You're a high performer, working hard, pushing through. 

You're expected to lead teams, hit ambitious quarterly targets, and make high-impact decisions. 

All while trying to:

• Have a life and be present for your family
• Eat healthy between back-to-back meetings
• Keep your energy up without reaching for another coffee
• Sleep well with racing thoughts about tomorrow’s pitch
• Maintain relationships despite rescheduling dinner plans

But your energy is depleting faster than your to-do list.

In 2019, I was you - the typical corporate high-achiever. Leading global change initiatives. Always "on." Ignoring every signal my body sent. The perfect professional on the outside, exhausted on the inside.

My wake-up call wasn't gentle - it forced me to rethink everything. But I never imagined that burnout would lead to my biggest breakthrough.

And that breakthrough sparked a mission. I founded Rising Yellow with one belief: We all deserve more energy, and every day is a new opportunity to make better decisions for our health.

Here’s how I turned it around:

• Took full ownership of my health journey
• Stopped trying to fix everything at once
• Turned every setback into an experiment
• Studied functional medicine and behavior science

Now, I guide professionals to do the same and reclaim their energy and integrate healthier habits into their demanding lives. I leverage my 15+ years of corporate experience and expertise in functional medicine and coaching to co-create practical, personalized solutions. 

Most people know what they “should” do. But the real challenge is closing the gap between your "intentions" and "actions".

Interested?

📌3 Ways to Work Together:

1. 1:1 Coaching Program 
   • 5 focused sessions
   • Personalized health goals
   • Sustainable habit building

2. Group Coaching Program - The Energy Shift
   • Deep dive into 5 lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, sleep, relationships, rest, and more) over six weeks
   • Weekly actionable strategies
   • Community support

3. Corporate Inquiries
   • Project work
   • Brand partnerships 
   • Training/Keynotes/Team Workshops

🎁 Free Resources
   • The Energy Shift Newsletter 
   • The Peak Energy Guide 
   • LinkedIn content

✨ Remember: we’re not here just to get through the day - life feels better when you have the energy to enjoy it.

Ready to collaborate? Let’s connect and build a plan that works for you. I’m one DM away. 💛

More info is available here:

https://risingyellow.com/

Gözde İmamoğlu

We're all dopamine addicts. 

The question is what kind.

Fast dopamine is easy. Scroll, click, swipe. The hit is instant. The crash is guaranteed. And five minutes later, you're back for more.

Slow dopamine is different. It’s the reward you feel after finishing a long book. 

The pride in cooking a meal from scratch. The glow from a real conversation. It asks more of you, but the reward actually lasts.

Thank you to my friend Colby Kultgen for this reflection. Make sure to follow him. 

Here’s the problem:
Most of us are so hooked on fast dopamine that slow dopamine barely registers anymore. 

Silence feels uncomfortable. 
Boredom feels painful.

If something isn’t instantly stimulating, we bail.

The solution isn’t to try and go cold turkey.
It's to slowly change where you’re sourcing your dopamine from.

This week, pick one fast dopamine habit and replace it with something from this list. 

Just one swap. 

Instead of scrolling before bed, read a chapter. 
Instead of background noise on your walk, try silence. Instead of takeout, cook one meal.

Your brain will resist. It'll tell you this is boring, that you need your phone, that you should quit. That's not failure. That's withdrawal.

Stay with it anyway.

Then next week, replace another one. And another. 

You're not trying to be perfect. You're trying to retrain your system to recognize what satisfaction actually feels like.

The shift happens slowly. But it does happen.

🔄 Repost if it resonates.

Gözde Imamoglu

Follow me for career, well-being, and personal growth strategies | 15+ years driving change for people & workplaces | Get the energy to match your success | Board-certified functional medicine health coach

I used to think leading meant directing everything.

Turns out, people thrive when you let them own it.

In the past I’d give detailed instructions, check in constantly, and make sure everything was done “the right way.”

It drained me - and everyone around me. 

Then someone on my team took a work package I’d been overthinking and delivered something far better than what I had in mind.

All I did was give them the goal and step back.
That’s when I realized when someone owns the outcome they start thinking differently. 

They care. They go extra mile.

Here’s how I build trust that creates ownership:

1/ Start with the why, not the how
↳ Explain the goal and why it matters. Skip the step-by-step instructions.

2/ Set clear expectations upfront
↳ Define what success looks like. Be specific about deliverables and deadlines.

3/ Give resources, not directions
↳ Ask "What do you need to succeed?" instead of "Here's exactly what to do."

4/ Step back and resist the urge to jump in
↳ Let them figure it out. Challenges build ownership.

5/ Celebrate the outcome, not the method
↳ If they hit the goal their way, that's a win. Period.

The less I control the how, the better the results become. People exceeded expectations I didn’t know I had.

Leadership isn’t about control.

It’s about empowerment. 

P.S. Does your leadership give people energy? (Be honest 👀 )

🔄 Repost if you believe in trust-based leadership.
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more on leadership, growth, and high-energy teams.

“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”

We often try to earn self-worth.

More hours; more certifications. 
More, more, more, more. 

Thank you to my friend Dr. Heather Maietta for this reflection. Make sure to follow her. 

A title change might make us feel good in the moment.

But it doesn’t erase feelings of low self-worth. 

Choosing to see yourself as credible before the world fully does.

That’s self-love. 💛 

Self-love shows up in high-impact moves like:

➠ Not minimizing your wins
➠ Replacing “I got lucky” with “I earned this”
➠ Owning your ideas
➠ Negotiating from a place of self-respect

I make it sound simple.
But it’s not.

Practicing this type of advocacy creates a different relationship with yourself.

One that lets you become the person you’ve been working so hard to be.

Give yourself a big hug. 🫶 
You deserve it!

🔄 Send this to your network if you agree! 
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more on leadership, growth, and high-energy teams.
 
Quote: Brené Brown

How to stay calm when pressure hits.

Use these 9 phrases👇 

When deadlines hit and stakeholders push for answers, most of us flip into panic mode.

 ↳ We react too fast.
 ↳ We agree too quickly.
 ↳ We let emotion take control.

The real difference between thriving and surviving at work?

The ability to pause before you respond.

Here are 9 phrases that help you stay in control during high-stress moments:

1️⃣ “Give me a second to think this through.”
 ↳ Take three slow breaths to reset your focus.

2️⃣ “I want to make sure I get this right.”
 ↳ Plant both feet on the ground to steady your nervous system.

3️⃣ “Help me understand what’s most important.”
 ↳ Lean in slightly to stay engaged while you process.

4️⃣ “I can sense this feels urgent, what’s the real deadline?”
 ↳ Notice where tension shows up in your body.

5️⃣ “Let’s zoom out for a minute.”
 ↳ Picture the conversation from a distance to reduce emotional load.

6️⃣ “I need a moment to wrap my head around this.”
 ↳ Count to five before replying.

7️⃣ “What does a good outcome look like for you?”
 ↳ Visualize the desired result to shift into problem-solving mode.

8️⃣ “Let me repeat what I’m hearing to make sure I’ve got it.”
 ↳ Paraphrasing buys time and creates clarity.

9️⃣ “What are our options here?”
 ↳ Drop your shoulders and unclench your jaw.

You get to choose how you show up - especially under pressure.

P.S. Which phrase will you try this week?

🔄 Repost to help someone handle pressure better.
💛 Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more on protecting your energy and mental space.

Perspective is your hidden power.
99% of people never use it.

During the hardest year of my life, 
I thought everything was falling apart.

Years later, I realized
everything was falling into place.
I just couldn't see it yet.

Perspective isn't about being positive.
It's about being precise.

Thank you to Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey for this inspiring reflection. Follow her. 

Watch what happens when you shift your lens:

1. Obstacles become opportunities
Every closed door teaches you to build your own.

2. Struggles become strength
The weight that nearly breaks you builds muscles you didn't know you had.

3. Setbacks become stepping stones
Each failure shows you what doesn't work.

4. Rejection becomes resilience
Every "no" redirects you. It’s protection in disguise.

5. Shadows reveal hidden truth
Your shadows hold your compass. Pay attention.

6. Mistakes become masterclasses
Your biggest errors become your greatest teachings.

7. Fears become fuel for courage
What scares you most shows you where to grow.

8. Pain becomes purpose
Your deepest wounds can be the most valuable gifts.

After decades of working with leaders around the world, I've learned:

The hardest season prepares you for your highest calling.

This isn't wishful thinking.
It’s strategic thinking.

