We all know networking is a big part of making a career change. But does it feel like work to you? My guest today can help make it easier. Karen Wickre is the author of Taking the Work Out of Networking. Karen has spent 30 years in tech as a writer, editor, and communications professional, and has been called “the best-connected Silicon Valley figure you’ve never heard of" because of her superpower—connecting people. If you’re making a career change and dread the idea of networking, esp...

Zayda Rivera is a Reiki Master who made her career change her own—by bringing together her Puerto Rican heritage and her teachings. In this episode celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Zayda shares the calling she felt to take her career in a new direction after years of covering entertainment, politics, and breaking news as a professional writer. She opens up about the self-doubt she had about launching her spiritual business Mindful Living with Z and how she grew her clientele by infu...

When friends began offering to pay him for his photos, Anthony Randazzo started thinking his hobby could become more than just a creative outlet. In 2012, Anthony made the bold decision to leave behind his Wall Street law career after he realized it wasn't for him. Eventually, he made the switch from corporate attorney to professional photographer. In this throwback episode, Anthony shares how he turned a hobby into a career, the doubts and resistance he faced along the way, and t...

When her longtime boss passed away in 2022, Lisa Pollione found herself at a crossroads with her career—in her 60s. In this episode, Lisa shares how she reinvented her professional life after two decades as a trusted chief of staff and executive assistant to a pharmaceutical advertising executive. Lisa recalls the actions she took: signing up with temp agencies, exploring new paths, and staying open to opportunities. After trying out a few different roles as a temp, she’s now thriving i...

Do you want to make a career change, but you feel stuck? Do you keep procrastinating, thinking you’ll get started next week, month, or year? Here to get you going is executive coach and leadership consultant Ellen Whitlock Baker. As the founder and CEO of EWB Coaching, Ellen helps midlife professionals reclaim who they are and what they want to do next in their careers. In this episode, Ellen shares why it’s so hard to get started even when you know it’s time for a change. She reveals h...

Jim Fina made his career switch in the late 90s when new media was becoming more mainstream and integrating itself into our daily lives. Jim, a textbook editor at Scholastic, gradually transitioned into project management at a time when it was relatively new in tech. Jim's experience from 20-plus years ago mirrors where we are today with artificial intelligence. Just like the web in the 90s, AI is quickly going mainstream and reshaping how we live and work. In this episode, Jim ...

If you need a pep talk today, this episode is for you! Wherever you are in your career change journey, my guest has you covered with practical tools and soulful guidance. Robyn Moreno is a spiritual coach and author of Get Rooted. In this episode, Robyn shares how you can manage those fears and doubts that often come up with making a career switch—by tapping into your intuition and staying in the present. Robyn also reveals the four pillars you can always count on to stay grounded and m...

Any career change has its risks. That’s why a major goal of this podcast is to encourage you to TAKE ACTION. Nayan Patel exemplifies this mission perfectly. Recently, Nayan went from working as a banking executive to managing a horse farm. As the new owner of Horse Shadow Run, he now oversees a 16-acre horse farm that offers boarding, riding lessons, and summer camps in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode, Nayan walks us through how he is figuring out his career transition into ...

Let's face it, career changers aren't typical job candidates. You've got the extra hurdle of having to convince a hiring manager that you can do the job you're applying for in a new field. To better understand what a hiring manager is thinking—and feeling—I’m speaking with Dawn Graham, PhD, a licensed psychologist and author of Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success. Dawn is a leading career switch coach, TEDx speaker, LinkedIn Learning instructor and the form...

Sometimes you don’t have to go far to make a career switch. My guest today is a great example of how to change careers without changing companies. Mia Villarreal went from social media strategist to product marketing manager—within the same organization—in only a couple of years. In this episode, Mia shares how she first got into VMware, a global software developer, in 2020 as a contractor—a move that gave her access to the company culture and cross-functional teams before she was...

