Job Market Hacking

Helping expert professionals penetrate the hidden job market without the need for useless online applications.

Head of coaching program

HAX Consulting

As a Job Search coach I love working with Senior Professionals and Experts to build their career and job search strategy through:

1. Identifying the right career path
2. Creating a career-to-market value approach
3. Building a Value-Added Personal Brand
4. Establishing a network of supportive referrals

You don't need skills and qualifications as much as you need a systematic strategy. 

I would love to hear more about your goals and challenges, you can reach out to me on my number: +971557167543

Founder

MBZUAI (Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence)

Delivering workshops and speaking events to bright students on job searching secrets and interviewing tactics to succeed in their careers.

Speaker - Job searching and interviewing tactics

DueDash

Making Startups Investable, this is the essence of my role as a Comunity City Leader of Dubai, where I bring founders and experts in UAE to educate on startup and fundraising processes to help startups become investable, build their business with focus and receive funding.

DueDash Dubai community offers the most important factor in any business's success in Dubai's startup ecosystem... Networking and Connections. DueDash Dubai members will be able to exchange rich expertise with founders as well as seek direct guidance and even get funded by leading investors in our community, bridging the gap between founders and investors. Simply a win-win environment for any success formula.

Dubai City Leader

IQVIA

- Managing and delivering multi-million winning proposals (RFP/RFI/RFx) to governmental clients in GCC.

- Leading a task force of Product Experts, Project Managers and Account Managers toward successful technical proposal submission.

- Developing Digital Transformation proposals targeting regional Health Organizations both Public and Private, mainly focusing on Visualization, AI, Big Data, RCM, PLC, Decision Support Systems and Consultation services.

- In charge of software solution selling and product team training.

- Developed tools, processes and solutions leading to organized and more efficient departmental presales operations using APMP/Shipley standards. 

- Experienced in large scope governmental projects mostly in the health sector within GCC.

Proposal and Bids Manager/ Presales Technical Analyst

Canon Business Process Services

Coordinating the implementation and supervision of the company’s top Business Services Projects including the operational workflows, IT infrastructure, solutions, and ongoing production deliverables.

Canon Business Services Professional

Canon

Driving solutions selling Digital Transformation software solutions (including Managed Services) in the region by supporting the sales lifecycle as Canon’s technical solutions advisor which led to increasing B2B revenues by %25.

Solutions Business Consultant

City Pharmacy Co. UAE

Managing Information Technology systems and networks, performing both technical and administrative tasks to ensure the functionality of technology infrastructure.

IT System Administrator

Extensya

✔ Troubleshoot customer technical problems and concerns for EXTENSIA’s regional clients.

✔ Resolve daily client issues under high-pressure environments and propose the proper technical solution in Tier 1 & 2.

✔ Orchestrate troubleshooting of all network and telecom issues on time (VPN, NAT, Access rules, Firewalls configuration).

✔ Analyze and diagnose the customer’s problem immediately using proper authentication and monitoring tools.

✔ Manage and process high volume of daily customer requests while successfully adhering to the compliance requirements of company’s clients and maintaining satisfactory customer relationship.

Customer Service Engineer

Aspire Services

Quality analyst and technical support

Let's speak the truth... 

Being an expat looking for a job is the hardest thing you would do to live a better lifestyle.

I mean, isn't this the reason you moved out of your mother country? Build a better future?

Yet the job market doesn't work the way we want. Even if we spent hundreds of hours applying online.

You worked year after year building your career and till this moment you are unable to land your dream offer, or even sit down with a decision-maker just to explain that you are the one they need.

Recruiters might give you a moment of hope when they reach out to you, to realize they were merely ghosting you.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴:

Where to start from? What makes others get referred to great offers while I am doing the same thing 100k other job applicants are doing?

𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙣 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩.

I'd love to ask you questions about what would be most helpful to you to aid your hustle. Nothing to sell, just want to have a conversation.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗲𝘁 

1. Design a custom strategy to hack your job market
2. Make yourself wanted, let them come to you!
3. Discover where exclusive jobs are posted but hidden from public
4. Connect with recruiters easily without feeling needy
5. Make Hiring Managers excited to connect and speak to you
6. They need you. Take control of the interview and pass it
7. Negotiate the best package that you deserve

𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 
𝗜'𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿.

Send me a connection invite and I will be happy to connect and speak to you.

Email: Haitham@haxconsulting.com

Career Coaching | Job Search Strategist | Career Consultant | Career path | Careers | Jobs | Personal Development | Resume Development | Interview preparation |Personal Branding | Networking

Haitham Alsalman

What changed my life wasn’t the outcome.
It was how I chose to look at the outcome.

→ I failed.
╰› I learned.

→ I gave up.
╰› I tried again.

→ I didn’t have time.
╰› I made time.

→ I was alone.
╰› I found myself.

→ I struggled.
╰› I got better.

Every single shift happened
not by force… but by choice.

Change begins with perspective.

The real transformation starts the moment you stop asking “why me?” and start asking “what’s this teaching me?”

👉 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄?


♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Haitham Alsalman for more.

Helping executives position themselves to decision makers in the hidden job market | Founder | Networking & Personal Branding Consultant for executives and business owners | Speaker 📢

Early in my career, interviews felt like interrogations.
→ I rehearsed perfect answers.
→ I tried to impress.
→ I left hoping they’d “pick me.”

But everything changed in 2015.
I walked into an interview and flipped the script.

𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦,
I spoke like a 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁.

→ I asked about the business.
→ I explored their challenges.
→ I offered ideas.

That day, the energy shifted.
The hiring manager leaned in.
The conversation turned strategic.
→ And I walked out with an offer.

Here’s what I’ve learned since:

→ Great candidates answer questions.
Great hires ask the right ones.

→ Study the company’s business not just the role.
╰› “What’s the biggest pain this role is solving?”
╰› “Where does the team feel stuck today?”

→ Offer insight not opinion.
╰› “In my last role, we tackled something similar. Here’s what worked...”

→ Shift from performance to partnership.
╰› Show how you think, not just what you’ve done.

→ End with impact.
╰› “If I joined tomorrow, here’s the first thing I’d explore…”

Stop trying to be the perfect answer.
Start being the strategic solution.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀?

♻️ Repost this to give someone the clarity and motivation they need to take their next step.

Relevance is a matter of framing.

I didn’t “start over.”
I translated my story to a new audience.

→ Skills like consulting, selling, and managing clients?
╰› Those transfer everywhere.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲:

→ Inventory your skills through the lens of the new industry.
╰› “What problems have I solved before that exist here too?”

→ Don’t fake expertise leverage your outside perspective.
╰› Innovation comes from cross-industry insight.

→ Find your early advocates.
╰› People who see your value before the market does.

→ Document your transition.
╰› Post about what you’re learning.
╰› You’ll attract people rooting for your growth.

You’re not starting at the bottom.
You’re bringing everything you’ve built
just applying it to a new challenge.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁?

♻️ Repost to help someone grow their network
👉 Follow Haitham Alsalman for more insights like this

I don’t go to the gym to get six-pack abs.

I go to build habits.

→ The habit of showing up.
╰› Even when I'm tired.
╰› Even when I don’t feel like it.

→ The habit of staying focused.
╰› One rep at a time.
╰› One set at a time.

→ The habit of trusting the process.
╰› Results take time.
╰› But consistency compounds.

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀.

The same mindset that builds muscles
also builds careers, businesses, and brands.

→ You push past resistance.
→ You get stronger through repetition.
→ You improve by showing up daily, not perfectly.

No one sees the first day at the gym.
No one claps when you start small.

But over time…
everything changes.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄?
Drop it in the comments, let’s celebrate consistency together.

♻️ Repost and follow Haitham Alsalman for more!

Most job seekers approach the market with one question:

“𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙟𝙤𝙗?”

That mindset keeps doors closed.
It puts you in a position of waiting and hoping.

Here’s what changes everything:

→ Ask instead: “Who can I help?”
╰› This shift positions you as a solution, not an applicant.

→ Companies don’t hire people they invest in outcomes.
╰› They look for those who understand their business
and can solve real problems.

→ When you focus on helping, not being hired:
╰› You stand out without trying to “impress.”

→ You stop blending in with applicants.
╰› You become someone who adds value from day one.

→ That’s when the hidden opportunities appear.
╰› The ones no job board will ever show you.

𝗔 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀.
Not because you're lucky because you're needed.

What would your next move look like
if you started acting like a solution provider?

♻️ Repost this to give someone the clarity and motivation they need to take their next step.
🔔 Follow Haitham Alsalman for more insights on navigating the hidden job market and building your executive brand.

𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲? 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝘆.


To every job seeker out there
pushing hard every day 

I see you.
And I know it’s tough.

You’re chasing opportunities,
pitching yourself to recruiters,
headhunters, and hiring managers...
all while holding on to your dream.

→ But here’s the truth:
╰› Struggle is part of the journey.

→ And without resistance,
╰› there’s no real growth.

But here's the catch
when you don’t know 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬,
your struggle doubles.

That’s why:
“𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮,
𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵.” — 𝘕𝘢𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘒𝘢𝘯

Sit with this question today:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻
𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝘁?

→ Is it a skills gap?
→ A non-existent network?
→ Procrastination or lack of clarity?

Write your answer in the comments👇

A few years ago, I hit a wall.

No motivation. No energy.
No interest in doing what I 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 needed to be done.

It wasn’t burnout.
It was a lack of systems.

→ I used to wait until I “felt ready” to record content.
╰› Now, I write one bullet point daily, no matter what.
→ I used to push off outreach until I was “in the mood.”
╰› Now, I track 3 contacts a day. Like brushing teeth.

Then something shifted in how I coach executives:

→ 𝗪𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
╰› We started building small, daily rituals.
╰› Things that are too 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭, too easy to skip.

The same guys who were “stuck” for 6 months?
Now landing hidden opportunities in 6 weeks.
𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝟰 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆

If you’re in a career rut, or stuck between roles:
Don’t wait for a burst of inspiration.

Design a system that makes showing up your new default.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀?

♻️ Repost and follow Haitham Alsalman

#careercoaching #executivetransitions #habitsystem #haithamalsalman #gccexecutives #jobsearch

4 Pillars of Unshakeable Consistency

The job market doesn’t reward the qualified. 
It rewards the 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦.

In today’s world, having skills isn't enough. 
You could be the most competent executive out there
but if no one 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 you exist, 
you’ll be left in the shadows.

→ I’ve lived this firsthand. 
╰› Jobless after graduation. 
╰› Rejected by the system. 
╰› Forced to create my own way in.

→ That’s when I realized: 
╰› You don't find jobs online. 
╰› You create 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦. 
╰› You position yourself as a 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳, not a job seeker.

