Denise Moss climbed from bank teller to VP of HR, but not before spending years stuck at the director level, watching less-qualified peers get promoted around her. In this episode, Courtney O'Connell sits down with Denise Moss (aka "Your HR Homegirl") to unpack exactly what changed.

Denise shares the real story behind her rise through corporate HR: starting as a temp receptionist, getting promoted to HR administrator in six months, and later volunteering for the systems implementation project no one else wanted (one that finally put her name in front of the C-suite).

She and Courtney break down why grit is a skill you can build (not just a trait you're born with), why "no" is a complete sentence, and why self-promotion isn't bragging, it's how decision-makers actually find out you're ready for more.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why being great at your job is not the same as being visible for promotion
• How to build the confrontation muscle if pushback doesn't come naturally to you
• The exact project-volunteering strategy that got Denise noticed by her company's COO
• How to set boundaries and protect your time without damaging trust
• What executive presence actually looks like in the room (hint: it's not arrogance)

If you've ever felt like you're doing the best work of your career and still getting passed over, this conversation is for you.

About the Guest:
Denise Moss ("Your HR Homegirl") is a former VP of Human Resources with a career built on grit, reinvention, and knowing when to raise her hand.

About the Host:
Courtney O'Connell spent 23 years in corporate HR, rising from administrative assistant to SVP sitting in the room where promotion decisions were actually made. She now coaches high-performing leaders on how to get seen, get sponsored, and get promoted.

Links:

The 5am Club Here

The 48 Laws of Power Here

Grit Here

Connect with Denise Here

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Keywords/Tags
career advancement, how to get promoted, corporate career growth, HR career tips, executive presence, workplace confrontation skills, career coaching, women in leadership, stuck at director level, how to get promoted at work, building visibility at work, career grit, corporate promotion strategy