Curating a Career Pivot and a Life That Fits | Jen Van Wart, Founder & President Twigs, Ep. 11
From Wall Street trader to fashion entrepreneur, Jen Van Wart moved from New York to Madison, WI, on September 11, 2001. While coping with the events of that day, Jen identified a need in her new city — and a vision for what to do next. So she did what a former day trader would […]
How She Turned a Hobby Into a Business While Caregiving | Jenny Huynh, Wildflower Macarons, Ep. 10
You’ve got a hobby you can’t stop doing. But between the caregiving, the family, the life that’s already full, you’re not sure there’s room for it to become anything more — or if you’re even allowed to find out. A gentle note before you listen: this episode includes Jenny’s experience with postpartum depression and suicidal […]
Career Pauses Aren’t Gaps: Returning to Engineering After 12 Years at Home | Leah Tilstra, Ep. 9
Returning to work after a career break? Here’s what stay-at-home moms get told: the years home don’t count, you’ll come back at a lower title, and you should take whatever salary is offered. Leah Tilstra rejected all three — and walked back into engineering at Abbott with a senior title and a sign-on bonus after […]
From Spotify Exec to Solo Founder – Career Pivot | Courtney Reimer, Sounds Great Strategy, Ep. 8
You spent 20+ years building real expertise — the kind you can’t fake — and now you’re staring down a layoff, a restructure, or just a quiet voice asking if this is really it. What if the skills you’ve spent two decades building are the exact foundation you need for something that’s finally yours? ABOUT […]
The Career Wakeup Call You Can’t Keep Ignoring: the Whisper, the Knock, the Frying Pan | Molly Wipperfurth, Host HIR, Ep. 7
The universe doesn’t always shout — sometimes it whispers for years before it knocks. And if you keep ignoring the knock, eventually it hits you over the head with a frying pan — and for Molly, that frying pan had a name: layoff. ABOUT GUEST: If you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s sitting […]
From Invisible to Iconic: One Mom’s Color Awakening | Marissa Ray, House of Colour, Ep. 6
There is a moment when something finally feels like you — not the version of you that carpools and manages spreadsheets, but the version that has been waiting. Marissa found hers in a color drape. She didn’t blow up her life — she built a new one, slowly, intentionally, one client at a time, and […]
Second Act Career: Corporate HR to Solo Founder | Carol Thompson, Thompson Professional Resources + PowerConnections. Ep. 5
You’ve spent years inside corporate America watching how the game is played — what gets negotiated behind closed doors, what’s actually in that separation agreement, and what your employer is hoping you never think to ask. Carol Thompson spent 12 years as a corporate HR director before walking away to build her own consulting practice […]
Navigating a Passion-Led Career Change with Hailey Smith
A passion-led career change does not transpire instantaneously; rather, it is a gradual unfolding of deliberate actions and reflections. Hailey Smith’s journey exemplifies this principle, as she transitioned from an essential worker to the founder of Simply Creative, a thriving art studio in Minneapolis. Throughout our discussion, we delve into the pivotal 2AM moment that […]
From Accountant to Author: Ruby Raynes’ Inspiring Journey – Midlife Career Change, Ep. 4
Ruby Raynes shares her extraordinary journey as both an accountant and a romance author in this engaging episode. Remarkably, she composed her third book, “Jasper,” while battling breast cancer, demonstrating her resilience and dedication to her craft. In our conversation, Ruby illuminates the significance of her writing not only as a personal outlet but also […]
When your hobby becomes your calling – Navigating a Passion-Led Career Change | Hailey Smith, Simply Creative, Ep. 3
A passion-led career change does not transpire instantaneously; rather, it is a gradual unfolding of deliberate actions and reflections. Hailey Smith’s journey exemplifies this principle, as she transitioned from an essential worker to the founder of Simply Creative, a thriving art studio in Minneapolis. Throughout our discussion, we delve into the pivotal 2AM moment that […]