for your network. 📌 Follow Amy Gibson for practical leadership tips.

Most CEOs make million-dollar decisions using the same process they use to pick lunch. And that's exactly why 70% of strategic initiatives fail. Here's what I've noticed after watching hundreds of leaders in action: The average founder attacks problems like a firefighter. See problem → Rush to solution → Wonder why it keeps happening. But the best CEOs? They're more like detectives. They know that the first solution is rarely the right solution. The obvious answer is usually incomplete. And moving fast without thinking costs more time than thinking first. I learned this the hard way. Years ago, our sales were tanking. My gut said "hire more salespeople." Seemed obvious. More people = more sales, right? Wrong. When I finally slowed down to really examine the problem, I discovered our pricing was confusing customers. Our best prospects were ghosting us after demos. The fix? A simple pricing calculator on our website. Cost: $500 and one afternoon. Result: 40% increase in close rate. The expensive hiring spree I almost launched? Would've made things worse. Here's what separates strategic thinkers from reactive leaders: 1/ They question before they answer. What's really broken here? What are we not seeing? 2/ They zoom out before they zoom in. How does this connect to everything else? What's the real impact? 3/ They explore before they execute. What are ALL our options? What haven't we tried? 4/ They test before they invest. Can we try this small first? What would prove this works? 5/ They align before they advance. Is everyone clear on the why? Do we all see the same target? The ironic part? This "slower" approach is actually faster. Because you solve the right problem. Once. Instead of the wrong problem. Over and over. Strategic thinking isn't about being smarter. It's about having a better process. One that turns your biggest challenges into your biggest advantages. What expensive mistake could better thinking have helped you avoid? P.S. Want a PDF of my Strategic Thinking Wheel? Get it free: https://lnkd.in/dBGUrp9q ♻️ Repost to help a CEO in your network. Follow Eric Partaker for more strategy insights. — 📢 Want to lead like a world-class CEO? Join my FREE TRAINING: "How to Work with Your Board to Accelerate Your Company’s Growth" Thu Jul 10th, 12 noon Eastern / 5pm UK time https://lnkd.in/dA8ywuY4 📌 The CEO Accelerator starts July 23rd. 20+ Founders & CEOs have already enrolled. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/d3gW4JPH

Think about the last presentation you sat through. Do you remember anything from it? Probably not. Most presentations fail because they are: ❌ Overloaded with bullet points ❌ Devoid of emotion ❌ Data dumps with no clear story The good news? You can make your presentation unforgettable with these 7 simple shifts: 1. Start with a Hook, Not an Intro Most presenters begin with "I'm excited to be here today..." and lose the audience immediately. Fix: Grab attention from the start. Example: “Your company is losing $10M a year—and you don’t even know why.” 2. Tell a Story, Not Just Data People remember stories, not statistics. Instead of listing facts, wrap them in a compelling narrative. Fix: Use the “Problem → Struggle → Solution” technique. Example: "Before using our system, Sarah’s team spent 3 hours a day on reports. She tried different tools, but nothing worked—until she found our solution. Now? Just 15 minutes a day." 3. Use Contrast & Surprise The brain is wired for novelty. If your presentation sounds predictable, people will tune out. Fix: Vary your tone, pace, and visuals. Drop in an unexpected question, statistic, or pause to keep them engaged. 4. Say Less, Mean More Too much information overloads the audience. They’ll remember nothing. Fix: Cut the fluff. Stick to one core message per slide, per section, per speech. 5. Make It Visual Bullet points don’t inspire. Images and metaphors do. Fix: Instead of saying “Our product is faster,” show a race car next to a bicycle. 6. End with a Bang, Not a Fizzle Most presentations end with “Thank you” and no real impact. Fix: Leave them with one key idea and a clear next step. Example: “If you only take away one thing today, let it be this…” 7. Master the Pause Most speakers talk too fast and leave no room for ideas to sink in. Fix: Silence is power. Pause after key points to let them land. 💡 A great presentation isn’t about information—it’s about transformation. Make your next one impossible to forget. What’s the most memorable presentation you’ve ever seen? Drop a comment below! ⬇

𝐀 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞. 📈💼 Many mentees have asked for a framework to help them brainstorm and set career goals. Having faced this myself multiple times, I know that this exercise can be exhausting without a structured approach. Here’s a simple yet powerful framework that has worked for me consistently. 👇 Step 1: Capture your current state in detail (professional only or both professional + personal). ✍️ Step 2: Define your future aspirations without limitations—list everything that comes to mind! 🌠 Step 3: Identify the “swimlanes” that matter to you. These may vary, so be clear on what’s important for you. 🏊♂️ Step 4: Set milestones within each swim lane. For example, if “financial safety” is a swimlane, your milestones could include buying a house, creating a corpus of ₹X crore, etc. 🏠💰 Step 5: Establish timelines. Map out concentric zones with achievable milestones over time. ⏳ Step 6: Track your progress regularly. 📊 Having a mentor can be invaluable here, as they can act as a sounding board, providing guidance and helping you stay aligned with your goals. Having this mental map will significantly help you plan your career transformation. 🌟 I hope this helps! Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 💬 #CareerPlanning #GrowthMindset #CareerTransformation #GoalSetting #Mentorship #Framework

