In this Short Talk episode Judith Germain speaks to Michael Halpert about going from the cubicle to the corner office - starting in that first job. Mike emphasises the importance of understanding one's role and goals, building relationships, and developing a growth mindset from the start of one's career. He advises asking questions of one's manager to gain clarity. Key Takeaways Build relationships and get to know people outside of work contexts Take inventory of your skills and create a plan to develop soft skills Have a growth mindset and think deliberately about your career development In this conversation Mike encourages employees to regularly self-assess progress across hard and soft skills using a fulfillment matrix to plan next steps and ensure continuous growth toward new opportunities. He also stresses the criticality of relationships for career success, advising spending time learning from others outside of meetings through lunches and casual conversations to understand people fully. Mike Halpert is a Product Management executive with over 20 years of experience at leading companies such as Walmert Ecommerce, Google and Thrasio. His new book Cubicle to Corner Office is a guide to help todays new talent enter the workforce with more confidence and effectiveness. You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here. --- Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine. But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans. The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact. How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see.  Catalysing Transformation - 1 min video Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders.  Judith's websites:  The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.