LinkedIn isn’t social media… but it's the biggest networking room you’re not walking into.

Most people treat LinkedIn like a CV graveyard or a corporate Instagram.

In this episode, we break that myth.

Today, I’m joined by Ashley Leeds, known as The 15 Minute Guy, and we unpack exactly how to build confidence, visibility, and real opportunities on LinkedIn in just 15 minutes a day.

If you’ve ever thought:

• “I don’t know what to post.”

• “I’m not confident enough.”

• “I don’t have enough connections.”

• “LinkedIn feels awkward.”

This episode is for you.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why LinkedIn is NOT social media

• The 15-minute daily habit that changes everything

• How to stop “selling” and start building real relationships

• The 4 biggest profile mistakes killing your visibility

• How to overcome confidence blocks (even if you’re shy)

• What real success on LinkedIn actually looks like

• Why discipline beats motivation every time

Ashley shares practical frameworks, mindset shifts, and simple habits that anyone, especially young professionals can implement immediately.

Ashley Leeds is a LinkedIn trainer, speaker, and entrepreneur known as The 15 Minute Guy. He helps professionals grow their visibility and personal brand by building simple daily habits that compound into real business results.

In this episode:

00:00 – Welcome to The SMARTA Podcast

02:10 – Why LinkedIn Isn’t Social Media

04:30 – Stop Selling. Start Networking.

07:00 – Why Young People Have an Advantage

10:00 – The 15 Minute LinkedIn Routine

14:15 – Engagement vs. Scrolling

18:00 – What Should You Post?

21:40 – The 4 Biggest Profile Mistakes

26:00 – The “15 Minute Guy” Story

31:00 – What Success on LinkedIn Really Means

34:30 – Confidence & The Hula Hoop Theory

37:30 – How to Overcome Self-Doubt

41:30 – Discipline & Showing Up Daily

44:10 – Books That Changed Ashley’s Life

46:15 – Final Advice: What’s the Best That Can Happen?

If this episode resonated with you: do me a huge favor: double-check that you’re subscribed, follow the show, and rate this episode 5 stars.

It’s the single best way to help us bring you more amazing guests and tools to help you live your best life ever.

Now, go out there and make this your best year yet!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist

📖 See Sonia’s books: www.soniamarta.com/books.

📲 Follow Sonia’s Journey linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

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What if the reason you feel stuck isn’t a lack of talent, but a lack of self-awareness?

In today’s episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I’m joined by Betsy Wills, leadership expert, author, and a voice featured in The Washington Post, to explore how understanding your attitude, not just your skills, can completely change the way you lead, learn, and live.

This conversation is about ownership, mindset, and the quiet power of knowing how you show up under pressure. Betsy breaks down why attitude shapes every outcome, how to identify your default patterns, and how small shifts in awareness can unlock confidence, clarity, and better decision-making.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why attitude is a skill, not a personality trait

• How self-awareness changes the way you lead and communicate

• The difference between intention and impact

• How to recognize your default reactions under stress

• Why feedback feels uncomfortable, and why it matters

• How to make intentional shifts without reinventing yourself

Betsy Wills is a leadership coach, speaker, and author whose work focuses on self-awareness, attitude, and leadership effectiveness. Her insights have been featured in The Washington Post, and her research-backed tools are used by individuals and teams worldwide.

📘 When you purchase Betsy’s book directly from her website, you receive a free code to complete the Attitude Assessment, a powerful tool to better understand how you show up and how others experience you.

In this episode:

00:00 – Why attitude shapes every outcome

02:30 – Skills vs attitude: what really matters

05:10 – The moment Betsy realised attitude was the lever

09:40 – Self-awareness and leadership growth

14:20 – Intention vs impact explained

18:50 – Why feedback feels personal

23:10 – Default reactions under pressure

27:45 – Small mindset shifts that change everything

32:30 – Using the Attitude Assessment

37:20 – Advice for students and young leaders

42:00 – Books and tools that shaped Betsy’s work

45:30 – Final reflection on ownership and growth

If this episode resonated with you: do me a huge favor: double-check that you’re subscribed, follow the show, and rate this episode 5 stars.

It’s the single best way to help us bring you more amazing guests and tools to help you live your best life ever.

Now, go out there and make this your best year yet!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist

📖 See Sonia’s books: www.soniamarta.com/books.

📲 Follow Sonia’s Journey linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

Music by epic_musictracks on Pixabay

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Growth starts with awareness.

What if uncertainty isn’t a sign you’re failing, but proof you’re growing?

In today’s episode of The SMARTA Podcast, I’m joined by Brianna Sylver, innovation leader, author of Leading Through Freefall, and a trusted voice featured in The Washington Post. Brianna has spent over 20 years leading organizations through uncertainty, change, and disruption, and today she breaks down what no one teaches you about navigating the moments when everything feels out of control.

In this conversation, we unpack how to stop fighting uncertainty, why clarity is a superpower you claim (not find), and how resistance, self-doubt, and discomfort are actually signals pointing you toward growth.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why trying to control your future is holding you back

• How to lead yourself through discomfort instead of avoiding it

• What “freefall moments” really mean and how to use them

• How to stop shrinking when you hit resistance or self-doubt

• Simple habits to stay grounded, focused, and emotionally resilient

About Brianna Sylver:

Brianna Sylver is a global innovation leader and the author of Leading Through Freefall: How Innovators Turn Turbulence Into Trust. She works with Fortune 50 leaders and teams to help them navigate change, uncertainty, and emotional resistance and turn it into impact.

In this episode:

00:00 – Why the future is never predictable

02:40 – Letting go of control & leading through discomfort

05:00 – The freefall moment that changed everything

09:00 – How clarity becomes your superpower

12:00 – Why comparison quietly destroys confidence

14:30 – Reframing resistance as a gift

19:00 – The biggest mistake young professionals make

24:50 – The emotional side of innovation no one talks about

33:30 – Habits to prepare emotionally for change

38:30 – One small action to regain momentum

42:30 – Why you should read Leading Through Freefall

47:00 – Advice Brianna would give her 17-year-old self

50:30 – The daily ritual that unlocks clarity

If this episode resonated with you: do me a huge favor: double-check that you’re subscribed, follow the show, and rate this episode 5 stars.

It’s the single best way to help us bring you more amazing guests and tools to help you live your best life ever.

Now, go out there and make this your best year yet!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist

📖 See Sonia’s books: www.soniamarta.com/books.

📲 Follow Sonia’s Journey linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

Music by epic_musictracks on Pixabay

https://pixabay.com/music/main-title-epic-drama-113886/

Your story is not over. It’s still being written.