Can we Plan, Control, and Improve our careers? Yes, we can. The answer lies in a classic quality management principle: Juran's Trilogy. Dr. Joseph Juran's Trilogy - Quality Planning, Quality Control, and Quality Improvement - has transformed organizations worldwide. What if I told you these principles can also transform your career? Career Planning Just like quality planning, start by defining your career goals and aligning them with market demands. Identify the skills you need, map your gaps, and chart a roadmap. Career Control Regularly monitor your progress. Are you delivering on your potential? Are your actions aligned with your goals? Think of this as checking KPIs for your career - like skills acquisition, visibility, and performance. Career Improvement Constantly look for ways to enhance your value. Learn new skills, adapt to changes, and take on stretch assignments. The goal is to make your career trajectory sharper and stronger over time. I recently coached Preeti, a mid-career professional stuck in a stagnant role. We mapped her long-term career goals (planning), set measurable milestones (control), and introduced skill upgrades and thought leadership efforts (improvement). Within 18 months, she transitioned into a leadership role with a significant pay hike. And I have used these principles myself. And you can see, I haven't done badly either. ☺ Your career is your product. Manage it like a quality professional. ++++++++++ Photo - My career isn't as bright as the background, but its not too bad either.

AI Literacy: The New Dividing Line in Professional Advancement   As someone shaping talent strategies for leading organizations, I'm observing a significant shift in hiring criteria across all industries and experience levels.   AI literacy - the ability to effectively leverage artificial intelligence tools - has rapidly transformed from a specialized skill to a fundamental professional competency.   This isn't about becoming an AI engineer. It's about developing practical capabilities: • Formulating effective queries that produce valuable outputs • Identifying where AI can augment your decision-making • Maintaining critical judgment when evaluating AI-generated content • Integrating AI into existing workflows to increase productivity   Organizations increasingly prioritize candidates with these capabilities across all fields - from finance to healthcare, marketing to operations.   For students and experienced professionals alike, collaborating effectively with AI tools is becoming as fundamental as email proficiency was in previous decades.   The competitive advantage for early adopters will diminish as AI literacy becomes a baseline expectation.   The question isn't whether your role will require these skills, but how quickly you'll develop them.   Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju   CC: Instagram @kaiko_media Dm for removal.   #deepalivyas #eliterecruiter #recruiter #recruitment #jobsearch #corporate #careeradvancement #workplacesurvival #aiskills #careerstrategist

I know I say this often but technology is no longer a separate sphere that sits alongside our lives, it has become the backbone of how we live, how we learn, how we work and how we connect with one another. Every career path, every opportunity for growth and every interaction with society is now touched by a digital layer that cannot be ignored (or if you attempt to ignore it, it will find you eventually). Yet millions of people remain excluded from this reality because they lack digital literacy. This absence is not just a matter of missing skills, it is a fundamental rights issue. When individuals cannot navigate the digital world with confidence, they are shut out of opportunities to progress, unable to properly protect their own data and left with little or no voice in shaping the very technologies that increasingly govern their futures. The future of work will only amplify this divide. Artificial intelligence, automation and global collaboration are already transforming entire industries at a pace that few of us can fully grasp. Those who have digital fluency will be able to adapt, retrain and thrive but those who do not will find themselves excluded from the jobs, the networks and the influence that will define the decades ahead. If we are serious about preparing for the future of work, we must start treating digital literacy as we once treated reading and writing. It should not be viewed as an optional advantage but something that everyone deserves access to. It is the foundation upon which lifelong learning, career resilience and meaningful participation in society must be built. However this cannot be the responsibility of a single sector; schools cannot do it alone, businesses cannot simply outsource it and governments cannot legislate it into existence without collaboration. Building digital confidence for all requires a collective commitment, where every organisation, every leader and every community recognises the role they play in creating inclusive and accessible spaces for digital learning. The future of work cannot be designed for a select few who happen to be digitally fluent, it must be accessible to the many, grounded in the principle that opportunity in the digital age is not a privilege but a right.

"Where do you see yourself in six months?" Your manager asks you out of the blue. You freeze. That feeling of being caught unprepared hit me particularly hard in my early 20's. I'd ramble about wanting "more responsibility" or "growth opportunities." My managers would nod politely. Nothing would really change. I was making a crucial mistake, waiting for my manager to outline my career paths for me. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱: 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲. When I joined Dropbox in 2015, I discovered a simple career planning framework that helped me map out my direction. It broke down into four core components: 🎯 Personal brand - What do you want to be known for? 📅 Short-term goals - What do you want in 3-6 months? 🚀 Long-term goals - What do you want in 1-3 years? 💪 Key strengths - What are your superpowers? But having the framework wasn't enough. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀. Last week, I was talking to my friend about pitching their manager about a role that doesn't exist yet. Here's how I'd prepare: • Identify the skills gaps • Build a plan to acquire these skills • Identify people who can support me • Craft a business case connecting my goal to value But now we also have fancy AI tools! So recently, I've leveled up the process by using an AI career copilot (inspired by Tal Raviv). I set up a Claude Project with my career growth plan and company context. Then I ask it to challenge my thinking, identify blind spots, and help me role-play difficult conversations. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀. It suggests daily actions for my short-term goals. It helps coach me through career conversations. It makes the whole process less dreary and more strategic. Here's how to try this out yourself: 1. Have a career chat with your manager or mentor. 2. Setup Tal Raviv's prompt (link in comments). 3. Adapt and use your AI copilot to prep for the chat. Own your career development instead of waiting for others to drive it. The reality is that no one will care about your career as much as you do. Have you tried leveraging AI copilots in your own career growth?