Inside the Promotion Room artwork

Careers · Courtney O'Connell

Inside the Promotion Room

by Courtney O'Connell

Inside the Promotion Room is a career advancement and leadership podcast for corporate professionals who want to get ahead. Because, there's a conversation happening right now in a room somewhere in your company about who's getting promoted next, and you're not in the room. Most people never are. Inside the Promotion Room is the show that changes that. Every week, host Courtney O'Connell (a former Fortune 500 SVP and Head of HR with 23 years inside corporate America) sits down with senior leaders, executives, and career trailblazers to pull back the curtain on what really happens when talent gets assessed, careers get made, and promotions get decided. This isn't a show about working harder. It's a show about working smarter and understanding the unwritten rules that separate high performers who plateau from the ones who rise. Each episode goes inside the real stories: the pivotal moments, the relationships that changed everything, the mistakes that almost derailed great careers, and the hard-won wisdom that most leaders only share behind closed doors. What you'll hear every week: → How leaders actually climbed the ladder (and not the polished version - We go deep!) → What decision-makers are really looking for in up-and-coming talent → The role of executive presence, visibility, and reputation in getting ahead at work → How successful people navigated setbacks, politics, and work-life reality → The conversations that happen in rooms you're not in and how to make sure your reputation is clear and deliberate Inside the Promotion Room is for every high-achieving leader who is ready to become the undeniable choice for that next big opportunity.

Latest episodes

Showing 14 · updated from the feed

What Executive Presence Really Means (and How to Play the Corporate Game) with Shari Chernack

What does executive presence actually mean and how do you navigate the corporate game without becoming someone you're not? In this episode of Inside the Promotion Room,

Sep 29
46 min

What Gets You Promoted? Darrell Fincher-Crusan on the Truth About People-Pleasing and Career Pivots

Courtney reconnects with a former Bank of America colleague for a conversation that goes further behind the promotion room door than most. Darrell spent nine years as a b

Sep 22
47 min

Mandy Wong on being coachable, self-mastery, and rising through corporate leadership

Mandy Wong on being coachable, self-mastery, and rising through corporate leadershipCourtney speaks with Mandy Wong, a Canada Post leader with 15 years in the same organi

Sep 15
47 min

Ben Brooks on getting hired, standing out, and taking the initiative to create the career you want

My conversation with Ben Brooks focuses on how to create opportunity, prove hunger, and become the person a boss would fight to keep. In this episode, Ben shares specific

Sep 8
37 min

Michelle Martin on Self-Belief, Office Politics, and the Real Path to Promotion

Michelle Martin's career didn't start in a boardroom. It started as a temp garbage collector at a waste management company in Hamilton, Ontario, a job she took because sh

Sep 1
56 min

Richard A. Hinton on Career Growth, Intuition, and Leading With Authenticity

Richard A. Hinton on career growth, intuition, and leading with authenticityCourtney sits down with Richard A. Hinton for a candid conversation about his path from early

Aug 25
42 min

Personal Branding at Work: Control Perception & Build Authentic Leadership With Lisa Williams

 Personal Branding at Work: Control Perception & Build Authentic Leadership with Lisa Williams Key topics: Lisa's diverse career trajectory, from collections at a bank

Aug 18
35 min

Grit, Influence, and Boundaries: How to Get Promoted Faster With Denise Moss

Denise Moss climbed from bank teller to VP of HR, but not before spending years stuck at the director level, watching less-qualified peers get promoted around her. In thi

Aug 11
37 min

The Leadership Skills AI Can Never Replace With Former CIO Michael Kubit

What if the biggest thing holding you back from your next promotion isn't your technical skills… but how people experience you as a leader? Today's guest is Michael Kubi

Aug 4
34 min

From Art to Tech Leadership: A Journey of Courage, Growth, and Authenticity With Lauren Newton

In this inspiring conversation, Lauren Newton shares her unconventional career path from art school to senior leadership in HR and recruiting. Her story highlights the im

Jul 29
53 min

Career Advice from a CHRO: Kacy Wickenhauser on Resilience & Trust-Building

In this episode, Kacy Wickenhauser shares her inspiring journey from aspiring ER physician to CHRO in the energy industry, highlighting the importance of resilience, auth

Jul 29
36 min

From Hollywood Extra to HR Leader: The Power of Storytelling With Patrick Sutton

Patrick Sutton shares his inspiring journey from Hollywood extra to HR executive emphasizing authenticity, storytelling, and strategic influence in career growth. In thi

Jul 29
49 min

Unlocking Authenticity and Resilience in Your Career with Colleen Lauria

In this episode, Colleen Lauria shares her inspiring journey of embracing her authentic self in the workplace, navigating mental health challenges, and building a fulfill

Jul 29
39 min

The Trailer

I spent 23 years inside Fortune 500 companies, the last decade as SVP and Head of HR sitting in the rooms where promotion decisions actually get made. I've watched talen

Jul 23
2 min

Chart positions

Where Inside the Promotion Room ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 8, 2026).

#107 NEW Careers US

More podcasts like Inside the Promotion Room

Popular shows in Careers, for your next listen.

Browse charts by category

Daily updated Apple Podcasts rankings for the United States.

About Inside the Promotion Room on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Inside the Promotion Room, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

Contact

Questions or issues? Reach us at hello@reason.fm

0:000:00