Episodes

OVERVIEW Today, we cover how personal brands work for digital professionals. Cultivating a strong personal brand is a long-term asset that'll shape your career and propel you over a lifetime. In addition to the "what" and "why," we'll cover an 8-part framework that you can implement starting today. Go deeper with the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter: https://matthewdoan.com/newsletter TAKEAWAYS A brand is a promise. Your personal brand is your promise to the people you seek to serve. Even in polit...

OVERVIEW "I'm not a businessman. I'm a business, man." — Jay-Z The Creator Economy is gaining steam, and it holds huge potential for you as a digital professional. If you'd like to start a side hustle or find ways to impact more lives, this one is for you. We'll cover Creator Economy basics, why it matters to you, and how you might get started. TAKEAWAYS Society is experiencing a fundamental shift from the Attention Economy to the Creator Economy. The Creator Economy consists of the platforms...

OVERVIEW Today we're joined by Lori Zukin, CEO and founder of Zukin Leadership. With a rich history in coaching and consulting to some of the world's most prominent organizations, Lori is a goldmine for understanding the more nuanced ways that leaders cultivate and exert influence. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and serves on the faculty at Georgetown University. Before starting her own company, Lori was an executive at Booz Allen Hamilton. Unlock a brighter tech ...

OVERVIEW Today, Matthew slides away from the show's usual focus and talks about a difficult incident involving his nine-year-old son. He reflects on how fragile life is and shares some Stoic-driven lessons on how to handle life's toughest situations. TAKEAWAYS It's all too easy to get caught up in "the grind" while losing sight of what truly matters in life. Unfortunately, it often takes a life-altering event to shock us back to our true priorities. Amor fati (Latin for "love of fate") is an ...

OVERVIEW We all face a content overload problem. Everything we need for self-development is at our fingertips, but we're drinking from a firehose and unable to focus. Today's most successful leaders know how to cut through the noise and find the signals. They do this by mastering a key skill: curation. Listen in to figure out the why, what, and how of making curation your superpower. For a weekly dose of digital leadership and career advice, try Wednesday Wisdom: https://matthewdoan.com/newslet...

OVERVIEW Today we're joined by Simone Petrella, CEO of CyberVista. Simone lives and breathes education, and her organization specializes in upskilling cybersecurity and technology professionals. In our conversation, we explore the radical transformation that the education industry is experiencing, and what that means for the aspiring digital leader. Unlock more professional freedom with the new course: Digital Career Flight Plan. Try it: https://matthewdoan.com/flight TAKEAWAYS There's still a...

OVERVIEW Gatekeeping has long influenced our careers, and it's limiting upward progress for most people. Today, Matthew talks about the five (5) key points that will help aspiring digital leaders better understand the gatekeeper model and how to rocket past the "standardized credentials" game by betting on their uniqueness. Accelerate your professional rise with the new course: Digital Career Flight Plan. Try it: https://matthewdoan.com/flight TAKEAWAYS When America's revolutionary generation ...

OVERVIEW Today our guest is Alexandra Heckler, Chief Information Security Officer at Collins Aerospace. In our conversation, she lays out why a digital leader should take an "ecosystem" perspective when viewing and engaging the business. I hope you’ll also be inspired by Alexandra’s journey — a story of embracing your uniqueness and delivering uncommon value. Accelerate your professional rise with the new course: Digital Career Flight Plan. Try it: https://matthewdoan.com/flight TAKEAWAYS Less...

OVERVIEW Today, we talk with Mission Multiplier CEO Jamie Miller about the skills that technology and cybersecurity professionals need to become potent leaders. Jamie shares his journey on creating more community impact by building a "get what you give" business. Accelerate your professional rise with the new course: Digital Career Flight Plan. Try it: https://matthewdoan.com/flight TAKEAWAYS While technologists generally focus on solving technical problems, their leadership impact comes from ...

OVERVIEW Today, we talk about escaping comfort zones and why it's essential to strategically design your own career. You can't just let your career happen to you — there's too much at stake. To ensure professional success, Matthew introduces a three-part career navigation system that helps digital professionals take and sustain flight — establishing clarity over their long-term vision while also thriving in the here-and-now. Access the free career navigation course: https://matthewdoan.com/flig...

OVERVIEW Here, we talk with Dr. Andrea Little Limbago (VP of Research and Analysis at Interos) about what it takes for tech experts (usually considered introverts) to elevate into leadership positions. Andrea also shares how her unique background in the social sciences enabled her own growth in the cybersecurity field. Finally, she and Matthew discuss how to think about professional networking and why tech leaders need to operate "human-first" in driving organizational progress. For weekly digi...

OVERVIEW Welcome to the first-ever episode of The Rising Digital Leader show! Here, we set the scene for your self-transformation: from a digital (technical) star into a masterful business leader. Following a brief introduction from Matthew, we dive into what it means to be a rising digital leader and then unpack your massive career opportunity in pursuing this journey. For weekly digital leadership and career advice, join Wednesday Wisdom at https://matthewdoan.com/newsletter TAKEAWAYS The ...

OVERVIEW Do you dream of a more thriving career and personal life? Today’s digital technical experts — in cloud, data science, cybersecurity, and the like — have an opportunity to rise and transform into tomorrow’s business leaders. It’s time to separate from the crowd so that you can unlock a remarkably better existence for yourself and your family. Your host, Matthew Doan, has over 15 years coaching digital (technology) leaders of global companies and government agencies — helping them reach...