My boss said that to me once.
I know you want to hear that I gave him a good verbal putting in his place, and told him, ‘what about JK Rowling, Bill Gates, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Emma Watson, Eleanor Roosevelt, Steven Spielberg, Mark Zuckerberg, Meryl Streep, Marissa Mayer, Warren Buffett and all those other successful introverted people’.
But I didn’t.
Instead, I found myself meekly nodding along. “Yeah, you’re right,” I said, putting the final nail in my own career coffin.
It was around 20 years ago but I still remember it to this day.
You know why I remember it? Because it felt like a punch in the gut.
He’d hit a sore spot within me. A real sore spot. Sure, everyday I got up for work and dressed in my sharp suits. I was professional. I was competent. I was what you’d call ‘a career gal’. But as an introvert, I had this secret fear lurking around in dark places within myself…
I will NEVER make it to the top.
Well, since then, I quadrupled my income and held the top positions in leadership many times. But back then, I didn’t believe I’d be successful.
I looked at people at higher levels than me and KNEW I could do their job. I saw the errors they were making. And the careless mistakes. I saw the challenges and opportunities and projects they were given, and I DESPERATELY wanted to be a part of it. But I was an introvert. I hated putting myself out there. I couldn’t stand having to ‘fight’ to be seen. Barging into my boss’s office and demanding a raise? Even thinking of such a thing would have made my skin crawl.
I watched other people getting promotions. If I’m honest, people who weren’t as good as me. Who hadn’t been there as long. Who weren’t so experienced. But they were confident. They were go-getters. They were extroverts.
Watching all these people getting ahead, while I stayed in the back, spinning my wheels, made me feel sick. My mind was running on thoughts like…
I’m just not built for this.
I can’t catch a break.
How can I get an opportunity to come my way?
If they would only give me a chance…!
I had thoughts like these jumbling up in my head until I was totally frustrated and exhausted.
Deep down, I knew I had the potential. I knew if I could make myself seen, heard, promoted, that I would shine. But I was afraid it would never happen.
I felt stuck. Underestimated. Passed over. Invisible.
I’m curious, do you ever feel that way?
Do you have these deep inner yearnings that say…
…I want to do more, contribute more, be more.
…I want to play bigger!
…I have to reach my potential – if I don’t get challenged and stretched soon I’m going to go NUTS in this job!
…I’m worth so much more than this measly salary.
If you answered YES to any of these, I totally get it. You’re in the exact same position I was.
But let me tell you, since that less-than-stellar moment with my boss, I’ve come a long way. I don’t like to brag, but I just want to be straight with you – I’ve aced leadership roles in hospitality, education, health care, and many other industries.
I doubled my salary into six figures, then two years later, doubled it again. I’m now so confident in what I know that I consult and coach other women.
I want you to feel this confident. Obviously, your achievements won’t be exactly the same as mine. They’ll be different. Yours. You’re unique. Your career path is your own.
But there are some things that cross all career paths, that introverts like us often have trouble with:
I know I found all of these tough. And I mean SUPER TOUGH. But I HAD to succeed. I tried. I failed. I experimented. I cried. I felt like giving up. But eventually I learned the tools I needed to get to the top, and they come naturally to me. I want to share them with you.
Let me introduce you to my program. I am SO proud of this – it’s the wisdom of my whole career, condensed down into an online course – and I really hope you’ll join me in it.
The Empowered Introvert Leadership Program is my online course that teaches introverted professional women how to take their careers to the next level in less than 45 days.
I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to feel held back by your quietness. That frustration… That feeling like you’re never living up to your potential, never getting your chance to shine… Ugh. I don’t miss that.
That’s why I wanted to create a course that gives women like me the shortcuts to ramping up their career. To taking control, once and for all.
Sure, you can try to master these techniques on your own. I did. But trust me – it’s a massive, painful learning curve, where you doubt yourself on a daily basis. It took me a long time and a ton of mistakes for me to get these tools and techniques.
