Elevate Your English and Accelerate Your Career

In this episode of Elevate Your English and Accelerate Your Career, host Janine O'Shea welcomes James Liu as the second guest in the new series, How I Got Here: Career Stories from Non-Native Professionals.
James shares his fascinating career journey—from beginning in the sciences, transitioning into business consulting and coaching, and ultimately pursuing entrepreneurship. Along the way, he discusses what brought him to the United States, the challenges of changing careers, and the cultural and professional obstacles he had to overcome as a non-native professional.
This inspiring conversation explores the decisions, experiences, and mindset that contributed to James' success. Listeners will gain valuable insights on career reinvention, adaptability, navigating cultural differences, and building confidence while working in a second language.
Whether you're considering a career change, adjusting to life and work in the United States, or looking for inspiration to take the next step in your own professional journey, James' story offers practical advice and encouragement.
Connect with Janine O'Shea on LinkedIn for more tips on improving your English communication skills and accelerating your career.
 
Music by https://www.bensound.com/ Unbreakable Resolve by Lunar Years  License code: I75W4QFXYYNN4H8Z

In Part 2 of this two-part series, Janine O'Shea continues her conversation with storytelling expert Dave Ward, founder of WellCrafted Story.
Last week, listeners learned about Dave's powerful 5 C's framework for storytelling and why storytelling is such an essential skill for leaders, managers, and executives. In this episode, Dave takes the conversation one step further by applying the framework to a realistic business scenario, demonstrating how stories can make presentations more engaging, persuasive, and memorable.
For non-native professionals working in U.S. organizations, technical expertise alone is often not enough. The ability to communicate ideas in a way that influences stakeholders, secures project support, and inspires action can significantly impact career growth. Through practical examples—including how to transform data-heavy presentations into compelling narratives—this episode provides listeners with actionable strategies they can immediately apply in meetings, presentations, interviews, and leadership situations.
Whether you're trying to gain buy-in for a project, communicate more effectively with senior leadership, or simply become a more confident communicator, this episode will show you how the power of storytelling can help you stand out and accelerate your career.
 

Can storytelling help you become a more influential leader? Absolutely.
In this episode of Elevate Your English and Accelerate Your Career, host Janine O'Shea sits down with Dave Ward, founder of WellCrafted Story, to explore why storytelling is one of the most valuable communication skills in today's business world.
The idea for this episode came from one of Janine's executive coaching clients, who noticed that many of his American colleagues used storytelling to make their presentations more engaging and persuasive. It raised an interesting question: Is storytelling a skill that can be learned? The answer is yes.
In Part 1 of this two-part series, Dave introduces his practical 5 C's of Storytelling framework and explains how business professionals can use stories to capture attention, build trust, influence decisions, and inspire action. Whether you're presenting a project, interviewing for a new role, leading a team, or speaking with executives, you'll discover techniques that make your message more memorable and impactful.
In Part 2, releasing next week, Dave applies the 5 C's to a real-world business scenario, showing you exactly how to build a compelling story you can use in your own presentations and conversations.
If you're a non-native manager or executive looking to strengthen your business English, presentation skills, leadership communication, and executive presence, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can start using immediately.
 

Welcome to the first episode of my new series, How I Got Here: Career Stories from Non-Native Professionals.
In this series, host Janine O'Shea sits down with successful professionals who have built careers in the United States while navigating the challenges of working while using a second language and adapting to a new culture. Each month, she plans to feature one of her former clients to share their career journey. 
In this episode, Janine reconnects with former client Fred Palmeiro to discuss his remarkable career journey. Fred shares what brought him to the United States, how he progressed through various leadership roles, and the key decisions that shaped his success. He also reflects on the obstacles he encountered along the way, including cultural challenges, and offers practical advice for other non-native professionals looking to accelerate their careers.
Whether you're an aspiring leader, a seasoned professional, or someone working to build confidence in English-speaking workplaces, Fred's story provides valuable insights, inspiration, and encouragement.
About the Podcast
Elevate Your English and Accelerate Your Career helps non-native managers and executives succeed in the world of U.S. tech and business. Through interviews, practical strategies, and real-world career stories, host Janine O'Shea provides actionable advice to help professionals strengthen their communication skills, increase their visibility, and advance their careers.
Connect with Janine O'Shea on LinkedIn or visit ESL Pro Online to learn more.
 