Madeline Miller, a Gen Z and Millennial career and leadership coach, shares her A.I.R. Formula—Alignment, Influence, and Resilience—to help professionals connect with a more fulfilling career. Drawing from her own career switch as an entertainment attorney turned entrepreneur, Madeline breaks down the mindset shifts needed to: • Align your work with your values • Build influence • Develop the resilience to keep moving forward "If you are going through a career transition, mindset ...

Barbara Brandon-Croft is recognized as the first Black woman cartoonist in the U.S. to break into the mainstream press with Where I’m Coming From, her cartoon feature centering on Black female voices. As we celebrate Women's History Month, Barbara looks back at her various careers—from her early days as a fashion and beauty writer to her time as a cartoonist at the Detroit Free Press in the 90s, and later, as the research director at Parents magazine, where she worked for 18 years. In t...

Former newspaper reporter Jonathan McFadden opens up about the identity crisis he battled with his career change. He recalls everything he was afraid to lose if he left journalism—would it be worth it? “I, like many of us do, conflated my value as a human with my value as an employee,” says Jonathan.In this episode, Jonathan shares how he tried a couple of different jobs and industries before landing on user experience, also known as UX.Was it all worth it? Tune in to find out and to hea...

Whether you’re feeling stuck, curious about a new field, or dealing with the ups and downs of a career switch, you can make spirituality part of your journey. We revisit a chat with author and life coach Nancy Gavilanes, who shares how your faith can guide you through a career change. “You need faith to have patience, persevere, and not give up,” says Nancy. Episode HighlightsThe spiritual component of making a career changeListen to that stirring in your heartAdvice if you’re...

It takes time to change industries or professions, and depending on how you handle that time—and the feelings that come with it—it could lead to burnout. I speak with Dr. Kyle Elliott, a career coach and founder of CaffeinatedKyle.com. Kyle coaches career changers, so they avoid burnout as they work on their career switch. In this episode, Kyle shares how having clear targets, realistic goals and a good support system can keep you from burning out. He offers techniques to appl...

As a person of color (POC) and/or first-generation professional, your family’s culture and background likely influenced your beliefs, which can now impact your making a career change.Dani Tan is a leadership and career coach, who works with POC and First Gens who are often the first, few or only in their space. Dani reveals how the scarcity mindset from our parents can affect our career choices. And she shares how the power of networking can reset our thinking. Dani, who is Asian Latina ...

My guest today is trying to change careers now while he has a full-time job, a mortgage and two young kids. David Mock opens up about the challenges he's facing, his immediate concerns (will it work out?, will it be worth it?), and how he's getting through it all. Currently, David feels stuck and he shares how he's working on becoming a certified junior cybersecurity analyst, a new career that would provide personal growth, financial freedom and more flexibility. It could also secu...

If you’re dreaming about breaking out on your own to do something creative, this episode is for you! Creative strategy coach Michelle Guo works with creatives, such as freelance web designers, copywriters and social media managers. As the founder of Magicave Media, Michelle empowers her clients to build a sustainable business around their desired lifestyle. Is a creative career right for you? Michelle helps you figure that out with all the things you should consider, including your pers...

After she was laid off in her 50s, Argentine-born Mirta Rinaldi decided to follow her passion for cooking. Today, Mirta is in her 70s and teaches Argentine cuisine. She also owns her own business, Mendulcina, where she hosts cultural experiences and makes and sells delicacies from her home country. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mirta shares how she made her career change and the rich ties her new career as a cooking instructor and entrepreneur has to her culture. It's more than ju...

Did you know? 48% of U.S. employers offer undergraduate or graduate tuition assistance as a benefit? This means you can start making your career change NOW while you’re still at your current job! When Weavy Garcia’s company offered an MBA program to their employees, he went for it. It was an opportunity to learn about business, get his master’s, and switch from IT into sales, a more lucrative option for him. In this throwback episode, Weavy recalls what it was like to go back to sch...