Align and Accelerate

Founder

SciMed Consulting

Clinical Research Consultant

The CLINICAL TRIAL Company (ANZ) Pty Ltd

General Manager and Director

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

Local Trial Manager, Early Developement and Clinical Pharmacology

Novartis

Project Manager, Local Studies

Mundipharma International Limited

Clinical Study Manager

Clinical Project Manager, Medical Affairs Operations

Roche Pharmaceuticals

Study Manager

We help stagnant professionals fast track their careers for more impact, influence and income. DM me for a complementary strategy call.

I fast-track the careers of professionals who want to make more impact, influence, & income with a focus on authentic leadership with integrity.

✏️𝐓𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫- The Career Coffee Ledger. Kick off your week with essential tips, clever hacks, and lessons from my own missteps to fuel your journey to career success- minus delay. (It gets better with a hot chocolate or coffee :) https://bit.ly/48UZf2c

🔎 See how my 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 can help you: https://bit.ly/3MK89GP

A certified RAPID Results coach with over 20 years of corporate experience who 𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 & 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 15 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, I graduated with a Doctorate in Science before entering the corporate world. 

𝐈 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞! Using the same techniques, my career moved fast, managing international teams within 2 years, and eventually served on the Board of Directors in an international organisation. During this time, I discovered my passion in helping people achieve their career goals through mentoring and championing their aspirations. 

Today, I consult for the corporate world and founded Align and Accelerate, a coaching business that helps many to achieve their goals at their own pace through a successful ‘rinse and repeat formula’ that helps secure and retain the role you have been coveting.

💬 𝐃𝐌 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤- 𝐧𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥.

Ei-Ling Tan, Ph.D.

Passion.io

In my expanded scope as Head of Plus, I'm responsible for the full revenue and delivery cycle of Passion's Plus offerings and lead strategy across three teams (Sales, Coaching, Customer Success).

Head of Plus

Passion.io helps creators & coaches monetize and scale their passion with apps. As Head of Growth, I'm responsible for revenue growth and channel expansion and lead our high-ticket sales and coaching teams. 

Current wins I'm proud of:
🟢 Increased monthly cash collected by 50%.
🟢 Boosted inbound team sales call conversion to 58.52%.

Head of Growth

The Creator Accelerator by Chris Donnelly

I coach corporate professionals and entrepreneurs to grow their personal brand on LinkedIn.

Personal Branding Coach

Ashley is a Freelance Journalist

Art, travel, and culture articles in: Business Insider, VICE, Entrepreneur, Elle, Well+Good, Giddy, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, Travel+Leisure, Food Republic, Mashed, Observer, HuffPost, etc.

Art Critic

Chief Executive Group

As the AI Instructor for Chief Executive Group, I work with C-Suite executives in some of the largest companies in the US to implement Ai strategies and frameworks into their companies. 

Ongoing, my role consists of:
🟢 Providing regular AI trainings for members

🟢 Adding to the Chief Executive Group prompts and best practices database and creating prompts for members who are looking to accomplish specific AI-related tasks

🟢 Answering questions for program members

AI Instructor

StayNue

🟢 Designed, furnished, and oversaw onsite contractors for 20 short and medium term rental properties in Tampa Bay, Boston, Charlotte, and Miami.

🟢 Scaled marketing operations, achieving $1M increase in annual booking revenue during an industry depression by landing in 5 new markets in 11 months, implementing AI-driven systems, adding four new channels to StayNue's channel marketing roster, and landing in five new markets in a year.

🟢 Improved property listing performance, increasing AirBnB search appearances by 22% year over year by developing AI-powered listing optimization strategies and leveraging analytics tools to better optimize product-market fit for the company's portfolio for 122 listings.

Head of Operations & Marketing

The Listings Lab

As Chief Operating & Marketing Officer, I grew the brand from new entrant into a top 5 vertical company in North America with 2-3x YOY growth through virtual and in-person live events and digital marketing and streamlined our tech-enabled operations.

Chief Operating & Marketing Officer

As Chief Product Officer, I led the development of three new products and the revamp of the signature program and hired staff to support the delivery of those programs.

Chief Product Officer

Better En Noir

Better En Noir (acquired in 2018) was a boutique PR & influencer marketing firm that specialized in helping English speaking companies gain marketshare in the Francophonie & vice versa. I generated substantial business growth, achieving $5M in new business within 12 months through strategic creator partnerships and retention initiatives maintaining 92.2% client satisfaction.

Chief Operations & Communications Officer

Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ)

As a Curatorial Assistant, I did the initial curatorial pull for Ilippunga, the new permanent installation of the Brousseau Inuit Art Collection, assisted with research and interviews, and wrote tombstone texts for multiple works in the exhibition.

