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The Hard Skills

The Hard Skills

Von: Dr. Mira Brancu
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Welcome to “The Hard Skills” podcast, a practical and research-driven show that explores the core leadership skills needed to fuel leadership to activate real change, such as creating inclusive and healthy workplaces.

Through expert interviews and live coaching calls, we challenge the notion of "soft skills," question long-held but inaccurate leadership development beliefs, and offer real, practical solutions for complex leadership challenges.

Hosted by Dr. Mira Brancu, a clinical and organizational development psychologist with extensive leadership experience, we’ll delve into topics of leadership identity, leading with uncertainty, navigating workplace politics, and creating critical organizational change.

This podcast will especially appeal to high-achieving leaders in healthcare, tech, and academic, industries. Whether you're seeking personal growth, looking to enhance your leadership abilities, or interested in Dr. Brancu's coaching services and membership community, join us as we unravel the complexities of leadership and inspire you to embrace the hard skills.


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Erfolg im Beruf Management & Leadership Ökonomie
  • The 5-Step Career Leap Checklist
    Mar 3 2026

    What if the biggest career breakthrough comes before you feel ready? Most leaders believe career growth is a ladder. It's actually a series of "scary" leaps into the unknown. Most professionals wait for confidence before taking the next step but real career growth happens just outside your comfort zone.

    In this episode, Dr. Mira Brancu explores why career growth rarely follows a linear path and how the most transformative opportunities often appear before we feel fully prepared. She breaks down the psychology behind stretch opportunities, explaining how stepping just outside your comfort zone within the Zone of Proximal Development builds real capability and long-term career momentum. Learn how to evaluate new roles using a practical five-question framework, why feelings of being underqualified are often misleading, and how social conditioning influences confidence in career decisions. Dr. Brancu also introduces the importance of building an “Informal Board of Directors,” highlighting how mentors, feedback, and strategic support systems help professionals navigate uncertainty, develop resilience, and turn intimidating career leaps into defining moments of growth.

    Ready to stop playing it safe? Subscribe to The Hard Skills for more science-backed leadership strategies.

    Links to Career-Defining blog posts on Psychology Today:

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-new-look-at-womens-leadership/202001/advancing-your-career-through-informal-mentoring

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/new-look-womens-leadership/202002/how-create-career-defining-experiences

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-new-look-at-womens-leadership/201901/why-go-for-opportunities-when-you-are-under-qualified

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-new-look-at-womens-leadership/201902/5-rules-to-live-by-when-looking-for-the-perfect

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-new-look-at-womens-leadership/201812/7-tips-to-say-yes-to-more-of-the-right-opportunities


    Link to Career Design Workshop Registration:

    https://luma.com/auobmkby


    IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?

    We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!

    Subscribe to my free newsletter at: mailchi.mp/2079c04f4d44/subscribe

    Work with me one-on-one: calendly.com/mira-brancu/30-minute-initial-consultation

    Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/MiraBrancu

    Learn more about my services: www.gotowerscope.com

    Get practical workplace politics tips from my books: gotowerscope.com/books

    Add this podcast to your feed: www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-hard-skills-dr-mira-brancu-m0QzwsFiBGE/

    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    10 Min.
  • How to Build a Career That Actually Serves Your Life, with Dr. Sharon Hull
    Feb 24 2026

    Are you working for your career, or is your career working for you? Most high achievers fall into the trap of making professional success the ultimate goal, only to realize their life has been pushed to the sidelines.

    In this episode, Dr. Mira Brancu sits down with veteran executive coach Dr. Sharon Hull to dismantle the myth of work-life balance and introduce the "Bespoke Life" framework. They discuss why you need to stop chasing the "gold watch" and start acting as the CEO of your own life. Whether you are in your early career or approaching your "Capstone" years, these 5 strategies will help you align your professional moves with your core values. Learn how to prepare for career "wildfires," the secret to high-stakes negotiation, and why the most successful people change careers every 15 years.


    Special offers for our listeners:

    Get a discounted rate for Dr. Hull’s book, “Professional Careers by Design: A Handbook for the Bespoke Life.” Go to: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/professional-careers-by-design?srsltid=AfmBOor49EUNycQrKivP7CcxrOmCsh9JnVAEChjR87itVkh7dsyOkwfS

    And use enter Code Metta2026 for 33% off the print edition or 25% off the ebook.

    Get Dr. Hull's Assessment of Career Readiness for free (limited time) here: https://mettasolutions.kit.com/1c14afbf97


    IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?

    We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!

    Subscribe to my free newsletter at: mailchi.mp/2079c04f4d44/subscribe

    Work with me one-on-one: calendly.com/mira-brancu/30-minute-initial-consultation

    Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/MiraBrancu

    Learn more about my services: www.gotowerscope.com

    Get practical workplace politics tips from my books: gotowerscope.com/books

    Add this podcast to your feed: www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-hard-skills-dr-mira-brancu-m0QzwsFiBGE/

    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    45 Min.
  • Culture Isn’t Soft: How it Fuels Scalable Growth, with Rebecca Jenkins
    Feb 17 2026

    Are you hitting every metric but still losing clients? You might be a transactional service provider instead of a transformational strategic partner.

    In this episode, Dr. Mira Brancu sits down with "Revenue Architect" Rebecca Jenkins to dismantle the myth that "culture is soft." Rebecca shares her harrowing story of nearly losing a multi-million pound account with The Body Shop—despite hitting 100% of their KPIs. They dive into her 5-stage framework for evolving your business from a transactional vendor to an indispensable strategic partner. Learn why your revenue stalls when your culture isn't designed to scale and discover the psychological distinction between "responsibility" and "true ownership" that empowers teams to innovate.

    If you want to build a business that is transformational, not just transactional, subscribe to the Hard Skills Podcast now!


    IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?

    We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!

    Subscribe to my free newsletter at: mailchi.mp/2079c04f4d44/subscribe

    Work with me one-on-one: calendly.com/mira-brancu/30-minute-initial-consultation

    Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/MiraBrancu

    Learn more about my services: www.gotowerscope.com

    Get practical workplace politics tips from my books: gotowerscope.com/books

    Add this podcast to your feed: www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-hard-skills-dr-mira-brancu-m0QzwsFiBGE/

    Mehr anzeigen Weniger anzeigen
    51 Min.
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