→ Now I teach others to do the same: 
╰› Build a personal brand. 
╰› Learn how to pitch themselves. 
╰› Access the 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 job market.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗽. 
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺. 
Where strategies are designed, 
and hidden opportunities are unlocked.

What’s stopping you from becoming visible? 
Let’s talk.

Know someone who’s stuck in the job hunt?
♻️ Repost this. It may be the clarity they need.

🔔 Follow Haitham Alsalman for strategies
on navigating the hidden job market
and building a standout executive brand.

I learned this lesson later than I should have.

For years, I focused on building my skills and perfecting my work. 
I assumed opportunities would naturally come to anyone 
who was competent, consistent, and high-performing.
But that wasn’t the case.

I had the capability.
I had the results.
Yet I kept watching others advance faster.

Then I realized the truth.

I wasn’t short on talent.
I was short on visibility.

That’s when everything changed.

I chose one skill people genuinely needed.
I started showing my work publicly.
I let my LinkedIn presence speak for me when I wasn’t in the room.
I stopped collecting connections and started building real conversations.
I focused on relationships, not transactions.
I gave value without expecting anything in return.

The shift was gradual, but undeniable.
People reached out.
Decision-makers responded.
Opportunities came from unexpected places.

This is the part most professionals underestimate:

𝙅𝙤𝙗𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙤.
𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲,
you don’t chase opportunities anymore.
Opportunities find you.

Visibility is no longer optional, especially in markets like the GCC.
It’s a competitive advantage.

♻️ Share this with someone who needs it today.
🔔 Follow me Haitham Alsalman for practical guidance on leadership visibility, opportunity creation, and career growth in competitive markets.

HOW TO NEVER BE JOBLESS

Running a business can consume you.
and chasing the next big thing can do the same.

→ You start skipping meals,
╰› but not meetings.

→ You serve everyone else,
╰› but forget your own seat at the table.

→ I’ve been there.
╰› I still catch myself there.

But today I stopped.
I sat down.
And I reminded myself:

→ What’s the point of building success
╰› if you’re too tired to enjoy it?

Your clients need your best.
But you do too.

Growth doesn’t only come from hustle.
It also comes from space, culture, and contrast.

Travel changes more than your scenery
it resets your mindset.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱
𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?

♻️ Repost to help someone grow their network
👉 Follow Haitham Alsalman for more insights like this

Connector of Talent and Success 💼 | Empowering Businesses to Thrive through People | Culture Growth Strategist | Coach | Writer | HR leader | #1 LinkedIn Belgium | Top #150 LinkedIn 🌍

Who I help: Ambitious introverts and people-first companies

Problems: Visibility without burnout, quiet leadership, culture that enables deep work

Outcomes: Promotions, role transitions, retention, high-trust cultures

STRATEGIC HR LEADER AND COACH WITH HANDS-ON APPROACH AIMING FOR THE BEST EMPLOYEE/BUSINESS EXPERIENCE - INTROVERT ADVOCATE

International HR Executive passionate about the link between employee experience and business dynamics. Combining a strong focus on strategic thinking and planning with a structured and factual hands-on approach. A positive well connected team coach with a natural sense of empowering team members in a spirit of challenge, learning and mutual recognition. Sound decision making capabilities based on critical reflections within companies focusing on innovation, change, digital transformation and learning.

A. Group HR Director Alter Pharma (200 FTE - BE/IRL/US) – private equity backed firm defining & implementing HR strategy (from strategy to operations) including definition of mission/vision/strategy & values.
B. Global HR Business Partner BU Kerley international/Tessenderlo Group (+/-300 employees - 11 countries) developing/transforming key HR processes (talent resource planning, talent acquisition, performance management, competency management, learning, reward,..) - HR project lead new factory Rouen, France. 
C. Global HR Executive SWIFT (+/- 3.000 employees in +25 countries) transforming/coaching business and HR into new ways of (digital) working/thinking to improve the employee and business experience 
D. Global Head of Reward Tessenderlo Group (+/- 5.000 employees in +25 countries) - strategic development/transformation reward strategy
E. Development new holistic performance management framework for Tessenderlo Group, including full implementation recognition stream.
F. HR Project Manager : move of the Chiquita EME Headquarters from Belgium to Switzerland (social plan negotiations, c&b setup, recruitment, mobility, new policy/process design,...)

Professional coaching certification Better Minds at Work               2018 - 2019
Centre for Creative Leadership - senior leadership program           Q1-2 2018
Management Development Programme Vlerick (17 days)		  2010 - 2011
Strategic Compensation & Benefits Management, Vlerick 		  2007      
Master degree in Law&Taxation, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven    1997 - 1998

Steven Claes

They told me I was too much.
Turns out they were too small.

I sat with a brilliant CHRO last week who said: "Steven, I've spent 15 years softening my opinions, slowing down, pretending I don't need depth in conversations when that's literally all I want."

I knew exactly what she meant.

I've done it myself.

Edited my directness down to "diplomatic."
Rounded edges to seem "approachable."
Acted like small talk filled me up when I was starving for real conversation.

And I ended up feeling like I didn't belong.

Because I REALLY DIDN'T belong in places where I'd made myself smaller just to fit in.

