
Show Notes
What if the dream you thought you left behind came back when you least expected it? In this powerful video, I share my journey of how I walked away from my dream job at NASA to support a relationship, only to return 25 years later—stronger, wiser, and more determined. This story isn’t just about career progression, it's about perseverance, believing in your worth, and daring to dream even when life doesn't go as planned.
Take $2000 Leadership Growth Assessment - https://dvjkmswy.formester.com/f/kxISU2H1H
Join 7 day Leadership Sprint - https://nblnhiao.formester.com/f/fgBS17zPA
Start 21 day Leadership Acceleration Series - https://dvjkmswy.formester.com/f/dyHbzaC1H
Free Ebooks Resource Hub - https://lindacureton.com/hub/
My Leadership Books - https://lindacureton.com/books/
✨ Learn why it’s never too late to: Reclaim your purpose
Pursue your dream job
Rise into executive leadership
Embrace the courage to start again
👩🏽💻 Plus, I share how taking one small leadership assessment changed everything. Ready to level up your career? 📌 Take the Leadership Test Now → [insert link]📲 Join the community and gain access to personal coaching worth $2000!
00:00 – The job listing that changed everything
00:57 – FREE leadership test that could change your life
01:30 – Why I didn’t want a job (at first!)
02:07 – How NASA recruited me in a gymnasium
02:54 – Leaving my dream job for love
03:34 – Returning to D.C. and rebuilding
04:28 – 25 years later, back at NASA
05:23 – The power of daring to dream
06:09 – Courage and waiting for the right opportunity
06:35 – Final message: You deserve to rise
NASA job story, career comeback, dream job at NASA, women in leadership, executive coaching, STEM careers, how to get hired at NASA, motivational career story, leadership development, Black women in tech
More from The Next-Level Paycheck
Why do some leaders command respect the moment they walk into a room? It isn't because they speak the loudest, dominate meetings, or have the most charismatic personality. It's because they have gravitas—the most important component of executive presence.
Office politics isn't about manipulation. It's about understanding how influence, perception, communication, and power actually work inside organizations.
Executive presence isn’t just about confidence — it’s about how you communicate when things get uncomfortable.
Executive presence isn’t just about confidence — it’s about how you communicate when things get uncomfortable. This is where leaders begin to unlock what I call their $2,000 Leadership Advantage.
Microaggressions in the workplace can damage confidence, culture, and leadership presence — especially when they go unchecked. In this final episode of the microaggressions series, we discuss practical strategies for responding to workplace microaggressions as: • the person experiencing them • the person unintentionally causing them • the leader responsible for workplace culture I share real examples from my leadership career, including how I responded calmly when someone publicly tried to diminish me during a meeting, how email tone can unintentionally create harm, and why leaders must understand context before responding. In this episode: • How to respond to microaggressions at work • Why calm responses are powerful • How to avoid escalating workplace conflict • Email communication mistakes leaders make • Why intent and impact are different • How leaders can educate teams about microaggressions • Workplace politics and subtle power dynamics You’re not stuck because you’re incapable. You’re stuck because you’ve been doing it alone. #Microaggressions #LeadershipSkills #WorkplaceCulture #WomenInLeadership #ExecutivePresence #OfficePolitics #CareerGrowth #InclusiveLeadership