Season one proved it: confidence isn’t magic… it’s reps. And if you’re here for the shortcut (or the reminder), I’ve got you.
Episode overview
In this season one recap of Loud & Lifted—your female leadership podcast for real talk + practical tools—I’m breaking down the five biggest themes that showed up across 38 episodes (20 guest interviews + 18 Quick Lifts). From mindset and comfort zones to personal branding, exposure, and support systems—this episode turns the “inspiring” into actual next steps you can use for career growth for women.
You’ll learn:
Why confidence for women is built through action (not personality)
How growth lives just outside the comfort zone—without blowing up your life
What your personal brand is communicating (even when you’re quiet)
How exposure/visibility is a strategy (hello, PIE)
Why women supporting women + real support systems are a career advantage
Key takeaways + action items (steal these)
1) Confidence is a skill (not a trait)
Try: pick one confidence practice and start tomorrow:
record affirmations (yes, really)
gratitude journal: 2 things/day
a “victory folder” for your wins
Reminder: if confidence were automatic, we wouldn’t all be out here “replaying the meeting in the shower.”
2) Get outside your comfort zone (smartly)
These weren’t reckless leaps—these were educated risks with numbers, gut-checks, and support.
Try: identify one thing you’ve been tolerating or avoiding and make a plan to act on it this week.
3) Your personal brand is already talking
Your brand is the feeling people get when your name comes up in rooms you’re not in.
Try the “5-word exercise”:
Write 5 words you want to be known for
Ask trusted peers/boss for 5 words they’d use
Close the gaps intentionally
4) Exposure is a strategy, not an accident
Performance alone doesn’t move you up—visibility does.
Try: map your next 3 months of:
Broadway moments (big-stage opportunities)
Community theater moments (everyday visibility)
Also: list the top 5 people who should know your work—and start 1 connection every other week.
5) Community and support are your competitive advantage
You can’t do this alone—career success depends on support systems (at work and at home).
Try a “circle audit”: who are your go-to people for honesty, strategy, hype, and accountability?
Upgrade inputs. And yes… sometimes you need to remove a few people from the roster.
Links & mentions
Mentioned communities/episodes: Women in Restaurant Leadership, She Said Golf, Our Third Place, the “husbands/dads” support episode, plus conversations on mindset, style as a power tool, PIE, career security, mental load/invisible labor, and networking/coffee chats.
Links:
Listen/subscribe: https://www.loudandliftedpodcast.com/
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loudandliftedpodcast/
Work with Betsy / Lifted Studio: https://www.betsyhamm.com/
Chapters
00:00 – Season 1 recap + why this is your shortcut
00:34 – What we covered in Season 1 (38 episodes)
02:02 – Lesson 1: Confidence is a skill (practices that work)
04:09 – Lesson 2: Get outside your comfort zone (without chaos)
06:19 – Lesson 3: Your personal brand is already talking
08:25 – Lesson 4: Exposure is a strategy (PIE + visibility)
11:33 – Lesson 5: Community + support = competitive advantage
15:19 – The 5 truths to remember (quick summary)
15:45 – The 30-day challenge (start tomorrow, not “Jan 1”)
16:11 – Thank you + Season 2 teaser
16:30 – Outro: Stay loud, stay lifted