Hi, I'm Hetali!

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 + 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫
• Former Accenture consultant with deep expertise across healthcare operations and strategy
• Trusted advisor to execs at Rare Beauty, Oracle, Planoly & beyond
• Mentored dozens of high-performers in executive presence, career elevation, and personal brand building

𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 + 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫
• Founder of Inner Wealth Collective - a media brand helping people build confidence, influence, and inner wealth
• Partnered with Notion, Beehiiv, folk & more to spotlight smarter ways to live and work
• Creator of high-impact leadership, mindset, and lifestyle content - reaching 1M+ professionals on LinkedIn

Industries of Interest:
Health tech, AI in healthcare, and digital transformation, though I’m always open to exploring new opportunities and challenges.

___

→ For inquiries/sponsorships: DM me or email CollabwithHetali@gmail.com

All views are my own and do not reflect that of my employer.

Hetali Mehta, MPH, CAPM

15 habits that actually prevent burnout:

1. Protect your energy by prioritizing sleep.
2. Reset your mind by going for walks.
3. Reduce overwhelm by saying no.
4. Stay focused by blocking out distractions.
5. Recharge by scheduling breaks.
6. Boost creativity by starting with creation.
7. Regain clarity by avoiding your phone in the morning.
8. Avoid crashes by not skipping meals or breaks.
9. Release stress by trying journaling.
10. Feel supported by talking to good listeners.
11. Set direction by defining weekly intentions.
12. Preserve energy by tracking your leaks.
13. Stay nourished by prioritizing what fuels you.
14. Protect deep work by batching meetings.
15. Prevent burnout by slowing down now.

Burnout isn’t solved by a 2-week vacation.
It’s prevented by habits that put your mind and body first.
Which habit do you need more of right now?
___
♻️ Save this post for your next reset
💬 Share it with a friend who needs this today

Hetali Mehta, MPH

Strategy & Operations Manager | Founder of Inner Wealth Collective™ | Follow for Leadership, Mindset & Growth

The most successful people do these 3 things:

You don't need to have all the answers to be successful. 

It comes from being brave enough to ask the right questions, take the leap, and figure it out along the way. 

So many of us wait for the perfect moment, the perfect plan, or the perfect answer. 

But here’s the truth: you’ll never have it all figured out from the start.

Real success is about being curious, taking action, and learning as you go. 

It’s about trusting yourself to make bold moves, even when the path ahead isn’t fully clear.

👉 Here are 3 ways to start moving forward today:

1. Ask better questions: Instead of asking, "What if I fail?" try asking, "What can I learn from this?" 

2. Take imperfect action: Waiting for everything to be perfect only leads to missed opportunities. Make that call, pitch the idea, or start the project. 

3. Embrace uncertainty: Success isn’t about having a foolproof plan. It’s about trusting yourself to adapt, grow, and figure it out along the way.

👉 What’s one brave step you can take today? Drop it in the comments and let’s move forward together.

___

♻️ Reshare to inspire someone to take the leap of faith. 
✨ Follow me, Hetali Mehta, MPH for more growth & leadership insights.

This Is What Separates the 1%

Most people wait for the perfect moment but the 1%?

They don’t wait, they act.

A great curation by Cesar Solis.

👉 It’s not about luck.
👉 It’s not about resources.
👉 It’s about MINDSET.

While others focus on why they can’t, the 1% focus on how they will.

🔑 Relentless consistency: They show up when it’s tough, when they don’t feel like it, and when no one else is watching.
🔑 Unwavering vision: They stay laser-focused on their goals, blocking out distractions, and saying no to anything that doesn’t align with their future.
🔑 Continuous learning: They’re always evolving. Every setback is a lesson.

Success isn’t reserved for the chosen few, it’s for those who choose it.

Every. Single. Day.

Ready to think like the 1%?

📺 Watch these 7 Netflix documentaries for a mindset shift:

1. The Mind Explained
2. The Social Dilemma
3. Working: What We Do All Day
4. The Playbook: A Coach's Rules for Life
5. Get Smart With Money
6. The Minimalists
7. Inside Bill's Brain

___

♻️ Repost to help others shift their mindset to the 1%.
✨ Follow me, Hetali Mehta, MPH for more personal growth and leadership insights.