Curatorial Assistant

Concordia University

Process seeks to explore the idea of research as creative impulse. How an art historian synthesizes their ideas is as important as what they argue. The ways in which disparate trains of thought come together to form a cohesive argument will vary from person to person. By displaying various traces of the research practices of students in the Department of Art History at Concordia, art historians become the subjects of discourse.

Rather than displaying the end products of a finished thesis or blog post or catalogue essay, the exhibition would aim to capture the beginning stages of student ideas, highlighting the importance of research as a creative and individualized process bearing an artful quality of its own. Meticulously color-coded notebooks, highlighted texts with notes scribbled in the sides, a concept map linking ideas – how we research is as varied as our topics of study. Process assembles these bits and pieces that often end up in the recycle bin or collecting dust on a bookshelf to the fore.

Guest Curator

As the Gallery Assistant at the FOFA Gallery, I was responsible for managing the annual call for exhibitions and leading events programming at the gallery, including special performances by Canadian artists.

Gallery Assistant

Hi, I'm Ashley—an art advisor, art critic, and tech leader. I help people & companies build profitable art collections.

My insights have been published in: Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Forbes, SUCCESS, Conde Nast Traveller, JSTOR Daily, Travel+Leisure, etc.

Here's what I know about you:
✅ You have put in the blood, sweat, and tears to get where you are
✅ You know investing in art is a sound financial investment in life & business
✅ You also have no idea or time to know how to start, who to invest in, etc.

That's why I'm here. I've always been interested in how art inspires us to do our best work. 

My SSHRC & FRQSC-awarded thesis explored architecture & interior design in Canada's arctic during the cold war. I've worked in museums managing collections and searching through literally thousands of objects to find the most incredible pieces that deserve to be seen by others.

For the past 15 years, I've been an art advisor. Unlike most field professionals, I'm also a former executive and active tech leader—I get the world you're operating in.

How I can help you:
✅ Art auction proxying
✅ Art collecting strategy, negotiation, & procurement
✅ Art advisory & personal or corporate collection management

DM me to start building your art collections.

My professional chops a glance:
🎨 PhD Candidate in Art History at the University of York (focus: Surrealism)
🎨 Former museum & gallery professional (Focus on emerging & indigenous artists)
🎨 Award-winning SSHRC & FRQSC research on interior design in Canada's arctic
🎨 Emerging Professionals Committee member at the College Art Association
🎨 MA in Modern & Contemporary Art and Design from Concordia University
🎨 BFA in Art History & Film Studies from Concordia University
🎨 DEC in Fine Arts & Communications from Vanier College

To pitch me a story idea or for influencer collaboration: pitches@ashleycouto.com

(P.S. 🐘 Yes, I did previously talk about building your career. For searchability purposes, I also answer Ashely Couto or Ashley Cuoto)

Ashley Couto, MA

65% of remote workers are extremely satisfied by work.

Only 34% of office workers can say the same.

The stereotype says remote workers have it easy.

💤 Working in pajamas.
📺 Netflix during meetings.
⏰ Flexible hours aka any hours.

But the data tells us a different story.

In many cases, remote workers work longer & harder than in-office peers:

🤔 Many stay online later than 5pm.
🤔 Many work across several time zones.
🤔 Many handle a higher workload than office peers.

And yet... a recent study of over 1000 workers found:
- Only 26% of remote workers experience burnout.
- Compared to the 41% of office workers who do.

Why can we work more but burnout less?

I'd love to say we were all bitten by the same radioactive spider or something, but no...

We're just significantly happier.
42% of remote workers rate their happiness 8+/10.
Compared to just 21% of office workers. 😱

Remote work requires tough-to-master skills:
• Self-accountability
• Digital tool proficiency  
• Strong time management
• Deep focus without supervision
• Effective written communication

But it also provides better working conditions:
↳ No commute time lost
↳ Reduced interruptions
↳ Better work-life integration
↳ Control over your environment
↳ Flexibility for life responsibilities

Remote work isn't actually easier.
I stay late at night and login on weekends, too.
But I'd rather have one intense month for 11 great ones.

The future of work isn't about where we work.

It's about creating conditions that support both productivity and wellbeing.

Do you work remotely, hybrid, or in-office?

