The Career Butterfly

128. Letting Your Personal Brand Shine in your Resume and on LinkedIn Mar 14, 2022

Meg Applegate is a certified resume writer and personal branding strategist with Hinge Resume, a boutique firm that offers career branding for women that opens doors. In this interview, she shares all her wisdom on these topics!

If you’re interested in working with Meg, she can be booked privately or you can check out her course, The Resume Key.

Also mentioned in this podcast:

Starting a Business During Your Career Pause with Meg Applegate (her first interview)

Overcoming Impostor Syndrome with Micha Goebig

How Toxic Work Cultures are Driving the Great Resignation with Brene Brown

127. Saying Yes to Opportunities When They Knock Mar 07, 2022

Kat Price is a perfect example of someone who says yes when the right opportunity knocks at her door. It's how she started her own business. It's how she started substituting. And now it's how she became a full-time recruiter.

What opportunities are knocking on your door right now? How could you say yes?

126. Returning with the Help of a Team of Experts Feb 28, 2022

Returning to work after several years away is not a simple task, but the good news is that you do not have to go it alone.

Amy Dantzler returned as a consultant to the same global health care consulting firm she had worked for several years before, but it wasn't as simple as dropping right back in. In addition to reactivating her network of contacts, she had help along the way from a team of experts for everything from her resume to her interview skills.

Today, she's expanding her career even further by transitioning her skills into a role leading onboarding efforts for others joining her company.

125. My 2022 Word of the Year Feb 21, 2022

Have you ever picked a word of the year? My word for this year is IMPACT. That is the word that I plan to use to guide my decisions this year.

The Career Butterfly

124. Get Out of Your Own Way and #DoTheThing Feb 14, 2022

What’s your thing? You know, that thing inside of you that you’ve always wanted to do. Dona Sarkar, author of #DoTheThing, is here to help you discover your thing, get out of your own way, and get it done. She’s a good one to be giving the advice as she’s had lots of “things” over the years. In addition to her career at Microsoft where she is currently the Director of Technology for Accessibility at Microsoft, she is an author and she runs her own fashion line, Prima Dona Studios.

Dona shares that she has been called aggressive, ambitious and a bit of a diva. Her response? Hell yes. She’s proud to be all those and more! In this interview, she shares the strategies she’s used to #dothething including thinking of herself in the 3rd person on her own Hero’s Journey, ruthless time management, and extending her comfort zone a tiny bit rather than completely stepping out of it.

I did the exercises in her book #DoTheThing and it is that work that inspired me to create this podcast. I highly recommend it for you too. Not sure what your thing is? She has strategies for discovering your thing too!

Mentioned in this podcast:

#DoTheThing

Prima Dona Studios

123. Bringing Your Emotional Intelligence (EQ) to Work Feb 07, 2022

Desiree Briel Rodi returns to the podcast this week to share her expertise on Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Not only are these skills becoming more acknowledged - and needed - in the workplace, but they are also skills that we all get to work on every day in our personal lives: the ability to manage ourselves and our relationships effectively; the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our emotions; and those of others.

Desiree also shared her own story in a previous interview.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Briel Rodi Consulting

Emotional Intelligence by Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer

Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More than IQ by Daniel Goleman

Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett

Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry

Charting the development of emotion from childhood to adulthood by E. C. Nook et al

122. Creating the Job of Your Dreams from your Personal Skills/Experience Jan 31, 2022

Leslie McCaddon found her dream job as an outreach coordinator for a national non-profit mental health clinic serving military families, but not too long ago she was in a very different position. A widowed mom of three children, before she was ready to create the job of her dreams, she had to first get over the story she was telling herself - that no one would want to hire someone who hadn't finished college or worked for a company in 20 years.

In addition to her work as outreach coordinator, she is a certified professional life coach who coaches other women through The Happiest Mom Coach.

Mentioned in the interview:

Reese Witherspoon Woman of the Year speech

121. An Empty Nester Builds a Thriving Lifestyle & Business Community for Women Jan 24, 2022

Karen Rae doesn't shy away from telling other women her career break was 27 years long. With her kids grown, and facing an empty nest, she knew she was ready for something else. Even though she knew nothing about video production, she decided what she really wanted was to create her own show! That was just the beginning of Fave Lifestyles which has become a vibrant lifestyle community for women. A few years later and with a lot of entrepreneurial experience under her belt, Karen launched Fave Biz Society to help other passionate female entrepreneurs launch their dreams.

New Year, New Podcast Name: The Career Butterfly Jan 17, 2022

This episode is a quick check-in and the last one you'll see under the name Ready Pause Go. Starting January 24, 2022, you will find this podcast under the name The Career Butterfly. Our website is moving too.

We're still all about inspiring, guiding, and supporting women from the career pause into their next step. Just like butterflies, we honor the cocoon phase and then find our wings. Come check out our new interviews and stories next week!

119. The Future of Remote Work is Now Jun 22, 2021

Remote work used to be unachievable dream for busy parents. The pandemic changed all of that. While remote work definitely has its own set of challenges, it is here to stay and that is good news for all of us! Tune in to here more about how to find your own remote job.

readypausego.com

118. The 2 Words that Explain Your Career Pause in an Interview Jun 14, 2021

I'll explain all about it in this episode, but here are the 2 words: Growth Mindset. If you live your life with a growth mindset, there is no reason that you can't find success after a career pause - no matter how long it's been.

117. Could a Rebound Job Be Your Next Right Move? Jun 07, 2021

Today, we're talking rebound jobs. Specifically, a job that you take even when you know it may not be the dream job or your forever job. I'll break down 5 different boosts you can get from one: Confidence, Skills, Connections, Resume, and Financial. It doesn't have to be the perfect job to give you some - or all - of those benefits in the short term.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Simplicity Consulting

OnContracting

116. Riding Your Own Unique Wave May 31, 2021

Desiree Briel Rodi thought she had her plan all mapped out - she'd go to college, establish herself in a career, get married, have kids, and stay home with them. What she learned along the way is that her journey - just like everyone else's - is unique and to just ride the waves.

Desiree has worked in both education and corporate environments, started her own chef business, and returned to school more than once. Today, she's a mom to three kids, an EQ facilitator and coach, and pursuing her Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Change.

She offers great insight into how she's transitioned amongst these varying jobs, as well as the role Emotional Intelligence played in her journey.

115. Why Paid Leave Is Important for All Women May 25, 2021

We're chatting policy this week because it can have such an impact on women in the workforce. We'll discuss how the United States is the only industrialized nation to not offer this benefit and how that might change in the near future.

Tune in to hear why it's still important even after you've had your babies.

114. Letting Go of the "How" Questions that Block Your Dreams May 17, 2021

Do you find yourself getting caught up in the "how" of achieving your dreams before you even get started?

