Career Slay

What if success didn't have to come at the cost of your health, your values, or your life outside work? Welcome to Career Slay, the podcast for ambitious professionals who are done chasing titles and ready to build careers that actually fit their lives. We talk about what it really takes to lead with confidence, clarity, and courage without losing yourself in the process. If you're ready to stop surviving your career and start slaying it, you're in the right place.

Career Slay is a business podcast hosted by Kelly Poquiz Burke, with 49 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Kelly Poquiz Burke hosts Career Slay, a business show with 49 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #48

  The Comeback: Burnout, Recovery, and Four Hard Truths About Healing

  Sep 23, 202615 min

  What do you do when life throws a curveball that knocks you off course? After several months of silence, Career Slay host, Kelly Poquiz Burke, returns to the mic with the story behind the break. Kelly shares how the podcast pause began as a planned refresh in March, and how she caught herself repeating the hustle and burnout habits she thought she had left behind in corporate. What she didn’t anticipate was a unexpected health crisis that resulted in three surgeries in three months forcing her to slow down. She offers four hard truths from this difficult season, plus a ”HEAL” framework for getting through recovery. This episode is for the high achiever whose sense of worth has gotten tangled up with output, and for anyone in a season that refuses to move on your timeline. What You'll Learn in This Episode How to recognize the burnout signals your body sends before things reach a crisis Why leaving a job or environment will not change your results until you change the habits behind them How to separate your worth from your productivity Why grief and gratitude can share the same space, and how gratitude helps you look forward What to consider when you are running on limited capacity How to use the HEAL framework: Head, Energy, Act (Agency, Counting on Others, Telling Your Story), and Learn Why healing takes longer than you expect Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Career Slay 00:22 – Why the podcast went quiet 02:52 – Hard truth 1: If you don't change, nothing changes 07:12 – Hard truth 2: You are enough 08:51 – Hard truth 3: Gratitude and grief can coexist 10:25 – Hard truth 4: Healing takes longer than you expect 10:42 – The HEAL framework: “H” for Head 11:11 – HEAL: “E” for Energy 11:28 – HEAL: “A” for Act (Agency, Counting on Others, Telling Your Story) 12:25 – HEAL: “L” for Learn 13:00 – Closing thoughts: healing isn't linear Mic-drop Quotes "If you don't change, nothing changes." "Be alive, Kelly. That was enough." "Gratitude and grief can exist in the same space." "I used to think strength meant pushing through. Now I know strength also looks like resting." Your Next Step If some part of this episode sounded like your own season, start by taking the Life-Work Alignment Quiz at lifeworkalign.co . And if you'd like to talk it through, book a discovery call at careerslay.com to see if coaching is the right next step for you. Follow Along Follow @careerslay on Instagram , TikTok , and LinkedIn . Follow Kelly at @kellypoquizburke on Instagram and on LinkedIn . Topics Discussed burnout recovery, high achiever burnout, healing after surgery, self-worth beyond productivity, gratitude and grief, HEAL framework, resilience, rest and recovery, asking for help, career reset, entrepreneurship, mindset, personal storytelling, Career Slay Podcast Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, connect with Kelly : Website: careerslay.com LinkedIn: Kelly Poquiz Burke Instagram: @careerslay