I don’t want you to have to go through the same aggravation I did. Why be frustrated when you can be informed?
A PROMOTION?
A NEW JOB?
A RAISE?
TO BE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY IN YOUR CURRENT JOB?
NOT SURE YET?
Whichever of the above applies, THIS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED FOR YOU.
It’s based on a step-by-step system.
To put it simply, I help you work out which career moves to make next. And I give you the mindset tools you need to feel confident enough to make those moves.
Yes! Being an introvert is not all doom and gloom! You can put your strengths into action at work right away. I’ll show you how.
I’ll share mindset mastery tools that help you identify your limitations and work out where they’re coming from – together we can help you move past them once and for all.
I’ll show you the easy-to-follow techniques I use to maximize confidence and get rid of self doubt forever. You CAN play bigger – but you have to be the first person to truly believe it.
If you’re anything like I was, expressing yourself confidently can be a real challenge. But don’t worry. I’ll show you how to beat nervousness, prepare to ace presentations, and put your views forward with ease. I’ll share ALL of my self-promotion tactics, too. Don’t worry, they don’t feel sleazy. They feel natural.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned as an introvert it’s that we have to manage our energy carefully. Otherwise we end up burned out, overwhelmed, and wanting to run and hide from everyone! Over the years, I’ve learned some incredible strategies that keep me upbeat, motivated and on-track. Now I teach them in my program.
I think this is my favorite step of them all! Here, we get to dream and plan about your future. I’ll guide you through as you identify exactly what you want to accomplish. I’ll nudge you to get out of your comfort zone, to see how it could take you further (but not so far that you feel panicky). Then you’ll get some Action-Taking Worksheets to create your plan to move forward now. Exciting!
I’m Stefanie Finkelstein. I’m a successful businesswoman with over 25 years in corporate leadership roles. Now I’m also a leadership consultant and Master Coach, specializing on working with introverted women who are determined to level-up their careers and reach the top.
My passion is to help professional women believe in themselves, and give them the tools and techniques to turn that belief into:
RESPECT
RECOGNITION
INFLUENCE
…and the COMPENSATION to match.
Here’s how this started…
A few years ago, I was on top of the world, leading a retail business and having the time of my life. One day, I got an email from a family friend, asking if I’d meet their daughter Elise to give her some advice on her career.
My schedule was tight, but I decided to give it a go. I invited her to my home and we settled down with a coffee.
From the outside, it all looked good – Elise was a 31 year old making $75k a year.
But she wanted to go further.
She wanted to be a leader.
She wanted influence.
She wanted opportunities.
She wanted a 6 figure salary. A guy doing the same role as her in the next desk WAS getting a 6 figure salary. Of course that got under her skin.
But as an introvert, everything felt intimidating. She wanted to ask for a raise, or apply for a new position, negotiate her salary. She wanted PROGRESS. To MOVE on up! But everything felt stuck.
She didn’t know what step to take next.
I sat her down and asked her, if she had a magic wand, what three wishes would she make?
She took a sip of her coffee and thought for a moment. Then she pushed her long brown hair away from her face and said…
“More confidence in myself. I really want to believe in myself, you know?”
Check. That was something I’d had to learn the hard way.
“And… my dream job where I can make a real difference. I’m not just after the money, I want to make a real impact.”
Check. Me, too. A job can be soul sucking if it’s only about the money.
“And… the pay. Pay that really reflects my work. My value. And the lifestyle that comes along with it would be nice, too!”
I smiled. These are some of my favorite moments, when people tell me what they want, and I KNOW I can help them with it.
“Well, you’re in the right place,” I said.
We started working together. I shared with her everything I know – all the techniques I’ve developed over the years as an introvert who wanted to live and breathe success.
Elise was worried that she’d have to change who she was or put on an act to get ahead, but I reassured her she could still be herself. In fact, she had to be herself! I’m convinced that’s one of our best assets in a chosen profession – being ourselves. As long as we have the tools to do that and still get ahead. And I was delighted to be able to share the tools with Elise.