This week is all about letting go of the "how" questions your brain will send your way when you decide to do something new. It's that moment when you're on the cusp of trying something new, but then you realize you don't know how to do it. Your mind will flood you with confusion, doubt, fear, overwhelm because it's easier to stay in status quo than to go for something new.

But status quo is not what we're after here. Tune in to learn how to work on your thoughts, feelings, and actions to achieve the results you want!

113. Your Career Break Should Not Be A Career Breaker May 11, 2021

Addie Swartz built her company reacHIRE to provide women with an intentional onramp back to the workforce. She knew the value of this frequently untapped group because she had previously built a successful company with a specific focus on hiring moms who had taken a career pause.

Today, reacHIRE has put hundreds of women back to work with their unique model that matches qualified candidates with companies committed to this pathway. They offer custom cohorts designed to support the women along the journey back to work.

If you're interested in returning to work in a supportive environment, check out reacHIRE.

112. Happy Mother's Day! Give yourself the gift of TIME May 03, 2021

Happy Mother's Day! How much time do you give to others each week? A lot, right? How much time do you give yourself each week?

I'm asking you to consider upping that last number to 3 hours a week. Time to be alone, dream ahead, journal your thoughts, maybe even dust off that resume.

Three hours might not sound like much, but I made this suggestion to a group of women last year and some of them have had some powerful results in that tiny little time slice. Are you with me on this?

111. Six Soft Skills that Moms do Better than Anyone Apr 26, 2021

LinkedIn legitimized the Stay-at-Home-Mom title on their platform today and I am celebrating that! Tune in to hear what that means for you and for how you should celebrate the skills that you have carefully honed and developed while managing your families.

I truly believe the Stay-at-Home-Mom skills make you a rockstar when you go back to work and it's time we own these!

Conflict Resolution
Crisis Management
Problem Solving
Negotiation
Communication
Time Management

You have literally been becoming a better version of yourself during these years at home. You're wiser, more skilled, more experienced, and both tougher and more compassionate!

110. Real Talk: A Mom Goes Back to Medical School Apr 20, 2021

Getting into medical school is a major accomplishment, but it still isn't the most important part of Joan Tu's life. A mom of two, who also happens to be in medical school, she still considers being a mom her most important job.

Joan shares the journey she took from financial analyst to full-time parent to author to student.

As a first-generation medical student, she also recently decided to document the challenges of the medical school application process in her new book: Raising Doctors: The Med School Admissions Guide for Parents of Future Physicians

109. Saying Yes When the Opportunity Arrives Apr 13, 2021

Some people would look at Colleen Butler's resume and be surprised to see the diversity of jobs: entrepreneur, lawyer, mortgage broker, media salesperson, to name a few. Some were full time and some were the part-time gigs that fulfilled her when her kids were small. But, the truth is that she's always been willing to say yes, which has now landed her in the job she loves so much she calls it "the last job she ever wants."

Today, she is the Business Development Lead for The W Marketplace, a digital marketplace featuring women-owned businesses.

108. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: What You Need to Know Apr 05, 2021

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) isn't just a new corporate buzzword or department. It's an important value that can impact you whether you are job searching, interviewing, onboarding, or finding your way to success in a new company.

In this podcast, I break down what each of the words means - as well as several more. If you've been away from the workforce for a few years or more, you'll find the vocabulary in this space has changed. And, since you may even find yourself in an interview responding to your views on DEI, I include a few real-world questions that candidates have recently been asked to respond to.

107. From Empty Nester to Digital Nomad in Bali Mar 29, 2021

At first glance, Jessica Seiders is not what I would consider a good candidate for life as a digital nomad - someone who finds a way to work vitually from any country in the world.

Two years ago, she didn't have a passport, she'd never left the United States, and she didn't speak a foreign language. But when her daughter left for college and she found herself lost and depressed, she made a radical shift in her life.

She sold all her belongings, traveled to 17 countries, and, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was closing in, she settled in Bali. It turns out to be the perfect path and she's found an entirely new life there.

Today, you can find her helping fellow empty nesters on her Fearless Empty Nester website and in her Empty Nester Zoom Moms Facebook group.

106. 4 Strategies to Focus your Back to Business Search Mar 22, 2021

Nancy McSharry Jensen and Sarah Duenwald founded The Swing Shift four years ago to help women navigate their return to work. Now, they've launched a book, Back to Business, to share all their wisdom on finding your confidence, embracing your skills, and landing your dream job after a career pause.

We chat about their take on what's changed in 2021, the value of a personal brand, and the importance of connections. Nancy and Sarah share 4 Back to Business strategies they outline in the book:

Boomerang
Try and Buy
Lilypad
From Pro Bono to Paid

Tune in to see which of those 4 strategies might work for you and to learn from these career pause experts.

105. Is Fear of Failure Costing You Your Dreams? Mar 15, 2021

Today, we're talking about failure as a good thing. Yes, a good thing! I truly believe that failure has helped me create who I am today and I want to take a deep dive on that with you. We're tackling your fear of failure, why we fail in advance, and how we can benefit from failing forward.

104. A Nurse Discovers a New Passion as a Microgreens Farmer Mar 09, 2021

Laura Patterson never realized how much of her identity was wrapped up in her role as a Registered Nurse until she stepped away from the career to raise her 3 children.

As she brought the next generation of children into the world, she started to think about her role in the world. In particular, she was fascinated by the food that nourishes all of us and the way children have become so disconnected from the source.

Laura found that microgreens - essentially baby plants packed with nutrition and flavor - were the perfect entry point for young kids because they have short (

103. Aligning your Business with your Beliefs: Zero-Waste Grocery Store Mar 01, 2021

Stephanie Lentz was always a diligent recycler, but it wasn't until she became a parent that she started to become really uncomfortable with the amount of waste she was creating.

A former teacher, she never expected to find herself writing a business plan with a baby and a toddler in tow. But that's exactly where her passion led her.

Today, she is 3+ years into the venture with Scoop Marketplace, a zero-waste grocery store that has just opened it's new, expanded location in Kirkland, Washington. She's learned a lot about the entrepreneurial journey of a brick-and-mortar (and online!) business and shares generously how she's building this business in alignment with how she wants to raise her family.

If you're interested in my upcoming 8-week digital PathFinder Program, learn more here.

102. Spark Your Passion (even if you only have 3 hours/week) Feb 22, 2021

Katie Rose walked away from a successful, international career in yoga, but she didn't stay away forever. After some intense relief from no longer juggling the business and the babies (she now has 4 boys, aged 4 to 14), she found her way back, but in a completely new way.

Today, she runs a mostly digital business and finds the format incredibly parent-friendly. Her wisdom runs deep and she's here to help others not "get sucked into the vortex of duty." Katie gives fantastic, practical advice for those who can only commit micro amounts of time. It really can be enough to spark that passion we all need.