7 Netflix Documentaries to think like the 1%

6 Ancient Greek philosophies for modern success

👉 1. Practice Self-Discipline (Stoicism)
Control what you can, and let go of what you can’t.
↳ Use routines and habits to guide your daily decisions.
——
👉 2. Embrace Lifelong Learning (Aristotle)
"The more you know, the more you realize you don’t know."
↳ Seek knowledge not for a title, but for growth.
——
👉 3. Find Your Purpose (Plato)
True fulfillment comes from aligning your actions with your values.
↳ Ask yourself: “What impact do I want to leave behind?”
——
👉 4. Strive for Balance (Epicureanism)
Avoid extremes; find joy in the simple things.
↳ Balance ambition with rest and gratitude.
——
👉 5. Build Resilience (Heraclitus)
"The only constant is change."
↳ Embrace change as part of growth instead of resisting it.
——
👉 6. Seek Wisdom from Others (Socrates)
Surround yourself with people who challenge and inspire you.
↳ "An unexamined life is not worth living."
——

Timeless wisdom for today’s challenges.
Which of these philosophies resonates with you most?

6 ancient greek philosophies for modern success

"Later" is the biggest lie we tell ourselves.

We always think we have more time but...

The truth is, “later” is a thief. 

It robs us of the now, those opportunities right in front of us that we keep putting off. 

Whether it's a dream you’ve been wanting to chase, a conversation you’ve been meaning to have, or a simple moment of joy...

Don’t wait.

📌 Take action today with these simple steps:

1. Break it down: That big goal you’ve been postponing? Break it into small, manageable steps and do the first one today. Momentum builds from the tiniest actions.

2. Schedule it: The conversation you’ve been meaning to have? Put it in your calendar now. Don’t leave room for “someday”, make it today.

3. Prioritize joy: Even small moments like that cup of coffee or taking a walk can bring joy. Don’t put off the little things, they add up to a life well-lived.

The things you keep postponing could be the moments that change everything.

Don’t wait for “later” to become “too late.”

What’s one thing you’ve been putting off that you can act on right now? 👇

Let’s make the most of today.

___

♻️ Reshare to inspire someone to take action today.
✨ Follow me, Hetali Mehta, MPH for more insights.

Your network is your net worth.

It’s not about the number of connections or how full your contact list is.

It’s about the quality of those relationships.

When you invest in meaningful relationships (the kind where trust, support, and mutual growth thrive), you create opportunities that are far more valuable than any transaction.

Here are three ways to invest in your network:

➡️ Give more than you take. Share insights, lend a hand, or celebrate someone’s wins without expecting anything in return.
➡️ Seek depth over breadth. Focus on nurturing a few meaningful connections instead of spreading yourself too thin.
➡️ Be genuinely curious. Take time to understand people’s goals and passions, it builds trust and fosters stronger bonds.

Some of the best opportunities in my life, professionally and personally, didn't come from cold outreach or sheer luck. 

They came from the relationships I've nurtured over time.

Ask yourself: What’s one way you’ve invested in a meaningful relationship recently? 

___
📌 Want more tips like these?
💚 Join 10,000+ others and get free, weekly insights straight to your inbox on building lasting inner wealth.
Link to sign up below 👇
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Your year won’t be defined by everything you try.
It will be defined by the one thing you don’t back out of.
__

That’s why the most powerful way to create a year-defining year
is to choose one commitment.

Some people call this a misogi.

A misogi is:
 ↳ deliberately hard
 ↳ slightly scary
 ↳ meaningful enough that if you do just this, you’ll know the year mattered
—
So how do you find yours?

Here are a few questions I’ve used in the past to find mine:

1. What’s the one thing you’re avoiding because it would require becoming someone new?

2. If you couldn’t quit halfway through the year, what would you commit to?

3. What effort would make this year feel unmistakably different from the last few?

4. If success wasn’t guaranteed, what would still feel worth attempting?

5. What single commitment would simplify your decisions all year long?

—
And if you’re looking for inspiration, here are a few real-world examples:

↳ Publish 100 pieces of content in 100 days
↳ Have uncomfortable conversations you’ve been avoiding
↳ Pitch yourself to 50 people you admire
↳ Complete 75 Hard
↳ Train for and compete in HYROX
↳ Travel solo to a country you’ve never been
—

Most people spend the year chasing momentum.
The ones who change their life choose one brave thing,
and stay with it longer than feels comfortable.