♻️ Repost to spread the potential of remote work
🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for more remote work content

---

Source: Global Work-Life Survey (February 2025), IE Business School

Ashley Couto

I help women work from anywhere ⇢ Online business & remote work | Senior tech lead | Ft. ELLE & Forbes | 5’0” w/ 6’2” energy

Infographic titled "What people think remote work is" vs "What remote work actually is" with "REMOTE WORK" in large text at center. Left side shows misconceptions in pink, red, and orange circles: "Working in pyjamas," "Netflix & chill all day," "No meetings," "Easy work," "Just using a laptop anywhere," and "Flexible hours means any hours." Right side shows reality in green, blue, brown, and black circles: "Effective Communication," "Time Management & Discipline," "Asynchronous Collaboration," "Working late daily," "Digital Tool Proficiency," "Work-Life Boundaries," "Remote Team Building," "Cybersecurity Awareness," "Self-Motivation," "Deep Focus Work," "Continuous Learning," "Goal-Oriented Performance," "Regular Check-ins," "Virtual Networking," "Documentation & Clarity," and "Empathy & Trust." Dotted lines connect the misconceptions on the left to the actual requirements on the right, illustrating the gap between perception and reality of remote work demands.

Better habits, better results.

Here’s why it works.

Thanks to my friend Jen Blandos for lending me this graphic while I'm away. Follow her!

We don’t need better goals.
We need better habits - repeated consistently.

That’s what creates identity-level change:
You stop chasing outcomes.
You start becoming the person who earns them.

As James Clear said:
"You do not rise to the level of your goals.
You fall to the level of your systems."

Here’s what that looks like in action:
↳ Reading 10 pages daily = 12–18 books a year
↳ Saving $5 daily = $1,825 saved
↳ 10 minutes of meditation = 61 hours of clarity
↳ Learning 1 skill weekly = 52 new skills
↳ Meeting 1 new person weekly = 52 new connections
↳ Complimenting 1 person daily = 365 smiles
↳ Documenting 1 small win daily = a year of progress

Earlier this year, I (Ash) committed to just three:
↳ Complimenting others daily
↳ Meeting 1 new person a week
↳ Reading 10 pages every single day

I haven't been perfect, but I apply the Seinfeld rule and it works for me.

Sometimes I read 30 pages to catch up and get ahead. 

I specifically brought new book with me to keep up this habit.

Why?
Because big change doesn’t come from pressure.
It comes from structure, repetition, and self-trust.

⤵️ Is there one habit you keep wanting to start?

♻️ Repost this to help someone go from goals to habits.
🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for daily content to help you grow

I built a 6-fig biz w/out quitting my 9-5 & now I help women do it, too ✨ Online business coach ft. Business Insider & Forbes ✨ Scaling to $500k in 2026 ✨ 5’0” w/ 6’2” energy

Infographic titled "The Power of 1%" showing how small daily habits create big yearly results. Seven examples with teal icons: (1) Reading 10 pages daily equals 12-18 books per year. (2) Saving $5 daily equals $1,825 annually for a holiday, laptop, or rainy-day fund. (3) Meditating 10 minutes daily equals 61 hours yearly of mental clarity. (4) Learning 1 skill weekly equals 52 new skills per year. (5) Meeting 1 person weekly equals 52 new connections for your professional network. (6) Complimenting 1 person daily equals 365 smiles yearly, building stronger connections. (7) Writing down 1 small win daily creates a year of achievements and tracks your progress. Bottom text: "Follow for actionable daily insights on business, entrepreneurship, and workplace well-being" by jen blandos.

No one says "I wish I worked more" on their deathbed

Reclaim your time for what matters

Companies will always optimize for profit margins.
While they optimize for their bottom line...
You need to optimize for your lifetime.

I learned this the hard way.

For years, I chose work over my partner.
So the love of my life ended things with me.
And they were right to end things! 

They always came second to my career.

But making "all the money" means nothing if:
- You have no time to spend it.
- You have no one left to spend it with.

I quit that job within a few months. 

These are the new boundaries I put in place:

1/ Calendar block life FIRST
↳ Put in date nights, friend time, gym time

2/ Schedule hard stop commitments around 5pm
↳ Book your reservation for 5:30pm

3/ Put non-negotiables in the work calendar
↳ Make it visible so meetings don't creep in

4/ Stack focus hours before 3pm
↳ Late afternoons are for wrap-up only

5/ Create transition blocks
↳ 30 min morning & afternoon power up & close

6/ Set working hours in Slack/Teams
↳ No. work. apps. on. the. phone!

7/ Add buffer time everywhere
↳ 45 min meetings instead of 60

I hope they work for you, too.

We got back together shortly after & are disgustingly happy. :)

Work-life "balance" is a myth. 
But boundaries with work are possible.
Optimize for where you're irreplacable.

Which boundary can you put in place today?

♻️ Share to spread this important reminder
🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for daily intentional careers

I help women get hired & promoted to manager, director & VP | Career Coach | Senior tech lead | Ft. ELLE & Forbes | 5’0” w/ 6’2” energy

A sign that says you are replaceable at work, but you can't be replaced at home. remember that.