101. Intuition, Inner Power, and Intention: What Do You Want to Create for Yourself? Feb 15, 2021

Radka Gimerova is a Health/Life Coach who helps women tap into their inner power and intuition. Not sure what that means? Come listen because she shares both deep wisdom and practical tips in this episode.

She's no stranger to the career pause either, having spent her early career in Corporate Human Resources. She left that job to care for her two young boys - and to focus on this new passion of coaching other women in a similar phase of life.

In today's podcast, I also announced my free workshop!

Back-to-Work Success Blueprint: My 6 Secrets to $6-Figure Success ~ After a 13 Year Career Pause

Sign up at the link above and choose your date - February 24th, 26th, or 28th.

100. The Life You are Seeking is Also Seeking You Feb 08, 2021

Welcome to the second week of February and our theme of self-love here on Ready Pause Go! This month is all about soul searching, compassion, and self-discovery.

Life coach Karrie Mitten knows a lot about the career pause - she took a 17 year pause herself! She always knew she wanted to serve people, but never found the exact fit with the customer service and sales positions she tried. She even bought her own staffing agency with the thought that finding jobs for people had to be the ultimate way of serving people. But it still wasn't the right fit. Thankfully, she was able to walk away from that business and find the one that had been waiting for her all along.

Today, she has her own life coaching practice where she works with women in transition and helps them uplevel their lives by working on their confidence, passion/purpose, and abundant life they are born into.

Manifest Your Life... with Intention Feb 01, 2021

When Sonia Lopez talks about transforming your life, she does it from a place of experience. Her own career pause took her from corporate HR to coaching, but it wasn't until many years later when she was suffering from several illnesses that she truly tapped in to her inner guidance and intuition.

We had a fascinating discussion where she shares her perspective on manifestation and how she teaches from the lens of neuroscience, psychology, energetics, and spirituality.

Follow Your Passion... Or Not? Jan 26, 2021

What if you follow your passion - only to find that your passion doesn't feel the same way once it's your career?

Amy Rowland, an NCAA champion tennis player, assumed she'd excel at and love a job coaching tennis at the college level. While she succeeded in the position, she didn't love it the way she'd enjoyed playing. In search of more, she got another degree and added Professor to her resume. But that didn't fix the issue either.

Amy became a pro at career pivots and left the collegiate world for law school. The timing coincided with the beginning of her family which added a pause to the pivot. In this interview, she shares her journey as an attorney and what made her eventually leave law to open her own legal recruiting firm, Varia Search.

She also gives her own recruiting tips for 2021 - how to own your pause, where the world of remote work is headed, and what's changed in interviews.

Today, Amy has another new passion - hosting the Fashionably Late podcast where she shares the stories of those who arrive late to their career fulfillment.

Set Your Money Mindset for 2021 Jan 18, 2021

Carol Parrish, a Financial Advisor from Utor Wealth, is helping us kick off a new year with great advice on all things money. She covers everything from taking a financial inventory and tracking your cash flow and savings to protecting your future.

Regardless of whether you are the primary breadwinner or haven't received a paycheck in years, your family's finances deserve your attention - and January is the perfect time to turn your attention in that direction.

Carol is available for individual consultations. For additional online resources, she recommends TillerHQ or Nav-It.

It Doesn't Matter How Much Time Has Passed Jan 12, 2021

"It doesn't matter how much time has passed."

This was the conclusion that Mary Clare Kellett reached after finding herself in the role of Washington State Grassroots Leader for 2020 Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. Despite her long career pause, Mary Clare definitely still knew how to build teams and get things done!

In this interview, Mary Clare shares how she landed this role - without any political campaign experience - and where she went from there. With the pandemic just beginning, her marriage ending, and facing some health issues, Mary Clare took the opposite route of a lot of people looking for a job. In fact, she didn't even look.

Tune in to hear what she did instead - and how the perfect job found her.

From the Impossible Year to an Impossible Goal Jan 04, 2021

Phew! 2020 is behind us! I have no idea what 2021 will bring, but it's a welcome change all the same!

I'm entering this year with a step away from an impossible year in oh-so-many ways and with excitement to tackle an Impossible Goal! Why impossible you ask?

Well, for starters, it's because I want to dream big! And I'm ready to embrace whatever failure I need to face to make this goal a reality. If I picked a goal that wouldn't involve potential failure, I might be stuck playing too small.

But more than anything, I want to help YOU - my listeners - achieve your goals this year. That's why my goal is to guide 50 women to the path they are meant for in 2021!

Ready to get started? In a few weeks, I'll be sharing my Back-to-Work Success Blueprint: 6 Secrets for 6-figure Success. Stay tuned for dates and registration info.

When Life Throws You a Curve Ball Dec 21, 2020

Radha never intended to take a career pause, but when her dad became ill the same year she had her second child, she knew she needed to focus on her family. She stepped away knowing it was the right choice, but with a strong warning from her colleagues that she would never be able to return.

Of course, Radha now knows that wasn't true, but it was a big hurdle to overcome. Not only did she overcome it, but today she is back in a job she loves at the same company she left several years earlier!

In this episode, she tells us how she rebuilt her skillset and her network to make this possible. While she was able to make Plan A work, she also shares all about her Plan B and Plan C!

The Resilient, Successful Job Search Dec 14, 2020

With 7 cross-country moves under her belt, Rachel Chittick is an expert at managing change. But her last move came with a new wrinkle. While she'd successfully managed all of the family transitions through the past several moves, this time she was also looking for a new job.

Her kids were either in college or on their way and, with that expense as well as living in a more expensive city, Rachel was ready to return full-time to her marketing career. A few years earlier, she'd easily landed a part-time consulting gig, but this time the search was more challenging. Not only was she in a new city, but the pandemic descended on the country during her job search.

Listen to be inspired by her story of resiliency and to learn how she landed her current position with a boutique PR agency.

Passion for Fashion Dec 07, 2020

Despite an educational background in Chemistry and a professional background in journalism, Swati Padmaraj's true passion has always been with the world of fashion. When she had the opportunity to reinvent herself in her second career once her kids were older, she decided to merge her education, experience, and passion as a clothing designer, stylist, and entrepreneur.

Come along on her journey and hear how Swati earned an additional Bachelor's degree in Fashion and created her own fashion line. Today, she's launched a fashion tech company, Style-At-Iz, focused on the styling experience - and even found a way to pivot in 2020 to provide an online shopping experience for local businesses.

4 Questions That Can Change Your Life: Loving What Is by Byron Katie Nov 29, 2020

The November pick for Butterfly Book Club was Loving What is by Byron Katie and that's what we're talking about in this week's podcast.

