Stephanie Brown

I quit my job 6 weeks in…
…after I found myself crying in the bathroom.

I’d never cried at work before.

Not over the actual job.

But this job made me anxious.
My boss didn’t give me any support.
And the culture of the company was mildly toxic.

For me, this was the trigger I needed to quit.

Crying at work was a non-negotiable.
If the job made me cry, I was out.

Trust me, you shouldn’t be crying at work.

If your job makes you cry, it’s time to make a plan to move on.

Have you ever cried at work? 👇🏼

At 25 years old, Nike offered me a permanent role.

And I turned it down.

I'd been on a contract at Nike for six months.

They loved my work. I loved the job. It was the best role I'd ever had.

But my partner and I had already planned our summer. Travelling the Greek Islands. The kind of travel you can only really do in your twenties.

And I knew I didn't want to miss it.

So I backed myself, said no to Nike, and got on a plane.

It was one of the best summers of my life.

When I returned to London in October, I went back to my old boss and asked if there was any contract work going.

She hired me back instantly.

I stayed at Nike for 8 years.

The thing I'm most proud of isn't the career. It's that I made the decision for the right reasons. Not fear. Not comparison to where everyone else was. Not pressure from anyone else.

I backed myself that if the opportunity was there once, it would be there again.

And it was.

Only you know what is right for you. It's easy to compare, or worry about your career. But I firmly believe that if you follow your gut, you can never go wrong.

It has always worked for me.

📷 Summer in Greece, 2007 - glad I didn't miss it!

✅ If you're trying to figure out what the right move looks like for your career, reach out about the Creative Career Level Up. That's exactly what it's built for.

8 in 10 hiring managers say they can spot an AI-written CV.

And apparently, that's the problem.

But here's what they're not saying:

They're using bots and ATS systems to screen candidates at scale. Technology filtering out real people before a human ever reads a word.

So candidates using AI to write their CVs? That's not the problem. That's just leveling the playing field.

The real problem is the recruitment process is broken.

One of my clients recently quit her job to job hunt full time. Not because she wanted to. Because the process demanded it.

She couldn't keep up with applications, prep, and interviews alongside a full-time role.

There was a time when job hunting fit around your life.

Now companies are asking candidates to do:
• 6, 7, 8, even 10 interviews
• For mid-level roles
• Unpaid. On their own time.

Complaining about AI-written CVs while using technology to screen humans out is hypocritical.

Fix the process. Not the symptom.

To be clear: I don't tell my clients to lean on AI for their CVs.

Writing it yourself forces you to think through why you're actually right for the role. A human-written CV is always better.

But when a bot bins your application before a human sees it, you can't blame people for doing what works.

So, what does a better recruitment process actually look like in 2026? Id love to hear your thoughts. 👇🏼

PS If you're navigating this and want support, reach out about the Creative Career Level Up programme. Built for people in Marketing, Creative, and Tech who want to move forward without burning out.

Your life could be completely different in 6 months.

But only if you stop letting 'what ifs' make your decisions.

I left Nike in 2014 after 8 years.

I loved that place. The culture, the people, the work. Nothing bad to say about it. But I could feel myself getting comfortable in a way that scared me. I knew if I stayed, I'd never leave.

So when a big opportunity came, I jumped.

New company. Fresh start. Big bet on myself.

Then every single fear I had about my new role - the 'what if's?' ... actually happened.

The team was awful. 
The boss was a narcissist.
The work was boring.

And then 3 months later, I got fired.

I remember sitting with that. Processing it. Thinking I'd made the biggest mistake of my career.

I’d taken a bet on myself and failed miserably.

But I had to keep moving forward.

8 months later, I was working for Apple.

3x my previous salary.
A boss I loved.
A team I still call close friends today.

The worst happened. But I got through it.

And I came out in a place so much better than I ever could have imagined.

That's what moving forward does.

Even when it goes wrong, moving forward was still the right call. Staying still would have cost me Apple. It would have cost me that awesome boss. Those friendships. That version of my life.

In life and in career, moving forward - even badly - beats standing still every time.

Are you staying still through fear of the ‘what if’s’? ⬇️

✅ I have 5 Strategy Sessions open next week for anyone ready to stop living in fear and start moving forward. DM me 'strategy session' to see if it's the right fit.

Here’s what’s cool in the workplace:

1. Leaving on time without guilt
2. Pay that truly reflects your value
3. Hybrid options that actually work
4. Managers who trust instead of micromanage
5. Clear paths for growth, not dead ends
6. Switching off without midnight Slack pings
7. Wellbeing perks that go beyond free fruit
8. Transparency on pay, promotions, and decisions
9. Recognition without needing to self-promote
10. A culture people want to stay in, not just have to

Anything you’d add? 👇

Missing too many of these where you work? Let’s fix that!

DM me to learn more about the Creative Career Level Up. We’ll get you into a job where this is the norm.

Silence speaks volumes in leadership.

After 5 years of hard graft, my resignation letter was met with... nothing.

No acknowledgment.
No "sorry to see you go."
Not even a quick "good luck."

Just deafening silence from the marketing leadership team I'd given my all to.

But here's what hit differently:

Two senior leaders from adjacent teams took me for coffee when they heard.

They listened.
They understood.
They cared.

And I couldn't help but wonder:
What if I'd worked for them instead?

Here's the truth about great leadership:
✅ It shows up (even when it's uncomfortable)
✅ It acknowledges peoples' worth (especially when they're leaving)
✅ It treats people like humans (not just resources)

The best talent doesn't leave companies.
They leave leaders who make them feel invisible.

Has silence ever told you everything you needed to know about leadership? 👇🏼

🚨 Stuck under poor leadership that doesn’t see you, hear you, or value you? That’s not a career, that’s slow burnout. DM me if you're ready for something better.

You've been bombing interviews.
Here's the structure that actually wins them.

I've watched 100+ real job interviews last year.
Big tech. Startups. Agency. Client side.

➡️ Here's what I learned: 👇🏼

[Want my help in your interviews? Comment below with your biggest interview challenge. What do you struggle with the most? We’ll pick one person to receive a FREE interview analysis from me!]

1️⃣ The Top: Rapport Building

First few minutes are slow. You're feeling each other out.

Let the interviewer lead. Smile. Show personality.

One candidate mentioned her language lesson after the interview. The interviewer asked about it. Instant connection.

2️⃣ Second Layer: Softball Questions

"Tell me about yourself."

This boring question shows up in 100% of interviews.

You need a prepared answer. Not winging it.

3️⃣ The Middle: Where It Gets Real

Technical questions. Competency questions.

"Tell me about a time when..."

This is where you need STAR answers. Situation. Task. Action. Result.

Get specific. Use numbers. Show the detail.

4️⃣ Coming Out: Your Questions

Don't ask heavy technical stuff here.

Ask strategic questions that show you're thinking about adding value.

"What does success look like in this role?"

"If I'm sitting here in 12 months having done a great job, what will have happened?"

5️⃣ The Close: Your Outro Pitch

60 seconds summarising how you'll add value.

Before the interview ends, say: "We've covered a lot. Can I take 60 seconds to summarise how I can add value in this role?"

This is your final word. Make it count.

I've seen this structure in every interview I've watched.

I've also recorded a detailed walkthrough of the Anatomy of an Interview - direct from my Creative Career Level Up programme.

Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/eMyHnTxS

✅ And don’t forget to comment below with your biggest interview challenge. What do you struggle with the most? We’ll pick one person to receive a FREE interview analysis from me!