Advising ambitious women to find & exhibit their confidence using science-backed principles ✨ Confidence Coach | Career Coach | Public Speaking Coach | Corporate Communication Trainer | Speaker

If you’re a woman who wants to feel self-assured, make your authority obvious, stop people-pleasing, have a great boss, fair pay, advance your career, and communicate confidently—while being yourself—I can help.

You’ve tried job searching and “leaning in,” but customizing every resume, networking endlessly, and “faking it 'til you make it” isn’t working. You’re *burnt out.*

Five years ago, I was in the same place—compromising who I was in a corporate “bro culture,” passed over for roles, underpaid, ignored, and working for a toxic boss. 

I researched relentlessly and found science-backed principles that worked. Before I could use them, I was fired—right at the start of COVID.

That’s when I chose a new path: helping women master the communication skills I once lacked—skills that have since transformed 100+ careers.

My Job Search Accelerator Program cuts job search time from 6–12 months to 3 months for 88% of clients. My Secret Confidence Code helps women feel consistently confident, even 12 months after completion.

Why it works: Unlike other coaches, I use strategies backed by research and scientific evidence.

HOW TO WORK WITH ME:

✅ 1:1 or Group Coaching – For female professionals who want to identify great cultures, be heard, stop people-pleasing, and feel confident.
✔ "Lori coached me to embrace my who I am as an individual, improve my interview skills, & be unapologetic in the workplace." - Abbey O.
✔ “I found a job in less than a month after searching for months.” – Rich B.
✔ “I doubled my pay and got $18K more than expected.” – Crystal L.
✔ “I went from Specialist to Director with a $30K raise and a standing ovation for my TEDx Talk.” – Stephanie T.

✅ Corporate Training – Most recently, I ran a workshop for Meta (Facebook) and trained TED Talk speakers. I help teams:
• Improve communication 🗣
• Moderate meetings 🎤
• Hold attention 👏
• Increase influence 🤝
• Give better feedback 🤝
• Portray confidence ⭐

✔ “Great session—learned techniques to increase professional influence.” – Salina D.

📅 Ready to stop the burnout? Book a free consultation: https://meet.brevo.com/lori-potts/strategy-call-20

Confidence Coach | Women’s Career Coach | Communication Coach | Public Speaking Coach | Communication Trainer | Training Facilitator | Job Search Coach | TED/TEDx Coach

Lori T. Potts

Keep speaking the truth ladies, even when others feel uncomfortable. It’s how we make progress. 💙

Stop people-pleasing & live authentically | Science-backed coaching for ambitious women ✨88% of clients land interviews in 3 months or less | Career, Public Speaking & Confidence Coach | Corporate Communication Trainer

Order The Devil Emails at Midnight 😈💻🕛 On a mission to fix what’s broken at work | Wall Street Journal & USA TODAY & LA Times Best Selling Author | Thinkers 50 Radar List | Workplace Strategist | LinkedIn Top Voice

We are not intimidating. We are confident. We aren’t mean. We are direct, we get to the point quickly. We don’t have time to waste.

We speak the truth without shrinking. 

Because we aren’t afraid of the truth.

We have nothing to hide.

We voice our concerns for ourselves and for others.

We offer differing points of view to try and make the outcome stronger.

Others can mistake our clarity for attitude when they aren't used to this level of authenticity.

They call us entitled, arrogant, overconfident, too much, and a whole host of other labels which are absolutely laughable.

Our presence isn't the problem; their comfort is the problem.

When we move with confidence in our workplaces, 

Their insecurities quickly become exposed.

And we don’t apologize for our expertise and our experience and our genius.

We keep moving forward.

They can sit in their discomfort.

Because it’s not our job to make them comfortable.

#leadership #culture #MitaMallick 

Image credit: found on Instagram

If you’re not valued or appreciated you’re just in the wrong environment! Create a plan and get out!

I stayed for the big title. I stayed because it was a “big brand name” on my resume. I stayed because I was promised a promotion.

I stayed for the paycheck.

I stayed because I thought they would finally get rid of the bully boss.

I stayed because I thought if I just worked harder it would get better.

I stayed for that bonus.

I stayed because I was afraid of what my friends and family would say if I left.

I stayed because I was scared. 

I stayed because my job had become my identity.

I thought it was better to just survive the chaos then try something new.

And more.