On our final session, she practically bounded into the coffee shop, beaming all over her face. “I just don’t feel held back by my quiet nature anymore,” she said. “I think people in the office see me differently now. Like they respect me more. They don’t pass over me and think… oh, Elise is fine where she is… they come to me now. I’m getting so many more interesting projects. I feel challenged.” She grinned from ear to ear. “In demand.”
I chuckled. “And I hope you’re getting paid handsomely for it, too?”
She gave me a playful, sly smile back. “You bet, Stefanie. Let’s just say I’m getting what I’m worth. A whole lot more than they were paying me before.”
“You said you were stressed about work before. You don’t look stressed now.”
“Nope.” She grinned. “I love being in the office now. I feel like I’m going somewhere. I’m not spinning my wheels anymore.” She laughed. “I’m finally fully in motion and I love it!”
This story makes me feel so good. I still remember that rush of euphoria I got sitting at that table in Starbucks. And that’s why I’m on the lookout for more women just like Elise – quiet, introverted women who want the best for their careers, but struggle on what step to take next.
If that’s you, I’m so glad you’re here!
Now, take just a couple of seconds to imagine…
…In 6 weeks from now, you’re ready to LEVEL UP. More influence. More opportunity. More income. It might be showing your boss why you deserve a raise. It might be switching to a new role. It could be taking on more responsibility.
…You have 100% confidence in your ability to lead. 100% confidence in your ability to collaborate and engage with others on meaningful projects. 100% confidence to promote yourself authentically.
…You are VALUED in your office. People respect you. People know your abilities. People don’t just see you as ‘the quiet person’, but as a serious contributor. An ambitious, competent professional.
So…
How to get there?
Now, remember what my boss said? “Introverts NEVER make it to the top.”
He was wrong, yes. But not 100% wrong.
Here’s the rub: The corporate world is infected with extrovert bias…
The ugly truth is…
We all want to believe that it does, but time and time again, I’ve seen that it just does not. Look around your organization. I’ll bet any money that your work values extroversion OVER track record.
Let’s face it – Outgoing, super-sociable, bubbly people often get further, faster. They schmooze strangers, small talk like its an Olympic sport, and excel at in-person sales meetings. They thrive on all of this, too. And then go out to drinks with the team after work, becoming the boss’ favorite drinking buddy!
Most of corporate America rewards Ms Extrovert. Mr Talkative. Who it doesn’t reward is hardworking introverts like you and me. Most of the time, it doesn’t even see hardworking introverts. Far too often, we become the invisible cogs in the corporate machine. Unappreciated. Unrewarded. Invisible.
A sad fact of life is people often don’t value goodness. People take and take and take. People overlook those who don’t make a fuss. They take all your hard work for granted. The ‘good people’ get left behind.
Nowhere is this more true than in the corporate world.
But, we’re not willing to be invisible anymore. Taken for granted. Underestimated. We’ve had enough of that in life already! (If you’re anything like me, you were probably ignored and passed over as a kid in school, too. Am I right? Don’t get me started.)
It’s time for us introverts to stand up and say…
Yes, I’m quiet, but I’m ambitious, too.
My voice means something.
My opinions are valuable.
I have a lot to offer.
There is nothing wrong with me – I do not have to change myself to fit your expectations.
I’m here. I’m worthy.
See me.
Hear me.
Recognize me.
Value me.
This is not an ‘Introverts suck, here’s how to be an extrovert’ Program.
I am still an introvert. I will always be one. I was born that way.
“I’m kind of an introverted kind of person just by nature, it’s not like a conscious choice that I’m making necessarily. It’s genuinely who I am … Coming to realize that about myself was very empowering, because I had felt like Oh my god, there must be something wrong with me, because I don’t want to go out and do what all my friends want to do.” – Emma Watson, Actor & Activist
I don’t strive to be something I’m not, and I don’t expect you to, either. I would never ask you to pretend, or be fake. In short, I don’t believe there’s anything WRONG with you. There’s nothing you need to fix.