For me the subtitle says it all... who wouldn't want to know the 4 questions that can change your life?

Is it true?
Can I absolutely know it’s true?
How do I react when I believe that thought?
Who would I be without this thought?

But it's more than that. It's doing The Work. I hope you enjoy this brief introduction to Byron Katie and will go read the book. If you already have it, keep doing The Work!

The Essential Toolkit I Used to Return to Work Nov 24, 2020

This week is all about gratitude so I'm sharing a gift with you.

On my journey back to work, I collected hundreds of websites, books, podcasts and tools that inspired and guided me.

This week, I'm sharing my curated list of the top 55 of these incredible resources in my Essential Toolkit in hopes that they will inspire and guide you.

Enjoy!

Love What You Do or Do What You Love? Nov 16, 2020

These are two different concepts, but what if both could be true? Today, I explore that option with my own two distinct, but simultaneous career paths. What if loving what you do leaves you open to more possibilities?

Find Your Perfect Career Fit Nov 09, 2020

I've always been an advocate of career and personality assessments because I think they can really help you discover who you are. The challenge is that, even after doing the work, it can be hard to translate that to choosing a career path.

Kristin Sherry had a similar issue which is what led her to create her own unique assessment called YouMap(R). It combines strengths, values, skills, and interests to create a more holistic view. She shares all about it in this episode and also gives exercises that you can do today to get started on this journey of discovery.

Butterfly Book Club: Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo Nov 01, 2020

"Everything is figureoutable" isn't just a book title to Marie Forleo. It's the mantra of her life! If you're ready to figure your life out, come listen! Whether you've read the book, are looking for the quick summary, or need inspiration to go pick it up, there's something for you in today's episode.

Succeeding in Business with Friends as Partners Oct 25, 2020

Charu Bogdan's career opportunities have always flowed easily from her early days as an event planner at Microsoft to launching her own wedding consulting business, so it was no surprise when her friend - and recent event planning partner - asked if she would be interested in doing a pop-up retail store for The Cashmere Sale.

Five years later, Charu and friends Marianne Heywood and Kelly Silver are still having fun running The Cashmere Sale in Bellevue. Charu credits their complementary skills, strong community ties and focus on friendship above the rest for making them a success even as they head into the uncharted waters of their first year of online-only sales as a result of the pandemic.

If you want to check them out, visit their website (use code BELLEVUE2020) or email them at Bellevue@thecashmeresale.com

Frustrated by Corporate America and a Pivot to Public Policy Oct 18, 2020

Judy Perran had a successful 20+ year career as an engineer and discovered some amazing opportunities along the way. She even found a way to balance her role as mom of two boys with both part-time and consulting opportunities. Ultimately, however, she grew frustrated with corporate America and knew she needed to get out.

As she watched the events of the nation unfold, she knew she wanted to play a bigger role in impacting the laws and policies of her country. In the podcast, she shares her journey to her recent Master's degree in Public Policy.

Handling Rejection Oct 11, 2020

Rejection is tough. For so many reasons. In this episode, we talk about why it's so hard, the importance of learning to embrace it, and strategies for being ready when rejection comes your way.

Take Back 2020! Workshop Oct 04, 2020

I taught this workshop live 3 times this week, but I know not everyone was able to make it so here it is for all my podcast listeners! Let's achieve something amazing for ourselves in these next 90 days!

If you're interested in the Power Pause offer at the end, don't delay! Doors close on Tuesday, October 6th at 5pm PDT this 8-week online course that will transform your life. For more information, click here.

The Growth of On-Demand Work with Simplicity Consulting Sep 28, 2020

The growth of on-demand work is definitely a bright spot in the 2020 job market. Today's guest, Markelle Rich, a Talent Manager for Simplicity Consulting explains this project-based work, as well as why some actually prefer it to full-time employment. With competitive pay, flexibility, and the opportunity for robust benefits, it's easy to see why.

Want to get in touch with Simplicity? Email Markelle at talent@simplicityci.com

Also mentioned on the podcast...

Take Back 2020! workshops are coming 9/30, 10/2, and 10/4. Register here.

Butterfly Book Club launches in October with Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo.

Let it be Easy. How One Woman Consistently Pulled in Multiple Job Offers Sep 21, 2020

What if finding a job could be easy? Accounting Manager Shelly Phan brings exactly that perspective to the show today and I found it refreshing!

Over the course of having 3 kids, she found herself in the situation of going back to work a few times. Tune in to hear the preparation she took (including taking courses), how she found the jobs and the mindset she took on the interviews with her.

Her advice for other women out there in the position of going back to work? Get the skills, do the work, show up confident, and just start somewhere.

Why Not Now? Sep 14, 2020

Gina Noel had already had long stints in a few different careers (grocery worker and massage therapist) before she realized and pursued her true calling to become a nurse.

In the interview, she describes the "planting of the mustard seeds" along her journey - from a personal experience with a family member in the hospital to experiencing the helplessness of completing the Boston Marathon just before the bomb went off to listening to her massage clients explain their undiagnosed medical problems. All of these mustard seeds led Gina back to nursing school.

Today she has achieved her dream as a cardiac nurse. Listen in as she shares her mindset, the challenges, how she made it work, and why she wants to do this more than ever despite the fact that she graduated into a worldwide pandemic.

The Silver Lining of 2020: Remote, On-Demand, Family-Friendly Work Sep 06, 2020

2020 has been a year like none other. For the most part, there's been a lot of negative outcomes. But there are also some dramatic shifts taking place that seem permanent.

1) The acceptance of remote, flexible work when possible

2) The recognition of the employee as a human with outside responsibilities (kids, parents, life!)

3) The boom of on-demand consulting work

4) The growing acceptance of online business in a broader way

In this episode, I dive into what's driving these changes and how it might impact you favorably.

Discover Your Personal Brand Jun 28, 2020

You know companies and products have personal brands, but have you ever thought about individuals having them as well?

Personal branding expert Amanda Miller Littlejohn is here to explain what a persona brand is (hint: even if you haven't been intentional about it, you already have one!), how it can help you personally and professionally, and talks about how to build yours.

She shares wisdom from her own journey and also draws upon the expertise she shares in her book, Package Your Genius: 5 Steps to Build Your Most Powerful Personal Brand and companion workbook.

A mom of two, she even has a book for parents on this topic, Find Your Child Genius: 50+ Questions to Help you Find and Guide Your Child's Unique Talent

You can find Amanda at Package Your Genius Academy, on her personal website or on her podcast.

Finding Lightness and Laughter in an Unintentional Pause Jun 21, 2020

Pauses come in all shapes and sizes, but they also can be planned or unplanned. 2020 is shaping up to be the year of unintentional pauses for millions. This week's guest, cartoonist Chari Pere, finds herself in that category and is here to share how she's managing this phase of life.

