#125 | The Ally Who Will Support Your Next Promotion Is NOT Your Boss (And You Are Probably Totally Ignoring Them): Leadership, Influence & Promotion

Who’s already telling you the truth—and are you actually listening?When you’re thinking about your next promotion, it’s natural to focus on your boss, senior leaders, mentors, and sponsors. But what if one of the most valuable people in your career is someone you’re not looking up to at all?Cara discovers this through an unexpected ally, Lynn, whose simple observation gives her a completely different understanding of what her job actually is. You’ll hear why allies are different from mentors and sponsors—and why organizations often overlook this powerful career relationship.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to recognize the colleague who sees your potential clearly before you overlook what they’re trying to tell you. Why allies can give you career-changing insight without having anything to gain from your success.How to stop deflecting useful feedback and turn honest observations into leadership growth and greater influence.Listen to discover the one question that can help you identify the allies already around you—and hear what they’ve been trying to tell you.New episodes are released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at [email protected] - I read them all.And here is the Spotify Playlist to accompany UnShakeable Her.Unshakeable Her is the podcast for women in leadership who are ready to build real influence, earn the promotion they deserve, and lead with confidence in systems that weren't built for them. Each episode tackles the challenges that shape leadership from the inside out, including imposter syndrome, resilience, credibility, boundaries, conflict, and feedback, while unpacking how pressure, workplace politics, strategic thinking, decision-making, and visibility affect the way ambitious women grow, lead, and get promoted without losing themselves in the process.