11 brutal truths nobody tells you about being a manager 

Leadership is filled with hidden challenges. 

People celebrate your promotion, but rarely mention:
- It's a completely different skillset
- The emotional weight hits differently
- You'll need to build your own support system

I had to learn these first hand (and I'm often reminded of these even now).

These are 11 truths nobody tells you about leading:

1/ Your soft skills matter more than technical skills now 
↳ People management trumps spreadsheet mastery. You'll spend 80% of your time on relationships and coaching conversations.

2/ Your workplace probably won't train you properly 
↳ You'll need to invest in yourself through courses and peer groups because most companies assume you'll figure it out alone.

3/ Some tough decisions will keep you up at night 
↳ Self-care becomes non-negotiable on hard days when you've had to fire someone or deliver bad news.

4/ Office politics get more complicated, not less 
↳ Watch for subtle threats to your position from peers who wanted your role or teams pushing your boundaries.

5/ You'll have to make unpopular decisions 
↳ Not everyone will like your leadership choices and you'll have to bear the brunt of that weight.

6/ You'll do less of the hands-on work you love 
↳ Your success comes through others now, so expect to miss coding, designing, or creating like you used to.

7/ You'll learn through failing more than succeeding 
↳ Mistakes are your best teachers and they will shape your leadership style forever.

8/ You need healthy boundaries with your team 
↳ You're their leader, not their friend now that you control their paycheck and performance reviews.

9/ Showing vulnerability is actually a strength 
↳ Admitting when you don't know something or sharing your own struggles builds trust faster than perfection.

10/ You will lose team members despite your best efforts 
↳ How you handle exits defines your culture, always choose to be gracious, even when it's tough.

11/ Creating a feedback culture is essential 
↳ You'll need to master delivering tough messages kindly and hearing criticism without getting defensive.

The best leaders aren't born knowing these truths. 
They learn them through experience and adaptation.

What's a leadership truth you found out after you got the job?

♻️ Repost to help a young leader thrive
🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for leadership & business growth

11 things nobody tells you about becoming a manager

Top performers want recognition, reward, & rest.

Instead, bosses often take them granted.

The best people are often "rewarded" by:
❌ Picking up everybody else's slack
❌ Unrealistic deadlines & expectations
❌ Never having a single moment's peace at work

A real top performer knows their worth and they don't settle for less.

The job market is fickle, but never for A players.

Grab my free resume guide to look for a company that values you: https://lnkd.in/eTWdKUrG

Here are 7 silent signals you're being taken for granted:

🚨 You're assigned work without being asked 
↳ Your capacity isn't considered and work isn't equitably distributed amongst the team.

🚨 Your achievements get minimal recognition 
↳ While others receive praise for less, you have to clear a perfect bar to get any sort of praise.

🚨 Your "no" is treated as a starting negotiation 
↳ It's not seen as a firm boundary to be respected by those in charge.

🚨 You handle emergencies that aren't yours 
↳ Because "you're so good at fixing things" that your boss comes to you regularly.

🚨 You're given responsibility without authority 
↳ You're expected to deliver without proper resources and are always micromanaged.

🚨 Your ideas need endless justification 
↳ You're constantly having to prove yourself and the value you provide while others coast along.

🚨 Your growth opportunities keep getting delayed 
↳ "We need you right where you are" is always getting in the way of a promotion or a raise.

Your value isn't determined by how much you can endure. 
You deserve a workplace that values your contributions.

Grab my free resume guide to look for a company that values you: https://lnkd.in/eTWdKUrG

What are some other red flags that the brass don't recognize someone's value? 👇👇👇👇

♻️ Repost to help someone make a change 
🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for daily career advice
🌶️ Get my FREE newsletter: https://lnkd.in/edXbNwdb

Signs you're taken for granted at work

8 sneaky ways you're blocking your career growth

Most people don't fail from lack of effort.

They fail from self-sabotaging patterns they can't see.
Sometimes, you can be your own worst enemy.

These habits can stall your trajectory without you noticing.

Here are 8 self-sabotaging behaviors that silently limit your career:
1/ Self-doubt
It keeps you from raising your hand for roles you’re already qualified for.

2/ Fear of judgment
You stay quiet in rooms where your ideas should lead.

3/ Perfectionism
By the time you “feel ready,” someone else has already moved forward.

4/ Comparison
You measure yourself against people playing a completely different game.

5/ Scarcity thinking
You cling to roles, managers or environments you’ve long outgrown.

6/ Need for control
You avoid stretch roles because you don’t want to risk being new at something.

7/ External validation
Each time you rely on it, you dim your own professional authority.

8/ Comfort zone
It feels safe, even when it’s costing you growth, money & confidence.