She has freelanced for most of her career working with everyone from author Gretchen Rubin to the corporate brand Red Bull. Along the way, she's become known not only for happy comics, but also for cartoons that tackle hard topics like miscarriage and bullying in an accessible format.

She shares how she's managing the transition from corporate back to freelance with three young kids at home and a world pandemic that has impacted her personally. One tip she shares is her 15 Minute Musing habit that keeps her creative and productive.

You can find Chari's work, including her Coronamama cartoons, on her website or Instagram.

Why I Quit My Corporate Job - and Never Looked Back Jun 14, 2020

We're celebrating Father's Day this week in North America so we're keeping with tradition and getting the dad's perspective once again. In this episode, the guest's pause looks more like a permanent break - from corporate life.

Dom Vogel has a story that's familiar to many. He had a dream of reaching the top of his chosen field. He worked hard over a decade in cybersecurity to achieve that dream - only to discover he no longer wanted it once he arrived. Even worse, he didn't care for the person he'd turned into along the way.

He shares in the interview how he funded an abrupt exit from corporate life and his journey to building the dream entrepreneurial life he never knew he wanted. Today, he finds a way to build kindness and empathy into his business and his every day work life.

Launching a Business During the Pandemic Jun 07, 2020

Times are tough in so many ways right now. Politically, economically, socially. It might seem like the worst time to launch a business, but Katie Morland has found success doing just that.

Do you ever have an idea at 1:00am that just won't let you sleep? When it happened to Katie, she got up and acted on it. That was the birth of her group Mommy Needs a Laugh. Despite all that is heavy in the world - and the interview delves into that as well - Katie knows that sometimes we need a moment of levity as well.

She's talking to all the moms out there who are homeschooling their kids, wondering if their spouse is ever going to work outside the home again, and missing their friends.

Today, she's leading her nearly 3000 followers through weekly Happy Hours, monthly workouts, and daily doses of light and laughter in her Facebook group and on Instagram.

Rebuilding After Loss May 31, 2020

The fact that tomorrow isn't guaranteed was a painful lesson that Ashley Bugge was forced to learn. She was pregnant with her third child and living an idyllic life in Hawaii when her military husband died tragically in a scuba diving accident.

Ashley shares deeply in this interview how she coped in her darkest days and how, today, she works every day to build her life into exactly what she wants it to be - even after the unexpected loss.

The career pause she took was unintended, but it led her to discover herself as a writer, speaker, and storyteller. Today, she is looking forward to the upcoming release of her book, Always Coming Back Home: An Emotional Tale of Love, Adventure, Tragedy and Hope. After failing to find a book that helped her small children understand the death of their father, she wrote A Hui Hou: Until We Meet Again from their perspective to help other children facing this big issue.

As a newly single mother of three, Ashley was worried that she'd have to give up her love of global travel, but this resilient mama found a way to plan the trip of a lifetime - with the help of some amazing friends. Check out Two Months, Eight Countries on her website.

Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset May 25, 2020

Do you have an abundance mindset or a scarcity mindset? Do you make decisions from a place of "there will always be enough... time/money/love" or the opposite? Has the pandemic had an impact on this for you? Tune in to learn more about these opposite mindsets and work towards cultivating an abundance mindset.

Regaining your Confidence May 18, 2020

Karin Pfister always assumed she'd be a stay-at-home mom, but it was a few years of motherhood until she finally had that chance. While she loved it for several years, she eventually discovered it wasn't the best balance for her. Despite the fact that she was doing the most important job in the world, she also found she lost her own value in that time.

She was lucky enough to find her way back to work when she was ready. Her career has always been centered around education and has included everything from full-time to part-time teaching roles, corporate work focused on technology innovation in education, as well as starting her own consultancy.

Today, she works remotely from the United States for a university in Australia. This gives her the opportunity to keep one foot on each continent, which is particularly important since she has one teenager living in each country.

Being back at work, she's regained that confidence she once felt in the classroom - and even thinks she may return one day to her first love of teaching math!

You Are Not Alone May 10, 2020

Happy Mother's Day to all the hard-working moms out there. I see you and I appreciate all you do every day to raise all the children of the world.

This episode is dedicated to my own mom and comes on the heels of one of the hardest weeks of our lives together. We said goodbye to my dad this week and I want her to know she is not alone.

I also want all of you to know that. Sometimes it might feel that way if you're just looking at the shiny highlights that people post, but deep down, I promise, there's a lot more going on.

From Reality TV Producer to Social Mediaholic May 03, 2020

Reena Friedman Watts has done everything from producing Jerry Springer to researching CourtTV shows to booking sponsors for major online entrepreneurs, including Cathy Heller and GaryVee. Today, she considers herself a social mediaholic and uses that talent to help businesses and individuals find their own voice in social media.

She's a huge fan of LinkedIn, but doesn't limit herself to just that platform. She runs a Facebook group called Business, Laughs, and LinkedIn where you can find her every day sharing her fun, positive attitude. As a mom of four young kids, she's been in and out of career pauses, but seems to always land the exciting job. How does she do it? If I had to say what I learned in the interview, I'd say persistence and connection are the two words that come to mind.

Her energy will motivate you and her tips can help everyone have a better social media experience.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Third Door by Alex Banayan

My Soul Needs This Apr 26, 2020

What does your soul need? Do you ever think about it? It's not the word that comes up most often on my podcast so I was really moved when Patricia Medranda referred to her desire to teach middle school kids as something her soul needed.

Had she always dreamed of becoming a teacher? Not even close - she originally wanted to be a surgeon. After her first career pause, she worked for a pharmaceutical company. And then she paused again.

In her interview, she shares how her early interest in medicine served her as a mom and a daughter attending to the medical needs of her children and her father. And she shares how she developed a love for teaching through her volunteer work with the Hemophilia Foundation.

Never Give Up: My Return to Microsoft Apr 19, 2020

What are your dreams? Are you still chasing them?

I had a dream these past few years that I could never fully put to rest. Three and a half years ago, when I returned to work, I thought I would return to high-tech in a similar position to what I had done before. But that proved harder than I expected so I settled for other jobs and then eventually put my heart into this podcast.

But the dream never went away and this week I returned to Microsoft in a long-term contract position for a role similar to what I did long ago at Intel. Tune in to hear how I landed the job and what I learned along the way - tales of networking, rejection, and a whole lot of perseverance!

The Great Pause of 2020 Apr 13, 2020

This week, we take our own pause to discuss the pause the world is taking. How is coronavirus and the economic instability affecting you and your family? We also look ahead to the future and the ways that we may all emerge strong from this crisis.