Nothing is happening to you.
Everything is happening for you.

You just need the right lens.

Your current struggle isn’t your story's end.
It's your story's turning point.

Choose your lens wisely.
Your future depends on it.

Share this with someone who needs it.

🔄 Repot if you found this valuable.
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more insights.

You can optimize 100% of your calendar...
and still run on 0% energy.

You know that feeling when you worked all day…and still don’t feel accomplished?

That’s not a time problem.
That’s an energy problem.

Here are five practical ways to manage and protect your energy this week:

1️⃣ Map your energy peaks
Track when you feel most focused, creative, or drained for 3 days. Then schedule tasks accordingly: deep work during peaks, admin during dips.

2️⃣ Build in micro-recovery
Between meetings or tasks, take 5 minutes to step away. Walk, breathe, stretch. Small resets prevent big crashes.

3️⃣ Audit your energy drains
What tasks, people, or habits leave you depleted? Eliminate, delegate, or batch them when your energy is higher.

4️⃣ Protect your morning momentum
Don't start your day reacting (emails, Slack, social media). Start with intention. One meaningful task before the chaos begins.

5️⃣ End your day deliberately
Close loops. Write down tomorrow's top 3 priorities. Your brain needs permission to stop. Give it that signal.

When you manage energy instead of time, you don't just get more done. You feel better doing it.

P.S. This builds on my circadian rhythm framework. If you haven't grabbed my free guide, it breaks down exactly when to do what for maximum energy → https://lnkd.in/dSyrer5Z

🔄 Repost this if you're done with burnout productivity.
➕ Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more on energy, performance, and working smarter.

5 Practical Steps To Protect Your Energy All Week

I made the most intentional gift list. 🎁

Because every year, I feel the same stress.

I promise myself I’ll keep it simple - but somehow I still end up scrolling, comparing, and thinking, “Will they even like this?”

And when I first experienced Christmas gift madness in Germany, I was honestly shocked.

As someone who loves giving gifts in unexpected moments, the December chaos felt… a lot.

Of course, I did what everyone else did.

But by the end of it, all my energy was gone - not because I didn’t care, but because I was trying so hard to find something that actually meant something.

So this year, I changed my approach.

I made a list of 25 intentional well-being gifts - for every personality, every budget, and every kind of love language.

Here are the categories 👇

💛 Health & Wellness
🌿 Growth & Learning
🌙 Sleep & Relaxation
🏡 Home & Environment
🎹 Connection & Experiences

Gifts like these say:

“I care about how you feel. I want you to have more energy, more peace, and more joy.”

This weekend, think of someone you love.
 
Ask yourself:
“What would bring more energy, joy, or calm into their daily life?”
 
Start there.

I shared the full 25-item list in my newsletter - and why each one supports energy and well-being.

If you want all the details, here’s the link to read it: https://lnkd.in/dJ4AvFfv

🔄 Repost for others.
💛 Follow Gözde Imamoglu for more.

Empowering female Directors to become successful VPs with my 7-step Passport to Promotion Framework | 10/12 women aiming for the VP role landed it in under 365 days, my about section shows you how to become the next.

👋 Hi, I’m Jill Avey, Founder of SisterSmart® . And I'm a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Ivy League MBA graduate... and Leadership Mentor for ambitious women navigating the path to the C-suite.

I help high-achieving women break through the “Stuck VP” phase... and elegantly step into executive roles with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.

💡 Tell me if this sounds familiar:

You’re an accomplished VP or Director with years of hard-won results. But, despite your dedication... you still feel like you’re not being taken seriously.

You’re leading teams, handling high-visibility projects, and solving complex problems. Yet, vague feedback like “be more strategic” or “you need more executive presence” leaves you wondering what more you need to do.

You’re juggling critical responsibilities at work while balancing personal life... and the pressure feels relentless.

You know you’re capable of more. But, the self-doubt creeps in when stakes are high... and it feels like you’re constantly having to prove yourself.

If that sounds like you, know this: 

You’re not broken. You’re just in a system that wasn’t designed for women leaders.

That’s where I come in.

My Signature 7-Step Passport to Promotion™ Framework: 

I combine neuroscience-based leadership strategies with real-world experience to help you move from stuck to unstoppable. 

