Aleutian Trail Talks

Jeopardy-Style Career Lessons 01: Passion, Bad Bosses, and Big Leaps

Feeling stuck, curious, or ready to pivot? In this Jeopardy-style episode of the Aleutian Atlas Podcast, Annie and Michelle play with categories like Workplace Survival Skills, Bad Manager Habits, Allies & Advocates, Mentor Moments, and Take the Leap—using real stories to map the messy, non-linear terrain of modern careers. If you’re plotting a pivot, craving meaning where you are, or simply need permission to try something new, this conversation offers tools, encouragement, and a few great metaphors for the road ahead. Sit back and enjoy stories that highlight:
 
*Passion is a skill multiplier (and contagious).
*Public shaming kills learning; psychological safety fuels it.
*Advocacy in action: building community and visibility for women in accounting.
*Meetings that share the mic: small facilitation tweaks, big inclusion gains.
*“Run fast and light”: momentum, agility, and the power of letting go.
*Reinvention is normal: pause, pivot, and try again.
*Bold moves rarely make sense on paper—and often change everything.
 
Annie mentions a mentor in this episode named David Warren that you can follow here: www.linkedin.com/in/cdavidwarrenjr/

14 The Resilience Reset: Turning Setbacks into Skills: The Value of Lessons Learned From Failure

Every career has its bumps—missed promotions, failed projects, or tough feedback that stings. But what if those setbacks are actually the building blocks of your professional growth? In this episode, we reframe failure not as an ending, but as feedback (and a step on the path to success!). We’ll explore how challenges develop resilience, adaptability, problem-solving, and even empathy—the very skills that define strong leaders. With practical tools and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to turn setbacks into stories of growth and skills that fuel long-term success.

Between Peaks 02: Childcare is Infrastructure

Childcare is one of the biggest challenges for working parents — especially for professionals navigating demanding careers while raising young kids. In this episode, Elise and Michelle, two moms also working professionally, share their candid experiences exploring childcare options in both major U.S. cities and suburban areas.
 
We dive into the real differences in cost, accessibility, and quality of care across these environments, and how those factors influence professional families’ choices. Elise and Michelle also open up about the financial and emotional weight childcare places on young professionals — particularly those early in their careers, when salaries are lower but career demands are high.
 
Whether you’re considering starting a family, already navigating child-care waitlists, or just curious about how childcare impacts workplace equity, this conversation offers practical insights and honest reflections for professionals balancing ambition and parenthood.

13 Unspoken Leadership Skills Part 6 of 6, Storytelling as Strategy

Facts inform, but stories inspire action. In this episode of our Unspoken Leadership Skills series, we explore how storytelling can be one of the most powerful tools for emerging leaders. From enhancing collaboration to creating buy-in for new initiatives, stories help ideas travel, stick, and motivate others to act. We’ll share practical ways young professionals can use storytelling to clarify vision, strengthen relationships, and build leadership presence—long before they hold a formal title.

12 Unspoken Leadership Skills Part 5 of 6, Uncovering and Developing Others' Strengths

Great leaders don’t just maximize their own talents—they uncover and develop the strengths of others. In this fifth episode of our Unspoken Leadership Skills series, we explore the shift from “fixing weaknesses” to building on what people do best. You’ll learn why a strengths-based approach leads to greater engagement, faster growth, and stronger teams, and how to balance that with addressing critical gaps. Through practical strategies and relatable stories, we’ll show you how to spot hidden strengths, affirm them in meaningful ways, and create opportunities that help colleagues thrive. Whether you’re leading a team, mentoring a peer, or simply learning to see potential others might miss, this episode will equip you to elevate the people around you—and in turn, your own leadership impact.

11 Unspoken Leadership Skills Part 4 of 6, Giving and Receiving Feedback

Feedback is one of the most powerful—and most overlooked—leadership tools. In this episode of our Unspoken Leadership Skills series, we explore how to give feedback with clarity and empathy, and how to receive it with openness and resilience. Whether you’re navigating your first peer-to-peer conversation, learning to accept critique from senior leaders, or guiding others as a new manager, feedback is where growth happens. Join us as we share practical strategies, real-world scenarios, and actionable takeaways to help you turn feedback into a catalyst for influence, trust, and leadership—no matter your title.

Between Peaks 01: Strategies for Professional Women Starting a Family

How do you balance the desire to grow a career with the decision to start a family? In this debut episode of Between Peaks, we dive into the real stories of women who’ve navigated this question in different ways.
You’ll hear real stories from and about women who:
Chose to start a family first, and then pursued their careers.
Built career experience and timed family planning around career development milestones.
Took things as they came—embracing the unpredictability of timing.
Through these candid conversations, we explore what each path looks like in practice—the challenges, the unexpected wins, and the lessons learned along the way.
Our message is simple: there isn’t one “right” order. Whether you lead with family, career, or simply figure it out as you go, it’s possible to find success and fulfillment on both fronts.
Listen as we tackle the question When is the right time? and discuss the encouraging answer: your time can be the right time.

10 Unspoken Leadership Skills Part 3 of 6, Influence Without Authority

Leadership isn’t about titles, org charts, or who signs the paychecks—it’s about impact. In this episode of Unspoken Leadership Skills, we explore how to guide, inspire, and create change even when you don’t hold formal authority.
 
From building credibility to strengthening relationships, from telling the right story to practicing reciprocity, we’ll unpack the subtle but powerful tools that help leaders influence in any direction—across teams, upward to senior leaders, or within complex networks. Along the way, we share practical strategies, real-world examples, and common pitfalls to avoid.
 
Whether you’re leading a project without direct reports, collaborating across teams, or simply trying to move an idea forward, this conversation will give you actionable ways to expand your influence and make a difference—without waiting for permission.

9 Unspoken Leadership Skills Part 2 of 6, The Power of Presence (Before the Title)

You don’t need a title to lead. In Part 2 of our Unspoken Leadership Skills series, we explore how presence — the way you communicate, carry yourself, and earn trust — shapes your influence long before you step into a formal leadership role.
 
We break down what presence really means (beyond confidence or charisma), why it matters in your 20s and early 30s, and how it can open doors to new opportunities. From making an impact in meetings to building credibility with peers and senior leaders, this episode offers practical strategies for young professionals who want to grow their influence and stand out as future leaders.

8 Unspoken Leadership Skills Part 1 of 6, Navigating Ambiguity: Turning the Unknown into Leading Innovation

Many professionals in their 20s and 30s are entering roles where expectations aren’t clearly spelled out, projects lack neat roadmaps, and decisions must be made with incomplete information. Ever been handed a project and felt pressure to “just figure it out”? Welcome to ambiguity—the crucible where modern leaders are forged.
 
In this episode, we break down how navigating the unknown isn’t just a challenge; it’s an unspoken leadership skill that can accelerate your career. From decision-making with incomplete data to keeping your team grounded when answers aren’t obvious, we’ll explore the strategies, mindsets, and small daily habits that help leaders thrive in the gray.
 
Ambiguity is here to stay. The question is—how will you lead through it?