♻️ Repost if this helped you reflect.

8 habits that take 5 minutes or less

(But Will Transform Your Day) 👇

1️⃣ Start with a 5-Minute Planning Session
➤ Begin your day like a boss, not a firefighter.
➤ Write down your top 3 priorities. Simple but powerful.

2️⃣ Time Block Your Calendar
➤ If it’s not scheduled, it’s not happening.
➤ Block time for focus and breaks.

3️⃣ Use the 2-Minute Rule
➤ Stop overthinking. Start finishing.
➤ If a task takes less than 2 minutes, do it now.

4️⃣ Practice Daily Gratitude
➤ Gratitude rewires your brain for positivity.
➤ Write down 3 things you’re grateful for every morning.

5️⃣ Set “Tech-Free” time
➤ Give your brain a break from doom-scrolling.
➤ Unplug during meals or before bed for better focus.

6️⃣ Take Movement Breaks
➤ Your body wasn’t designed for desk marathons.
➤ Stretch, walk, or just move for a few minutes each hour.

7️⃣ Delegate One Task a Week
➤ You’re not a superhero. You don’t have to do it all.
➤ Hand off one repetitive task to a teammate or tool.

8️⃣ Review Your Day in 5 Minutes
➤ Reflection fuels improvement.
➤ Write down one win and one lesson from today.

The Bottom Line:
Productivity is built on simple habits done consistently.
Which habit are you trying first? 

♻️ Save this post as your personal productivity cheat sheet.
👋 Follow me, Hetali Mehta, MPH for more actionable tips that actually work.

8 Tiny Habits for Big Productivity Wins 

Getting in the room with the right people is step one. 

What you do next is what actually matters.

Here’s my simple 5-step framework to confidently interact, provide value, and make a lasting impression in high-caliber rooms.
___
Step 1: Ask insightful questions that make them think
Super successful people love talking about their ideas, experiences, and challenges, but they’re tired of surface-level questions.
___
Step 2: Offer unique insights (even if you're not the expert)
You don’t have to be a billionaire to contribute, just bring fresh perspectives.
___
Step 3: Be the connector for them
The most powerful people remember those who make their lives easier.
___
Step 4: Own your energy & presence 
It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it.
___
Step 5: Stay on their radar
Getting in the room is one thing but staying in their network is another. The goal isn’t a one-time impression, it’s about building quality connections.
___
📌 Want more tips like these?
💚 Join 10,000+ others and get free, weekly insights straight to your inbox on building lasting inner wealth.
Link to sign up below 👇
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Get in the room with people of ahead of you

Most people focus on big dramatic changes.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The real transformation happens through tiny, specific habits ⁣
⁣
That compound over time.⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣
7 Secret Habits That Will Change Your Life⁣⁣
⁣
1: The 2-Minute Rule Reversal⁣⁣
↳ Delay gratification by exactly 2 minutes before indulging to build willpower.⁣⁣
↳ This micro-delay breaks impulsive patterns that sabotage your progress.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
2: Reverse Networking⁣⁣
↳ Ask people what they need help with instead of pitching what you want.⁣⁣
↳ This makes you the valuable connector everyone remembers and trusts.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
3: Micro-Adventures⁣⁣
↳ Take different routes or try new places weekly to break routine thinking patterns.⁣⁣
↳ Small novelty sparks creativity and prevents you from operating on autopilot.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
4: Constraint Creativity⁣⁣
↳ Deliberately limit your options to force more innovative thinking.⁣⁣
↳ Too many choices paralyze progress.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
5: Teaching Integration⁣⁣
↳ Explain one thing you learned each day to someone else.⁣⁣
↳ Teaching reveals gaps in your knowledge and solidifies new information.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
6: Future Self Visualization⁣⁣
↳ Make decisions by asking "What would me in 5 years from now choose?"⁣⁣
↳ This perspective shift immediately elevates your decision quality.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
7: Energy Auditing⁣⁣
↳ Track what activities and people drain versus energize you.⁣⁣
↳ Energy is the real currency of high performance, not just time management.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Which change will you implement first?⁣⁣
Tell me in the comments!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
💚 Follow Hetali Mehta, MPH and share this with your network. 
👇Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eFSskmyH