The 7 Steps:

1. Self-Leadership: Build resilience and confidence
2. Brain-Based Communication: Develop your executive presence and influence 
3. Intentional Career Planning: Create a strategic plan for your career 
4. Confidence Without Burnout: Learn how to advocate for yourself 
5. Authentic Leadership: Lead in a way that’s true to you
6. Mindset Mastery: Break free from imposter syndrome and self-doubt
7. Support Network: Connect with a community of like-minded women

Real Results:

Over 180 clients have secured VP and C-suite roles in healthcare, tech, and finance—often within just months of completing the program.

They report feeling more confident, visible, and valued—and see real results in compensation, influence, and career satisfaction.

🏆 Why Work With Me? I’ve actually been in your shoes. 

After 25 years as a corporate executive, I know what it’s like to navigate high-stakes leadership while balancing personal ambitions and professional expectations. My approach is research-backed, heart-led, and rooted in real experience.

I believe you deserve a leadership journey that’s both successful and sustainable. And I’m here to help you build it.

📩 Send me a DM: Let’s build your path to the C-suite together.

Jill Avey

Stop chasing a job. Start pursuing yourself. 

7 Reflections to find clarity in your career. 
 
If you’re feeling lost, pause and reflect. 

** This post is from my friend Rachel Park. Give her a follow for career advancement without sacrificing wellbeing. 
 
The problem might not be the job. 
It could be that you’ve lost sight of yourself. 
 
We often focus on titles or promotions. 

But we forget to ask the real question: 
What do I really want? 

Here are 7 things to reflect on to reconnect with your career goals:
 
➊ Find What Fulfils You 
 ⇢ Reflect on when work excites and energizes you. 
 ⇢ Focus on your strengths and passions. 
 
➋ Disconnect from Expectations 
 ⇢ Are you following your own path or others’? 
 ⇢ Ask yourself what you’d do without judgment. 
 
➌ Take Small, Unconventional Steps 
 ⇢ Experiment with new projects and side hobbies. 
 ⇢ Clarity comes through taking small, bold actions. 
 
➍ Redefine Success 
 ⇢ Define success based on what matters to you. 
 ⇢ Pursue what aligns with your values and goals. 
 
➎ Give Yourself Permission to Change
 ⇢ Careers are not linear; it’s okay to pivot. 
 ⇢ Shifting paths doesn’t mean you’ve failed. 
 
❻ Reconnect with Your Values 
 ⇢ Identify your core values and past alignment. 
 ⇢ Use values as a compass for career decisions. 
 
❼ Seek Advice but Trust Yourself 
 ⇢ Get guidance, but trust your gut first. 
 ⇢ Ultimately, only you know what’s right for you. 

If you’re a woman director debating whether to chase the next internal promotion, jump companies, or quit the field entirely, it could be a good time to reach out to a professional for guidance on how to get clear on your next steps. 

I see so many people throwing in the towel altogether when the solution can be one simple pivot. 

𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲:
💬 Send me a DM with “journal prompts” for a list of prompts that you can use to explore each point here. 

Quote Credit: @elevated.states

♻️ Repost to help others in your network
Follow me, Jill Avey for more leadership insights

Helping High-Achieving Women Get Seen, Heard, and Promoted | Proven Strategies to Stop Feeling Invisible at the Leadership Table 💎 Fortune 100 Coach | ICF PCC-Level Women's Leadership Coach

How to earn respect in every room (fast)

8 habits that make people trust your leadership in seconds

Looking polished is about more than a fancy title; it’s about showing up with intention when it matters most.

Many capable professionals chip away at their authority through unnoticed habits.

That’s why this topic is central in our leadership coaching: it shapes every interaction.

(Ready to move up? Take the VP Readiness Quiz: https://lnkd.in/gtMw9CzG)

When my clients use these 8 habits, they build trust from the start:

➊ Know your numbers
» Few things signal “not ready to lead” like making it up on the fly.

➋ Sharpen your language
» Each filler word subtly undercuts your presence.

➌ Command your space
» Your body language makes the first impression.

➍ Start with structure
» A clear flow earns instant confidence.

➎ Polish like it’s for the CEO
» Sloppy details quietly erode credibility.

➏ Guard time like money
» Going over time isn’t thorough — it’s inconsiderate.

➐ Respond with calm, not speed
» Staying composed always beats reacting fast.