I used to struggle with these, until I realized these behaviors were keeping me small and stopping me from getting what I wanted in work & life.

Awareness breaks self-sabotage. 
You can’t grow a career you’re scared to claim.

Which of these has shown up in your work life?

♻️ Repost to help someone level up their career

🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for daily insights on intentional career growth, remote work clarity & rebuilding your confidence after burnout.

How top performers self-sabotage career growth

You pitch a brilliant idea to your manager. 

They nod, smile, then ignore it & move on.

Two weeks later, someone else pitches the same idea...

And your manager acts like it's the best thing since sliced bread.

That used to be my life 😤
Frustrated. Overlooked. Invisible.

I had to learn to speak and think like a leader.
To care about what they cared about.
It changed the trajectory of my career.

A mentor shared this framework and I use it to this day:
(Get the framework in your inbox: https://lnkd.in/e-7wYb9W)

1/ Start with the business impact 
↳ Lead with dollars saved, time reduced, or risk avoided instead of explaining the process.

2/ Connect to their current pain points 
↳ Show exactly how you solve the headaches that are top of mind for them.

3/ Bring data that tells a story 
↳ Numbers without context get ignored so show trends and comparisons that matter.

4/ Anticipate the top 3 objections 
↳ Address their biggest concerns before they ask to show you've thought this through

5/ Parrot their words back to them 
↳ Mirror their exact priorities and language so they hear themselves in your idea.

6/ Keep your pitch brief & outcomes focused
↳ Respect their time to earn their attention and they'll ask if they want more details.

7/ Show what happens if you do nothing 
↳ Make other options feel riskier than action by painting the cost of inaction.

8/ End with one clear next step 
↳ Make saying yes super easy by asking for one specific thing to get started.

Optional, but I highly recommend if you have time:

1/ Create a simple visual 
↳ One clear slide beats ten confusing ones and makes your idea impossible to misunderstand.

2/ Test your idea with their trusted ally first 
↳ Get internal support before the meeting so you walk in with backup already secured.

Even the best ideas need the right delivery. 
Speak on a leader's terms and you'll be their go-to.

Have you ever had an idea ignored?

📌 Get the framework in your inbox: https://lnkd.in/e-7wYb9W

♻️ Repost to help someone speak like a leader
🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for daily content to grow an intentional remote lifestyle

8 steps to speak like a leader

LinkedIn moved to an LLM algorithm this year.

Nobody's talking about its impact on job seekers.

(Until now)

This is your ultimate guide to getting a new job updated for the new algo.

Get the hi-res PDF here: https://lnkd.in/eSX-4fGa

The LLAMA algorithm can: 
✔️ Understand your experience on a deep level 
✔️ Recommend your content to the right people 
✔️ Boost the visibility of new & returning job seekers 
✔️ Put your content in front of recruiters & managers 
✔️ Use your past engagement to find you new job posts

But only if you give the algo the juice to understand you 🧃

OPTIMIZE YOUR PROFILE: 
1️⃣ Headline 
⇢ Pack it with contextual semantic keywords
2️⃣ About section 
⇢ Tell a compelling story about your expertise
3️⃣ Skills section 
⇢ Fill them as the algorithm tokenizes them
4️⃣ Experience section 
⇢ Expertise through results boosts you
5️⃣ Industry selection 
⇢ Needed for content matching logic

ENGAGEMENT SHOWS LI WHAT YOU WANT:
1️⃣ You have to engage on stuff you want more of 
⇢ Only positive interactions train the algo
2️⃣ Comment early & often on posts you like 
⇢ They're HQ "professional interactions" 
3️⃣ Repost content and share your thoughts 
⇢ Reposts signal stronger interest than likes 
4️⃣ Stop engaging on random 💩 in your feed 
⇢ Your full engagement history builds your embedding
5️⃣ Do not over-add connections or spray & pray 
⇢ The algo values engagement depth over size

POST THE RIGHT KIND OF CONTENT:
1️⃣ Educational content is key on LinkedIn 
⇢ Teaching posts get prioritized
2️⃣ Make your personal experience universal 
⇢ Gives you an engagement boost
3️⃣ Focus on the "how" & not just the "why" & "what" 
⇢ Even most creators miss this
4️⃣ Experiment with different media formats 
⇢ Carousels & infographics get good traction
5️⃣ Take advantage of the algo's love of "bridge content" 
⇢ Context that connects two topics
6️⃣ Breakdowns of company methods & results
⇢ Creates semantic alignment with recruiter searches

WHO TO CONNECT WITH FOR VISIBILITY:
1️⃣ Recruiters in your target industry 
2️⃣ Hiring managers at companies you want to work for 
3️⃣ Industry leaders and influencers for broader reach 
4️⃣ Peers in similar roles for engagement opportunities 
5️⃣ Focus on quality over quantity of connections

WRITING EFFECTIVE COMMENTS:
💬 Go beyond "great post" with substantive additions 
📝 Add value with new perspectives or examples 
❓ Ask insightful questions to spark discussion 
🏷️ Tag relevant experts selectively 
✨ Aim for quality over quantity 
💡 Comments are content to the algorithm 
🧲 Comments are effective algorithm magnets

Get the hi-res PDF here: https://lnkd.in/eSX-4fGa

Learning how to use the platform well is a secret unlock competitive job seekers use.