Until you realize 

You have to love yourself enough

To start to make the plans
To craft the exit strategy 
To ask for help 

To remove yourself from workplaces and work relationships 

Where you are no longer 
valued or appreciated or respected.

So why do you think we stay?
Why did you stay?

#leadership #culture #MitaMallick 

Image credit: YVETTE_ALOE

How your people-pleasing is showing up in your job interviews—especially in the words you choose.


It sounds “professional” on the surface, but it quietly gives away your power.

Here are a few common people-pleasing interview phrases you may be using—and what to say instead:

Instead of:
“I’m pretty flexible, I can really do whatever the team needs.”
Try:
“I do my best work when expectations are clear, and these are the areas where I add the most value.”

Instead of:
“I don’t have a lot of experience with that, but I’m a fast learner.”
Try:
“I haven’t owned that yet, and here’s how I’d get up to speed quickly.”

Instead of:
“I just helped out where I could.”
Try:
“I was responsible for X, and the outcome was Y.”

Instead of:
“I’m open to whatever compensation makes sense.”
Try:
“Based on the scope of the role and market data, I’m targeting a range of X–Y.”

Instead of:
“I don’t really have any questions, everything sounds great.”
Try:
“I’d love to understand how success is measured in the first 90 days.”

Instead of:
“I’m happy to take feedback.”
Try:
“I work best with direct feedback—can you share how feedback is typically given here?”

People-pleasing in interviews isn’t about being kind.
It’s about staying safe.

But interviews aren’t a performance—they’re a 2-way conversation—where you’re ALSO deciding if they’re a fit for YOU. 

The goal isn’t to be chosen at any cost. It’s to choose *each other.*

When you shift your language, you shift how you’re perceived—
from agreeable to grounded,
from eager to confident,
from “hoping to be picked” to evaluating alignment.

That’s not arrogance.
That’s self-trust.

If you want to stop people-pleasing and start living more authentically, take up space, and own your power, follow me for more.

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Are you unknowingly undermining yourself with your people-pleasing communication habits? 

Take a listen to my most recent podcast interview on The Human Connection Podcast and see if any of the habits you have are hindering your credibility. Thanks for having me Karl Pontau!

View company: The Human Connection Podcast

Your leadership team sounds insecure and they don't even know it.

Just talked to Lori T. Potts—communication coach who's helped 80% of her clients land interviews in 3 months (in THIS job market, no less)—and she dropped a truth bomb that's going to make you squirm.

You know that executive on your team who ends every statement like a question? The one who says "right?" after every sentence? The VP who apologizes before sharing an idea in meetings?

Yeah. They sound like they're questioning their own expertise. And your clients? They're picking up on it.

Here's the brutal reality:

The likability trap is real, and it's killing your women leaders' credibility.

Not because they're not brilliant. Not because they don't have the answers. But because they've been conditioned since childhood to communicate in ways that undermine their own authority.

Lori told me about a guy starting a business whose friends kept telling him to "sound more confident." He was CONFUSED. He felt confident! Turns out he was uptalking—ending every sentence with a subtle question inflection—and didn't even know it.

Subtle. But deadly.

For women? It's 10x worse. Because assertive communication gets labeled "aggressive" or "cold" while the same behavior from men gets praised as "decisive leadership."

Cool cool cool. Love that for us. 🙄

But here's where Lori gets practical:

You need to balance warmth AND competence. Not one or the other. Both. Or people won't give you opportunities, won't see you as capable, won't feel comfortable working with you.

Her advice for women getting interrupted in meetings? Try this:

"Thanks so much for your perspective, George. Let me finish. Then you can hop in."

Warm. Clear. Doesn't apologize for taking up space.

My favorite story: Lori's husband works with mostly women in behavioral analysis. He started saying "I accept your apology" every time someone said "sorry" unnecessarily. It's sarcastic, it's funny, AND it works.

Because when you say "sorry" before speaking up, you're literally apologizing for using your voice. For being there. For existing in that meeting.

Stop. Doing. That.

For you execs trying to build high-performing teams in Health Tech and MedTech? Your communication blind spots are costing you talent, credibility, and revenue.

Record yourself in your next meeting. Listen back. Count the "ums," the "likes," the question inflections on statements, the unnecessary apologies.
You'll be horrified. Good. Now fix it.

Episode dropped today. Lori breaks down the specific habits undermining your credibility, how to get out of the likability trap, and why focusing on what you CAN control (your communication) matters more than raging against broken systems.

Link in comments.