➑ Make it personal
» Use names. Hold eye contact. Build connection.

Professionalism isn’t perfection.

It’s consistent, deliberate habits that build trust.

Choose one to practice this week — that’s how respect grows.

If you feel ready to move up, take the VP Readiness Quiz to find out where you stand: https://lnkd.in/gtMw9CzG

♻️ Repost to help others in your network
Follow me, Jill Avey for more leadership insights

No one teaches this in leadership programs

You show up prepared.
You deliver results.
And somehow you still hear: 
“too aggressive”
“not strategic enough”

The research is clear: women leaders face a no-win scenario. 

When I was sure of myself, I was ‘aggressive’. 
When I focused on our mission, I was ‘cold’. 
When I laughed and smiled, I was ‘not serious enough’. 

This is the double bind.

Here's the truth nobody says out loud:
You can be brilliant and still get dinged for your delivery.
You can drive results and still hear you're not strategic enough.
You can advocate for your team and get called emotional.
And none of it is about your competence.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄:
You don't need to shrink. 
You don't need to soften. 
You don't need to become someone else.

You need tactical moves that let you show up fully without paying the likability tax.

𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴:

🔸 Lead with strength and warmth.
Open with your decision, then invite perspective: “What am I missing?”
It’s strategic, not playing small. 

🔸 Use clear, direct language.
“Given A and B, I’m choosing C. 
What risks do you see?”
No apologies. No hedging. Just clarity.

🔸 Stay authentic while reading the room.
Your values stay constant.
Your delivery adapts.
That’s not compromise, it’s leadership.

🔸 Tell stories that show the whole picture.
The win and the team behind it. 
Both matter.

🔸 Build your circle.
A mentor. A sponsor. 
A peer group who gets it.
You don’t have to do this alone. 
And you shouldn’t.

This isn’t about fixing you.
You’re not broken.

It’s about refusing to let an unfair system steal your confidence—or your opportunities.
Try one practice this week.
Notice what changes when you stop second-guessing and start using moves built for the reality you’re in.

You deserve to lead without the Sunday-night dread.
You deserve credit for your work.
You deserve to rest knowing you’ve led on your terms.

P.S. If you’re ready to lead on your own terms, join our Sisters in Leadership community—where women are done playing small and ready to rise.

♻️ Repost if you’ve ever left a meeting replaying every word you said.
➤ Share this with a woman you admire

7 Moves to be Seen as Both Effective and Relatable

Your hard work won't save you this time.
I know that's hard to hear.

You've been told your entire career that if you just work harder, stay later, and take on more, you'll be fine.

But the rules changed while you were busy proving yourself.

AI can now do the analysis you spent years mastering. The reports you stay late to finish. The data work that used to make you indispensable.

So what does that leave you?
The messy, beautiful, irreplaceable human stuff.

The ability to:
➙ Read a room and know what's not being said
➙ Build trust when the stakes are high
➙ Navigate conflict without damaging relationships
➙ Lead with courage when the path isn't clear

These are the skills that will matter in the next 5 years.

And most of us have never been taught how to identify them, let alone strengthen them.

That's why I'm hosting a workshop on December 5th called Future Proof Your Career.

In 2 hours, you'll:
✅ Identify your Zone of Brilliance (the skills that set you apart from AI)
✅ Discover your Secret Sauce (what only you can bring to leadership)
✅ Find your Ikigai (where your strengths meet what the world needs)

This isn't theory.
It's a map.

By the end, you'll know exactly how to position yourself for the jobs that require work only humans can do.

I've watched too many brilliant leaders panic because they're competing on the wrong playing field.

You don't need to work harder.
You need to work more human.

December 5th
8-10 PT / 11-1 ET
(recording)

Register here: https://lnkd.in/gufdkFM3

The leaders who thrive in the next decade won't be the ones who can do everything AI does, just slower.

They'll be the ones who double down on being irreplaceably human.

P.S. What's one skill you have that you know AI could never replicate?

♻️ Repost to help your network prepare for what's coming.

Follow me, Jill Avey for more leadership insights

taplio

The Battle

Gözde İmamoğlu

Jill Avey

Followers

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taplio

The Battle

Gözde İmamoğlu

Jill Avey

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Gözde İmamoğlu's LinkedIn Performance

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