Which strategy are you going to focus on first?

♻️ Repost this to help job seekers master the algo
🔔 Follow Ashley Couto for more career strategies that actually work

(Source: LinkedIn engineering - linked in comments)

Infographic titled "How to master LinkedIn's new algorithm as a job seeker" with a llama icon. The image explains LinkedIn's new LLM-based algorithm changes and their impact on job seekers. Main sections include: What the algorithm does (understanding experience, recommending content, boosting visibility for new job seekers), Profile optimization tips (headline, about, skills, experience, industry sections), Engagement strategies (engaging with relevant content, commenting early, reposting with thoughts, avoiding random content), Content creation advice (educational content, making personal experience universal, focusing on "how-to", experimenting with media formats, creating bridge content), Who to connect with (recruiters, hiring managers, industry leaders, peers), How to write effective comments (going beyond generic responses, adding value, asking questions), and The power of bridge content (connecting two topics, writing nuanced posts, showing analytical ability). 

"If your job is so toxic, you should just leave."

It's not that easy. It certainly wasn't for me.

This is the toxic job escape map I wish I'd had.
When I was in a toxic job, I could barely think.
Let alone figure out how to get out.

Toxic jobs don't make it easy for you to leave:
❌ You're fooled into thinking you'll be unhireable
❌ Emotional manipulation shatters your confidence
❌ Cultish co-workers make you believe "this is normal"

Leaving a toxic job takes courage.

But a toxic job isn't just stealing your time.
It's also stealing your future.

The worst part?

The company that's wrecked you would replace you in 0.2 seconds if it was better for their bottom line.

There's a strategic way out. Here are the practical steps:

1/ Assess your situation
↳ You can't fix what you don't acknowledge.

2/ Define your ideal culture
↳ You need to know what you're moving toward, not just what you're running from.

3/ Build your financial cushion
↳ Financial security gives you the power to walk away.

4/ Explore what's next
↳ Research opens doors you didn't know existed.

5/ Skill up & rebrand
↳ Bridge the gap between who you are now & who you need to become.

6/ Network strategically
↳ Opportunities come through people before job boards.

7/ Start applying quietly
↳ Don't accidentally talk to people who will snitch.

8/ Change your behavior
↳ Stop over-functioning in a place that doesn't value you.

9/ Ask the right questions
↳ Protect yourself from landing in another toxic environment.

Companies optimize for profit margins, not your mental health.

While they focus on their bottom line, you need to focus on your lifetime.

Because every day you stay is another day stolen from the life you're meant to live.

If you've escaped a toxic job, what's one messed up thing you experienced that seemed tooooootally normal at the time? 👇

♻️ Repost to help someone choose themselves
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Infographic titled "How to escape your toxic 9-5" with 9 colored sections arranged around an illustration of a person relaxing under a palm tree on a golden cube. Sections include: Assess your situation (identify toxic elements, track emotional impact, document everything, decide if fixable); Define your ideal culture (list what you need, values alignment, supportive leadership, growth opportunities); Explore what's next (research industries, talk to professionals, identify dream roles, consider freelancing or entrepreneurship); Build your financial cushion (save 3-6 months expenses, reduce debt, create emergency fund, start side hustle); Network strategically (attend industry events, connect on LinkedIn, seek mentorship, inform trusted circle); Start applying quietly (apply during non-work time, use personal devices, be discreet, prepare for interviews); Skill up & rebrand (get certifications, update LinkedIn and resume, build portfolio, find transferable skills); Change your behavior

Most people think rest just means sleeping more. 

But your body & mind need different kinds of breaks.

True recovery requires:
⇢ More than just physical downtime
⇢ Targeted rest for specific fatigue
⇢ Intentional breaks throughout your day

I learned this the hard way & ended up burned out.

Now, I set firm boundaries around my rest.

Thanks to my therapist for introducing me to the work of Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith.