The pond people have told me I'm:

→ Too quiet (translation: you're hard to read, and that makes me uncomfortable)
→ Too direct (translation: you skip all the performance, and I don't know how to handle that)
→ Too intense (translation: you make me think, and I'd rather not)
→ Too ambitious in the "wrong way" (translation: you want actual impact, not just visibility)

But here's what 20 years as a CHRO taught me: Every time you edit yourself down, you teach people to expect less from you.

When you're constantly shrinking:
→ You attract relationships that need you small
→ You become an expert at being less than you are
→ You build a career that fits everyone except you

I used to think the introvert advantage was learning to network like an extrovert. Speaking up more. Being more visible.

Wrong.

The real advantage? Accepting that your need for substance IS your worth.

When I stopped apologizing for needing substance over surface, everything changed.

1️⃣ You stop dimming yourself to make others comfortable in their mediocrity.

2️⃣ You surround yourself with people who recognize that your intensity is your integrity.

3️⃣ You finally find your tribe. The ones who see thoughtfulness as strength, not something to overcome.

The teams who needed someone to sit with complexity? They leaned on me.
The cultures desperate for real leadership? They sought me out.

But only because I was actually there. At full capacity. Not the edited version.

Not everyone can handle your full capacity.
And that's not your problem to solve.

The people meant for you? They'll charter a boat to meet you in deep water, even if they can't swim.

The rest will stand on the shore telling you the ocean is "too much."

Let them.

If you're an ocean, stop apologizing for not being a pond.

If you're wired for substance, you don't have a career problem.
You have a boundary problem.

The moment you solve that, everything shifts.

♻️ Share if you're an ocean person refusing to be a pond

📩 Follow the A+Introvert Newsletter (link in profile) for more ambitious introvert truth

Every setback felt like proof I was too quiet to succeed.
Every win felt like luck.

At 32, my boss pulled me aside.
“You're too quiet for executive leadership.”

I replayed that conversation for months.
Every meeting I stayed quiet.
Every presentation I let others dominate.
Every networking event I left early.

The feedback stung because I believed it.

The lateral moves? I blamed myself for not being louder.
The passed-over promotions? Thought I didn’t sell myself enough.
The struggling projects? Maybe I was too introverted to lead.

I carried those stories for years.
Like stones in my pocket.
Getting heavier with each new challenge.

Then something shifted.

The promotions I didn’t get kept me learning.
Now I lead with knowledge, not just ambition.

The struggling projects taught me to listen for what wasn’t being said.
That skill transformed every team I touched.

What introverts do differently with setbacks:
 • We don’t bounce back. We build back.
 • We don’t forget feedback. We mine it for truth.
 • We don’t perform resilience. We develop it quietly.

What others saw as mistakes:
 → Avoided office politics (built trust through work)
 → Skipped self-promotion (let results speak louder)
 → Stayed in roles too long (mastered depth)
 → Took time to process (while others rushed to respond)

Today I’m CHRO.
Still quiet.
Those “setbacks” were my education.

Every introvert I’ve hired has a similar story.
Told they were too quiet.
Too thoughtful.
Too slow.

Now they’re running divisions.
Transforming cultures.
Leading quietly.

Your setbacks aren’t failures.
They’re data points.
Your quiet processing isn’t weakness.
It’s how you turn feedback into fuel.

That boss who said I was too quiet?
He was half right.
I was quiet.
But I was building.

💬 What feedback once hurt but later helped you grow?

♻️ Repost if you've been underestimated for being quiet
📩 Free Weekly career strategies for Ambitious Introverts -> hit the newsletter button under my profile

Some introverts are prisoners of their wiring.
Others are architects of their growth.

I’ve coached enough quiet leaders to see the split happen in real time:

The stuck ones hold on to: "I'm wired this way. I can't change."
The ones who thrive? They know wiring is where you begin, not where you end.

I worked with a senior manager who kept saying:
"I was raised to stay quiet and not make waves."

Fifteen years. That one sentence kept her invisible.
Passed over for promotions.
Watching louder colleagues move ahead.

And yet. In those same fifteen years, she'd:

-Led 3 projects that saved millions
-Built relationships nobody else could unlock
-Spotted problems that stayed invisible to everyone around her

Her quiet upbringing gave her the ability to observe. 
Deep listening became strategy. 
Her stillness earned trust.

The prison wasn't her introversion.
The prison was her story about it.

Evolution for introverts isn't about becoming extroverted.
It's about updating your story.

Instead of avoiding tough conversations 
→ Use email to drive decisions

Instead of dreading all meetings 
→ Own your 1-on-1s where depth wins

Instead of staying silent 
→ Put your thoughts on paper first, then speak

That senior manager I mentioned?
She stopped apologizing for how she works.
Started using her strengths.
Promoted six months later.

Same person. Different story.

Here's what this work taught me:

Your nature doesn't need fixing. 
Your story about it does.

Your past shaped you. 
Your choices reshape your future.

Your quiet traits aren't a limitation. They're data.

Stop waiting for permission to evolve.
Start choosing which parts of your wiring serve you.

Which story kept you quiet this week?

♻️ Share this with introverts ready to rewrite their story

📩 Follow me (Steven Claes) for introvert career strategies

Stop trying to fix introverts.

In 20 years as an HR leader, I've seen companies burn millions trying to turn quiet leaders into loud ones.

It doesn't work. And it pushes your best people out the door.

Swipe through for what introverts need vs. what people think we need.

💾 Save/share this before your next 1:1. 