#KarlTheBridge

P.S. If you just thought "this doesn't apply to me," congratulations—you're exactly who needs to listen to this episode. Self-awareness is the first step, and you clearly don't have it yet.

Too direct. Too intense. Too opinionated.


I was born unafraid to say what everyone was thinking—but afraid to say out loud.

As a kid, that honesty got labeled as too much.

So I learned to soften it.
Package it.
Ask for permission before telling the truth.

That habit didn’t disappear in adulthood—it just followed me into work.

Holding back in meetings.
Editing myself in interviews.
Saying what felt “safe” instead of what was true.

And here’s what I see now, especially with women in their careers:

The very instinct that makes you insightful, strategic, and perceptive is often the first thing you’re taught to silence.

But leadership doesn’t come from saying the right thing. It comes from saying the necessary thing.

The shift isn’t becoming louder.
It’s becoming less afraid of your own clarity.

If you’ve ever been told to “tone it down,”
this is your reminder: your voice was never the problem.

✨ What truth have you been editing lately?

ecliggott@ellencliggott.com

I write and edit content for clients to help them educate prospective customers, spread the word about their products and services, and generate web traffic, leads, and sales. 

Content types include case studies, white papers, articles, and blog posts.

Some of my clients include: 
• Alira Health (life sciences/pharma/biotech/medtech consultancy)
• Kyruus Health (care access platform for hospitals and health systems)
• Laudio (intelligent platform for frontline healthcare leaders)
• Linus Health (healthtech/medtech)
• Cascade (environmental services)
• Creative Influence (marketing consultancy to B2B services firms including civil engineering, tech, biotech)

Specific therapeutic areas in healthcare include:
• Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
• Orthopedics
• Nuclear medicine
• Rare diseases

Specific topics in healthcare:
• Patient engagement
• Real-world evidence
• Medtech contract manufacturing and regulatory landscape
• Biologics and advanced therapies
• Robotic-assisted surgery
• Biosimilars
• Antibody-drug conjugates
• Health technology assessments
• Market access in the US and EU
• Nurse management, engagement, and retention
• Health system leadership
• Care access

Specific topics in engineering:
• Civil
• Environmental
• Transportation
• Facilities management

One client said, "Ellen's ability to translate any topic or message into a customer's common language is truly a gift."

View my portfolio below under Projects. Contact me at ecliggott@ellencliggott.com.

Freelance Content Marketing Writer and Editor

Cape Symphony

Transitioned to part-time position focused on writing after pandemic epiphany. Created engaging and persuasive written content that increased awareness of the Cape Symphony's activities, motivating consumers to purchase concert tickets and register for educational programs.

• Planned and wrote a weekly email newsletter.
• Wrote and published the weekly blog and other web content as needed.
• Developed and executed on public relations strategy and programs. 
• Wrote copy for box office materials, including subscriber renewal brochures, subscriber acquisition brochures, ticket sales collateral, and direct mail pieces, and for all print advertising and radio scripts, as well as for concert descriptions, program book notes, and fundraising materials.

Public Relations & Marketing Writer

Develop and execute on initiatives to increase public awareness and promote the organization’s positive image in the community. Create and launch an integrated marketing strategy, including an enhanced digital presence (corporate web site, social media, and email marketing programs), content marketing program, and public relations program.

• Define and execute a digital marketing strategy to attract relevant audience. Launched new web site at capesymphony.org in June 2017 to drive ticket sales, enhance brand, strengthen SEO, and improve overall user experience. From 2015 to 2019, the number of sessions increased by 76%, the number of users increased by 66%, pages per session increased by 81%, and the average session duration increased by 64%. Launched Google AdWords and Facebook ad programs to drive traffic. Launched and write weekly blog series. Established regular cadence for and write weekly email newsletter. 
• Develop and implement media strategies that promote a positive public perception for the orchestra, actively seeking coverage for the full spectrum of orchestra activities and speaking engagements for conductor and Symphony leadership. Secure an average of 109 media placements and issue an average of 20 press releases a year.
• Write all copy for creative materials, including brochures, direct mail, programs, signage, and advertising.
• Develop subscription renewal, new subscription, and single ticket sales campaigns and direct the successful management of the box office, including monitoring and analyzing ticket sales. From 2016 to 2019, ticket sales increased by 13% and in 2019, sales reached $1.5 million for the first time.
• Set brand standards and maintain the quality and consistency of branding and messaging, including working with staff to ensure consistent delivery of messages relating to Cape Symphony’s mission.