Here are 7 types of rest that will actually recharge you:

1/ Physical rest 
↳ Not just sleep, but stretching & gentle movement, too

2/ Mental rest 
↳ Stop the mental chatter & racing thoughts

3/ Sensory rest 
↳ Detox from the constant dopamine of notifications

4/ Creative rest 
↳ Refill your creative well with hobbies & nature

5/ Emotional rest 
↳ Stop people-pleasing and say how you really feel

6/ Social rest 
↳ Some relationships drain you, others fill you up

7/ Spiritual rest 
↳ Find meaning beyond your to-do list

The right kind of rest is strategic, not lazy. 
It's the foundation of your performance & wellbeing.

Which type of rest will you work on today?

♻️ Repost to help someone get rest
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7 types of rest: Mental, sensory, emotional, creative, spiritual, social, physical

My team & I compiled a list of 5000+ remote companies

Comment REMOTE, I'll send it to you for free.

I'm not falling for propaganda that remote work is dying.

2025 has been a year of changes in how we work,
And it's more difficult to get a job (period) right now.

But it's possible to get a remote job still.

I've helped over 300 people land remote or hybrid roles.
Interview prep, rewriting CVs, helping with positioning.

Developing this list has been a multi-year project.

And now, I want to share it with you for free.

Plenty of career coaches gatekeep or charge an arm and a leg for this.

But I want to give you the best shot at success.
Especially women who've been hit hard by RTO.
Government workers who've been laid off.

Too many people need this list right now.

So, here it is... 
Over 5,000 companies that offer remote opportunities.

Inside, you'll find:

✅ Websites
✅ Company names
✅ Estimated revenue
✅ Industry or category
✅ Estimated headcount
✅ Geographic area of hiring

And there are plenty of global remote companies 🌎
(I happen to work for one of them)

I've been remote for 10 years.
It is life-changing and freedom giving.
And it is available to everyone.

Remote work will keep on changing.
But there are more opportunities than you think.

Comment REMOTE, and I'll send you the link to the document.

♻️ Repost to help your network land a remote job
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Working harder isn't going to get you promoted faster.

Communicating clearly like a leader will.

Your manager sees management potential in people who communicate differently.

You don't have to sound like a corporate android.
But you do need to show you can think & speak like a leader.

The people who get tapped for management communicate clearly and with impact. 

These 10 frameworks show you're ready to lead:

1️⃣ BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) 
⇢ Start with your conclusion, then provide supporting details
⇢ Shows you value everyone's time (managers notice this)

2️⃣ The Pyramid Principle 
⇢ Lead with the answer, then layer supporting arguments underneath
⇢ Proves you can think strategically, not just execute tasks

3️⃣ RAPID Decision Framework 
⇢ Assigns clear roles: who Recommends, Agrees, Performs, has Input, and Decides
⇢ Shows you understand how to move projects forward (not just participate)

4️⃣ PREP Method 
⇢ Point, Reason, Example, Point – structure that drives persuasion
⇢ Makes you sound confident in meetings where it matters

5️⃣ The Rule of Three 
⇢ Group information into three memorable chunks
⇢ Makes your updates memorable (people repeat what you say)

6️⃣ Amazon's 6-Page Memo 
⇢ Replace slide decks with narrative documents read silently in meetings
⇢ Demonstrates you can articulate complex ideas in writing

7️⃣ Executive Summary First 
⇢ Give busy leaders everything they need in the first paragraph
⇢ Shows you understand what senior leaders actually need

8️⃣ The One-Page Rule 
⇢ Condense proposals, updates, and recommendations to one page
⇢ Signals you can separate signal from noise

9️⃣ SCQA Framework 
⇢ Situation, Complication, Question, Answer – storytelling that engages
⇢ Transforms you from reporter to storyteller (leaders tell stories)

🔟 Data-Decision Bridge 
⇢ Connect every data point directly to a recommended action
⇢ Proves you don't just analyze problems, you solve them

Communication is a skill you can always get better at.
I still work on getting my point across clearly.
Like all people, sometimes I fail at it.

But a little improvement each day will make you management ready 

Which one can you implement in your next meeting or 1:1?

♻️ Repost to help someone be management material
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 Infographic showing 10 Leadership Communication Frameworks arranged in colorful boxes around a central brain icon labeled "Communication Mastery Core." Frameworks include: BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) for instant clarity, The Pyramid Principle for structured thinking, RAPID Decision Framework for clarifying roles, PREP Method for persuasion, The Rule of Three for memory retention, Amazon's 6-Page Memo for replacing PowerPoints, Executive Summary First for 30-second decisions, The One-Page Rule for maximum impact with minimum time, SCQA Framework for building narrative tension, and Data-Decision Bridge for turning metrics into mandates. Each framework includes its purpose and pro tips for implementation. Connected by flowing purple, orange, and green lines.

Entrepreneurs don't fail from lack of effort.

