The Career Relaunch^®Podcast

With so many people suffering career setbacks during this pandemic, I wanted to share this inspiring story of Aaron Leventhal, a former FlyBe airline pilot turned Tesco truck driver. He shares his story of dealing with personal tragedy, managing career upheaval, and finding a way forward after the recent wave of airline industry layoffs.

During the Mental Fuel segment, I also share some examples of my own disappointing professional setbacks and ways I’ve tried to bounce back from these moments. If you’ve ever been dealt a blow in your own career for whatever reason, I hope you find this episode reassuring, inspiring, and most of all, a reminder that unexpected setbacks are a very normal part of any career journey.

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.