Director of Marketing

Monarchy of Wit

PROJECTS
Client: Accruent, Austin, TX, offers comprehensive facilities and real estate management systems 
• Wrote eight white papers for use in demand generation programs
• Developed seminar agenda and wrote campaign copy 
• Created webinar content for “Establishing an Ongoing Facilities Capital Planning Program”

Client: Cape Cod Wildlife Collaborative, Barnstable, MA, 12 local partners that protect wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation, science, advocacy, habitat conservation, and education
• Promoted Cape Cod Wildlife Festival through social media and PR program – exceeded goal of 500 attendees
• Achieved a 20% increase in Facebook Likes 
• Created and managed Facebook promotions resulting in a combined 4.35% CTR and a 3.74% Action Rate
• Wrote press release and placed article in the Barnstable Patriot
• Secured interview with “Barnstable This Morning” community television 

Client: CareCloud, Miami, FL, a leading provider of modern, cloud-based software and services for medical practices
• Developed a dozen client case studies: included interviewing physicians and practice managers, writing content, and creating landing pages and emails for campaigns.
• White Paper – “Is It Time to Move Your Practice to the Cloud?” 
• Article – “How to Expand Your Medical Practice: Five Tips That Can Change Your Business”
• Article – “Improving Practice Profitability: Three Questions to Ask Today”

Client: Elbow Grease Marketing for Hubcast, Greater Boston, MA, a global print on demand solution (acquired by Mimeo)
• Blog Series and White Paper – “Print is Not Dead” 

Client: Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative, Springfield, VT, works with high schools to facilitate online courses for students across Vermont and beyond
• Marketing Audit – conducted in-depth study of current  practices, marketing programs, and competitive landscape, and provided detailed recommendations for impactful changes.
• White Paper – “Connecting Vermont’s Learning Community”

Owner

Lucidea

• Conducted in-depth marketing audit and provided detailed analysis with both strategic and tactical recommendations. 
• Developed a social media strategy to increase web traffic and demand generation, as part of an overall shift towards inbound marketing.
• Created a set of buyer personas for use in sales training, segmentation, SEO, and content marketing.

Marketing Consultant

Maximized awareness, brand position and revenue by crafting strategies and providing tactical direction to customer conferences; collateral and sales tools; digital presence (including corporate web site, social media and web marketing programs); and public relations program. Built, coached, and mentored a high-performance team of four marketing professionals in a fast-paced environment. Administered annual $800K budget. Evaluated the effectiveness of programs through specific metrics, and reported to executive leadership. 
• Defined and executed a web marketing strategy to attract relevant audience through digital content. Launched new web site 12/13 to enhance brand, SEO, points of conversion, and overall user experience.  VFA’s web presence contributed 12% of monthly webinar registrations in 2014, vs. 2% in 2013.
• Elevated meaningful content and conversion points on the social media platforms to drive brand awareness, web traffic, and ultimately demand generation.  
• Conceptualized and executed on various content formats across the customer's buying journey, including white papers, case studies, webinars, videos, infographics, customer and VFA executive presentations. 
• Ensured that VFA received effective exposure in trade publications, local and regional press; drove strategic messaging and promoted high-profile VFA staff and customers. Successfully secured 33 media placements in 2014, including writing/editing 13 feature articles, and issued 30 press releases.
• Produced two annual conferences for 75+ customers, including agenda development and speaker management for 20+ speakers. 
• Managed the VFA brand across markets and locations for consistency with overall firm strategy.

Director of Marketing Communications

Comverse

Supported the expansion and optimization of company’s global footprint – working in cooperation with international marketing team and managing integrated marketing communications activities such as trade shows, customer events, webinars, and e-marketing to foster a consistent, strong brand image throughout North and Latin America. Led the fulfillment of sales goals by designing cutting-edge strategies and communications tools, defining customer messages, and ensuring strong event turnouts. Supervised team of two marketing communications professionals.

NMS Communications

• Developed and executed outbound communication strategy for telecommunications products and services.
• Prepared, communicated, and updated written annual marketing communications plan, including new product launches, promotion of annual customer conferences, and other activities within a budget of $1,500,000 annually.
• Developed marketing messages and copy including web site content, case studies, brochures, and advertisements (print and electronic).
• Promoted and managed monthly webinar program, resulting in an average response rate of 2.23% for webinar invitations, and a show rate of 22%.
• Created and managed demand generation marketing activities. 
• Edited monthly customer electronic newsletter with a response rate of 5%.
• Reported qualitative and quantitative results of programs and provided ROI analysis.
• Managed staff of four, including a graphic designer, web master, marcom specialist, and editor.

