This week on Empowered & Out, we’re talking about masking — the daily ways LGBTQ+ professionals shape-shift in order to stay safe, be accepted, or just get through the day. Maybe you’ve done it for years without even realizing. Or maybe you feel the tension every time you log into Zoom, walk into a team meeting, or chat by the coffee machine.

If you’ve ever walked into work and thought — “How much of me is safe to bring into this room?” — this episode is for you. Let’s take that first step together.

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified LGBTQ+ Life Coach, Empowering LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies to Find their Purpose, Rediscover True Happiness, and Build Unshakeable Confidence and to Land Careers where they finally feel free to be their Authentic Self!

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBTQ+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table.

If you’re ready to level up your career, build confidence, and navigate the workplace with Pride, You’re in the right place!

Now enrolling: The Empowered & Out Coaching Program, by JMB Coaching LLC.

This program is for LGBTQ+ professionals who are ready to stop shrinking and start thriving.

You’ll get support with career clarity, confidence-building, job search strategy, and living your truth—without compromise.

If you're feeling stuck or ready for a shift, let’s talk.

Message me directly at jonathan@jmbcoachingllc.com and say Empowered to start our conversation.

Your next bold step starts here.

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Facebook: @JMBCoachingLLC

This week on Empowered & Out, Coming out holds the potential for deeper connection. When we choose to share our truth, we often invite others to do the same. We show them it’s okay to be real. We can build trust, empathy, and community in ways we can’t if we’re constantly editing ourselves. It’s messy and layered. It’s okay to want safety and authenticity at the same time. It’s okay to feel fear and hope. You don’t have to pick one. Both can coexist. And let’s name that these fears don’t exist in a vacuum.

For folks who are BIPOC, disabled, immigrants, or navigating other marginalized identities, coming out at work intersects with all of those layers. It can amplify risk and complicate choices even further. So if you’ve felt this weight, you’re not weak. You’re real. And you’re not alone.

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified LGBTQ+ Life Coach, Empowering LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies to Find their Purpose, Rediscover True Happiness, and Build Unshakeable Confidence and to Land Careers where they finally feel free to be their Authentic Self!

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBTQ+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table.

If you’re ready to level up your career, build confidence, and navigate the workplace with Pride, You’re in the right place!

Now enrolling: The Empowered & Out Coaching Program, by JMB Coaching LLC.

This program is for LGBTQ+ professionals who are ready to stop shrinking and start thriving.

You’ll get support with career clarity, confidence-building, job search strategy, and living your truth—without compromise.

If you're feeling stuck or ready for a shift, let’s talk.

Message me directly at jonathan@jmbcoachingllc.com and say Empowered to start our conversation.

Your next bold step starts here.

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Facebook: @JMBCoachingLLC

This week on Empowered & Out, we’re joined by the incredible Jane Klein, an internship coach and dear friend. As a former corporate leader with over 30 years of experience in IT management, digital transformation, and business strategy. Jane has taken all of her insider knowledge and turned it into actionable coaching for college students — teaching them how to land competitive internships and step into the workforce with confidence and clarity.

In this episode, we’re breaking down what employers really want, how students can build professional networks that open doors, and why standing out is about much more than just having a strong GPA. Get ready — Jane is bringing the kind of advice every early career professional needs but rarely gets.

Connect with Jane:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeaklein/

https://www.facebook.com/conklein/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/internships101

Jonathan Barbe is a Certified LGBTQ+ Life Coach, Empowering LGBTQ+ Professionals and Allies to Find their Purpose, Rediscover True Happiness, and Build Unshakeable Confidence and to Land Careers where they finally feel free to be their Authentic Self!

Empowered & Out is more than just a podcast about career advice—it’s a movement. A celebration of LGBTQ+ professionals stepping into their power, owning their worth, and showing the world exactly what we bring to the table.

If you’re ready to level up your career, build confidence, and navigate the workplace with Pride, You’re in the right place!

Now enrolling: The Empowered & Out Coaching Program, by JMB Coaching LLC.

This program is for LGBTQ+ professionals who are ready to stop shrinking and start thriving.

You’ll get support with career clarity, confidence-building, job search strategy, and living your truth—without compromise.

If you're feeling stuck or ready for a shift, let’s talk.

Message me directly at jonathan@jmbcoachingllc.com and say Empowered to start our conversation.

Your next bold step starts here.

Find me on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmbarbe

TikTok : @jmbcoachingllc

Instagram : @jmbcoachingllc

Facebook: @JMBCoachingLLC