About the show
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.
The People Stack Podcast on social media
Episodes
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Episode 290: Stop Shouting! Why Networking and Marketing Feel Icky To You
January 10th, 2023 | 39 mins 31 secs
careers, coaching, layoffs, leadership, product management, project management, promotion, raises, software development, tech management, technology
Some marketing sounds like SHOUTING! And it’s extremely ineffective.
And, it’s possible YOU’RE doing this when you’re networking to find your next job.
It’s possible YOU’RE doing this when you’re trying to influence your boss.
How do you spot terrible marketing…
…what do you do INSTEAD so that you can build your dream career?
Tune into this episode right now!
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Episode 289: 5 Reasons Why New Year’s Resolutions Will Destroy Your Chances of Creating Your Dream Career in 2023
December 29th, 2022 | 48 mins 40 secs
careers, coaching, layoffs, leadership, product management, project management, promotion, raises, software development, tech management, technology
Forget about making New Year’s Resolutions!
I’m not saying this to be contrarian. I’m saying this b/c it’s the truth.
Why? I give you 5 reasons in this episode…
…and what to do INSTEAD so you can FINALLY see, feel, and experience the reality of your dream career.
Enjoy!
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Episode 288: The Fiction of Time Freedom?
December 8th, 2022 | 39 mins 15 secs
careers, coaching, layoffs, leadership, product management, project management, promotion, raises, software development, tech management, technology
Many tech leaders believe that as you level up in your career, your time freedom goes down.
In other words, in order to be a super successful CEO, COO, CIO, or any other high-level technical leader, you need to be working your ass off 80+ hours a week.
Is time freedom a fiction - as these beliefs suggest?
Or is it an achievable reality?
Check this one out right now!
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Episode 287: Who Are Your Friends? They Could be Making or Breaking Your Tech Career.
November 29th, 2022 | 41 mins 7 secs
careers, coaching, layoffs, leadership, product management, project management, promotion, raises, software development, tech management, technology
Who do you surround yourself with and what is their energy?
This is a critical question to ask yourself, especially if you want to create a tech career full of virtuous & ludicrous joy & prosperity.
In this episode, I help you add even more intention to your choices around connections & relationships - so that you can build your dream career!
Give this podcast a listen right now!
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Episode 286: Stress: The Inevitable & Glorious Gift of Leading
November 15th, 2022 | 40 mins 20 secs
careers, coaching, layoffs, leadership, product management, project management, promotion, raises, software development, tech management, technology
The bold truth is that we all feel stress. And particularly for badass leaders, you might experience stress every day.
And that doesn’t need to lead to struggle.
In words - what if stress is a GIFT?!
Check out this episode right now to embrace this new paradigm.
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Episode 285: Your Torch of Resiliency Amid the Doom and Gloom About Layoffs & The Recession
November 8th, 2022 | 27 mins 14 secs
There’s so much doom and gloom lately about layoffs, the massive recession coming our way, and whatever else the Cult of Fear wants to spew at us.
Here’s your Torch to guide you through this.
Consider it your Guiding Light, your source of strength so that you can build your career - and your life - with power and intention.
Enjoy!
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Episode 284: Quantum Career Leaps Require Quantum Shifts in Thinking
November 3rd, 2022 | 35 mins 4 secs
If you want to move into another dimension career-wise, you cannot keep relying on Old Thinking.
What got you here will not get you there.
In this episode, I invite you to make Quantum Shifts in the way you’re approaching your career so that you can access virtuous & ludicrous joy & prosperity.
Give this one a listen right away!
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Episode 283: Is Working 20 Hours/Week as a Tech Leader a Pipe Dream?
November 1st, 2022 | 37 mins 40 secs
Time is even more valuable than money because time is not renewable.
So, many tech leaders like you want more time.
How do you create luxurious amounts of time freedom while you continue to add immense value?
Give this one a listen right now for my guidance!
