Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos

Are you a leader holding back? What is that costing you? What if you could channel your fear and self-doubt? It’s actually possible. I know, because that’s my story. That’s what the Ignite Your Confidence podcast is all about. It’s for women in leadership who want to speak up and stand out. You’ll find both solo and candid conversations with real people sharing vulnerable stories to inspire you with simple tips to step into your confidence.

Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 199 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos, a business show with 199 episodes published.

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  Episode #199

  How to Command Respect at Work (Without Being the Loudest Person in the Room)

  Aug 12, 202622 min

  Respect isn't something your title automatically earns. It's something people decide through every interaction they have with you. In this episode, Karen shares seven practical communication habits that help you command respect, build credibility, and strengthen your executive presence, without changing who you are. In this episode, we cover: 1. Speak First Don't wait until everyone else has shared their opinion. Contributing early positions you as someone who helps shape the conversation rather than simply reacting to it. 2. Stop Over-Explaining Lengthy explanations often sound like you're seeking permission. Learn how to state your recommendations with confidence and let your expertise speak for itself. 3. Be Clear Before You're Clever Lead with the bottom line first. Clear, concise communication earns trust and helps people make decisions faster. 4. Hold Your Boundaries Respect grows when your words and actions align. Learn how healthy boundaries reinforce your priorities and demonstrate self-respect. 5. Let Silence Do Its Job Confident leaders don't feel the need to fill every pause. Discover why a few seconds of silence can increase your influence in conversations. 6. Make Your Words Match Your Presence Your body language often communicates before your first sentence. Learn how calm, intentional presence reinforces confidence and credibility. 7. Keep Your Word Nothing builds respect faster than consistency. Following through on commitments and communicating early when plans change creates lasting trust. Your Challenge This Week Choose just one of these habits and practice it intentionally: Speak first in your next meeting. Stop over-explaining one recommendation. Pause before filling silence. Hold one healthy boundary. Lead with your bottom line. Walk into the room with calm certainty. Follow through on one commitment exceptionally well. Small communication shifts create big leadership results. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a colleague, leave a review, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Every week you'll learn practical strategies to communicate with confidence, influence high-stakes conversations, and develop your Powerhouse Presence™. Some resources for you: Get 3 Strategies to Speak Up in Meetings here. Project more confidence and credibility with my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: Words to Avoid | Karen Laos My book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/ Connect with me: Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaos official Episodes also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos About me: Many years ago I found myself tongue-tied in a boardroom, my colleagues and executives staring at me. My stomach in my throat, I was unable to get the words out (in spite of being in a senior leadership role). Then, I heard my boss shut down the meeting. My heart sank. I was mortified. She pulled me aside and said, "You didn't trust your gut. You could've tabled the meeting like I did." Why didn’t that option occur to me in the moment? Why did I feel like I needed permission? That was the day I set out to change. I began a journey of personal growth to discover the root of the problem. Once I did, I wanted every woman to experience that same freedom. I’m now on a mission to silence self-doubt in 10 million women in 10 years by giving them simple strategies to speak up and ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond, resulting in more clients, job promotions, and negotiation wins. Companies like NASA, Netflix, Google, and Sephora have been propelled toward more effective communication skills through my signature framework, The Confidence Cocktail™. This is your invitation to step into your most confident self so you can catapult your career! Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Powerful Presence Keynote: How to Be an Influential Communicator.   Get my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: Words to Avoid | Karen Laos   Connect with me: Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial  Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/ Episodes also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos My book “Trust Your Own Voice”:  https://karenlaos.com/book/