The Journey of the Relocating Spouse Apr 05, 2020

Aditi Patil was on her fourth relocation for her spouse's career when she decided there should really be a community to support people in her position. There wasn't an existing group so she took it upon herself to create one, We are Pistachio. The name represents the way she describes relocating spouses: tough, open, happy, global - and just a little bit nutty!

Aditi had a solid career with Citibank, a love for leadership and development, and a recent coaching certification when she first relocated with her husband and two young children. Along the way, she'd face challenges and find opportunities, including an opportunity to volunteer with refugee women as a Leadership & Development coach for the United Nations.

Today, she lives in Seattle where she has returned to her own career, founded her new community, and teaches for the University of Washington Women in Entrepreneurial Leadership program.

What Are You Afraid to Ask For? Mar 30, 2020

This episode is all about the things we are afraid to ask for, the reasons behind that fear, and ways to overcome this. We cover everything from fear of rejection to people pleasing. On the solutions side, I refer to The Work by Byron Katie and her fantastic book Loving What Is: 4 Questions that Can Change your Life

Is it true?
Can I absolutely know it's true?
How do you react when you believe that thought?
Where would you be without that thought?

What are YOU afraid to ask for? Let's dive in to this together!

Patience and Perseverance for the Long Job Search Mar 23, 2020

How long would you look for a job? Would you have the patience and perseverance to stick it out for 4 years?

Senior Software Engineer Lori Hill did just that! She learned a lot along the way and she shares all those tips in this interview. Here are just a few:

Network with the people who have the job you want
Learn about the interview process in your industry and then master those skills
Interview in "sprints" - and then learn what you need to do better for the next round
Keep building your experience based on what you learned
Surround yourself with a strong team of supporters

Today, she's still thrilled with her job at NBCUniversal and paying it forward by speaking about her experience and bringing other women up behind her.

Unprecedented Times and Announcing Book Club! Mar 16, 2020

These are unprecedented times. We are caregivers. We are a world in crisis. What does that mean for us? Tune in to find ways to not get lost in the chaos.

And, to meet this need right here in this community... I'm launching my Book Club. The first book is Rising Strong by Brene Brown. I'll be going live in the Ready Pause Go Facebook group every Thursday at 10pm PST so we can chat and share!

March 19 - Chapters 1-4

March 26 - Chapters 5-8

April 2 - Chapters 9 - 11

Read along and join me in the live chats!

Transferring Your Corporate Skills to a Flexible Freelance Career Mar 09, 2020

Amanda Accioly had a decade in finance when she decided there must be something more out there for her. It wasn't that she disliked her career - she enjoyed it, she had a comfortable six-figure income, and a nice office. The problem was that, after she had kids, it didn't feel like enough.

She wanted to have more time for her family. She also had an internal voice that told her there was another way to share her talents with the world. So she started freelancing - first in a Done-for-You business operations capacity and, eventually, with the business strategy work she does now with her company The Lux Way.

Tune in to hear her journey from freelancing alongside her full-time job to leaving the corporate world to focus on her new business. She shares the challenges, the gifts, and specific advice for others looking to carve this same path.

Also mentioned in this episode:

The Swing Shift

Developing a Growth Mindset Mar 02, 2020

Do you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset? Tune in to learn the characteristics of each and why, regardless of where you are today, developing a growth mindset is critical for anyone coming out of a career pause.

Mentioned in this episode:

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Dr. Carol Dweck

How Seasonal Work can Enhance your Resume Feb 24, 2020

Rather than looking at the return-to-work journey as black or white, permanent or temporary, full-time or part-time, today I delve into seasonal possibilities.

Seasonal job opportunities can be driven by all kinds of things: the weather, the school year, the holidays, the voting calendar...

Right now, in the United States, it's the season of political campaigns and those campaigns are in need of volunteers! Have you thought of how applying your passions for a candidate or a cause could shine at the top of your resume?

In this episode, we look at all kinds of different seasonal opportunities.

Phoenix Rising from the Ashes Feb 17, 2020

Friend of the show Lindsey TH Jackson is back to share her upcoming book, From the Ashes: A 30 Day Renaissance to Looking Good, Feeling Good, and Living Well.

In her previous interview, Lindsey shared all about her own career pause following the closing of her business and the birth of her second child. Today, she shares with us the book she was writing at that time and why she's just now ready - 5 years later - to share it with the world. She calls it the book she wrote to her future self.

Today's interview is a step away from our typical career focus, but intentionally delves deeper on issues of wellness and how that drives the confidence we need on this journey.

The book - and the guided 30 day group - will be available this Spring. Visit Lindsey's website to add yourself to her list to be notified.

Also, we briefly touch on issues of safety and violence in this episode. If that is an issue effecting you or someone you know, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline or trusted professionals in your own community for help.

Park Place Payments is Disrupting an Industry with its Women Dominated Salesforce Feb 10, 2020

You might not think of payment processing as a sexy business, but CEO/Founder Samantha Ettus disagrees. She's disrupting the industry with her new company, Park Place Payments, and helping women achieve financial independence in the process.

Park Place Payments is dramatically growing its salesforce in 2020 and is specifically looking for women re-entering the workforce because Sam knows how many incredible women are on the sidelines after leaving successful careers. She also knows that the Account Executive role fits the needs of busy moms. You can work from anywhere on your own schedule - and isn't that what we've all been asking for?

Sam knows so much about what women are asking for from the years she has spent as an author and speaker on these issues. In this episode, she also shares wisdom from her book The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe for Success and Satisfaction. In this book, she divvies life into 7 slices - Health, Career, Family, Relationships, Community, Friends, Hobbies. Her secret to success? Live in all 7 segments and do it without guilt!

Interested in Park Place Payments? Check it out and let me know! I would love to interview a listener who becomes an Account Executive!

Overcoming Impostor Syndrome Feb 03, 2020

Who am I to go for this? Do I even deserve to be standing in this room?

If you ever have those thoughts, you're in good company as ~ 70% of us suffer from impostor syndrome at some point in our life. There's also evidence that it's likely to rear its ugly head during times of big change which might explain why many of us have experienced it recently.

Life coach Micha Goebig dives deep on impostor syndrome in this episode, including breaking down the four different types: Perfectionist, Natural Genius, Soloist, and Expert.

She also shares how it's really all about owning your own achievements, as well as her tips on overcoming these thoughts.

Starting a Career at 40 Jan 27, 2020

I've learned in doing this podcast that everyone's career pause is unique. They vary in length, reason, and many of other ways.

Today's guest, Sally Gasper, is unique because her pause came right at the beginning. She had always planned to be a teacher, but she married young and had five children in quick succession. As her children grew to be school-age, she chose to homeschool them and truly enjoyed her role as their teacher.

