Career Narratives with Doug Lester

Hosted by Doug Lester

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Latest episode

Apr 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Craft a work-life narrative with meaning. Present as a more compelling candidate to the decision-makers who hold the keys to your career advancement. In episodes short enough for busy schedules, Doug Lester offers perspective based on more than a decade of coaching ambitious MBAs and professionals transitioning up and into leadership roles. Doug is a Wharton MBA with experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager. He was a senior recruiter at a top executive search firm and pulls back the curtain on networking, interviewing and recruiting. A coach to alumni and students at the Harvard Business School for over 10 years, the leader of an executive coaching program for the corporate strategy group of a Fortune 100 company, and the founder of Career Narratives. Doug has personally helped over 1,000 people gain clarity, craft their stories, and advance their careers. Subscribe now and advance yours!

Listen to episodes

39 recent

April 6, 2026Episode 386 min

38: Don't Feel Guilty About Networking for Your Career

Have you ever worried that you'll be 'bothering people' when you think about networking for a job or your career? You're not alone. Most people do, and so did host Doug Lester when he started networking professionally as an executive recruiter. But he got over his guilt. In this episode, Doug shares a surprising insight from his recruiting days that completely changed how he thought about networking. 🎧 Take control of your narrative and advance your career — subscribe to the podcast!🤔 Need a thought partner with experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager, an executive recruiter at a top firm, and a coach at Harvard Business School? Schedule a Career Strategy Session with Doug❎ Avoid making 3 common mistakes with executive recruiters📸 Improve your executive presence on Zoom

October 3, 2025Episode 378 min

37: If Your Job Search Is Taking Too Long, Stop Trusting Your Gut

If your job search is taking too long and you’re a mid or senior-level leader, your gut may be telling you it’s time to broaden your appeal. To have a more general and therefore more appealing positioning. Don’t do it! Host Doug Lester explains, from a recruiter’s perspective, why broadening your positioning could be a big mistake. 👓 Read the original post on Substack👉 Visit Craft Your Narrative on Substack🎧 Take control of your narrative and advance your career — subscribe to the podcast!🤔 Need a thought partner with experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager, an executive recruiter at a top firm, and a coach at Harvard Business School? Schedule a Career Strategy Session with Doug❎ Avoid making 3 common mistakes with executive recruiters📸 Improve your executive presence on Zoom

September 19, 2025Episode 367 min

36: Your LinkedIn Headline May Be Riskier Than You Think

Is your LinkedIn headline your job title and company name? If so, you're taking a big risk. Host Doug Lester shares why, based on his experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager, an executive recruiter and a coach to more than a thousand MBA alumni. And he offers an alternative approach that more effectively communicates your personal narrative.🤓 Read the original Substack post🎙️ Episode 8: Tips for a LinkedIn Headline That Communicates Your Narrative🎙️ Episode 9: How to Write an Effective LinkedIn About Entry🎙️ Episode 10: How to Write LinkedIn Experience Entries That Support Your Narrative🎧 Take control of your narrative and advance your career — subscribe to the podcast!🤔 Need a thought partner with experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager, an executive recruiter at a top firm, and a coach at Harvard Business School? Schedule a Career Strategy Session with Doug❎ Avoid making 3 common mistakes with executive recruiters📸 Improve your executive presence on Zoom

September 12, 2025Episode 358 min

35: The Most Counterintuitive Networking Strategy

What if one of your most effective networking strategies could be relying on your competitors to be your advocates? Host Doug Lester explains why this actually works, based on his experience as an executive recruiter at a top firm. And he offers a few tips for doing it the right way.🎧 Take control of your narrative and advance your career — subscribe to the podcast!🤔 Need a thought partner with experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager, an executive recruiter at a top firm, and a coach at Harvard Business School? Schedule a Career Strategy Session with Doug❎ Avoid making 3 common mistakes with executive recruiters📸 Improve your executive presence on Zoom