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  Episode #198

  How NOT to Ask for What you Want

  Jul 29, 202613 min

  Many people don't miss out on opportunities because they aren't qualified, they miss them because they don't ask effectively. In this episode, you'll learn how to strengthen every request you make. In this episode you’ll get five tips: Be discerning, not pushy. Confidence isn't demanding or entitled. It's knowing when an ask is appropriate, respecting the other person's perspective, and being willing to hear either yes or no with grace. Discernment is what separates confidence from pressure. Don't bury the ask. Stop spending minutes explaining the backstory before you get to what you actually want. Lead with the request, then provide context if it's needed. Don't negotiate against yourself. State your request with confidence instead of discounting yourself before the other person has even responded. Don't confuse hints with requests. Hoping someone picks up on subtle cues isn't the same as asking. Be clear and specific about what you need. Don't let fear choose your words. Replace hesitant language like "I was wondering if maybe..." with clear, confident communication that reflects your value. The biggest opportunities often belong to the people who are willing to ask clearly, confidently, and respectfully. Your next "yes" may be waiting on your next ask. Write a review If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Your reviews help more people find the show and start communicating with greater confidence and ease. Some resources for you: Get 3 Strategies to Speak Up in Meetings here. Project more confidence and credibility with my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: Words to Avoid | Karen Laos My book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/ Connect with me: Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaos official Episodes also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos About me: Many years ago I found myself tongue-tied in a boardroom, my colleagues and executives staring at me. My stomach in my throat, I was unable to get the words out (in spite of being in a senior leadership role). Then, I heard my boss shut down the meeting. My heart sank. I was mortified. She pulled me aside and said, "You didn't trust your gut. You could've tabled the meeting like I did." Why didn’t that option occur to me in the moment? Why did I feel like I needed permission? That was the day I set out to change. I began a journey of personal growth to discover the root of the problem. Once I did, I wanted every woman to experience that same freedom. I’m now on a mission to silence self-doubt in 10 million women in 10 years by giving them simple strategies to speak up and ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond, resulting in more clients, job promotions, and negotiation wins. Companies like NASA, Netflix, Google, and Sephora have been propelled toward more effective communication skills through my signature framework, The Confidence Cocktail™. This is your invitation to step into your most confident self so you can catapult your career! Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Powerful Presence Keynote: How to Be an Influential Communicator.   Get my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: Words to Avoid | Karen Laos   Connect with me: Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial  Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/ Episodes also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos My book “Trust Your Own Voice”:  https://karenlaos.com/book/

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  Episode #196

  The Courage to Be Disliked (Part 1)

  Jul 1, 202612 min

  How much of your life is driven by the need to be liked? In this episode, I'm sharing why the courage to be disliked is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. When you stop seeking everyone's approval, you make room for confidence, authenticity, and the kind of leadership that earns respect. You'll walk away with five practical strategies to help you speak up, set boundaries, and trust yourself—even when not everyone agrees. In this episode, you'll learn: Ask yourself, "What's the cost of being liked?" Before staying silent or saying yes when you mean no, consider what it's costing you—your confidence, opportunities, time, energy, or credibility. Build evidence that you'll survive. Challenge yourself to do one uncomfortable thing each week, whether it's setting a boundary, asking for what you want, or sharing your opinion. Confidence grows through action. Notice your approval habits. Pay attention to the moments you over-explain, apologize unnecessarily, soften your message, or stay quiet to avoid disappointing someone. Get comfortable hearing "no." The more you practice asking for what you want, the less you'll fear rejection—and the more resilient and courageous you'll become. Remember that people recover. Most people move on much faster than we imagine. You don't have to carry the weight of managing everyone else's reactions. If you've been waiting for permission to stop people-pleasing and start trusting yourself, this episode is for you. Favor If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review on Amazon or wherever you listen. Your reviews help more people find the show and start communicating with greater confidence and ease. Some resources for you: Get 3 Strategies to Speak Up in Meetings here. Project more confidence and credibility with my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: Words to Avoid | Karen Laos My book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/ Connect with me: Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaos official Episodes also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos About me: Many years ago I found myself tongue-tied in a boardroom, my colleagues and executives staring at me. My stomach in my throat, I was unable to get the words out (in spite of being in a senior leadership role). Then, I heard my boss shut down the meeting. My heart sank. I was mortified. She pulled me aside and said, "You didn't trust your gut. You could've tabled the meeting like I did." Why didn’t that option occur to me in the moment? Why did I feel like I needed permission? That was the day I set out to change. I began a journey of personal growth to discover the root of the problem. Once I did, I wanted every woman to experience that same freedom. I’m now on a mission to silence self-doubt in 10 million women in 10 years by giving them simple strategies to speak up and ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond, resulting in more clients, job promotions, and negotiation wins. Companies like NASA, Netflix, Google, and Sephora have been propelled toward more effective communication skills through my signature framework, The Confidence Cocktail™. This is your invitation to step into your most confident self so you can catapult your career! Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Powerful Presence Keynote: How to Be an Influential Communicator.   Get my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: Words to Avoid | Karen Laos   Connect with me: Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial  Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/ Episodes also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos My book “Trust Your Own Voice”:  https://karenlaos.com/book/