As they grew older, however, they transitioned into traditional school and Sally found herself still dreaming of becoming a teacher. I loved hearing her story about how she returned to college and graduated just before her 40th birthday. It wasn't always easy and she shares the struggles with financing her degree (fortunately, aid was much more plentiful than she expected), rebuilding her self-confidence (online courses were a surprising help for this) and adjusting to new roles at home when she took a full-time job as a high school teacher.

Today, she has a full life as an English teacher at a STEM high school and wouldn't have it any other way.

Land your Next Job with These Job Search Strategies Jan 20, 2020

If you're looking for a job - or thinking about it - you don't want to miss this week's episode.

Lynn Juve is a job search strategist. She's the first person I've ever met with that title, but you can think of her as a career coach with the very solid focus on landing you a job.

You'll want to tune in to hear:

Why she thinks a lot of us have a hard time defining what job we're looking for
Her best advice for people who've taken a long break from high-tech
Why you should be cautious in accepting advice from well-meaning friends and family
Why your LinkedIn profile needs more than just job titles
How to answer that question that seems to accompany most first interviews - What salary are you looking for? And, yes, she thinks you should answer with a number.
Which websites will help you determine your salary worth
How to network - even if you don't yet know what you're looking for
How the expectations around negotiations have changed in the last decade

The 21st Century Job that Delivers on Flexibility: Virtual Assistant Jan 13, 2020

Dahianna is one hard-working mama. With 3 young kids and a three-year career pause, she returned to work as a legal secretary making as much money as she had in her previous career as a paralegal. But that isn't the end of the story. She's happy with her career, but she also wants to be there for her family so she's a woman in transition.

Although she's still hard at work at the law firm, she's also launching a Virtual Assistant (VA) business where she'll be able to use her skills to help other entrepreneurs who need part-time assistance. Even better, she can do it remotely on a flexible schedule.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Free Mama Movement

From Grad Student to College Professor Jan 06, 2020

Liesl left her career in wireless telecom to stay home with her first child, but it wasn't long before she realized she needed more adult interaction. The choice she made ended up having a huge impact on the rest of her career choices.

She decided to return to school and found the fulfillment she was looking for in finishing an MBA program she had started a few years earlier. Along the way, she found an interest in organizational behavior and eventually transitioned from student to volunteer assistant to consultant working in that field. Eventually, that work led her to the opportunity to teach as an adjunct professor at Seattle University.

She continues to teach and consult, but now that her kids are older, she has recently added coaching to her work.

Her advice to other women who pause? Stay connected, keep the doors open, continue to explore your own interests, and find good mentors. All of that helps keep your options open when your phase of life changes.

Mentioned in the podcast:

Playing Big by Tara Mohr

Looking Back on 2019 Dec 23, 2019

Let's take a pause and see where we've been this year. I am thrilled to have had you on this journey for all 52 weeks. Today, we look back on who I interviewed and what we all learned together.

I'm taking the last week of 2019 off, but will be back on Monday, January 6th.

Signing off on 2019 and looking ahead with excitement to 2020!

The Freelance Life: Balancing Work and Family as a Writer Dec 16, 2019

Stacy Juba was lucky enough to start her career in a field that easily lends itself to freelance work. While she started as a newspaper writer, over the years, she's transitioned these skills to everything from a freelance writer to a published author to an editor and writing teacher.

Her books cover a wide range of genres including children's (The Flag Keeper), young adult (Dark Before Dawn), chicklit (Fooling Around with Cinderella) and mystery (Twenty Five Years Ago Today).

A mom of two kids, Stacy has found a way to turn the dial up and down on her work, depending upon their ages and needs. That is a recipe for success!

For more information about her books, visit her author page, or her Hockey Rivals Books.

For information about her free writing resources, editing services, and classes, visit Shortcuts for Writers. Writers can also find Stacy in her private Facebook group and YouTube channel.

How a Side Hustle Can Shape Your Career Path Dec 09, 2019

Jen doesn't define herself by any one of her jobs or side hustles. It all blends together into her whole identity. Even in her initial career as a marketer for startups, she consulted on the side. It was that side hustle that led her to where she is today as an executive coach.

Think she's given up side hustles? Definitely not. Today, she side hustles as a fitness coach!

Jen's suggestions for finding your own side hustle: Look for something that aligns with your gifts and passions (for Jen, that would be fitness or working with dogs). For you, that might be tutoring young kids, working with non-profits, content creation, or anything else that fuels your passion.

Mentioned in this episode:

Atomic Habits by James Cleary

From Single Mom to Corporate America to Google for Startups Entrepreneur Dec 02, 2019

There is no easy route to becoming an entrepreneur, but I think Aireka Harvell's had some very unique challenges.

Despite running away from home at the age of 14, she was able to fall back on strong childhood values to turn her life around at the age of 18. A young mother, she quickly had 3 children and opted to take a career pause after the birth of her third child.

It was this career pause that allowed her to return to college where she graduated and eventually went on to earn a Masters degree as well.

She spent the bulk of her career with AT&T where she moved up the ladder to a six-figure salary and responsibility for a team of 180 people. Despite her success, she also had a strong entrepreneurial spirit burning inside of her.

It was a conversation with her son about something that she wished she'd known was going on in her community that led her to say "I want to know about that" - and Nodat was born. Today, it's a local loyalty coalition program that benefits small businesses and their customers. With the support of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, a $20k scholarship from Google for Startups, and financial support from the community she's cultivated, she eventually left her corporate job to focus on Nodat full-time.

In addition to being a single mom of four kids and a startup founder, she is a speaker and the author of Find the Beauty in your Now. She also co-founded the accelerator Twende to support entrepreneurs of color.

Lightening the Mental Load of Motherhood Nov 25, 2019

Amy Marie Hann's early career was in corporate America where she found her niche as an executive assistant. She stayed in that job until her oldest son was two years old and she decided to stay home. While she was thankful for the opportunity, as a self-proclaimed "Doer," she found the transition to be messy as well. It was challenging for her to give up the traditional sense of accomplishment that came from the job.

At home, she became interested in starting a business, but didn't feel she had the resources or childcare to invest in starting something from scratch. She also was dealing with the uncertainty that comes from infertility and not knowing when, or if, she would be able to grow her family. She found the right part-time job opportunity in direct sales for the skin care company, Rodan+Fields.

While she thrived in this business - and still works in it today - it wasn't her passion. Along the way, her family had journeyed down the path of foster parenting and adoption and had grown to include two more children.

Her passion today is all about lightening the mental load of motherhood and she loves to share the wisdom she's gained form working part-time while raising three kids. If you're interested in learning more, join her free Creating Capacity Facebook Group.

Just in time for Thanksgiving, she also has a Holiday Thriving Guide which is all about defining your priorities, getting organized, and avoiding mom guilt.

After 21 Years, Stay--At-Home-Mom Reinvents Herself as a Realtor Nov 18, 2019

Career reinvention is nothing new to Bettina Chaiken. She reinvented herself several times over two continents - from hairdresser to teacher to IT manager to travel agent - before she had children!

