What if the thing holding you back isn’t fear, skill, or timing but waiting for permission that’s never coming?

In this episode, Candice Mitchell sits down with Jenny Wood, former Google executive and author of Wild Courage, for a wide-ranging conversation about career growth, confidence, and taking bold action before you feel ready.

Jenny shares the now-famous subway story that sparked her concept of “wild courage,” along with lessons from her 18-year career at Google, her transition into entrepreneurship, and the mindset shifts that help people stop waiting and start moving.

This conversation is honest, funny, and deeply practical. It’s about what it really takes to build a career (and life) you’re proud of without waiting for approval from anyone else.

What you’ll get from this episode

Why no one gives you permission—and why that’s actually freeing
How courage shows up in small, everyday decisions
Lessons from Google on influence, promotion, and leadership
Why bold action creates clarity (not the other way around)
What it really takes to build a career you love over time

If you’ve been hesitating on a next step, this episode might be the nudge you didn’t know you needed.

Get to know Jenny:

Jenny Wood a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, former Google executive, and former Harvard Business School researcher who knows that real success isn’t about following the rules or waiting your turn. She is also the founder of Own Your Career, one of Google's largest career programs. In her new book Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It , Jenny breaks down 9 bold traits that defy conventional career advice: Obsessed, Weird, Selfish, Shameless, Nosy, Manipulative, Brutal, Reckless, and Bossy.

Her practical, no-nonsense approach empowers ambitious people to break the mold, be better leaders, build influence, and reach their full potential. Jenny has been featured in NBC, Bloomberg, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Business Insider. She lives in Boulder with her husband and two children and is in constant pursuit of the perfect zucchini bread recipe.

Connect with Jenny:

Instagram: ⁨@itsjennywood⁩

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jennyilles

Website: http://itsjennywood.com

Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:

Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd

Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda

Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven

pauldehavenmusic.com

No One Is Coming to Give You Permission