Your Last Potato

Unapologetic Confidence: Owning Your Power at Work

How can women own their power unapologetically and make confidence their superpower?
 
In this episode of Your Last Potato, Abda Rothman speaks with Randa Ahmad, who shares insights from her 27-year career in the male-dominated water sector, about navigating challenges and thriving by embracing unapologetic confidence.
 
🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• The psychology of workplace dynamics: Understanding that businesses consist of people with individual differences is crucial. Just as with family, finding common ground is essential.
• The Power of Male Allies: Discover how male colleagues can serve as mentors, while recognising potential competition among women and the importance of women empowering each other.
• Strategies for Handling Challenges: Learn to address unfair challenges by seeking advice from mentors and colleagues to ensure fairness.
• Investing in Yourself: Understand the significance of mental and emotional investment in your career, and learn to prioritise efforts based on the return.
• Leadership vs. Management: Empower others to succeed through leadership, with a focus on continuous learning and adaptation.
• Building Inner Confidence: Counter negative self-talk and imposter syndrome by building inner confidence and self-belief, understanding that external validation alone is insufficient.
• Asserting Authority: Learn strategies for handling pushback and confidently asserting authority in leadership roles by assessing team dynamics and addressing issues effectively.
• Setting Boundaries: Appreciate the importance of setting boundaries and taking credit for your work to protect your energy and own your contributions.
• Leveraging Resources: Utilise available resources and tools for leadership and career development, such as coaching platforms, networking communities, and mentors.
 
💡 Coffee Confessions Segment:
Randa highlights how being a leader can make team members insecure and the importance of empowering them by building bridges and addressing issues as a group, as well as recognising the need to lead and manage different individuals in different ways.
 
📌 Actionable Takeaways & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
• BetterUp: A coaching platform connecting professionals with certified coaches.
• Mind Tools: Resources offering a variety of articles for personal development.
• LinkedIn Learning: Resources for leadership and career development.
• Mentors: The importance of finding mentors within your work sphere.
 
Randa emphasises the importance of strong leadership skills and empowering those around you, advocating for leadership development among young people. The episode concludes with a reminder that confidence is about owning your power and showing up as your authentic self without apology.

Mastering Risk: Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity

Risk is everywhere—so how do you manage it, embrace it, and turn it into an opportunity?
In this episode of Your Last Potato, we sit down with Kiril Manin, a seasoned risk manager specializing in non-financial risks, to break down what risk management really means, why it’s a growing career field, and how to navigate uncertainty in business and life.
🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✅ What risk management is and why it matters in today’s world✅ The different career paths in risk and how to find the right fit for you✅ Top certifications (FRM, PRM, CISA) that can boost your career✅ How to build career capital in risk management and stand out in the field✅ Real-life case studies—including a shocking Hollywood Ponzi scheme—and lessons in due diligence & fraud prevention
💡 Coffee Confessions Segment:We break down the case of Zach Horwitz, an aspiring actor who pulled off a $650 million Ponzi scheme by faking Hollywood film distribution deals. What went wrong, and what risk management steps could have prevented this massive fraud?
📌 Actionable Takeaways & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
GARP – Financial Risk Manager (FRM) certification
PRMIA – Professional Risk Manager (PRM) training & resources
IRM – Risk management qualifications across industries
Coursera & LinkedIn Learning – Courses in risk, compliance, and cybersecurity
Risk.net & Harvard Business Review – Latest insights in risk management
RMA & LinkedIn Groups – Networking opportunities for risk professionals
Scamfluencers - Podcast with 'stories of the world's most insidious Scamfluencers'.
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When You’re Passed Over for Promotion: Turning Setbacks into Career Capital

Ever worked hard, delivered results, and expected to move up—only to be passed over for a promotion? It’s frustrating, even disheartening, but here’s the good news: a setback like this doesn’t have to derail your career. In fact, it can be a stepping stone to something even greater.
In this episode of Your Last Potato, we explore why promotions don’t always go as planned, the role of visibility, skill gaps, and workplace politics, and most importantly—how to turn career setbacks into career capital.
🔹 What You'll Learn in This Episode:✅ The top reasons why people get passed over for promotions✅ How to seek constructive feedback and turn rejection into growth✅ Strategies to build leadership skills and enhance visibility in the workplace✅ Real-life examples of professionals who turned setbacks into career-defining moments✅ Practical steps you can take today to position yourself for your next opportunity
Joining me is Yusra Ahmad, a seasoned professional who has navigated career challenges, pivoted successfully, and will share insights on bouncing back stronger.
💡 Coffee Confessions Segment:What happens when you go on sick leave, only to return and find out your colleague has been promoted over you? We break down this real-life workplace dilemma and discuss strategies for handling unexpected career setbacks.
📌 Actionable Takeaways & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
LinkedIn Learning – Courses on leadership, communication, and technical skills
BetterUp – Coaching platform for personalised career guidance
Coursera – Certifications from top universities in business, finance, and technology
MindTools – Resources for time management, emotional intelligence, and leadership skills
Glassdoor – Salary insights and company reviews to help prepare for future promotions
Slack Communities – Networking groups for career advice and mentorship
Blinkist - Book summaries and audio book guides
Cal Newport Amazon Book - So Good They Can't Ignore You
🔗 Follow & Connect With Us:🌍 Website: www.YourLastPotato.com📲 Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts 
📩 Got a career question? Reach out via our website!
👉 Subscribe & share this episode with someone who needs a confidence boost in their career!
#YourLastPotato #CareerGrowth #Leadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #CareerCapital #WorkplaceSuccess