Episode 240: The “Kudos Folder” Mindset: Owning What You’ve Achieved with "Unapologetic" Author, Nicole Stephenson

What this episode covers

“I talk about having a kudos folder… you can’t lie with statistics.” Nicole Stephenson: President and CEO of Narrative Consulting and Author of Unapologetic: Boldly Lead the Life and Career You Deserve   How often do you doubt yourself? If you're a woman, the answer is most likely "a lot." And it's not because women aren't accomplished, but rather that life has taken us places other than where we thought we'd end up, which many of us view as a failure. Not so, notes Nicole Stephenson, founder and CEO of Narrative Consulting and Author of Unapologetic: Boldly Lead the Life and Career You Deserve. Once seeing herself as achieving the goal of becoming a teacher, Nicole found herself working in marketing for a Philadelphia radio station upon graduation from college. She started the station's Facebook page and implemented other innovations which greatly contributed to the station's visibility and marketing ambitions. Next up was a highly successful tenure as Executive Director for The Society of Professional Women for the Philadelphia Main Line Chamber of Commerce. And now, founder of her own company and author. Yet despite these successes, Nicole acknowledges the presence of self-doubt-- recognizinging the internal struggle many women face, noting, “It is not easy to say, ‘I’m good at something.’” By encouraging practices like keeping a “kudos folder” she offers tangible ways to counter the tendency to downplay achievements. Her reflection—“I totally downplayed my accomplishment… like this was just an everyday thing for me”—captures a common pattern among high-achieving women, who also need to own and share their brilliance.  Further, Nicole reinforces the importance of honoring personal growth and evolution without judgment, a key pillar of Brilliantly Resilient. Stating that “We need to stop labeling things we don’t attain as failure” encourages us to redefine resilience and success on our own terms. By encouraging women to embrace their experiences, celebrate their progress, and remain open to possibility, Nicole echoes the Brilliantly Resilient belief that resilience is not just about pushing through—it’s about recognizing your value, adapting with intention, and allowing your brilliance to evolve. (Oh, and by the way, Nicole is now a lecturer at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, fulfilling her long-held dream of teaching!) Be sure to pick up your copy of Unapologetic: Boldly Lead the Life and Career You Deserve and connect with Nicole here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-stephenson/ https://narrativaconsulting.com https://www.instagram.com/_nicole_stephenson/?hl=en  Tune in to this week's episode of the Brilliantly Resilient podcast for more of Nicole's wisdom and listen for these additional bits of brilliance!    “I talk about having a kudos folder… you can’t lie with statistics.” “If I increased my sales budget by 26%, that’s not me bragging—that’s a fact.” “You have to admit it to yourself—you have to say, ‘I’m struggling with self-doubt.’” “It is not easy to say, ‘I’m good at something.’ I am in my head all the time.” “I totally downplayed my accomplishment… like this was just an everyday thing for me.” “Why didn’t I live in this moment longer?” “Don’t be afraid—if the door doesn’t open, go through a window.” “You never know where your talents lie… sometimes other people know you better than you know yourself.” "We're not tied to any one thing; we don't have to be." Thank you, Nicole! Let's be Brilliantly Resilient together! XO, Mary Fran