The other day I was leaving a meeting and the office had a dish of candy at their reception counter. So on my way out the door I grabbed a blue raspberry Jolly Rancher – because they are the best flavor of jolly rancher, right!!!

Later that afternoon, I stuck my tongue out in the mirror to see if it was blue. Of course it was, but I also noticed a black spot on the side of my tongue.

Now I guess I don’t typically look at my tongue, so although I didn’t really know how long it had been there, I know it’s not been there my whole life. I didn’t remember biting my tongue or anything that would have caused the spot.

In about 3 weeks I had a dentist appointment anyways so figured I would keep an eye on it and ask the dentist at that time. The dentist thought it was probably nothing, but consulted with his oral surgeon friend to be safe. The surgeon agreed it was probably nothing and I’ll just keep an eye on it.

Had it actually been a problem though, and had it not been for that blue raspberry jolly rancher – who knows how long it would’ve been before I discovered it.

So, my question for you is – what things in your career do you not look at or think about very often? Let’s talk about how you can regularly monitor your career so that you don’t miss the warning signs that could indicate disaster.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Happy New Year! A new year is always an opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to dream big. As an HR professional, you’re already great at supporting others, but what about your own growth?

What if this could be the year you transition from being a key contributor to a strategic executive leader? Do me a favor, as long as you’re not driving, take a minute to close your eyes and imagine that it is December 31, 2025. What would need to be true in order to say that 2025 has been your best year ever? I challenge you to really let that question sit with you for a moment. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of HR work – the employee concerns, the management challenges, the compliance requirements. But when was the last time you asked yourself, “What does success truly look like for me at the executive level?”

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Today I’m tackling a subject that I’ve had experience with, and think many of you probably have too, and that is - fear.

Have you ever found yourself hesitating to take that next crucial step in your career because you worried you weren’t good enough or didn’t have all the skills mastered? You’re definitely not alone.

Fear can be a powerful force, often lurking in the background and holding us back from pursuing the very opportunities we desire. It whispers doubts. It magnifies our insecurities. It can even paralyze us in our tracks.

But what if I told you that fear doesn’t have to be a stop sign? Instead, it can serve as a compass, guiding you toward growth and self-discovery. The world of HR requires us to push past our comfort zones, take risks, and embrace the possibility of failure.

Whether you’re just starting out in HR, feeling stuck in your current role, or looking to make that leap into the executive suite, stay tuned. Together, we’ll turn those fears into stepping stones for success and unlock your potential.

Are you ready to dive in and discover how to turn fear into fuel for your career? Let’s get started!

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Dolly Parton once said, “Figure out who you are and do it on purpose.” It’s a powerful sentiment, and one that speaks directly to the heart of personal branding.

As HR professionals, the path to leadership requires more than just experience or technical skill; it calls for intentionality in shaping how others see you. This begins with a clear understanding of your values—those guiding principles that shape your actions, influence your decisions, and communicate what you stand for.

Just as Dolly suggests, success in leadership requires knowing who you are and living that out with purpose. Values are a defining component of who you are, and they’re more than a checklist of good qualities. They are aspirational, guiding you not just in who you are now, but who you want and need to become in order to reach the Executive level.

In this episode, we’ll explore how aligning your values with your career goals sets the foundation for an impactful personal brand.

Are you ready to figure out who you are and start doing it on purpose?

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

In addition to daily goals, I set three bigger weekly goals that I want to accomplish. I usually set aside a specific time that I can reflect on the previous week and then set my top three things that I want to accomplish for the upcoming week.

This has been a particularly busy couple of weeks for me. And I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t spend as much time as I should have, or be as intentional as I should have, on setting my goals for this past week.

I knew I wanted to focus on some healthier eating habits, but was in a hurry and didn’t take the time to think through what that would look like. Instead, I simply wrote “eat healthier breakfasts” as one of my weekly goals.

So, guess what happened? When it came time to reflect on the past week, I had no idea whether or not I had accomplished my goal. Did that granola bar I grabbed as I ran out the door on Tuesday count as a “healthier breakfast”? And “healthier” than what?

How do you know if you have accomplished your goals? Let’s dive into 3 strategies to make sure that you do know.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Have you ever had that sinking feeling when you realize that you’ve made a mistake? Of course you have, we’ve all made mistakes. Mistakes happen.

Maybe it was a missed deadline, a miscalculated decision, or even a miscommunication with a colleague. We’ve all been there.

But there are few things that I hate more than making mistakes. I kick myself and wonder how I could’ve let this happen. I’m embarrassed. And though I work on correcting the mistake immediately, I often dwell on the fact that it happened for days!

What I have to remind myself of though, is that while mistakes can feel daunting, they can also serve as powerful catalysts for growth and improvement.

Everyone makes mistakes. And if we’re honest, you probably aren’t making any progress or pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, if you don’t make a mistake or two at some point.

But what you do after those mistakes, is what truly sets you apart. It’s in these moments that your character is revealed and your leadership potential is tested.

So, what should you avoid doing when mistakes happen, and what proactive steps should you take instead? Let’s dive into four key areas.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

In the dynamic world of HR, challenges are inevitable—be it staffing issues, employee conflicts, or navigating new regulations. But how you address those challenges can significantly shape your career trajectory.

Imagine walking into a meeting with your boss, ready to discuss an issue, you explain the problem, but when asked for solutions, you’re left speechless. What impression does that leave?

A lack of solutions not only demonstrates a passive approach but also signals to your boss that you might not be fully engaged or proactive in your role.

As we get started today, think about the moments when challenges arise in your workplace. Are you the person who simply points out the issues, or do you step up to provide actionable solutions?

Let’s explore the power of being proactive and how you can transform problems into possibilities.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.

Wouldn’t it be great if we had more hours in our day? Or would it really be the solution we’re hoping for?

The idea of more time sounds tempting, but would it actually solve our problems, or just add to the chaos? I mean, who among us hasn’t wished for that extra hour to finally catch up on work, dive into that project we’ve been putting off, or even just take a breather?

But let’s be honest—would more time actually make things better, or would we just fill those extra hours with even more of the same things that keep us overwhelmed?

Today, we’re diving into a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of time management: not just how we spend our hours but how we can strategically reclaim our time, set boundaries, and prioritize what really matters.

Because, at the end of the day, it’s not about having more time—it’s about making the most of the time we already have.

Let’s talk about the one thing that can break you free from the overwhelm, work smarter, and finally take control of your schedule instead of letting it control you.

Kristen Wade helps HR professionals who want to reach the executive level,
to stop putting out fires and become more strategic with their time. For individual support, apply for Kristen's Signature Program here and she'll be in touch to invite you to a free discovery call.

Or if you're ready to ensure your unique values shine, grab a Personal Branding Strategy Session with Kristen here.