7 Secret Habits That Will Change Your Life (Fast)

You sleep 8 hours but still feel exhausted.⁣
⁣
You take breaks but never feel refreshed.⁣
⁣
Here's why: sleep isn't the only type of rest your body and mind need.⁣
⁣
Most people only know one type of rest while ignoring the other six that are equally crucial for restoration:⁣
⁣
1: Physical Rest⁣
↳ Your muscles and joints need passive recovery and active recovery.⁣
↳ Physical exhaustion compounds when you ignore your body's signals.⁣
⁣
2: Mental Rest⁣
↳ Your brain needs breaks from problem-solving and information processing.⁣
↳ Mental fatigue creates brain fog and poor judgment.⁣
⁣
3: Emotional Rest⁣
↳ Being authentic with trusted people instead of people-pleasing constantly.⁣
↳ Emotional exhaustion happens when you suppress feelings too long.⁣
⁣
4: Spiritual Rest⁣
↳ Connect with your goals and why on a deep visualization level.⁣
↳ Spiritual depletion creates emptiness and lack of direction.⁣
⁣
5: Social Rest⁣
↳ Distinguish between relationships that drain versus restore your energy.⁣
↳ Wrong social environments exhaust you.⁣
⁣
6: Sensory Rest⁣
↳ Give your eyes, ears, and nervous system a break from constant stimulation.⁣
↳ Sensory overload creates irritability and difficulty concentrating on simple tasks.⁣
⁣
7: Creative Rest⁣
↳ Expose yourself to beauty and wonder instead of constantly producing content.⁣
↳ Creative burnout happens when input becomes purely functional.⁣
⁣
Which type of rest do you need most right now?⁣

___
💚 Follow Hetali Mehta, for more. 
📌 Share this with your network.⁣⁣⁣⁣
👇Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eFSskmyH

7 Types of Rest That Actually Restore Your Energy

Bad decisions aren't just costly ⁣
⁣
They compound over time.⁣
⁣
The difference between happy people and everyone else isn't luck.⁣
⁣
It's their ability to consistently make choices that align with their goals⁣.
⁣
Not their current emotions.⁣
⁣
Here are 8 decision-making frameworks that eliminate regret:⁣
⁣
1: The 10-10-10 Rule⁣
↳ Ask how you'll feel about this decision in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years.⁣
↳ This time perspective reveals if you're making an emotional or strategic choice.⁣
⁣
2: Values-Based Filtering⁣
↳ Every decision should align with your core values.⁣
↳ When your choices match your principles, regret becomes impossible.⁣
⁣
3: Reversable Choices⁣
↳ Distinguish between decisions you can easily change and permanent ones.⁣
↳ Move fast on reversible choices but take time with irreversible ones.⁣
⁣
4: The Regret Minimization Framework⁣
↳ Imagine yourself at 80 years old looking back at this moment.⁣
↳ Choose the path that minimizes regret from your future self's perspective.⁣
⁣
5: Opportunity Cost Analysis⁣
↳ Every yes is a no to something else - choose the best value option.⁣
↳ The best decisions aren't just good, they're better than all alternatives.⁣
⁣
6: Energy and Intuition Check⁣
↳ Notice how your body feels when you imagine each option.⁣
↳ Decisions that align with your authentic self create energy.⁣
⁣
7: Stakeholder Impact Assessment⁣
↳ Consider how your decision affects everyone important in your life.⁣
↳ Great decisions create value for multiple people.⁣
⁣
8: The Advice Test⁣
↳ Ask what you'd tell your best friend if they were facing this exact same decision.⁣
↳ We often give others clearer guidance than we give ourselves.⁣
⁣
Which framework will you try?⁣
⁣⁣⁣
💚 Follow Hetali Mehta, MPH for more.
📌 Share this with your network.⁣⁣⁣
👇Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eFSskmyH

8 Ways to Make Decisions You'll Never Regret

This is what happens when organizations create space for employees to show up as themselves.

Encouraging employees to post doesn’t dilute a brand, it multiplies it.

