Communicate to Lead
Ready to step into your full potential as a leader? Join communication expert and leadership coach Kele Belton for conversations that go beyond traditional leadership advice. Each week on Communicate to Lead, discover practical strategies to strengthen both your leadership presence and communication impact. Through solo episodes and inspiring guest interviews, Kele tackles the real challenges women face in management - from mastering high-stakes conversations and building executive presence to overcoming perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Whether you're an experienced manager or an aspiring leader, this podcast delivers actionable insights to help you navigate workplace dynamics, amplify your voice, and lead with authentic confidence. Tune in to transform challenges into opportunities and build the leadership career you envision.
Communicate to Lead
129. How to Influence Year-End Budget Conversations (When You're Not in the Room)
Right now, your manager is in a meeting you're not invited to, deciding your promotion, your raise, and your 2026 compensation. Directors, VPs, and HR are comparing you to people you've never met, asking questions you've never been asked to answer. And by the time you find out what was decided? The budget is locked.
Stop leaving your career to chance. In this episode, Kele Belton gives you the strategic playbook to influence these decisions and secure the promotion and compensation you've earned.
In this episode, you will learn:
✅ The three-layer budget decision process and who's really in the room advocating for (or against) your promotion.
✅ How to build a business case, not just a performance case, that makes saying "no" to your promotion harder than saying "yes."
✅ The exact language to use when discussing your career path with your manager—whether you're committed long-term or frustrated after being passed over.
✅ How to activate a network of advocates beyond your direct manager, including skip-level leaders, cross-functional peers, and HR business partners.
✅ The documentation strategy that makes you visible in calibration meetings and budget justification reports.
✅ What to do if you don't get promoted this cycle—how to get clarity, create accountability, and decide whether to stay or go.
This episode is essential for:
- Women in middle management who want to get promoted.
- Aspiring leaders preparing for career advancement.
- Anyone frustrated by working hard without seeing results in their compensation or title.
Connect with Kele for more leadership insights: