The Career Diet Podcast

Are you waiting to feel completely "ready" before going after the senior-level roles and high-tier salary you actually want?
It might surprise you, but I wasn't always the confident person I appear to be today. From psyching myself up just to make a phone call to my ski coach, to completely freezing up in front of a room full of people during business school, I had to build my confidence from the ground up.
In this episode, I am pulling back the curtain on my own career journey to share the pivotal mindset shifts that helped me get to where I am today.
If you are waiting for the "perfect" moment to finally feel ready for your next big career leap, this episode will challenge how you think about self-doubt, competence, and success.
What you’ll discover in this episode:
The reality of "natural" confidence (spoiler: it’s not what you think).
Why waiting to feel ready is the fastest way to stay stuck.
The uncomfortable, necessary experiences that actually build resilience.
How to stop letting fear dictate your next move.

Ready to land your next senior $150K+ role in weeks, not months?
Book a free strategy call with us to narrow down what’s breaking down in your senior job search, what exactly needs to change, and how we can help.
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecareerdiet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabelyaeva/

In this episode, I share exactly how to strategically block your calendar so you stop job searching only "when you feel like it."
What You’ll Learn:
Why job searching while employed gives you a strategic advantage and less pressure.
How to build a non-negotiable schedule that works with your actual daily energy levels.
The exact difference between vague tasks and the concrete goals required to land a multi six-figure role.
How to plan your sessions ahead of time so you never waste an hour just scrolling open roles.
Why you must focus your limited time on just two main priorities: networking and interview prep.

Ready to stop guessing and get a detailed plan with specific goals?
Book a call with us to explore if the Start Canada program is a fit for you

Welcome back to The Career Diet Podcast! If interviews have ever felt like high-pressure auditions where you’re being judged, it’s time to change your approach. Interviews aren’t about convincing someone to hire you—they’re about having a real conversation and deciding together if the fit is right.
In this episode, I’m sharing what most job seekers don’t realize about the interview process, how hiring managers are really thinking, and how to reclaim your confidence before you even walk in the door.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
✅ How to shift the power dynamic and show up as a confident collaborator
✅ Why interviews are mutual evaluations—not one-sided tests
✅ What’s going on behind the scenes for hiring managers (and how it helps you)
✅ The mindset shift that changes everything about how you interview
✅ Three powerful journaling prompts to help you feel grounded and in control
🚀 If you're ready to stop doubting yourself and start showing up as the star candidate you are, this episode is for you!
Want to master the interview process once and for all? Enroll in Master the Interview 2.0 and gain lifetime access to the tools, frameworks, and practice you need to shine in every interview: https://thecareerdiet.com/the-star-candidate/
Ready to take action towards your dream 6-figure career? Book a free call with my team today, and let’s explore how we can support your career journey: https://thecareerdiet.com/podcast-call
Ready to become the candidate every hiring manager wants? Enroll in the Star Candidate Program today! Click here to join: https://thecareerdiet.com/the-star-candidate/
Follow The Career Diet on Instagram: @thecareerdiet
Connect with me on LinkedIn: Anna Belyaeva
Find more resources on my website: The Career Diet

Are you an ambitious female professional struggling to finally break into a VP-level role?
In this episode, I interview Katy McFee—former executive VP, Forty Under 40 recipient, and certified executive coach—about how she spent five years stuck in a director role before turning her corporate career around.
You’ll hear how she shifted from a reactive employee mindset to an intentional executive presence, stopped getting trapped in day-to-day execution, and learned to communicate with true authority to land her first VP and EVP roles.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Why outworking your team and relying on hustle stops working once you aim for senior leadership.
How to conduct a calendar and task audit to carve out two hours of protected time for deep, strategic thinking.
Why your communication style and asking for approval might accidentally signal that you aren't ready for the VP title.
How to stop bringing problems to your manager and start presenting firm, executive-level recommendations instead.
The importance of creating a stakeholder map to build strategic visibility and influence beyond your direct boss.

About Our Guest:
Katy McFee is a former executive (VP/EVP), Forty Under 40 recipient, and host of the More Women Promoted podcast. As a certified executive coach, she's helped hundreds of women transition to, and thrive in, senior leadership.
Drawing from her own challenging path to the executive suite, Katy is dedicated to closing the gender gap by helping women step into senior roles with confidence and authenticity.
Katy has been featured in Business Insider and has published multiple articles about women and leadership in Forbes.com as a contributor.
Take Katy’s free assessment to see how close you are to being VP-ready:
Follow Katy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a/

Connect with me:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecareerdiet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabelyaeva/

Are you trying to balance a full-time role with a serious job search? Or dreaming about making a big career move — like relocating internationally or landing a leadership role — but not sure how to actually make it happen?
In this episode, I interview David about how he landed a leadership offer in under 6 months that took him from the U.S. to Switzerland — without applying — while navigating a busy full-time role and major personal life changes.
You’ll hear how he used the intentional networking strategy he learned inside The Star Candidate Program, met his future hiring manager five months before the offer was made, and navigated informal visits instead of traditional interviews to land the right fit.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Why applying one role at a time wasn’t creating enough traction
How David treated his job search like a strategic sales pipeline
How he made time for a serious job search while working full-time
Why intentional networking helped him break into a niche international market
How he met his future hiring manager five months before the offer was made
Why senior-level interviews often look like informal conversations, visits, and relationship-building
How David used an Impact Preview Deck to show his value before receiving an offer
Why he turned down the first offer — and how that led to a better

Ready to build a strategic job search pipeline and start creating real opportunities?
Book a free strategy call with my team to dive into your goals today.
Connect with me:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecareerdiet/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annabelyaeva/