P.S. What would you add to this list?

li_at

JSESSIONID

Talks about #hr, #culture, #strategy, #leadership, and #management

What Workplaces Think Introverts Need vs What We Need

omnia khfagy

They told me to fix my introversion. 
I fixed my environment instead.

We're introverts. We're not broken, just wired differently.

I spent 20 years as a CHRO watching the same pattern play out. 
The loudest voices got heard while the deepest thinkers got ignored. 

Quick reactions got rewarded, and thoughtful strategies got buried under the noise.

That's when I realized something.

We don't need to compete on volume. No, we compete on depth.

We build fewer bonds but stronger connections. 
Not because we can't connect widely, but because we choose connection wisely. 

While others drain themselves chasing validation, we recharge in stillness. 
While they mistake noise for progress, we find power in pause.

This isn't weakness. It's strategy.

We're not hiding or afraid. 
We're protecting our energy for what actually matters.

The research backs what we've always known: 

• Introverted leaders see 40% higher team retention because we listen more than we talk 
• We outperform in complex problem-solving by 74% because we think before we act 
• Our deep work drives 3x more innovation because we focus on substance over speed

Depth beats width. Every time.

What I need you to understand:

➡️ Your need for constant stimulation isn't our problem. 
➡️ Your discomfort with silence isn't our emergency. 
➡️ And your definition of success isn't our blueprint.

If we let you in, you've earned it. 

Not through persistence or pressure, 
but through respect. 
Through substance. 
Through understanding that our boundaries aren't barriers, they're filters.

➡️ We're not antisocial, we're selectively social. 
➡️ We're not slow, we're thorough. 
➡️ We're not cold, we're careful.

In a world drowning in noise, that's not a limitation.

That's an advantage.

Stop trying to fix us. We were never broken.

What boundary have you set recently that protected your energy?

♻️ Share if you're proudly wired differently 
📩 Follow Steven Claes for more introvert truth

They told us to "speak up more."
Turns out silence was our strategy.

As a CHRO who spent 20 years being called "too quiet," I've lived these traits. 

These are not personality quirks.
They're high-performance systems.

5 Weird Traits That Actually Drive Introvert High Performance:

1. Staying silent in meetings
↳ Builds strategic thinking muscle
↳ Catches critical details others miss
↳ Preserves mental energy for decisions that matter
↳ Creates space for deeper analysis

2. Preferring solo lunch breaks 
↳ Prevents decision fatigue before afternoon meetings
↳ Recharges cognitive batteries
↳ Maintains peak performance levels
↳ Protects creative thinking time

3. Pausing before responding 
↳ Delivers thoughtful responses instead of impulsive reactions
↳ Prevents costly communication mistakes
↳ Signals executive presence naturally
↳ Builds trust through consistency

4. Reviewing work multiple times 
↳ Catches errors before they compound
↳ Creates visible excellence standards
↳ Builds reputation for reliability
↳ Eliminates rework downstream

5. Requiring quiet time daily 
↳ Sparks breakthrough solutions
↳ Processes complex problems effectively
↳ Maintains competitive edge
↳ Protects sustainable performance

The brutal truth?

What they called weaknesses were actually our operating system. 

And once you own that system instead of apologizing for it, everything shifts.

Because here's what most companies miss: introverts are not broken. Extroverts don't need fixing. 

They're different processors who need different conditions.
Give them those conditions and watch what happens.

📩 Get weekly insights via the A+ Introvert Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/e2Yn259g

♻️ Share this for every introvert who's been misunderstood

Research reveals the introvert paradox: 
More productive. Lower performance ratings. 

A 2024 study by SOAS University of London found: 
"Introverts are more productive despite displaying lower job performance than extroverts." 

I've watched this disconnect destroy careers. 

As a CHRO for 20 years, I saw the pattern repeat itself over and over again. 
Claire outperformed every metric. 
Yet her evaluation said "lacks presence." 

Thomas designed the entire system architecture. 
His review noted "could be more vocal in meetings." 

The quiet frustration builds. 
The talent gets overlooked. 

The problem isn't your output. 
It's the visibility of your output. 

Introverts lose in three predictable scenarios: 

1. The visibility trap 
Your deep work happens in silence. 
Your contributions lack witnesses. 
Your impact goes unrecognized. 

2. The documentation gap 
Your wins stay in your head. 
Your progress lacks a paper trail. 
Your patterns remain invisible. 

3. The credit vacuum 
Your ideas travel. 
Your name gets left behind. 
Your influence goes unmeasured. 

But smart introverts don't try to become extroverts. 
They create systems to show their natural strengths. 

Four systems that actually work: 
1. Create your visibility rhythm 

→ Monday: Share your weekly focus (3 bullet points) 
→ Friday: Send a 5-minute wins report to stakeholders 
→ Monthly: Connect your work to company priorities 

2. Build your evidence file 

→ Capture metrics from your deep work sessions 
→ Save positive feedback verbatim 
→ Track resources saved through your solutions 

3. Set deep work boundaries 

→ Block 90-minute uninterrupted focus blocks 
→ Create canned responses for interruptions 
→ Set "office hours" for questions/collaboration 

4. Use strategic presence 

→ Speak once early in every meeting 
→ Send one thoughtful follow-up after discussions 
→ Ask one question that shows your listening depth 

When I coached Sarah, an introverted finance director, she started sending a weekly "impact email" every Friday at 4pm. 
Five bullet points. 
Three minutes to write. 