August 7, 2025Episode 3413 min

34: How To Remain Competitive When AI Makes Career Advancement a Steeper Climb

As business leaders become more comfortable incorporating AI into their organizations, the shape of org charts will change. It's already happening, and it's going to have an impact on career advancement. Host Doug Lester shares classic tips about how to remain competitive amid all the changes.🎧 Take control of your narrative and advance your career — subscribe to the podcast!🤔 Need a thought partner with experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager, an executive recruiter at a top firm, and a coach at Harvard Business School? Schedule a Career Strategy Session with Doug❎ Avoid making 3 common mistakes with executive recruiters📸 Improve your executive presence on Zoom

June 20, 2025Episode 337 min

33: Why Summer is the Perfect Time to Network for Your Career

It's just about summer, and if you think you have to wait until fall to network for your career or a new job, you're mistaken. Summer is actually the ideal time to do a little networking. Host Doug Lester shares insight from his experience as an executive recruiter at a top firm. 🎧 Take control of your narrative and advance your career — subscribe to the podcast!🤔 Need a thought partner with experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager, an executive recruiter at a top firm, and a coach at Harvard Business School? Schedule a Career Strategy Session with Doug❎ Avoid making 3 common mistakes with executive recruiters📸 Improve your executive presence on Zoom

March 7, 2025Episode 3211 min

32: How You Can Make the World a Better Place Through Your Work

Have you ever thought or said that you want to make the world a better place through your work? But are you stumped when it comes to how you're going to do it? Host Doug Lester provides perspective from working with over a thousand MBAs hoping to advance careers with meaning and impact. He shares the signs his clients look for and a potential source of inspiration.Mentioned in this episode: The Johnson & Johnson Credo🎧 Take control of your narrative and advance your career — subscribe to the podcast!🤔 Need a thought partner with experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager, an executive recruiter at a top firm, and a coach at Harvard Business School? Schedule a Career Strategy Session with Doug❎ Avoid making 3 common mistakes with executive recruiters📸 Improve your executive presence on Zoom

February 14, 2025Episode 3111 min

31: How to Spot the Signals That Shape Your Career Narrative

Have you ever considered how the career choices you make can send intentional and unintentional signals to others that shape your personal narrative? Based on his experience as an executive recruiter at a top firm, host Doug Lester leads you through a quick exercise that lets you step outside yourself and see the forest of your career from the trees.🎧 Take control of your narrative and advance your career — subscribe to the podcast!🤔 Need a thought partner with experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager, an executive recruiter at a top firm, and a coach at Harvard Business School? Schedule a Career Strategy Session with Doug❎ Avoid making 3 common mistakes with executive recruiters📸 Improve your executive presence on Zoom

February 5, 2025Episode 3011 min

30: How to Define Context in Your Personal Narrative

If you've ever struggled to communicate your personal narrative, there's a good chance it has something to do with context. What is the context in which you do your work and make an impact? The answer is probably more complex and nuanced than you might expect at first. Based on his work with well over 1,000 MBAs, host Doug Lester shares a framework for considering context that's new... and also familiar.🎧 Take control of your narrative and advance your career — subscribe to the podcast!🤔 Need a thought partner with experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager, an executive recruiter at a top firm, and a coach at Harvard Business School? Schedule a Career Strategy Session with Doug❎ Avoid making 3 common mistakes with executive recruiters📸 Improve your executive presence on Zoom

January 17, 2025Episode 299 min

29: Why You Don't Want to Reach Out to "an Executive Search Firm"

In addition to reviewing key learnings from previous episodes on executive recruiters and executive search firms, Doug Lester helps you understand how search firms are structured. Armed with this information, you'll be better equipped to build the long-term relationships with recruiters that can help advance your career.🎧 Take control of your narrative and advance your career — subscribe to the podcast!🤔 Need a thought partner with experience as a Fortune 100 hiring manager, an executive recruiter at a top firm, and a coach at Harvard Business School? Schedule a Career Strategy Session with Doug❎ Avoid making 3 common mistakes with executive recruiters📸 Improve your executive presence on Zoom