262: Hard Work Doesn’t Get You Promoted—This Does | Nadine Niba

What do football, AI, and the immigrant journey have in common? More than you think.

In this inspiring episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon sits down with Nadine Niba—CPA, MBA, best-selling author, and trailblazer who journeyed from Cameroon to Canada—to unpack the mindset and strategies behind standout careers. Nadine shares how her darkest moments unlocked resilience, why cultural intelligence is the ultimate skill in today’s AI-driven world, and how embracing an immigrant’s perspective can supercharge innovation at work.

From her memoir-strategy guide “Quarterback: An Immigrant’s Guide to Corporate North America,” Nadine points out the parallels between effective quarterbacks and high-impact professionals, revealing why staying calm under pressure and building your brand are essential in every arena. Her playbook blends personal stories, hard-won lessons, and actionable frameworks for anyone who wants to get noticed and move from execution to influence—without losing humility.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How Nadine’s job search breakthrough shaped her mindset for growth—and gratitude
2. Why rejection isn’t failure: reframing “no” and boardroom setbacks as redirections
3. The key lessons from Nadine’s immigrant journey—and the advantage it brings to teams
4. How to articulate your value at work (without sounding arrogant)
5. The difference between simply doing your job and building a career—and how to avoid tying your identity to titles
6. Strategies to develop cultural intelligence and adaptability in diverse, AI-driven workplaces
7. The “quarterback mindset” for calm decision-making and pocket presence under pressure
8. Nadine’s hard-won mistakes and the tactical lessons to accelerate your own career journey

Timestamps:

00:00 – Nadine on why cultural intelligence is the “master skill” today

00:48 – Introducing Nadine, her story, and book “Quarterback”

02:04 – Nadine’s near-return home; breakthrough moment in the job hunt

05:34 – The power of persistence and self-belief in the face of setbacks

06:56 – Advice for listeners feeling stuck, laid off, or rejected

08:39 – The sports show that inspired Nadine’s book (and lessons from the field)

13:20 – Why Nadine wrote her book, and how football strategies apply to careers

19:09 – Pocket presence: what it means for calm professionalism at work

20:50 – Nadine’s top career mistakes—and how to communicate your impact

23:58 – Cultural roots, humility, and how to get recognized without arrogance

28:47 – The difference between a job and a career: why it matters

31:55 – Can you build a career without looking like you’re “job searching” on LinkedIn?

34:15 – Tying your self-worth to the job (and how to shift your identity)

37:29 – Behind the scenes: why Nadine’s boss is a great leader

41:40 – The immigrant advantage—grit, cultural intelligence, and resilience

46:43 – How hiring managers can leverage immigrant perspectives

47:00 – Adaptability, learning, and managing disruption in the age of AI

48:57 – What pageantry taught Nadine about confidence and skill transfer

50:20 – Advice for a 12-year-old girl in Africa with Nadine’s book

52:19 – How to connect with Nadine...