Her boss forwarded it to the C-suite every single week. 
She went from "too quiet" to "indispensable strategic partner" in six months. 

The only thing that changed? 
Her system, not her personality. 

Your introversion isn't the problem. 
Your strategic approach is the solution. 

Want to advance without exhaustion? 

Get the exact templates, scripts, and systems that helped thousands of introverts without burning out in the free A+ Introvert Newsletter (link in featured section). 

💾 Save this for when your impact feels invisible.

🔁 Repost if you believe quiet professionals deserve loud recognition.

Introverts don't need fixing.
Your workplace culture does.

I spent 20 years watching companies try to "fix" introverts.

Presentation skills workshops.
Open offices.
Loud happy hours.

Meanwhile, they ignored the real problems:
• Meetings that reward whoever talks most
• Brainstorms that silence deep thinkers
• "Collaboration" that means constant interruption

At 32, a VP told me:
"You need to speak up more. This quiet thing is career suicide."

I tried to be louder.
Until I realized: the mold was broken, not me.

Today I'm CHRO.
Still quiet. Still succeeding.
Because I stopped fixing myself and started fixing the system.

👇 This carousel breaks down what actually works.

♻️ Share if you believe quiet leadership deserves more respect and save for later.

Introverts Don't Need Fixing (Your Workplace Culture Does)

54% of employees are quietly breaking down.
You won’t see it until it’s too late.

Your best people aren’t quitting.
They’re not burning out.
They’re breaking. In silence.

And your quietest ones?
They’re drowning.

👉 Swipe to spot the signs before they disappear.

💾 Save this to revisit the warning signs.

♻️ Share it to support someone who's quietly cracking.

Warning Signs Everyone Misses (Means breaking)

Overthinking costs you more than you realize.

Not in time.
In opportunities you never take.

Introverts know this trap better than anyone. Analysis becomes avoidance.

Five ways to close that gap:

1. The 5-Second Rule

Mel Robbins nailed it. You have an instinct to move? Count down 5-4-3-2-1 and go.

Your brain will talk you out of it otherwise.
That window closes fast. Five seconds. Use them.

———

2. The Two-Minute Rule

Takes less than two minutes? Do it now.
Don't add it to a list. Don't schedule it. Don't think about it.

David Allen's point: tracking a small task takes longer than finishing it.
Stop managing. Start finishing.

———

3. Brain Dump Before You Decide

Too much noise in your head? Set a timer for ten minutes. Write it all down.
No filter. No structure. Just out.

Once it's on paper, patterns appear. Priorities get clear.
You can't organize chaos while you're drowning in it.

———

4. Externalize the Problem

Stop saying "I'm an overthinker."
Say "Overthinking is here again."

See the difference? You're not the problem. The thought pattern is.
You're not the storm. You're the one watching it pass through.

———

5. The "If-Then" Plan

Vague intentions don't work. Automatic actions do.

Try this:
"If it's 7am, then I write for 20 minutes."
"If I feel resistance, then I count 5-4-3-2-1 and start."

Peter Gollwitzer's research backs this. It doubles your success rate.
Pre-decide so you don't have to re-decide every time.

———

The truth more introverts need to hear:
Knowing what to do means nothing if you don't do it.

Your move.

♻️ Share this with someone who needs it.
👤 Follow me (Steven Claes) for more on ambitious introverts

A 23-year-old intern dismantled my entire hiring strategy with one question:

"But what if they're not comfortable talking about themselves?"

She was talking about introverts in interviews.

I'd been screening out brilliance for 5 years and had no idea.

I used to defend every view.
Debate every point.
Need to be right.

But that one quiet question changed everything.

It taught me something 10 years as CHRO hadn't:

Wisdom isn't about having the best answers.
It's about hearing the questions you never thought to ask.

Now when someone speaks, whether it's my CEO or my nephew, I do something different.

I pause.

Not to plan my response.
But to understand their world.

The 3-Question Framework I Use to Listen Deeper

1. What am I defending?
Before responding, name the ego or assumption you're protecting.
Then let it go.

2. What's their 10%?
Even if you disagree with 90%, find the 10% that's true.
There's always something. Start there.

3. What would I think if I were them?
Not with your experience. With theirs.
Not with your context. With theirs.
This is where breakthroughs live.

This shift changed how I lead:

→ I stopped mistaking volume for value
→ Started finding insight in silence
→ Learned that understanding > being understood

The data backs it up:

Teams with psychological safety where every voice matters are:

✔️ 76% more likely to engage
✔️ 50% more productive
✔️ 27% less likely to leave their jobs

But we still reward:

❌ Quick answers over thoughtful questions
❌ Confident assertions over curious pauses
❌ Debate winners over bridge builders

Your quietest team member isn't checked out.
They're checking angles you haven't considered.

That junior employee questioning your process?
Might be your next breakthrough.

Growth doesn't come from adding more of what you already know.
It comes from seeing what you've been blind to.

Perspective isn't just power.
It's the only path to wisdom that matters.

Try these 3 questions in your next meeting. Watch what shifts.

And tell me this:

💬 When did listening to someone completely different from you change everything?

♻️ Share this if you believe the quietest voices often hold the deepest insights

I stopped pretending to be an extrovert.
My career exploded.

Because showing up everywhere wasn't commitment. 
It was fear wearing a name tag.

The truth?
You don't advance by being everywhere.
You advance by managing yourself.