This is a perfect example of how employee advocacy fuels both personal growth and company visibility.

Congrats on 10k Aston!

Senior QA Automation Engineer @ Resilience | 3M+ impressions helping testers land automation roles

🎉 10,000 Followers!
 
Here’s How It All Started

Exactly 1 year ago, I was sitting in a quarterly planning meeting at Planoly when something clicked.

We had invited Hetali Mehta, MPH to speak about growing your personal brand on LinkedIn. She broke down the fundamentals of consistent posting, and I was hooked. I’d already been watching peers like Truett Bloxsom post more frequently and wondered if I could do the same.

That day, I posted my first piece of content. I haven’t stopped since.

Here’s what 1 year of posting 6 days a week has brought me:
→ ~9,000 new followers in the QA automation space
→ More than 3 million impressions
→ Countless connections with incredible QA engineers worldwide
→ A full content business process that supports my education platform
→ More learning than I could have imagined from this amazing community

The real win? It’s not the follower count. It’s the conversations, the questions you’ve asked, the wins you’ve shared, and the incredible QA professionals I’ve had the privilege to connect with.

To everyone who’s engaged, commented, shared, or simply followed along: thank you. You’ve made this journey worth every single post.

Here’s to another year of growth, learning, and building together!

I lead and recover enterprise digital transformation and delivery initiatives, with 20+ years of experience across global, matrixed organizations.

I have owned and governed €50M+ transformation portfolios, including ERP modernization, enterprise platform rollouts (SAP, Microsoft), operating model redesign, and AI-enabled programs. My background spans CIO-level transformation leadership, global program governance, and value realization across organizations such as AGCO, Amcor, and Salesforce.

I am typically engaged where transformation efforts are at risk, over-optimistic plans, weak governance, unclear accountability, or programs that have gone live without delivering business results. I specialize in restoring execution discipline, establishing clear decision rights, aligning senior stakeholders, and translating strategy into sequenced, executable delivery roadmaps.

A core focus of my work is ensuring sustained ROI from transformation investments. This includes validating benefit assumptions, embedding value ownership into governance, driving adoption, and maintaining post-implementation performance tracking to prevent value erosion after go-live.

Today, I work in senior leadership, interim, and enterprise advisory capacities with CEOs, CIOs, and executive teams delivering mission-critical transformation initiatives, including enterprise AI adoption at scale. My approach is pragmatic, execution-focused, and grounded in real operating experience.

I focus on what works inside complex organizations, delivering outcomes that stand up to executive and board scrutiny.

Zoltan Szabo

Positions are temporary.
Ranks and titles are limited.
But how you treat people will always be remembered.

I've seen this play out over two decades of leadership.
The VP who dismissed the intern's idea in a meeting?
Still remembered, years later.

The Director who took time to mentor someone two levels below?
Still referenced when they're not in the room.

The Manager who threw their team under the bus to save face?
People don't forget that either.

Your title gives you authority for a moment.
But your character builds your legacy forever.

Titles come and go.
Companies restructure.
Roles change.
But the way you made people feel? That stays.

So if you're climbing the ladder, ask yourself:
Who am I becoming on the way up?

Because the people you pass will remember.
And when you need allies, advocates, or just someone willing to work with you,
They won't remember your title.
They'll remember how you treated them.

Lead like you'll need those relationships later.
Because you will.

I Help Mid-Level Professionals Find Roles And Advance Their Careers At Top Companies | Career & Leadership Coach

Be open to learn, unlearn, and relearn.
This is the mindset that separates leaders who grow from those who plateau.

I've worked with executives across four continents, and the ones who keep rising all share this trait:
They don't cling to what used to work.

Learn — Stay curious. Ask questions. Absorb new perspectives, even when they challenge your assumptions.
Unlearn — Let go of outdated beliefs, processes, and habits that no longer serve you. What got you here won't always get you there.
Relearn — Adapt. Evolve. Be willing to approach the same problem with fresh eyes and updated thinking.

The career landscape is changing faster than ever.
Remote work. AI. Flatter orgs. New leadership expectations.

If you're still leading the same way you did five years ago, you're already behind.
The best leaders aren't the ones who know the most.
They're the ones who stay flexible enough to keep evolving.

