In one of the most personal episodes of Epochal Growth yet, I stepped out from behind the interviewer’s chair and took the spotlight to share my own journey—something I realized I hadn’t done in nearly 20 episodes. This solo episode is about empowerment, self-worth, and how I’ve learned to reclaim my power after years of staying quiet.

After countless interviews where I ask my guests to reflect on their current “era,” I realized it was time to share mine. I’m in the era of empowerment, and in this episode, I reflect on what that means for me and how I got here.

1. Understanding the Universe’s Cues

The universe has a funny way of guiding us when we start to listen. In the episode, I talked about how life began opening doors and bringing connections into my world once I started following my own path—one that was way outside of my comfort zone. This podcast, Epochal Growth, was one of those unexpected but rewarding turns. I’d always been a podcast listener, never a host, but sometimes you just have to trust the universe and take the leap.

In reflecting on this journey, I realized that when you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing, the world finds ways to keep you on track. Whether it’s through new responsibilities or surprising opportunities, I’ve learned that following the signs is key to staying true to your own growth.

2. Reclaiming My Power

One of the most important realizations I shared in the episode is how, for years, I gave my power away without even knowing it. Whether it was not negotiating my salary or letting others take credit for my work, I allowed people to define my worth. Looking back now, I see how those decisions, often made out of fear or self-doubt, shaped the trajectory of my career and personal life.

It wasn’t until I started recognizing those patterns that I began to reclaim my power. In the episode, I shared some personal stories of times I was denied promotions or raises despite my hard work. I was told things like, “It would be too much work to replace you,” which I initially took as a compliment. But over time, I realized that these were just excuses to keep me in my place.

3. Learning From Setbacks

One of the biggest lessons from my journey is that setbacks often lead to the most growth. I talked about how, after being underpaid and underappreciated, I started doing the research. I came prepared for conversations about salary with data, job descriptions, and clear evidence of my worth. But despite all my preparation, I was still told “no.” My boss laughed off my carefully prepared argument.

That was a turning point for me. I realized that no matter how prepared you are, sometimes those in power will still make decisions that have nothing to do with your worth. That’s when I began to understand the importance of reclaiming my own narrative—and finding the right spaces where my contributions would be valued.

4. Owning My Space

In this episode, I reflected on how, over the years, I began to step more confidently into roles that allowed me to take up space. I had spent so much time staying quiet, hoping to be noticed, or waiting for permission to be myself. But as I’ve grown, I’ve learned that empowerment means owning your space, speaking up when necessary, and standing firm in your abilities.

Walking into rooms where I know I belong—where I can confidently say, “This is what I bring to the table”—has been a radical shift for me. And in this era of empowerment, I’ve stopped second-guessing myself and started leading with conviction.

5. Empowering Others

Empowerment isn’t just about lifting yourself up—it’s about helping others rise too. In my role as a leader, I’m now focused on empowering the women and professionals around me, especially in the customer experience (CX) space. I talked in the episode about the importance of building teams, creating inclusive environments, and celebrating our own achievements.

Women, in particular, are often told we need to earn our place at the table, and that the criteria for earning it constantly changes. But in this episode, I encourage all of us to stop accepting those arbitrary standards and start claiming the space we’ve already earned.

6. Playing the Long Game in CX

For those in customer experience, I also shared some advice on how to navigate the often-underappreciated work we do. We’re frequently told that our roles are replaceable—that AI can do our job better or faster. But in my experience, playing the long game is how we demonstrate our true value.

By collecting data, understanding trends, and inserting ourselves into the product development conversation, we can show the impact we have in ways that others may not see right away. It’s not about proving anyone wrong; it’s about knowing that you’ve done your part and that your contributions matter.

7. This is My Era of Empowerment

At the heart of this episode is the realization that I am in my era of empowerment. I’ve stopped letting past doubts or external voices dictate my path. I’ve started advocating for myself, lifting others up, and reclaiming the power I spent so long giving away.

In this episode, I invite listeners to reflect on their own journeys—what power have you given away? What space have you yet to claim? I encourage you to start asking questions, stop making assumptions, and step into your era of growth and empowerment.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

1. Reclaim Your Power – Recognize where you’ve been giving your power away and start taking control of your narrative.

2. Own Your Worth – Know your value and speak up confidently, whether it's in salary negotiations or professional settings.

3. Learn from Setbacks – Every challenge is an opportunity to grow and prepare for the next step in your journey.

4. Play the Long Game – In customer experience and beyond, collecting data and recognizing your impact is key to long-term success.

5. Empower Others – Empowerment is not just personal; it’s about lifting others and creating inclusive spaces.

Conclusion: This episode was a deeply personal reflection on what empowerment means to me and how I’ve arrived at this point. I hope that by sharing my story, I can encourage you to step into your own era of empowerment. Whether you’re in customer experience or any other field, know that your voice, your contributions, and your space are worth fighting for.

Let’s stop justifying why we don’t deserve more and start claiming it. Together, we can build something extraordinary.