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 158: Make a decision! Right now!
September 2nd, 2020 | 30 mins 15 secs
How would you respond if someone told you to make a decision - right now!!??
Probably not so well.
You’d at least contract or cringe a bit.
But, if you want to live your dream right now, don’t you need to embrace the cringe?
On this episode, I talk about how to make decisions as a technical leader that will help you build a high-performing team AND a high-performing life.
Check this one out - right now! ;)
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Episode 157: Live Your Dream Now!
August 31st, 2020 | 22 mins 52 secs
I have an entrepreneur friend. His name is Norbert and he’s one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met.
I’ll share more details of his story in the podcast. The gist of it is:
He started his business with his wife, they were living the dream every day.
Then she passed away suddenly.
Through his grief, he came out on the other side with unbridled joy.One of my favorite Norbert quotes is, “Live your dream NOW!!!”
What does this mean for you and your tech career?
Check out this episode to find out!
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Episode 156: All we do is win, win, win!
August 26th, 2020 | 24 mins 24 secs
We’re on a winning streak here at The People Stack!
Every day, clients are celebrating all of their successes, big and small.
Really, there are no “small” success because each one stacks up to create amazing results.
In this episode, I ready through DOZENS of our recent client wins from our internal Slack group.
Get ready for a massive dose of inspiration!
Check it out right now!
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Episode 155: The proof is in the pudding
August 24th, 2020 | 24 mins 24 secs
How do you know if a brownie recipe is good and that the chef knows what she’s doing?
The proof is in the pudding! ;)
It’s the same thing with us. I know you want proof that our systems work and that we can REALLY help you transform your tech career.
Wait no more. Here’s your proof - in the form of the outstanding results our badass tech manager clients are creating right now!
Check this one out immediately!
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Episode 154: Bank account balance = self-worth?
August 19th, 2020 | 28 mins 12 secs
One of our clients had a major breakthrough this week that I want to share.
It’s given her an extraordinary shift in perspective and I know that many of you will benefit from hearing about it.
It’s about money.
The meaning of money.
And how it’s often connected to our self-worth.
If you have ANY negative money beliefs - and we ALL do - you’re gonna wanna catch this episode.
Get ready to unlock a new way of seeing money, wealth, and value so that you can show up as the amazing tech leader you are…
..while you reap the financial rewards with humility.
Check out this episode right now!
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Episode 153: These uncertain times are when champions are made
August 17th, 2020 | 26 mins 31 secs
Every day, I’m hearing from clients and friends about layoffs, downsizing, forced furloughs, and zero financial resources.
To say that we’re living in uncertain times is an understatement.
We need another level worse than uncertainty: foreboding, suffering, nail-biting uneasiness
And this time, my friends - this is the time that champions are made!
Ready to take on that new perspective so you can see the world right now with a completely new set of glasses?
Do not miss this episode!
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Episode 152: Am I ready to get help?
August 12th, 2020 | 36 mins 40 secs
When you’re facing career challenges, the urge may be to solve it on your own.
But, at some point, you look for help. And that can take the form of talking to another human - preferably an expert.
But, how do you know you’re ready to talk to another person about your career troubles?Maybe it would be better to just keep trying to solve it on your own?
I talk about these important questions in this episode.
Check it out right now!
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Episode 151: What’s it like to work with a coach?
August 10th, 2020 | 30 mins 23 secs
I just had a conversation with someone who was genuinely curious how it works to work with a coach.
He wants to land a job as a Director of Engineering. And he wanted to know how I’ll help him do that.
My knee-jerk reaction is: “Well, I wave my magic wand and POOF!”
But, of course, that’s not anywhere near the truth.
Want to find out what it’s REALLY like to work with a coach so you can find out how they might help you build your dream tech career.
Do not miss this episode!
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Episode 150: Coping with extraordinary career struggles
August 5th, 2020 | 35 mins 22 secs
More than ever, we’ve been talking with tech managers who are coping with extraordinary career struggles.
Out of work for months on end and if they haven’t declared bankruptcy yet, they’ll have to.
Stuck in a dead-end job and, every day, it feels like a little piece of them is dying inside.
On top of that, they’re dealing with massive health and relationship issues too. Hospital beds and divorces are part of these stories.
How do you cope with these extraordinary career and life struggles?
I talk about how and - even more importantly - how NOT to do that in this episode.
Tune in right now!
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Episode 149: Are you ready to compete?
August 3rd, 2020 | 16 mins 58 secs
Let’s be real for a moment: Right now, there is more competition for tech leadership jobs than ever.
There is more competition for raises and bonuses than ever.
We are sailing through a massive storm together and the only tech leaders who are going to win are the ones who are ready to compete.
In this episode, I talk about what it takes to compete for jobs and bonuses in the tech world right now - and what you need to do to be one of the winners.
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Episode 148: Wasting your time with experts
July 29th, 2020 | 16 mins 54 secs
Are you sick of wasting your time trying to learn from the so-called experts?
You spend hours reading their books, watching their TED talks, doing your best to apply their information…
But you’re not seeing measurable results.
You still haven’t gotten that raise, that promotion, that new job that you’ve been wanting.
In this episode, I talk about why this is so common and how to get the help that will result in measurable progress in your tech career.
Don’t miss this one!
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Episode 147: Experts who can’t help you
July 27th, 2020 | 32 mins 43 secs
How do you achieve your dreams?
Work with an expert!
But what do we mean by “expert”?
And can all experts REALLY help you?
In this episode, I help you find the exact expert help that YOU need - so you can reach your career goals faster than you thought possible!
Check it out right now!
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Episode 146: How much is your time worth?
July 22nd, 2020 | 26 mins 42 secs
Have you ever considered how much your time is worth?
You could do the standard [what I get paid] / [# of hours].
This will give you your hourly rate.
But there’s more to it than that.
Because in order to feel like all of the challenges of upgrading your career are worth it, you have to take a different approach.
You have to consider the intangibles that will not come out in a standard mathematical equation.
Ready to own ALL of your worth so that you feel inspired to take on the journey of career transformation with determination, confidence, and joy?
Check out this episode now!
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Episode 145: Is all this hard work worth it?
July 20th, 2020 | 29 mins 47 secs
“It’s not worth it!”
We hear this a lot from people who reach out to us for help.
They’re working their butts off, they’re committed to excellence, they’re making valuable contributions…
And yet - it doesn’t feel worth it.
Because they’re not getting rewarded. They’re not getting recognized. They’re not getting paid at a level to match those contributions.
How do you make it worth it so that you can upgrade your career, your teams, your paychecks, AND your life?
Do not miss this episode!
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Episode 144: Dreaming is irresponsible & selfish
July 15th, 2020 | 24 mins 33 secs
Is dreaming irresponsible and selfish? If can sometimes feel that way…
Especially now, when we know that so many people in the world are suffering through the fear and the hate.
Some days, dreaming feels wrong. And simply getting out of bed and taking a shower is a win.
However, connecting to your dream - and creating it - is the only way to move forward.
In this episode, I talk about how to do that - even when every fiber of your being resists.
Do not miss this one!
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Episode 143: Escape the negativity vortex, build your dream
July 13th, 2020 | 25 mins 8 secs
There is a lot of negativity going around right now.
A lot of fear, doubt, uncertainty, hatred, anger, and blame.
How do you ensure that this doesn’t affect your ability to make an impact?
The only way to escape such a powerful negative vortex is to focus on something so profoundly positive and uplifting, it’s almost as if the vortex disappears.
What to focus on?
Tune in right now to find out!