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Episode 282: 3 Steps to Accessing Your Confidence as a Tech Leader
October 27th, 2022 | 31 mins 18 secs
“How do I build my confidence?”
Our clients ask us this all the time - whether they realize it or not!
So many challenges you face as a tech leader require confidence.
You want to ace that interview, inspire your team, influence key stakeholders, make a pivotal decision, earn more money…
All of these outcomes require a constant flow of confidence.
How do you tap into that flow?
Watch this episode right now to find out!
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Episode 281: Next-Level Prosperity for Tech Managers
October 25th, 2022 | 34 mins 20 secs
If you want to get to the next level in your tech career, you have to be a match for it.
Whether that next level is $200k/year or $1M/year…
Whether it’s working 20 hours/week or 5 hours/week…
Or if it’s starting your own business or becoming a CTO…
It all starts with you.
Check out this episode for how to create YOUR version of next-level prosperity as a tech leader!
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Episode 280: The Cost of NOT Getting Expert Career Help
November 29th, 2021 | 25 mins 38 secs
Prospective clients often ask us, “How much is it?”
And, because of the human condition, your brain often goes to, “Can I afford to do it?”
I understand why you think that’s a great question.
But I’m going to turn your assumptions upside-down.
What if that’s a terrible question? What if the BETTER question is:
“Can I afford NOT to do it?”
Getting the expert career help you need comes at a cost.
Financial, emotional, lifestyle, physical, spiritual…
The list goes on.
In this episode, learn what it’s costing YOU to try to fix your career without expert help.
Watch now!
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Episode 279: Are you looking for permission to upgrade your tech career?
November 22nd, 2021 | 25 mins 53 secs
I’ve talked with hundreds of tech leaders about what’s next in your careers.
And most of you know - at least generally - what you want.
What’s secretly holding you back? You’re looking for permission to take the next step.
Find out how to overcome this hurdle and others that are stopping you from building your dream career.
Do not miss this episode!
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Episode 278: The #1 Reason Why You’re NOT Earning $200k/year Yet
November 17th, 2021 | 24 mins 9 secs
Why am I stuck at $150k/year or less?
Why have I not gotten that promotion?
Why have I not landed that new job yet?
I know a lot of you are asking, and if you’re open to hearing the truth, I’ll tell you.
It’s because you’re destroying - or weaponizing - the #1 tool that’s available to you as a tech leader.What is that tool and how to turn it into your greatest resource so you can finally build your dream career as a technical leader with ease, flow, balance, and purpose?
Tune in right now!
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Episode 277: Why Bold Urgency is the Key to Upgrading Your Tech Career
November 15th, 2021 | 26 mins 53 secs
A lot of you are stuck in your tech career right now.
And a lot of you want to keep waiting. You want to keep thinking about taking action.
I say this with love as your bold career coach: You need to cut that $hit out right now!
If you want to FINALLY get unstuck, you have to tap into urgency in a powerful, intentional way.
I show you how on this episode so you can stop the insanity of being underpaid, under-recognized, and overworked.
Tune in right now!
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Episode 275: Do you have leadership body odor?
November 3rd, 2021 | 9 mins 9 secs
You know how body odor works, right?
You’re always the last one to know when you have it.
Having a lack of leadership skills works the same way.
In this 5-minute quick shift, I help you to ask yourself if YOU have leadership body odor so that you can approach this uncomfortable conversation with yourself from a place of ownership…
...so that you can take the actions necessary to fix it and finally get recognized for your value as a technical manager!
Check this one out immediately! -
Episode 276: Why Working with a Recruiter is a Terrible Career Strategy
November 1st, 2021 | 22 mins 49 secs
Should you be working with a recruiter to help you land a new job as a tech manager?
Our answer will probably surprise you. It’s a firm “No.”
At least, not right away.
Check out this video to find out why so that you can intentionally take ownership of your career and finally get unstuck while you upgrade your teams, your paychecks - and your life!
Watch this one right away!