Marketing Communications Manager

Cross Country Automotive Services

• Managed the development of a new corporate Web site for provider of private-label roadside assistance programs, working closely with market division leaders to articulate the company’s new direction and describe products and services, with emphasis on positioning the company’s wide variety of capabilities.
• Developed materials for relaunch of Acura Roadside Assistance program to increase the understanding of Acura dealers and, ultimately, the satisfaction of Acura customers.
• Worked with diverse team to create materials for a test in select AutoZone stores of a roadside assistance program branded for AutoZone.
• Created correspondence for membership fulfillment, renewals, and customer acquisition for American Express, BMW, and other clients.
• Created new membership benefits brochure for Farmers Insurance customers to increase customer awareness and usage of the Farmers roadside assistance program.

Data Translation

• Developed and managed all aspects of marketing communications, including advertising, e-mail marketing, public relations, trade shows and web site, for manufacturer of data acquisition, imaging and machine vision software and hardware. 
• Planned and executed marketing programs, working closely with product marketing and sales, in support of strategic company goals.
• Generated leads in support of sales department goals – in the first six months of 2003, doubled the number of leads over 2002.
• Successfully launched new products with targeted editorial and advertising campaigns, resulting in new leads.
• Created a series of e-mail marketing campaigns in 2003, with a 5.3% average response rate. 
• Implemented cost-savings measures which resulted in successful reduction of annual marketing budget expenses from $1,000,000 to $500,000.
• Managed staff of four, including a graphic designer, web master, public relations specialist and media placement/event coordinator.

FutureTense, Inc.

• Created marketing collateral, advertisements, and direct mail promotions for developer of Internet infrastructure software.
• Created PowerPoint presentations for sales, marketing, and partner programs.
• Researched print and online media and placed advertising. 
• Developed trade show signage and managed production process.
• Managed relationships with external vendors including graphic designer, PR agency and commercial printer.

Marketing Communications Specialist

Pressured to generate web traffic and qualified leads? Juggling demands from sales and CXOs? Understaffed and pressed for time? Your challenges as a marketer are clear to me because I’m a former marketing director who owned brand awareness, digital presence, and above all, lead generation. One of my clients said, "Ellen is a seasoned marketer with a clear understanding of how vital content is for a company's success and an ability to quickly grasp the needs of the business." 

When we partner up to create valuable content that educates prospective customers and spreads the word about your products and services, you’ll increase web traffic, downloads, leads, and sales. Another client said, “Ellen is a terrific content writing resource and professional. She’s always fast and flexible in her approach and, most important, listens carefully and infuses her work with original, non-obvious thinking that helps the content stand out."

The longform content that results from our collaboration includes:
•	blog posts
•	case studies
•	byline articles
•	thought leadership
•	white papers
•	reports 
Visit the Projects section of my LinkedIn profile below to see samples of my work.

A client said, "Ellen is a fantastic writer and, perhaps more importantly, an excellent interviewer with a sense of storytelling and business acumen." I’ll quickly get up to speed on your products, services, and markets and collaborate with your marketing team and subject matter experts. Another client said, "The pieces Ellen developed blended technical science with readability and takeaways for the potential customer."

My clients include:
•	Alira Health (life sciences/pharma/biotech/medtech consultancy)
•	Laudio (intelligent platform for frontline healthcare workers)
•	Linus Health (healthtech/medtech solutions)
•	Kyruus Health (provider search and scheduling for healthcare organizations/hospitals)
•	Cascade (environmental services)
•	Creative Influence (marketing consultancy to B2B services firms including civil engineering, tech, 	biotech)
•	Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce (provides resources, connections, and support to local businesses)

To sum it up, I’ll turn to another client: "Ellen delivers impactful copy for all kinds of content. I am extremely impressed by her writing skills, attention to details, and impeccable quality of her work." 

Do you want to have a "fantastic experience” working with a “true collaborator"? Let’s talk about how the content we produce will help you meet your goals! Contact me at ecliggott@ellencliggott.com.

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Lori T. Potts

Ellen Cliggott

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The Battle

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Ellen Cliggott

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);}Lori T. Potts's LinkedIn Performance

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