Career Relaunch®

After taking a brief break from hosting this podcast, I've decided to restart the show to feature a few stories of how people around the world are managing their professional lives amid the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, which has created tremendous upheaval and uncertainty not only in people's lives but also their careers. On today's show, financial controller Liya Daskina explains how she's been managing her transition after resigning from her role in the UK so she could move back to Australia only to now find herself in one of the most difficult hiring climates of our lifetime. We discuss how to manage uncertainty and make the most of a difficult time. After our chat, I share an update on how things have changed in my own life over the past few weeks and my perspectives on whether to wait until things blow over with the pandemic or act now to pursue your career ambitions.

You may find yourself wearing different hats in your career if you're balancing different professional identities or just trying to maintain a certain image at work that doesn't always reflect how you're truly feeling inside. Sophie Scott describes how she balances her work as both a psychotherapist and founder of Balance Media. I'll also describe how those who seem to have it all figured out in their careers are often still wrestling with their own struggles behind the scenes.

Career pivots often involve shifting into an industry or role you know little about, which can feel especially daunting. Pip Murray, a science museum producer turned founder of Pip & Nut, shares her thoughts on what it takes to start your own company, how to build your confidence during transitions, and why taking action is so important to turn your ideas into reality. During the Mental Fuel segment, I also share some thoughts about how to do something you have no idea how to do.

Making a major change in your career is a huge undertaking. Legal secretary turned yoga instructor Lola Scarborough explains what it took to get her own yoga studio off the ground, the true realities of reinventing yourself, and why self-belief is so important when making a career transition. We'll also discuss why making a career pivot often takes longer than you imagine and how determination and grit are critical to ultimately achieving your goals.

Having a wide range of jobs gives you with a wealth of valuable experiences, but explaining your career story to others can be difficult. Tod Jacobs explains how he found the common threads in his own career as a journalist turned Wall Street analyst turned rabbi.

We can sometimes get caught up in defining ourselves by our jobs or companies where we work. Ana Wagner, Global Segment Director for PPD Industries shares her story of how going through two layoffs allowed her to step back, gain some useful perspective, and rethink how she chooses to define herself and her priorities in life. I'll also address a listener question about how long you should hang onto a job you dislike.

Your work environment and colleagues have a major impact on who you are and what you think about yourself. Retail merchandiser turned baby sleep expert Tamiko Kelly explains why surrounding yourself with the right people can have a profound impact on your career. I'll share an example of how my own personality changed after working for certain companies, and we'll discuss the steps she took to move from the corporate world to set up her own independent business.

Seeking validation is a natural human desire, yet it can lead you to make decisions that may look good on the outside, but don't make you feel great on the inside. Huron Pines marketing director Colby Chilcote shares her experience of walking away from her reputable marketing role at Google to shift into the nonprofit world and make a lifestyle change. She explains the impact taking a pay cut has had on her life and perspectives about what makes her truly happy.

Investing your energies in only those professional activities that you truly find fulfilling becomes especially important when your health takes a turn for the worse. Hear why you shouldn't put off doing things you find rewarding and meaningful from Caroline Yeats, a former investment banker turned nutritionist who was diagnosed with incurable Stage IV bowel cancer in her early 30s.

Your job satisfaction not only affects your life at work, but your life outside of work. Insurance attorney turned public adjustment business owner Michael McEvoy describes why we walked away from his family business, and the impact that decision had on his relationships, family, and health. During the Mental Fuel segment, I also explain how much your job satisfaction can affect your life outside of work.

Navigating the uncertain transition of walking away from one role without having your next one lined up is never easy. Former pharmaceutical consultant Kelly Price explains why she chose to leave her corporate role behind to pursue work that more closely aligns with her values, the importance of investing time in your genuine interests, and what proactive steps you can take during your transition to line up your next move.

Finding the healthy balance between pushing yourself and not overextending yourself is never easy. McKinsey consultant turned CEO of PocketSuite Chinwe Onyeagoro will explain how to make tough choices that honor your priorities in life and approach your work with even more joy. In the Mental Fuel segment, I’ll talk about setting reasonable expectations for yourself so you can maintain a sustainable pace to your work and life.

Figuring out whether to turn your side project into your full-time day job is rarely easy. Agency designer turned freelance creative & festival organizer Luke Tonge explains how to tell when it’s time to devote yourself more fully to your side gig. We'll talk about how you can tell when to move on from your current day job, the importance of reminding yourself of your "why," and why stepping out of your comfort zone can be so powerful. I'll also share 5 questions you could ask yourself to clarify if and when the right time is to turn your side hustle into something more.

How can you successfully shift roles from a technical to managerial role? How about shifting industries from management consulting to product management? In this episode of Career Relaunch, Jeff Shih, a former Deloitte consultant turned product manager at Unity Technologies shares his thoughts on how to successfully navigate an industry and role shift. In today's Mental Fuel® segment, I also share some thoughts on how I decide when to turn down career opportunities. 

Moving to a new country is never simple. In this episode of Career Relaunch, lettering artist Alex Trochut shares his story of moving from Barcelona to New York City.  We’ll discuss the importance of paying attention to your professional desires and ways to rekindle your relationship with your own work. After our conversation, during today’s Mental Fuel, I explain what I do to keep my own work exciting and interesting.