They fail because they focus on the wrong stuff.

They're working 60 hour weeks going nowhere.

90% of the battle of entrepreneurship is making the right call about where you're placing your time.

Here's what actually separates the top 1%:
⇢ They protect their time ruthlessly
⇢ They decide fast and course correct faster
⇢ They ship before they're ready

Here are 9 moves that will put you ahead of 99% in 2026:

1/ Say no to 90% of opportunities 
↳ Your "yes" only matters when you can say no to everything else that distracts you.

2/ Make decisions at 70% certainty 
↳ Waiting for perfect information kills your momentum and hands competitors the win.

3/ Ship MVPs before you're comfortable 
↳ Real customer feedback always beats your "perfect" theoretical plan.

4/ Stack 3-4 complementary skills 
↳ Being great at multiple things creates more value than mastering just one skill.

5/ Build systems that run without you 
↳ Your business should keep working and making money even when you're not there.

6/ Price on transformation, not time 
↳ Charge for the outcome and value you create instead of counting your hours worked.

7/ Create predictable monthly revenue 
↳ Recurring income from retainers or subscriptions changes everything about growth.

8/ Optimize what you have before adding more 
↳ Going from 2% to 4% conversion is way easier than finding 100 new people.

9/ Sell the result, not the process 
↳ People buy the transformation they want, not your complicated method to get there.

The businesses that scale don't do more. 
They do less, faster, and better.

What's one thing you're saying no to in 2026? Tell me below.

I'm saying no to meetings & work that could be done async.

♻️ Repost this to help founders focus on the right things
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Brand messaging that makes sales automagic™ ✨🔮 | Copywriting + Brand + Media + Sales | Award-winning writer & journalist ✍️ ELLE, National Geographic | 5’0” w/ 6’2” energy

How to get ahead of 99% of entrepreneurs in 2026

Buying from a friend's small business is great.
But it's just one of MANY ways to support them.
Especially on Black Friday into Cyber Monday.

Starting your own business is a brave act.
Most people don't have large VC's backing them.
They rely on duct tape, prayer, and a dream.

Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs don't get support from friends and family.

In fact, they're often their biggest doubters.
But it doesn't have to be that way.

Tariffs and layoffs have hit many hard this year.
You might not have the change laying around to buy.
But that doesn't mean you can't support your friend.

Here are 9 ways to support your friend's business:

1/ Buy from them 
↳ Purchase their products or services 
↳ Buy gift cards for future use 
↳ Pre-order upcoming items

2/ Spread the word 
↳ Share their posts on social media 
↳ Mention them to your friends and family 
↳ Recommend them in relevant groups

3/ Leave reviews 
↳ Write a positive review on Google or Yelp 
↳ Rate them highly on their website 
↳ Endorse them on relevant networks

4/ Engage with their content 
↳ Like, comment, and save their posts 
↳ React to their stories 
↳ Share their posts to your story with a link

5/ Make introductions 
↳ Connect them with potential clients or partners 
↳ Introduce them to people who might be interested 
↳ Mention their business to decision-makers you know

6/ Be their sounding board 
↳ Listen to their business challenges 
↳ Offer encouragement and support 
↳ Be a safe space to discuss ideas or vent

7/ Give them feedback 
↳ Provide constructive feedback on products/services 
↳ Suggest improvements for their website 
↳ Share insights about the market

8/ Help hands-on 
↳ Offer your skills for free (e.g., photography, design) 
↳ Help them with packaging or shipping 
↳ Assist with customer service queries

9/ Celebrate their success 
↳ Congratulate them publicly on wins 
↳ Attend their events or launch parties 
↳ Cheer them on during busy periods

It costs nothing to be kind to people, especially an entrepreneur who's trying to make their dreams a reality.

Tag a friend or family's small business below. I'll be shopping small this BFCM and I hope you will, too.

♻️ Repost if you support small businesses 
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Infographic titled "9 ways to support your friend's business" with subtitle "Small actions make a big difference." Nine numbered tips in colored boxes: 1) Buy from them (purchase products, buy gift cards, pre-order items), 2) Spread the word (share posts, mention to friends and family, recommend in groups), 3) Leave reviews (write positive reviews, rate highly, endorse on professional networks), 4) Engage with their content (like and comment on posts, react to stories, share posts), 5) Make introductions (connect them with potential clients or partners, introduce to interested people), 6) Be their sounding board (listen to challenges, offer support, be a safe space), 7) Give them feedback (provide constructive feedback, suggest improvements, share market insights), 8) Help hands-on (offer free skills like photography or design, help with packaging or shipping, assist with customer service), 9) Celebrate their success (congratulate publicly, attend events, cheer them during busy times).

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Ashley Couto, MA

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