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  Episode #195

  How to Build Relationships Through Networking

  Jun 17, 202616 min

  While it can feel awkward for some, it doesn’t have to! In my book, networking is about building meaningful relationships. Listen for six simple, powerful networking strategies to help you connect authentically, deepen relationships, and create opportunities that actually lead somewhere. Whether you're attending a conference, industry event, or meeting someone new over coffee, these practical tips will help you network with confidence and intention. The truth is, the best networkers aren’t the people working the room or talking the most, they're the people building real relationships. In this episode, I’m sharing 6 practical networking strategies that have helped me build genuine connections, create opportunities, and stay top of mind with the right people. Here’s three of the tips below: 1. Show interest. Ask questions. Be curious. People remember how you made them feel. Instead of thinking about what to say next, focus on learning about them. Ask thoughtful questions, listen deeply, and get genuinely curious about their story, work, and goals. 2. Be of service. One of the best networking questions you can ask is: “How can I support you?” or “Who can I connect you with?” Relationships grow faster when you lead with generosity instead of asking, What can I get from this? 3. Take a picture + save their number immediately. This may sound unconventional, but it works. Take a quick photo together so you remember who they are, put their contact information into your phone right away, and send a quick text while you're standing there. This makes follow-up easier and increases the likelihood that the connection actually continues. Key Takeaway: The best networking isn’t transactional, it’s relational. Be curious, be generous, find connection, and don’t wait to follow up. Small actions today can turn into meaningful relationships and unexpected opportunities tomorrow. If this episode resonated, share it with someone who wants to build stronger relationships and bigger opportunities through authentic connection. Favor If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review on Amazon or wherever you listen. Your reviews help more people find the show and start communicating with greater confidence and ease. Some resources for you: Get 3 Strategies to Speak Up in Meetings here. Project more confidence and credibility with my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: Words to Avoid | Karen Laos My book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/ Connect with me: Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaos official Episodes also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos About me: Many years ago I found myself tongue-tied in a boardroom, my colleagues and executives staring at me. My stomach in my throat, I was unable to get the words out (in spite of being in a senior leadership role). Then, I heard my boss shut down the meeting. My heart sank. I was mortified. She pulled me aside and said, "You didn't trust your gut. You could've tabled the meeting like I did." Why didn’t that option occur to me in the moment? Why did I feel like I needed permission? That was the day I set out to change. I began a journey of personal growth to discover the root of the problem. Once I did, I wanted every woman to experience that same freedom. I’m now on a mission to silence self-doubt in 10 million women in 10 years by giving them simple strategies to speak up and ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond, resulting in more clients, job promotions, and negotiation wins. Companies like NASA, Netflix, Google, and Sephora have been propelled toward more effective communication skills through my signature framework, The Confidence Cocktail™. This is your invitation to step into your most confident self so you can catapult your career! Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Powerful Presence Keynote: How to Be an Influential Communicator.   Get my free tips: 9 Words to Avoid & What to Say Instead: Words to Avoid | Karen Laos   Connect with me: Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial  Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/ Episodes also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videos My book “Trust Your Own Voice”:  https://karenlaos.com/book/

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  Episode #194

  The Perfect Comeback: What to Say to Condescending or Awkward Comments

  Jun 3, 202614 minS0

  <p>Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking, "I wish I had said something"?</p> <p>Whether it's a condescending remark, an inappropriate comment, or a socially awkward moment that catches you off guard, knowing what to say in the moment can feel impossible. In this episode, I share practical, powerful responses you can use to navigate uncomfortable conversations with confidence, without becoming defensive, escalating the situation, or shrinking yourself.</p> <p>You'll learn simple phrases that help you maintain your authority, set boundaries, and protect your peace when someone says something that leaves you speechless.</p> <p>...

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