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  Episode #47

  Good Daughtering ft. Allison Alford

  Mar 10, 202648 min

  What if one of the biggest drains on women’s time, energy, and leadership potential is something we rarely name? In this episode, Kelly sits down with Dr. Allison Alford, clinical associate professor at Baylor University, communication scholar, executive coach, and author of Good Daughtering , to explore the invisible labor of “daughtering.” Allison shares her unconventional academic journey, from earning her PhD as a mom of two to building what she calls a “portfolio career” that blends teaching, research, consulting, and coaching. But at the heart of this conversation is her groundbreaking research on daughtering, the emotional, cognitive, and relational labor adult daughters perform to keep families connected. Together, Kelly and Allison unpack how daughtering shows up as a third shift of labor, how it impacts working professionals, and why self-awareness and boundaries are critical for women who want sustainable success. If you’ve ever felt stretched thin between work, family, and the invisible expectations placed on you, this episode will help you feel seen, validated, and empowered to recalibrate. Key Topics & Takeaways Building a “portfolio career” across academia and consulting Earning a PhD as a working mom and refusing to quit Defining daughtering and making invisible labor visible The four dimensions of daughtering: tasks, emotions, cognition, identity The “kinship shift” across a daughter’s lifespan Daughtering plus-plus in the sandwich generation The concept of first, second, and third shift labor How divided attention impacts women in the workplace Boundaries, calibration, and permission to pull back Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Career Slay 00:23 – Introducing Allison Alford 01:51 – Childhood curiosity and “cruise director” energy 03:55 – From international studies to communication research 07:47 – The PhD journey as a mom of two 11:29 – Conflict resolution coaching at McCombs 15:49 – Starting a coaching business 17:58 – Building a portfolio career at Baylor 20:32 – What is daughtering? 23:58 – Defining daughtering in four categories 27:26 – The kinship shift across the lifespan 31:00 – Setting boundaries without guilt 33:38 – The mission behind Good Daughtering 37:21 – First shift, second shift, third shift labor 42:43 – What makes a fulfilling career 44:20 – Advice to her 20-year-old self 45:52 – Three words: Relationships, Innovation, Energy Guest Resources Book: Good Daughtering Podcast: Hello Mother, Hello Daughter Coaching & Consulting: Good Talk Communication Consulting LinkedIn: Allison Alford, PhD Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, connect with Kelly : Website: careerslay.com LinkedIn: Kelly Poquiz Burke Instagram: @careerslay

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  Episode #46

  Learning How to Pivot

  Feb 17, 202612 min

  Pivoting can feel like failure. It can feel like quitting, like starting over, like admitting you got it wrong. In this solo episode, Kelly unpacks what it really means to pivot and why it’s often the most aligned and courageous move you can make in your career. From changing majors at University of Notre Dame, to earning her MBA, to shifting from advertising into brand marketing at Frito-Lay, to founding Career Slay, Kelly shares the defining pivots that shaped her professional path. If you’re standing at a crossroads wondering whether you’re quitting or evolving, this episode is your reminder: Pivoting is not failure. It’s getting back into alignment. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to recognize when something in your career is out of alignment Why gathering real-world data points reduces fear How curiosity accelerates professional growth The truth about self-limiting beliefs Why you’re never actually starting from zero How to test a pivot through micro-experiments Why minimizing regret is a better compass than avoiding risk Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 00:23 – Why pivoting feels uncomfortable 01:15 – My first pivot: Leaving architecture 02:45 – Recognizing misalignment 03:30 – Gathering data points 04:40 – Switching majors and entering marketing 05:04 – Stretching beyond your comfort zone 06:10 – MBA challenges and confidence growth 06:45 – Pivot into brand marketing at Frito-Lay 07:20 – The biggest pivot: Founding Career Slay 08:15 – You’re not starting from zero 09:20 – Micro-experiments and testing your pivot 09:53 – The regret minimization framework 10:45 – Final encouragement Quotes Worth Repeating “Pivoting is not failure. Pivoting is getting back into alignment.” “You are not behind. You are not flaky. You are responding to growth.” “You’re not starting from zero. You’re starting from experience.” Resources Mentioned Jeff Bezos – The Regret Minimization Framework Topics Discussed career pivots, professional growth, leadership development, entrepreneurship, transferable skills, self-limiting beliefs, MBA journey, brand marketing, alignment, personal reinvention, minimizing regret, Career Slay Podcast Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, connect with Kelly : Website: careerslay.com LinkedIn: Kelly Poquiz Burke Instagram: @careerslay

