In this episode, Nichole Harrop dives into the practice of selecting a Word of the Year to guide personal and professional growth. She shares her own process of choosing the word Momentum for 2025 and how it aligns with her goals. Nichole also offers practical tips for selecting a word, incorporating accountability, and using AI tools to brainstorm meaningful options.

Don't forget to get your copy of the Career Growth Guide

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why choosing a word of the year can provide clarity and motivation
• Nichole's personal journey with goal-setting and accountability
• How to find a word that resonates with your goals and values
• Real-life examples of words chosen by others and their meanings
• How to stay accountable and build momentum throughout the year

Resources Mentioned:

• Career Growth Guide: A resource to help you focus on key areas of growth each month. Get your copy via the link in the show notes.
• LinkedIn Connection: Join Nichole on LinkedIn to participate in free career growth sessions.

Key Takeaways:

• Selecting a word that aligns with your aspirations can help guide your actions throughout the year.
• Building habits and accountability through small steps leads to long-term success.
• Using AI tools like ChatGPT can help generate ideas and refine your word selection process.
• It's okay to pivot and adjust your focus throughout the year as needed.

Real quick, grab the Career Growth Guide here.

Nichole Harrop chats with co-worker Lauren Cohen about her incredible journey through nearly four decades in the tech industry. From programming on mainframes in the '80s to embracing cutting-edge AI and modern workplace technologies, Lauren shares her insights on staying adaptable and thriving in an ever-changing field.

Lauren discusses how she navigated major transitions in technology, overcame challenges as a woman in computer science, and continues to evolve in her role at Vasion. She offers actionable advice on managing change, collaborating across generations, and building confidence through experience. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up in your career, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical takeaways.

What You’ll Learn:

• Strategies for staying relevant in the tech world.
• The value of cross-generational learning and collaboration.
• How to embrace change and manage frustrations when learning new skills.
• Tips for identifying mentors and leveraging workplace relationships.

Resources Mentioned:

• Career Growth Guide: Plan your development with actionable monthly goals. Get your copy here.

About the Guest:
Lauren Cohen is a Digital Transformation Engineer at Vasion with 37 years of experience in software development. She has a passion for learning and sharing knowledge, and her ability to adapt and thrive in the fast-paced tech world makes her a leader and mentor to her peers.

Connect with Nichole

• Visit www.hellogrowvio.com for more career resources.
• Follow Nichole Harrop on LinkedIn.

Nichole chats with Amy Spurling, the CEO and Founder of Compt, about the power of leading with boundaries. Amy shares her personal journey of founding Compt at 40 after a successful career as a CFO and COO in the tech industry. She explains how Compt's global lifestyle benefits platform supports employees in a personalized way, empowering companies to meet their team members where they are in their life journeys.

This conversation dives into key strategies for balancing well-being and career success, setting boundaries like "No Meeting Mondays," and embracing mental health as an integral part of leadership and workplace culture.

Key Takeaways

1. The Importance of Boundaries: Amy emphasizes how setting boundaries—like logging off at 5 p.m. or protecting lunch breaks—leads to increased productivity, creativity, and team morale.
2. Measuring Outcomes Over Hours: A results-oriented mindset encourages flexibility and allows employees to manage their workloads without unnecessary stress.
3. Mental Health Matters: Amy opens up about her personal strategies for managing her mental health and the ripple effect this approach has on her team.
4. Personalized Benefits Work: Learn how tailoring employee benefits to individual needs can improve workplace satisfaction and foster a positive culture.
5. Leadership Lessons: Amy's insights on empowering her team, managing priorities, and fostering sustainable work environments are invaluable for leaders at every level.

Resources Mentioned

• Connect with Amy Spurling on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Compt
• Download the Career Growth Guide to simplify your professional development journey: link here.