Instead, I’m going to show you ways to embrace your introversion. Tools and techniques you can use to become more comfortable with yourself. That will naturally flow into more confidence. More success. More recognition.
After all, there are great things about being an introvert! To name just a few of our strengths, we…
These can all be KILLER attributes in business. So let’s leverage them.
The corporate world NEEDS us. We bring unique strengths and talents to the workplace. Introverted leaders and quiet professionals have done great things in the past – just look at Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jane Goodall, and Warren Buffet, to name just four of many!
We’re going to continue doing great things in the future.
Let’s start now.
This is NOT a fake limited time VIP offer. This is NOT a ploy for you to buy now.
This is a genuine, high value-offer, that I can only offer 25 students due to my personal involvement with the VIP group.
If you buy while the limited lime VIP offer is in place, along with the course, you’ll also get these 5 Confidence Building Limited Time Extra Bonuses (worth $1,197! And you get it all FREE!):
BONUS #1. VIP Strategy Call
You’ll get a 45 minute 1:1 coaching call with me. This is to set your intention, clarify your goals, and get ready to get going full of motivation and belief in yourself! These are worth $297 to regular clients. You’re getting yours FREE.
BONUS #2. The Ultimate Career-Boosting Checklist
You want the career-building strategies. You want to avoid overwhelm. You want a clear path from start to finish. This checklist keeps you on track every step of the way, helping you get results quickly. PDF download. These are worth $197 to regular clients. You’re getting yours FREE.
BONUS #3. My top recommended guide – The Introvert Professional Career Success Blueprint
This very specific how-to guide backs up the course content with plenty of tools and methods I used myself. Learn how to land the job, negotiate your salary, get promoted, and show why you deserve a raise. Suitable for all career levels. PDF Download. These are worth $297 to regular clients (though people have told me that this one is worth the price of the course all by itself). You’re getting yours FREE.
BONUS #4. The PIAT Plan
PIAT (Putting It All Together) is so important. Here, we bring all your key learnings together in one place. Feel your new momentum. See your progress. Get ready to gain traction. These are worth $197 to regular clients. You’re getting yours FREE.
BONUS #5. VIP Wrap Up & Next Steps Call
When you’re done with the course, you’ll get ANOTHER 45 minute 1:1 coaching call with me. We’ll look at how far you’ve come, celebrate your success, solidify your results, and make a strategy to take your success to the next level. These are worth $210 to regular clients. You’re getting yours FREE.
Don’t miss out on $1,197 of free bonuses! Spots are filling up quickly.
Reserve yours now to make sure you grab these benefits while you still can.
$397
Get Started Right Away. Go At Your Own Pace.
“Dear Stefanie, Your Introvert Career Success Blueprint was just what I needed in preparation for my job interview last week. I got word this morning that I'm being offered the position and I'm accepting it! I was so ready for all their questions and didn't miss a beat! Most importantly, due to this preparation, I was able to relax, pace myself, and gain confidence as the interview progressed. I can honestly say I left it all on the table and worked at standing out from the other candidates with the examples and tools you provided, all of which proved very valuable for this introvert! Thank you so much for sharing this information with me.”
“Working with Stefanie as a coach has been an amazing experience. She has always been able to shift my mindset when I come across roadblocks. Stefanie’s ability to boost my confidence has really helped me through my interview process and career transition. Partnering with Stefanie will successfully move you forward with more courage and determination.”
“Dear Stefanie, Finally I feel prepared for my career after college. In a short time I found such clarity in what I wanted in a personal, educational, and professional experience. I was confident and prepared for interviewing beyond what I had imagined and I received multiple offers in my field! I am grateful to be headed in the right direction toward my ideal path. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me.”
Want to join these ladies in pushing through limitations?
There’s another part of why I do what I do… That I don’t always tell people. But I want to let you know.
I’m the parent of an introverted girl.
You know what hurts the most?