What drains introverts in leadership
and what drives career growth instead 👇

1. Performing extroversion kills energy
Self-management creates sustainability.
→ Forcing constant visibility? You burn out.
→ Strategic presence? You grow faster.

2. Saying yes to everything stalls growth
Saying no with boundaries accelerates it.
→ Nearly half of introverts in extroverted roles report burnout compared to a quarter of extroverts.
→ Protecting your energy isn't selfish. It's strategic.

3. Constant meetings drain focus
Delegation multiplies impact.
→ Being in every conversation limits your team.
→ Empowering others to lead is 5x more effective at avoiding burnout.

4. Loud leadership demands attention
Quiet leadership earns respect.
→ Empathetic leadership isn't about volume. It's about making space.
→ Inclusive leadership recognizes people recharge differently.

5. Networking everywhere scatters influence
Showing up intentionally builds it.
→ Career advancement for introverts: be present where it matters, invisible where it doesn't.

6. Chasing visibility creates exhaustion
Managing energy creates resilience.
→ I went from performing to leading authentically and my impact multiplied.
→ The shift? Self-management became non-negotiable.

7. Ignoring rest kills performance
Protecting solitude fuels it.
→ Introverts need quiet to recharge. Ignoring that is running on empty.
→ Real leadership models rest, not just productivity.

You can build a career through constant performance.
Or sustainable success through intentional leadership.

One burns you out by Wednesday.
The other grows even when you step back.

♻ Repost to help introverts: visibility isn't everything. Intention is.

📬 Want deeper strategies like these?
I write a weekly newsletter on quiet leadership and career growth for introverts: https://lnkd.in/e2Yn259g

Your star performer left at 5 PM every day.

That wasn't a red flag.
That was a roadmap.

I used to stay until 8.
Sent emails at midnight.
Wore exhaustion like a badge.

Then I noticed something.

Sarah, our top analyst, packed up at 5 PM.
Every. Single. Day.

The execs whispered about her "lack of commitment."
Some people labeled her not a team player.

But six months later?
She delivered more value than our entire always-on team.

What they missed:
She wasn't coasting. She was focused.

• No 47-email chains about nothing
• No staying late just to be seen
• No 3-hour meetings that could've been an email
• No pretending to work while scrolling LinkedIn

Just deep, meaningful work.

After 5?
She recharged. Unplugged. Came back clearer.

While others ran on fumes.

What happened next changed how I led:

• The "lazy" analyst got promoted to Director
• One team member hit a wall and had to step back
• The always-on manager made critical mistakes

I learned something:
8 focused hours beat 12 exhausted ones.
Real productivity happens in bursts, not marathons.
Your best ideas come after rest, not during it.

I started telling my team:
→ Your best work happens when you're fresh
→ Creativity needs room to breathe
→ Burnout helps no one

The outcomes?

The exec who doubted her? Stress leave.
The always-on manager? Critical mistakes cost us a major client.
Sarah? Running the department.

Her worth was never in the hours.
It was in the outcomes.

♻️ Repost if you believe boundaries create better teams
📩 Join thousands of ambitious introverts building sustainable success: https://lnkd.in/e7xQPNtn

Gary Brown

Your best introvert is planning their exit. 
They just haven't told you yet.

Micromanaging says three things: 

"I don't trust you." 
"I need control more than results." 
"Your process scares me because it's not mine."

For introverts, this kills retention faster than anything else.

We need deep work. 

Focus without constant interruption and mental space to think through complex problems.

Micromanaging destroys all three, and it's why your quiet top performers leave first. 

No drama, no warnings. 
They're just gone.

In 20 years as a CHRO, I've watched this pattern play out dozens of times.

One company I worked with broke the cycle with a simple shift. 
Outcome accountability instead of process control. 

Leaders set the goal, and teams chose how to get there.

The impact was immediate. 

Turnover among introverted leaders dropped 60%. 
Same deadlines, better quality, and zero hand-holding required. 

Because when you trust people to do the work their way, they deliver.

Great leaders trust, then step back. 
Micromanaging says everything about the manager and nothing about you.

How have you handled micromanagers without burning bridges?

♻️ Share if you care

Most introverts nail the interview.
Then burn out in 90 days.

After 20 years as a CHRO, I've seen it happen too many times. 

Brilliant introverts accepting roles that drain them because they didn't ask whether the company actually values different working styles.

73% of employees leave due to poor cultural fit. 
Introverts feel this more, scoring 10% lower in workplace well-being.

The interview isn't just them sizing you up. 
It's you sizing up whether this company respects how you work best.

Swipe through for the 9 questions every introvert should ask before saying yes.

Your energy isn't up for negotiation. Neither is your environment.

💾 Save this for your next interview
♻️ Share with an introvert who needs this

Most Introverts Nail The Interview (Then Burn Out)

Your meetings are killing your best talent.

I was the quiet one for 10 years.
Invisible. Passed over.
Watching others get promoted for my ideas.

Now I'm the one changing the room.

Here's what introverts hear when you say:
"Why are you so quiet?" → "Why are you broken?"
"Just jump in!" → "Is this worth my battery?"
"Let's go around the table." → Time to update LinkedIn.

The math is simple but more leaders miss it:
- 50% of your workforce = introverts
- 90% of your meetings = built for extroverts

You're designing meetings that push your brightest people out.

I made 10 script swaps to save your talent.

Small changes in how you run meetings. 
Big difference in who stays engaged.