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  Episode #45

  Fact or Story ft. Barbara Boselli

  Feb 4, 202634 min

  What if the thing holding you back in your career isn’t a fact, but a story you’ve been telling yourself? In this episode, Kelly sits down with leadership coach, speaker, and former Google leader Barbara Boselli to explore how the narratives we create about ourselves can quietly shape, and sometimes limit, our careers. From growing up in Brazil and navigating cultural transitions in the U.S., to building a successful corporate career, leaving Google to focus on family, and eventually launching her own leadership consulting practice, Barbara shares a deeply reflective journey of growth, self-awareness, and reinvention. Together, Kelly and Barbara unpack the difference between facts and stories, how emotional intelligence and mindfulness transform leadership, and why “step two is the enemy of step one” when it comes to meaningful career change. This conversation is a powerful reminder that self-awareness is the foundation of courageous leadership, and that redefining success often starts from within. Key Topics & Takeaways The difference between facts and the stories we tell ourselves How cultural norms shape leadership and self-advocacy Transitioning from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship Emotional intelligence as a core leadership skill Mindfulness, self-awareness, and reframing limiting beliefs Why you don’t need the full plan to take the first step Navigating identity shifts during career pivots Finding purpose, passion, and fulfillment through service Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 00:23 – Barbara Boselli bio 01:32 – Growing up in Brazil and early career influences 03:02 – Cultural transitions and working in the U.S. 05:08 – First roles at L’Oréal and Vale 06:40 – Choosing an MBA and career reinvention 07:58 – Joining Google and working in strategy & operations 09:51 – Discovering a passion for people development 11:58 – Emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and leadership 13:52 – Leaving Google and identity shifts 15:36 – Spiritual psychology and reframing success 18:45 – Navigating motherhood and career uncertainty 21:00 – “Step two is the enemy of step one” 22:55 – Building Be Now Consulting 24:22 – Fact vs. story and limiting beliefs 28:04 – Self-awareness as a leadership superpower 29:53 – Community, collaboration, and entrepreneurship 31:36 – Advice to her 20-year-old self 32:28 – Career in three words 33:10 – Where to find Barbara Guest Resources Website: bnowconsulting.com LinkedIn: Barbara Boselli Topics Discussed leadership development, emotional intelligence, mindfulness at work, self-awareness, career pivots, women in leadership, entrepreneurship, limiting beliefs, personal growth, fact vs story, executive coaching, purpose-driven work, Career Slay Podcast Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, connect with Kelly : Website: careerslay.com LinkedIn: Kelly Poquiz Burke Instagram: @careerslay

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  Episode #44

  Winning the Career Game ft. Kendall Berg

  Jan 21, 202641 min

  What if climbing the corporate ladder isn’t about working harder, but about learning the rules no one ever taught you? In this episode of the Career Slay Podcast, Kelly Poquiz Burke sits down with Kendall Berg, founder of That Career Coach and author of Secrets of the Career Game , to unpack the unspoken rules that shape real career growth. From sneaking into job fairs and telling a CFO his strategy was flawed (at 19), to earning five promotions in six years, turning down a C-suite role, and building a nationally recognized coaching platform, Kendall shares the highs, lows, and hard-earned lessons that reshaped how she thinks about success. This conversation dives deep into self-advocacy, managing up, building influence as well as your own brand, and redefining success as your life evolves. Whether you’re ambitious, burned out, or questioning what “next” really means, this episode offers practical wisdom for navigating your career with intention. Key Topics & Takeaways Why being great at your job isn’t enough as you move up The importance of educating your boss about your impact How self-advocacy and personal branding accelerate promotions Turning down a C-suite role and trusting your gut Balancing a demanding corporate role with entrepreneurship The mental load behind content creation and visibility Why success eventually becomes about owning your time Learning when to push forward and when to pivot Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:18 – Growing up driven, entrepreneurial, and type-A 02:56 – Studying math and economics without a clear path 04:21 – Sneaking into job fairs and landing a career-defining role 06:03 – Telling a CFO the hard truth (and getting hired anyway) 08:27 – Rapid promotions, tech leadership, and learning soft skills 11:58 – Turning down a C-suite role and redefining ambition 15:00 – What a Chief of Staff role really looks like day-to-day 17:38 – Balancing corporate leadership and That Career Coach 20:42 – Content creation, controversy, and building thick skin 26:45 – Writing Secrets of the Career Game 28:14 – “Your boss has no idea what you’re doing” 30:15 – Advocacy, promotion strategy, and managing up 34:44 – How Kendall defines success today 38:05 – Advice to her 20-year-old self 39:27 – Career in three words 39:56 – Where to find Kendall Guest Resources Follow Kendall: @ThatCareerCoach (LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) Website: thatcareercoach.net Get Kendall’s Book: Secrets of the Career Game https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Career-Game-strategies-workplace/dp/1804091111 Keywords career growth, career coaching, self advocacy at work, managing up, promotions, leadership development, personal branding, career pivots, women in leadership, content creation, work life alignment, executive communication, influence at work, career strategy, Career Slay Podcast Enjoying the show? Please consider subscribing, leaving a rating, and sharing to help us #slaythefearincareer. And if you're looking for one-on-one career coaching, connect with Kelly : Website: careerslay.com LinkedIn: Kelly Poquiz Burke Instagram: @careerslay

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