It's a full-time job to believe in yourself.
No days off.

Especially when you're job searching and the rejections keep coming.
When you're waiting for the promotion that feels overdue.
When you're leading a team that's doubting the direction.

Self-belief isn't a one-time decision.
It's a daily practice.

Some days, it's easier.
You get a callback.
A compliment.
A small win that reminds you why you're capable.

Other days? It's harder.
The silence is loud. The doubt creeps in. And you start questioning if you're good enough.

But here's what I've learned after two decades of leadership:
The people who win aren't the ones who never doubt themselves.
They're the ones who keep showing up anyway.

Who wake up and choose belief, even when evidence is scarce.
Who build momentum through consistency, not just confidence.

So if you're in a season where belief feels like work,
That's normal.

Keep going.
Keep applying. Keep leading. Keep learning.

Because the version of you that didn't give up?
That's the one who breaks through.

The problem isn’t that people don’t care about their jobs. 
It’s that companies don’t always care back.

You can work late. 
Answer emails at midnight. 
Pick up weekend calls. 
Go above and beyond, every single time.

And still be let go in a 10-minute call with zero warning.

That’s not a performance issue. 
That’s a system issue.

We’ve normalized sacrificing health, time, and family for roles that can disappear overnight.

A job should be part of your life. 
Not the whole thing.

Protect your peace. 
Set boundaries early. 
And never forget: you’re not disposable.

You’re a person, not a position.
Activate to view larger image,

Most leaders don't burn out from working hard.
They burn out from working on everything.

If you want to scale your leadership without losing yourself in the process, here's how:

1. Audit your calendar like it's a budget
Your time is your most finite resource.
→ Action: Block 2 hours this week to review your last month of calendar. Highlight everything that only you can do. Everything else? That's your delegation list.

2. Stop delegating tasks. Start delegating ownership.
Handing off to-dos doesn't free you up. It just creates more check-ins.
→ Action: For one recurring responsibility, assign full ownership, not just execution. Let someone else own the outcome, the decisions, and the follow-through.

3. Build systems, not dependencies
If your team can't move without you, you're not leading, you're bottlenecking.
→ Action: Document one process you repeat weekly. Turn it into a playbook or template others can follow without needing your approval.

4. Protect your strategic time like it's non-negotiable
Reactive work will fill every gap you leave open.
→ Action: Block 3-5 hours per week as "strategic focus time." No meetings. No Slack. Just high-level thinking, planning, and decision-making.

5. Learn to lead through questions, not answers
The more you solve, the more dependent your team becomes.
→ Action: Next time someone brings you a problem, ask: "What do you think we should do?" Let them think through it. Coach, don't rescue.

Scaling your leadership isn't about doing more.
It's about doing less of the right things.

When you delegate ownership, build repeatable systems, and protect your energy for what actually matters,
You don't just survive leadership.
You sustain it.

Follow me for more leadership strategies that help you grow without burning out.

Most professionals think networking is about collecting contacts.
Executive-level networking? It's about building strategic layers of influence.

If you want doors to Director and VP roles to open, you need three distinct networks working together:

Peer Network: Your Rising Allies
These are the people at your level who will rise with you.
When they get promoted, they remember who supported them on the way up.
→ Build 5 strong peer relationships in adjacent functions
→ Schedule monthly check-ins to share wins and challenges
→ Trade insights, offer help, build real trust

Upward Network: Your Executive Sponsors
These are the decision-makers who control access to bigger roles.
They're not just watching your performance—they're advocating for your potential.
→ Identify 2-3 senior leaders outside your direct chain
→ Add value before asking for anything
→ Volunteer for cross-functional work they care about
→ Stay visible without being transactional

External Network: Your Opportunity Pipeline
These are industry contacts, recruiters, and former colleagues beyond your company walls.
When internal doors close, external ones open.
→ Engage with 3-5 external contacts each month
→ Comment on their content, share their insights
→ Stay top of mind so your name comes up when roles open

Here's why this compounds:
Your peer network becomes your referral engine.
Your upward network becomes your advocacy team.
Your external network becomes your safety net and growth path.

Most people only focus on upward networking (impressing the boss).
But the real magic happens when all three layers are working in parallel.

Because promotions don't just come from your manager's approval.
They come from being known, trusted, and recommended across multiple circles.