Swipe through. Change the words. Keep your people.

Quiet isn't disengaged.
It's brilliant.

♻️ Share and save this before your quiet talent becomes your competition

📩 Follow the A+Introvert Newsletter for more bite-sized career insights

What to Say (and not say) To Support Introverts in meeting

My first raise request took 45 minutes.
It failed.

My last one took 8 minutes.
It got me $35K more.

What changed?

I stopped trying to sound confident.
I started showing the numbers instead.

Swipe through for the exact 8-minute structure that did it →

Most introverts think a raise conversation means you need to sell yourself.
Walk in. Perform. Be louder.

That's not it.

It means building a case your manager can take upstairs and defend.

Extroverts walk in and improvise.
Introverts prepare a document and present it.

And in raise conversations, the document wins.

I've reviewed hundreds of raise requests as CHRO.
The ones that worked: short meeting, clear data, exact number.
The ones that didn't: long stories about teamwork and going the extra mile.

Your manager doesn't need a performance.
They need ammunition.

Numbers they can repeat.
Wins they can cite.
A case they can defend when you're not in the room.

Your quiet preparation isn't the problem.
It's the solution.

💾 Save this before your next raise conversation

♻️ Repost if you know an introvert who needs to hear this

The 8-Minute Strategy that got me a $35K Raise

I thought I was too quiet to lead.
Turns out, I was just introverted.

But it took me 15 years of forcing extroversion to figure that out.

These 10 books helped me stop apologizing for who I am
and start building a career that actually fits me.

1. Quiet by Susan Cain
The book that redefined what it means to lead with calm and conviction

2. The Introverted Leader by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler
A step-by-step guide to leading without faking extroversion

3. Deep Work by Cal Newport
Why focused thinkers are becoming the most valuable people in any room

4. The Introvert's Edge by Matthew Pollard
Sales isn't about charm. It's about process. Introverts win with both

5. The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney
The science behind why you need depth, not noise

6. Quiet Influence by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler
Six strengths that help introverts lead lasting change

7. Networking for People Who Hate Networking by Devora Zack
Real strategies for building relationships without working a room

8. Self-Promotion for Introverts by Nancy Ancowitz
How to get noticed without having to shout

9. The Powerful Purpose of Introverts by Holley Gerth
You're not flawed. You're wired this way for a reason

10. The Introvert Entrepreneur by Beth Buelow
How to build something big without pretending to be loud

After 20 years as CHRO, here's what I've learned:
Your quiet style isn't the problem.
The workplace just hasn't caught up yet.

These books reminded me that:
✔ Listening in 1-on-1s created more trust than speaking at 100 all-hands
✔ My written strategy docs moved projects faster than any meeting pitch
✔ Deep thinking in solitude solved problems committees couldn't crack
✔ Building three strong relationships beat networking with 300 strangers

Half the population is introverted.
It's time we stopped treating that like a disadvantage.

If you're tired of being told to "speak up,"
this list is your permission to double down on your quiet strength.

Which of these books speaks to your current challenge?

💾 Save this for when you need it

🔁 Share it with a quiet professional who deserves to feel seen

PS. Follow the Free A+Introvert Newsletter for weekly bite-sized career insights (link in my profile).

Today I turn 52.
At 25, I hid in bathroom stalls before meetings.
Now I lead them as CHRO.

The same traits that made you second‑guess yourself at 25
are the ones that can make you impossible to replace
at 25, 52, or whatever comes next.

But only if you stop apologising for them.

I knew that in my head a long time ago.
I just didn’t have the guts to say it out loud.
That part took years.

I hope you don’t wait as long as I did.

25: The Breaking Point

I was the quiet one faking loud.

Forced networking until 2am. 
Performed enthusiasm I didn't feel. 
Dominated meetings that drained me by noon.

I sat in my car after another leadership summit thinking: 
"I'm in the wrong career."

Then a mentor said eight words that changed everything: 
"Stop playing their game. Start playing yours."

52: The Breakthrough

Today, I lead differently.

I skip 80% of networking events. 
Build five deep relationships instead of fifty shallow ones. 
Speak less but land every word.

Not despite being quiet. Because of it.

This is what I finally understood:

That overthinking? Catches problems before they explode. 
That selective socializing? Builds unbreakable loyalty. 
That need for quiet? Where real strategy happens. 
That careful processing? Why people trust my decisions.

At 25, I thought leadership meant being everywhere. 
At 52, I know it means being fully present where it matters.

I protect my mornings for deep work. 
Take walking meetings when I need to think. 
Leave events before I'm drained, not after.

The same traits that made you doubt yourself at 25 will make you irreplaceable at 52. 
But only if you stop apologizing for them.

You don't rise by volume. 
You rise by depth.

To every introvert who thinks they need to change: The world has enough performers. It needs more thinkers.

What "weakness" from your 20s became your superpower?

♻️ Share this if you're done apologizing for how you're wired. Not as an admission, as a declaration.

PS. Who dares to guess the age at this picture? :)

Exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor.
It’s a sign of poor energy management.

I was close to burnout before I turned 35.
Today, I’m a CHRO.

Still introverted. Never drained.

These seven tactics helped me stay energized,
lead effectively without pretending to be an extrovert,
and build a sustainable career on my terms.

Your energy is currency.
Spend it wisely.

♻️ Share this for introverts running on empty

💾 Save it for future reference

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The Battle

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