The People Stack Podcast
Jen Bunk
We explore the intersection of Tech Leadership & Dream careers. We do this by creating inspiring podcasts - including interviews with amazing individuals in the tech leadership space.
Dr. Jen Bunk earned her Ph.D. in I/O Psychology (a.k.a. The Science of Work). She is a retired Associate Professor and an accomplished speaker & researcher. As the CEO of the People Stack, she’s used her decades of experience to coach hundreds of tech leaders to create their dream careers - and the dream lives that go with them.
Rob Allen (Jen’s husband) is a 20+ year software industry veteran who moved from IC to Leadership in 2010, where the focus has always been on helping the technical folks who worked for him live their best lives. In 2019, he broadened that to the tech community as a whole by joining Jen full-time at The People Stack as her Co-CEO.
Dr. Jen Bunk earned her Ph.D. in I/O Psychology (a.k.a. The Science of Work). She is a retired Associate Professor and an accomplished speaker & researcher. As the CEO of the People Stack, she’s used her decades of experience to coach hundreds of tech leaders to create their dream careers - and the dream lives that go with them.
Rob Allen (Jen’s husband) is a 20+ year software industry veteran who moved from IC to Leadership in 2010, where the focus has always been on helping the technical folks who worked for him live their best lives. In 2019, he broadened that to the tech community as a whole by joining Jen full-time at The People Stack as her Co-CEO.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 23, 2020 • 21min
Episode 111: Your Career (and your life) In Uncertain Times
We’re living in times of uncertainty. A light has been shined on the things that we cannot control.
How do we shift our focus so that we can empower ourselves - and others - to continue to make an impact and be the leaders we know we’re meant to be?
Please pay careful attention to this episode!
Mar 18, 2020 • 19min
Episode 110: Why intelligent, motivated tech managers have a hard time earning career wins
Did you ever notice that your intelligence is holding you back?
Do you overthink things to the point of analysis paralysis?
If so, this is exactly why you’re stuck in your tech career right now.
And the way to get unstuck is to continue to make intelligent decisions while you ALSO tap into your intuition.
Ready to discover how intelligence + intuition = tech career success?
Check out this episode now!
Mar 16, 2020 • 21min
Episode 109: Your Intelligence is the Biggest Barrier to Upgrading Your Tech Career
You’re intelligent. I know you are. You wouldn’t have made it this far in your tech career if you weren’t.
But what if I told you that your intelligence is the biggest barrier holding you back from commanding a $200k+ salary as a tech manager?
What if your greatest strength is turning into your greatest weakness?
Want to learn how to leverage the power of your intelligence without over-using is so that you can finally earn the career wins you deserve?
Do not miss this episode!
Mar 11, 2020 • 22min
Episode 108: The Curse of Under-Recognition
If you’re feeling under-recognized at work, it can feel like a curse.
It keeps happening over and over again and you can’t break the cycle.
Who do you need to kiss up to so that you can earn the praise you deserve?
What magic words do you have to chant to your boss so he advocates for you?
What secret ritual do you have to perform so that you FINALLY earn the raise and promotion you’ve been going after?
Here’s the truth: You don’t need to “kiss up” to anyone. And there’s no magic or secret.
There are, however, a set of actions you need to take that most tech managers fail to do.
Find out what they are in this episode!
Mar 9, 2020 • 19min
Episode 107: Why did he get a promotion and I didn’t?!
“That guy can’t even manage his way out of a paper bag, why did he get the promotion?”
“That gal has way less experience and skills than I do. Why does she get to be part of the boss’s in-crowd?”
It’s frustrating, I get it. I’ve been there too. Actually, on all sides - playing the role of the under-recognized team member, the team member who gets all the recognition, and the leader who decides who gets limited resources.
Want to learn the strategies and shifts to make so that you can finally be the one that’s recognized for your wins - without throwing anyone under the bus?
Do not miss this episode!
Mar 4, 2020 • 22min
Episode 106: “Selling and self-promotion are evil.” Is that REALLY true?
One of the main blockers most of our clients encounter to effectively and consistently evangelizing their excellence is their beliefs about sales.
Because evangelizing is, after all, selling.
Beliefs like: Selling is evil. To sell is to be selfish. Selling is destroying the planet!
Are these beliefs REALLY true?
Want to discover how to reframe your perspective on selling so that you can finally self-promote from a place of integrity and authenticity - so you can FINALLY get recognized for all of your hard work as a tech leader?
Check out this episode!
Mar 2, 2020 • 28min
Episode 105: I’m scared to evangelize my excellence. Help!
You know intellectually that you need to evangelize your excellence in order to get recognized.
And yet..you’re not doing it.
Because you’re scared.
Want to learn how to get over the fear of self-promotion & owning your worth so that you can FINALLY earn the recognition that you deserve as an intelligent, committed tech manager?
Do not miss this episode!
Feb 26, 2020 • 26min
Episode 104: Why delusional optimism is AWESOME for your tech career!
Change is the only constant.
Whether you like it or not, the world around us is changing.
You can complain and whine about it…
Or you can go with the flow and embrace the change so that you can build a career and a LIFE that right now may seem delusionally optimistic…
But you KNOW that with the best systems, strategies, and support you can create it.
Want to learn how to thrive in a rapidly changing world WHILE you live a life that inspires others?
Check out this episode!
Feb 24, 2020 • 24min
Episode 103: " Work Smarter & Not Harder” is No Longer Enough
I know you’ve heard this hundreds of times and you may even be following this principle in your life.
It’s not entirely wrong - but it’s not enough anymore.
Here’s the truth: Because the tech world is changing so quickly, if you don’t change your principles to keep up with the change, you’re going to stay stuck in the past.
Your CAREER is going to stay stuck in the past. You’re going to keep earning yesterday’s salary and making yesterday’s impact.
Ready to build a career based on the reality of rapid change so you don’t get left in the dust?
Tune in for this episode!
Feb 19, 2020 • 20min
Episode 102: Why workplace politics are the invisible barrier keeping you from making more of an impact as a tech leader
Workplace politics can be tricky. Thorny. Nebulous.
They’re like this invisible barrier constantly surrounding you at work - and it often creeps into your home life too.
Personality clashes, people trying to get access to limited resources, coworkers not acting with integrity.
These are the very real challenges you face as a tech leader.
How do you overcome them so you can get what you want in your career - and get your team what they want - without stopping to the same level as your not-so-virtuous colleagues?
Don’t miss this episode!