Seeing the same thing playing out in her life that played out in mine. People underestimate her. People don’t see who she is, what she’s capable of. Just because she’s an introvert.
Everyone who knows her is, at first, shocked to hear that she’s a theatre kid. “But she’s so quiet!” they say. And yet, this is her passion. She is prepared and happy on stage. She performed at Carnegie Hall in NYC not so long ago. Still, she is often underestimated and gets feedback that she was passed over… because of reasons related to the extrovert bias.
She is a natural leader, thoughtful, smart, and kind. She has to push through this stuff. Every. Single. Day. I don’t want to embarrass my teen daughter by gushing too much or putting too much out there publicly, but she is a big reason that I stay focused on helping introverted women follow their dreams, pursue their passion, and achieve their goals. I did it and she’s doing it too.
She makes me even more passionate about making this a conversation. About making this a movement that really empowers us as quieter women who really want to succeed and shine.
I really believe we can do this together. You deserve recognition and respect in your career. In your life. Let me help you get there. I’m doing it. She’s doing it. And you can too.
Read the statements below and count how many you answer ‘YES’ to.
If you answered ‘YES’ to most or all of these, this is the right program for you.
This Empowered Introvert Leadership course comes with a 30-day, 100% money back guarantee.
If you aren’t completely satisfied with the course within 30 days of purchasing, email our customer support and you will receive a full refund. No questions asked.
Earnings Disclaimer. RESULTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED. Any statement made on the website or in the program regarding income or earnings are provided as examples only, and do not guarantee you future earnings or income. Please note that the stated results are not typical and there is no guarantee that you will achieve the same or similar results. As with any endeavor, results may vary, and depend on a wide variety of factors including, but not limited to, your skill, knowledge, ability, dedication, business savvy, network, and financial situation. The use of any products or services offered through Stefanie Finkelstein, LLC d/b/a Lead With Confidence should be based on your own due diligence. You agree that we at Lead With Confidence (including sponsors, promoters, advertisers or affiliates), are not responsible for the success or failures you experience in your personal or business life.
Do I get access to everything all at once or do I have to wait?
You get access to everything right away! You can move through the material at your own pace (I recommend staying in order), and will have LIFETIME, 24/7 ACCESS to all material.
What exactly do I get with the course?
As soon as you purchase, you will get immediate access (via username and password) to the entire Empowered Introvert Leadership program and all the training materials to get your career where you want it to be. PLUS, if you enrol in time, you’ll get access to the VIP LIMITED TIME BONUSES worth $1,197!
Do I get lifetime access?
Yes, you do.
Is this course right for me? Meaning, will it “work” for me?
Everyone’s situation is a little bit different. That said, you’re getting the EXACT blueprint for success and all the tools, strategies, and step-by-step instruction that I used myself and have helped others with. I have seen this work time after time with so many professional women stepping up and claiming what they deserve.
That being said, the course is definitely right for you if…
…you are out there working in a position and are relatively successful, but ready to do more and play bigger.
Or…
…you are just getting started and you are a quiet professional starting to realize that your personality style is causing people to underestimate you. Or, you’re just ahead of the curve in realizing this MIGHT happen, and you want to proactively get in front of it.
Or…
…you want to take your leadership to the next level, but feel you are somehow being held back and you want to get past it.
Or…
…you’ve heard all your life that you are too quiet and you’re ready to use your strengths as leverage because you know you have plenty to offer.
Or…
…you are an entrepreneur and finding it difficult to use your voice to promote yourself.
Or…
…you have been in your position for a while and you realize you are under-earning and want to change that.
Or…
…you have tried to get promoted or move up within your organization, but you can’t seem to get an opportunity and you are super frustrated and feel like you are stuck.
The key requirement I’d say is having a positive attitude and being an action-taker.
I wish I would have known this helpful information years earlier in my career (and learned it even earlier than I did). If so, I wouldn’t have struggled for so long before figuring it out.
The course is NOT for you if you think you can read through or just watch the videos without taking any real action. If you are not ready to dig in and do a little work then this, my friend, is not for you.