Episode 16: Don’t Bury the Lead – How Concise Communication Accelerates Your Career (Part 2)
Speaking concisely isn’t just an English skill—it’s a leadership skill. In this episode of Elevate Your English and Accelerate Your Career, host Janine O’Shea continues the conversation on why clear, focused communication is essential for success in U.S. tech and business.
This is Part 2 of our deep dive into concise communication. Janine is joined by returning guest Carlos Ardila, a Data Science Manager at Amazon, who shares practical insights on how to “say more with less.” Together, they explore how identifying the key message, tailoring communication to your audience, and thinking about your objective before you speak can dramatically improve workplace effectiveness—and trust.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
Why concise communication is a career-accelerating skill
Simple strategies to speak more clearly, confidently, and efficiently at work
How your message should change when speaking to colleagues, managers, or executives
The hidden cost of long, unfocused conversations
Designed for non-native English-speaking professionals, this episode offers actionable insights to help you communicate with confidence, clarity, and impact.
For more tips on elevating your English and accelerating your career, connect with Janine O’Shea on LinkedIn or email janine@eslproonline.com. Let’s build a community that supports professional growth across languages and cultures.
 
 
 

 
In today’s fast-paced U.S. workplace, saying more with less isn’t just a communication skill—it’s a career accelerator.
In this episode of Elevate Your English and Accelerate Your Career, host Janine O’Shea is joined by ESL educator Debbie Garza to explore how non-native managers and professionals can speak and write more precisely and confidently at work.
Together, they focus on two essential skills:
Adapting to your audience – including how introverts and extroverts process information differently
Summarizing effectively – communicating clearly with executives and stakeholders by identifying key points and avoiding unnecessary details
You’ll also hear insights from real workplace scenarios, including research on ideal talk-to-listen ratios in business conversations, and practical strategies Janine uses with her executive coaching clients.
Whether you’re leading meetings, presenting ideas, or communicating with senior leadership, this episode will help you sound more confident, organized, and impactful—without overexplaining.
🎧 Perfect for non-native professionals, managers, and executives who want to elevate their English and accelerate their careers.
 

Artificial Intelligence is transforming how companies hire — from resume screening to live interviews. But what does this mean for “you”, especially if English isn’t your first language?
In this episode of *Elevate Your English and Accelerate Your Career*, host Janine O’Shea talks with executive recruiter Boyd Schorzman about how AI is reshaping the interview process and what global professionals can do to stay competitive.
Together, they unpack:
✅ How AI is being used in video interviews and candidate assessments
✅ What recruiters really look for — and where human judgment still matters
✅ Common mistakes non-native speakers make that AI tools may flag
✅ Practical tips to prepare, perform, and stand out in AI-analyzed interviews
Whether you’re a tech professional applying for your next big role or just curious about the future of hiring, this episode will give you the insights and confidence to navigate the AI-driven job market.
🎧 *Tune in and learn how to turn AI from a challenge into your career advantage!*

Looking to land a tech job in the U.S. as a non-native English speaker? You’re not alone — and the job search has changed fast thanks to AI.
In this episode, we talk with an executive recruiter Boyd Schorzman, who shares expert advice on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the U.S. hiring process, especially for tech roles.
We cover:
How AI and applicant tracking systems (ATS) review your resume
The most common mistakes applicants make — and how to fix them
How to use tools like ChatGPT to write resumes and cover letters that feel real
Whether cover letters still matter in the AI era
What makes you stand out to both recruiters and algorithms
Perfect for software engineers, data scientists, and tech professionals aiming to break into the U.S. job market. Real tips, no fluff — just practical guidance to help you compete and win in an AI-driven world.
👉 Follow for weekly episodes on job search, communication, and career growth for international tech professionals in the U.S.
#TechJobsUSA #NonNativeEnglish #AIinHiring #JobSearchTips #ATSResume #ChatGPTForJobs #ImmigrantProfessionals #H1BJobs #InternationalTechTalent #USJobMarket #ResumeTips #ExecutiveRecruiter

Managing conflict isn’t easy—especially when you're leading a multicultural or international team. In this episode, Janine is joined again by leadership expert Mary Huycke to explore practical, culturally aware tools for resolving workplace conflict.
Learn how culture impacts communication, why conflict styles vary, and how to navigate disagreement professionally—even if English isn’t your first language. Mary shares clear ground rules for handling conflict, plus online tools to better understand your own conflict style.
Whether you're a non-native English-speaking manager or executive, this episode will help you grow your leadership confidence, improve team communication, and handle tough conversations more effectively
 
💡 Missed Part 1? Listen to last week’s episode on "Managing Change in Global Teams".
📩 Connect with Janine: janine@eslproonline.com  
e-mail: janine@eslproonline.com | LinkedIn: Janine O’Shea

Leadership Skills – Part 1
Why do teams resist change?
In this episode, Janine speaks with leadership expert Mary Huycke to explore four common reasons people resist change—and how leaders can respond effectively.
Whether you're a non-native English speaker, international manager, or working in a cross-cultural team, you'll learn practical change management strategies, communication tips, and insights on how effectively managing change is a key to leadership
👉 Don’t miss Part 2 on managing conflict—coming next week!
📩 Connect: LinkedIn: Janine O’Shea | mailto:janine@eslproonline.com