Start building now.
Not when you need a job. Not when you want a promotion.

And remember to follow me for more career strategies that position you for leadership opportunities.

The 3 Layer Networking Strategy

The best opportunities never make it to the public board.
I wrote about what's broken on the LinkedIn job search and the exact playbook that's working in 2026.
Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eyq6f8Tu

Most managers aren't bad at leadership.

They're just drowning in other people's urgency.

Slack pings. "Quick questions." Last-minute meetings.
By Friday, your week is gone — and somehow nothing important moved.

That's not a workload problem.

It's a leakage problem.

Here's the uncomfortable truth most managers miss:

You don't lose authority by being available.
You lose authority by being reactive.

The strongest leaders I work with don't do more.

They filter, protect, and decide.

One VP I coached reclaimed 12 hours a week — without a single complaint from her team.

That's what I call a Leadership Firewall.

Not walls.
Not distance.
Not disappearing.

Clear rules that protect:
– Your time
– Your energy
– Your decision-making authority

So you can lead without firefighting.

I built a framework for this:

The Leadership Firewall
3 Rules to Lead Without Firefighting

Built for managers who want to:
– Stop reacting all day
– Create real focus time
– Set boundaries without sounding apologetic or unavailable

If you feel busy but not effective…
If your calendar runs you instead of the other way around…
If leadership feels heavier than it should…

This will land.

DM me "FIREWALL" and I'll send it over.

How to Build Relationships With Recruiters That Lead to Actual Opportunities

Most people treat recruiters like vending machines.
They reach out when they need something, then disappear.
And then they wonder why recruiters never think of them when great roles open up.

Here's the truth: Recruiters work with hundreds of candidates.
If you want to be top of mind, you need to build an actual relationship.

Here's how to do it:
1. Respond to recruiter outreach (even when you're not looking)
When a recruiter reaches out on LinkedIn, don't ignore it just because the timing isn't right.
-> Reply with: Thanks for thinking of me. I'm not actively looking right now, but I'd love to stay connected for future opportunities. Here's what I'm interested in long-term...
-> This keeps you on their radar and shows you're professional and open to conversation.

2. Be crystal clear about what you want
Recruiters can't help you if they don't know what you're looking for.
Vague responses like I'm open to anything make you forgettable.
-> Be specific: I'm targeting Director-level operations roles in tech or SaaS companies with 200-500 employees, ideally in hybrid or remote setups.
-> The clearer you are, the easier it is for them to match you with real opportunities.

3. Make it easy for them to sell you
Recruiters are your advocates to hiring managers. Give them the tools they need to position you well.
-> Keep your LinkedIn updated with clear accomplishments, metrics, and impact.
-> When you talk to a recruiter, share 2-3 strong talking points: I've scaled teams from 5 to 30, reduced churn by 40%, and led three successful product launches.
-> The easier you make their job, the more likely they'll push you forward.

4. Stay in touch without being annoying
Don't disappear after one conversation. But don't spam them weekly either.
-> Check in every 3-6 months with a quick update: Hey, just wanted to let you know I recently led X project. Still keeping an eye out for Director roles if anything comes across your desk.
-> This keeps you top of mind without being pushy.

5. Treat them like partners, not gatekeepers
Recruiters want to place great candidates. When you succeed, they succeed.
-> Be responsive. Show up to calls on time. Follow through on what you commit to.
-> If they present you for a role, give them feedback afterward—whether you move forward or not.
-> Build trust by being professional, communicative, and easy to work with.

The best opportunities don't always get posted.
They go to people recruiters already know, trust, and think of first.
Build those relationships now, and you'll have a network working for you when the right role opens up.

Save this post if you're ready to build recruiter relationships that actually pay off.

Your company badge is a piece of plastic.

Your reputation belongs to you.

I just published something for everyone who's been blindsided by a "performance concerns" letter after years of crushing it.

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Hetali Mehta, MPH, CAPM

Zoltan Szabo

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taplio

The Battle

Hetali Mehta, MPH, CAPM

Zoltan Szabo

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);}Hetali Mehta, MPH, CAPM's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreZoltan Szabo's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreHetali Mehta, MPH, CAPM's LinkedIn Performance