Tattoo artist turned marketing manager Brad Stewart shares his perspectives on managing the judgments of others and overcoming the stigma of not having a traditional career or education when entering a new industry. During the Mental Fuel® segment, I share my thoughts on how I decide whether to take on or ignore the opinions of others.

Bommy Lee, a journalist turned communications head of a life sciences venture capital firm, shares her career insights on the power of professional relationships when relaunching your career, the importance of reconsidering your earlier career choices, and why being content with where you are doesn't necessarily mean you'll happy with where you're headed. During the Mental Fuel® segment, I address a listener’s question about how to figure out your next career move when no particular direction...

Teacher turned marketer Alex Spencer of Prezzybox shares her perspectives on the importance of climbing the right career ladder in episode 78 of the Career Relaunch® podcast. She explains how taking a temporary hit to her salary was worth it to her in the long run because it ultimately gave her the chance to do work she found more meaningful. We also discuss the true measures of your professional success and satisfaction (hint--it's not just salary!) and the importance of being selective and...

Tax consultant turned data scientist Erika Russi shares her story of managing a medical condition while trying to change career directions. We discuss how your health can affect your career choices, how imposter syndrome is inevitable when starting a new role, and why slowing down is okay and necessary at times. I also describe my own tendencies to overwork and why hustling all the time isn't necessarily the healthiest habit in the long run.

Tommy Kelly shares his story of relaunching his career as a nuclear power plant engineer to sparkling drinks company founder. We discuss what it takes to let go of a stable job and how to turn a small idea into so much more. I also discuss a few of the more challenging emotional barriers to overcome during career transitions.

Marketer turned voiceover artist, model, and actress My Ly explains why you should always give yourself the opportunity to try new things out. We discuss the tradeoffs of full-time employment versus self-employment versus contract work and the reasons why it's never too late to bravely explore different careers interests.

Marketer turned oncology nurse Pam Katz describes what it takes to start over in your career after a 20 year track record in another industry. We discuss the ups and downs of going back to school mid-career and what it means to do more fulfilling work.

Youssef Salameh, restaurant owner turned realtor describes the emotions and realities of walking away from a career you once loved to pursue something totally different. We discuss why walking away from your career is so hard even when you know something needs to change. I also address a listener question about how to balance practicality with aspiration when thinking about your next career move.

Flight attendant turned coder Christine Snow shares her story of walking away from her 7-year career as a flight attendant to explore other interests. We discuss how you can tell whether now is the right time to make a change in your career and also talk through some common hurdles, both emotional and practical, that stand in the way of starting something new. Afterwards, I address a listener question about the other parts of your life you may want to reevaluate when you’re rethinking your...

I've heard from so many of you recently who have suffered a career setback in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic. So today, I wanted to feature someone whose career has also been hit hard by events. Commercial airline pilot turned heavy goods vehicle truck driver Aaron Levanthal shares his story of dealing with personal loss, managing career upheaval, and finding a way to pivot toward something else. During the Mental Fuel segment, I also share some examples of disappointing turns...

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...

You're often required to wear 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 the work she does 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 struggling with their own demons.

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...

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.