I give you the EXACT process or blueprint which is a mix of internal work and tangible action. I tell you what to do, but only you can actually do it and it involves some thought and peeling back some layers of self awareness. It requires getting in the trenches and doing some prep work.
That being said, I can take tons of time off your learning curve which is another benefit of the course and what I wish I had had so much earlier.
If you have a negative attitude, please don’t buy this course. Life is too short and we probably won’t get along. I love to help people succeed, discover, and grow, but you have to jump in and do your part in order to move forward.
Also, and this is a big one, if you “know all of this already” and are not really coachable, this might not be for you. My guess is I will cover some things in the course that you already know, AND that likely includes things you probably don’t actually do. If you actually DO know it all, then you can use the 30-day money back guarantee.
Is Empowered Introvert Leadership a program only for women?
I position myself as a coach for introverted women in leadership because this is my perspective, passion, and experience. I do, also, work with men who identify as quiet professionals looking to play bigger in their career, business, and life. To be clear, this course is designed through the lens of the female professional, but concepts can be useful and valuable to men as well.
How long does it take to go through the course?
Each module is on average about 20-30 minutes + you will have activity worksheets to go with each one. The amount of time taken to process and do inner work is unique to each person, but I clearly lay out the path for you. The course is self-paced so you can move through it quickly or take your time, if you prefer. The course is designed to walk you through the process in an efficient and streamlined manner so that you can get the best results right away.
What if I buy and want a refund? What is the policy?
I’ve done everything in my power to make this a clear, concise, and easily implemented program. I KNOW it works because it’s the exact same process that was behind the skyrocketing success in my own career and those of many of my clients and students.
However, if you’re on the fence…or if other programs have left you skeptical, then I want to give you every chance possible to “try it on for size” with absolute confidence.
That’s why I’m giving you a FULL 30 DAYS to go through the program, follow the process, and realize for yourself just how amazing it feels to own your natural introverted strengths and leverage them for success.
I pride myself on offering a high quality program. If you take action, this will work for you. If, within 30 days, you are unhappy for whatever reason, just email customer support and you will receive a full refund. I stand behind Empowered Introvert Leadership 100%.
What if I’m not sure what my big goals are?
Not everyone is clear on this at the beginning, but given the tools to work through this process and some time to think about it, most participants complete the course inspired to take action in more than one area of their life. You will be able to use the tools presented for a lifetime. Consider this course a resource to draw on whenever you are ready to take a leap forward.
I have a question. Who should I ask?
Email stefanie@empoweredintrovertleadership.com and we’ll get right back to you.
What if I’m an entrepreneur, not a corporate professional? Will this still work for me?
Whether you are an accomplished team member wanting to play bigger, an inspiring leader in a corporate environment, or an entrepreneur looking to promote your business and gain visibility, Empowered Introvert Leadership is designed as a roadmap to take you from where you are today to a measure of success where you feel confident, more fully expressed, and ready to execute on your own strategic plan.
I’m not sure I have enough time in my schedule for this. I’m not sure if I’m ready.
Empowered Introvert Leadership is designed for implementation. I’ve put this system in place so that you can move through it efficiently and effectively. I understand it can be difficult to fit “one more thing” into an already busy schedule and hectic life, but this is one thing that will make a huge difference in your life and the results will pay off for your entire career beginning when you begin.
By following the 6-modules and bonus materials as they are laid out, you will have a clear guide so that you are no longer stuck wondering how to get to the next level. Instead of spending any more time stuck and frustrated, you’ll be moving on and moving up.
How do I get started and how much does it cost?
How much is Empowered Introvert Leadership? The entire Empowered Introvert Leadership course is $497 $397 for the VIP launch. This is a $100 savings for this first round. I developed it to be an affordable alternative to private coaching. You will get full access to the program right away so you can move through the modules and downloads. PLUS, for a limited time, you’ll get the VIP offer – a whole bunch of bonuses worth $1,197 for FREE!
