What Harvard’s #1 Prof & Mel Robbins Want You to Know About Career Growth

If you’ve ever felt that tiny voice whispering, “Am I ready for this?”—you are not alone.

At Tech & Thrive, we recognize that voice because we’ve heard it in coaching rooms, strategy sessions, and in our own personal journeys. And in an outstanding episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast from earlier this month, Mel sat down with Harvard Business School Professor Alison Wood Brooks to unpack the science of confidence, communication, and negotiation.

Professor Brooks teaches the two most in-demand courses at Harvard: The Science of Negotiation and The Science of Communication. Her insights come from over 15 years of research and experience helping leaders at every level thrive.

And every word felt like it was speaking directly to our Tech & Thrive community. That's why we wanted to share a summary of what we learned because we know it will help you THRIVE!

Here are our key takeaways, tailored just for you:

3 Career Game-Changers from Mel Robbins’ Conversation with Professor Alison Brooks

1. Confidence is a Muscle, Not a Trait

Confidence isn’t fixed—it’s built through action. Professor Brooks reminds us that you don’t have to feel confident to take the next step; you build confidence by taking action, especially when you feel unsure.

This is the heartbeat of our “Reclaim Your Power” pillar in the T.H.R.I.V.E. Operating System™.

Professor Alison Brooks said: “Confidence is something you grow into by doing things before you’re ready.”

💡 Your move: Stretch your courage muscle today. Step into something before you feel fully prepared.

2. Mastering Communication Changes Everything

Professor Brooks emphasized how transformative it is to reframe anxiety as excitement. Just that tiny mental shift can massively impact your communication under pressure.

This perfectly aligns with Tech & Thrive’s “Voice Your Vision” and “Influence & Relational Savvy.” Your energy is your power—let it elevate your message.

Professor Alison Brooks said: “Reframing your anxiety as excitement transforms how you perform under pressure.”

💡 Your move: Before your next high-stakes conversation, pause. Reframe your energy and let it work for you.

3. Negotiation is About Curiosity, Not Combat

Too many of us approach negotiations like a win/lose battle. Professor Brooks flips this script, urging us to engage with curiosity and empathy. Negotiation is about understanding and connection.

Professor Alison Brooks said: “Negotiation is not a battle. It’s a conversation built on curiosity and connection.”

💡 Your move: In your next negotiation, lead with curiosity. Ask open-ended questions like: “What’s most important to you in this conversation?”

Why This Resonates with Tech & Thrive

This episode beautifully echoes our mission at Tech & Thrive: helping diverse leaders liberate their authentic leadership, overcome systemic barriers, and lead confidently in an AI-powered world.

You already have what it takes. These insights from Professor Brooks and Mel Robbins are your nudge to act on it... so that together, we will thrive in 2025. 

Link to the podcast:
The Mel Robbins Podcast: The Most Important Career Advice You’ll Ever Hear, featuring Professor Alison Wood Brooks (April 3, 2025). Listen to the full episode here: Podcast Link

Denise Musselwhite is an unshakable optimist who believes in a future where leaders thrive authentically and courageously. She is dedicated to empowering diverse professionals to reclaim their power, harness their strengths, and break through the barriers—both systemic and self-imposed—that hold them back.

As a visionary executive coach, speaker, and strategist, Denise founded Tech & Thrive to bridge the gap between ambition and achievement, particularly for women and people of color in tech leadership. Her T.H.R.I.V.E. Operating System™ is more than a framework—it’s a movement designed to help leaders rise with clarity, confidence, and impact.

Denise’s mission is clear: to help high-achieving professionals show up fully as themselves, lead with purpose, and build careers and workplaces that honor their unique strengths, whether that’s through her leadership coaching or her partnerships with AIIR Consulting, Mission and Data, and Shore Coaching to deliver exceptional, data-informed leadership and team development rooted in authenticity. Because when we lead from a place of authenticity, we don’t just succeed—we thrive.