When she was pregnant with her first child in America, all she knew was the German way where moms would be paid to stay home for a year and then their job would be waiting for them when they returned. To stay home in the U.S. meant leaving the workforce entirely, but she also couldn't imagine paying someone else to watch her child so she embraced her role as a stay-at-home-mom. One child turned into two and a year turned into a decade or two.

Along the way, she volunteered at her children's school, and even overcame impostor syndrome to serve 6 years on the Board, including her final year as President. Even though she didn't feel qualified in the beginning, she accepted the fact that the people who had asked her to serve must have seen something in her that she didn't.

She listened to that instinct again when a friend suggested real estate to her as a new career. After all, she was the one that would scour online listings and attend open houses just for fun! She enrolled in a program and now two years later, she's building her career with the premier real estate firm in the region.

She loves the strategic nature and ever-changing dynamics of real estate, as well as her daily interaction with both clients and fellow agents.

To know more about Bettina's services, visit her website.

Following Breadcrumbs: Sarah's Path to Publishing her First Book Nov 11, 2019

We pick up right where we left off this week in a 2-part interview with author Sarah Jane Marsh and the draft of her debut book, Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word.

In this episode, Sarah shares the rest of what would become a six year journey to publication. A rebel herself - just like Thomas Paine - Sarah managed to find an agent who embraced her manuscript in its unconventionally long format. Together, they found a home with Disney Hyperion for what would become an 80-page, 2500 word picture book.

After the sale of her first book, Sarah got busy writing again which is why she has another book, Most Wanted: The Revolutionary Partnership of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, coming out next year. The publishing world might move slowly, but our evolving view of history has been shifting dramatically these past few years. Sarah doesn't shy away from addressing some of the more controversial topics her revolutionary history books might raise including the direct line from slavery to the Black Lives Matter movement and the fact that the celebrated colonization of America was really the invasion of an indigenous population.

Sarah also shares candidly why its rare for a writer to make a living from their craft. Writing will always be her passion, but she's also found a way to transition from PTA-mom-with-an-idea to working in a paid position for a local non-profit that focuses on the critical poverty and mental health needs of her community.

Carving a Career from your Childhood Passions Nov 04, 2019

Sarah Marsh had two passions when she was a child: reading and animals. We all had childhood passions, but few have kept them as guideposts throughout their careers as she has. Sarah started as a zoo volunteer when she was still a teen and went on to study wildlife conservation in college. Her hard work paid off and she landed many exciting jobs: dolphin trainer, zookeeper and firefighter.

In today’s episode, the first of two parts, Sarah shares her early career, a business detour that earned her an MBA and some valuable startup experience, and her transition into motherhood. As a new mom of twins, one with significant health concerns, Sarah found herself overwhelmed with even basic tasks like getting both babies in and out of the car. It was a friend who helped her find her way to a doctor and an anxiety disorder that was helped with medication. She also found that returning to her love of zookeeping, in a volunteer capacity, helped anchor her to her old identity. As her family grew, she added reading and writing as creative outlets.

Her journey eventually led to writing her first book, Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word, a picture book biography published by Disney Hyperion in 2018. We’ll conclude the interview next week with a deeper dive into her road to publication, her next book, and what’s keeping her busy these days beyond her writing.

Cultivating an Authentic Network with Ellevate Network CEO, Kristy Wallace Oct 28, 2019

When I was on my own journey back from my career pause, one of the voices in my ear was Kristy Wallace, CEO of Ellevate Network and host of the Ellevate podcast. That's why I'm so excited to have her as a guest this week on Ready Pause Go!

In this episode, you'll hear:

What Ellevate Network is and why it might be right for you
About their in-person networking events
About their online networking events including2x/weekly webinars and Squads which provide dedicated 12 week networking groups for women in similar career stages
How Kristy managed the two career pauses she took over the course of having 3 children
How Kristy went back to work after scheduling a "listening tour" with her network
All the different ways that Ellevate Network is working towards gender equity through individuals, companies, and public policy.
Why now is the best time to return from a career pause - from changing company structures to advancing technology
Kristy's advice on handling your own career pause: Stay curious, stay intellectually engaged, own your decision, let go of the guilt, be intentional.

If you're local to Seattle, check out the next event, Launching your Career Reinvention, a panel that I'm moderating on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:00.

When - and How - to Say No Oct 21, 2019

This is the second in a 2-part series with last week being all about saying YES. This week we tackle the concept of making space in your life for those opportunities to find you. And that all starts with NO.

readypausego.com

Say YES to Open Doors Oct 14, 2019

Do you allow yourself to say YES to the opportunities that come your way? This week we're talking about the offers that come your way that move you closer to your goals. What if it terrifies you? What if you think you don't have the right skills?

My advice: Just say YES. This is the first in a 2-part series on when to say YES and when to say NO.

Ready Pause Go

Gender Equity Research Reduces Back-to-Work Stigma Oct 07, 2019

In her previous corporate job, Sara was responsible for building systems to recruit and retain women and minorities. What she discovered was that the well intentioned efforts of most companies were actually what she now calls the Trifecta of Equality Doom – 1) recruit women, 2) ask them to lean in and 3) give everyone diversity training. Everyone seemed to be doing the same thing even though it wasn't producing results.

With a background in systems, she was frustrated that this business critical problem wasn’t being measured, tracked, and improved with data like every other business problem. She wondered why there wasn’t a certification that would simply tell people that a particular business was gender equity certified. Why didn’t that exist? Who should build it?

It turns out she and her network of colleagues were the perfect ones to tackle this problem and Gender Equity Now was born. Two and a half years later, they've launched the first standardized certification for gender equity – something along the lines of LEED or EnergyStar in other industries – and they have their first certified companies.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why gender equity needs to be treated like any other business critical problem
Examples of unintentional, but implicit bias
When in a career the gender pay gap actually compounds
Why pay decisions shouldn’t be based on an employee’s self-evaluation
How to shift the onus of this problem from the employee to the company
How gender equity financially benefits companies
Why the percentage of highly educated women in the workforce is decreasing (research shows that only 6% left for family reasons)
How GEN is helping companies reduce the stigma around women returning to work
How the “caretaker” identity subconsciously assigned to women at work impacts their work and potential for promotion
The best way for women to currently find gender equity information on a particular company
3 good questions you can ask about networking, mentorship, and success stories during the interview process that won’t hurt your chances of getting the job
How new state laws banning salary questions have the potential to improve gender pay gap
The importance of paid leave and minimum wage policies on this issue

TEDx talk: Improving gender parity through corporate accountability

Chat with Fairygodboss CEO Georgene Huang Sep 30, 2019

Georgene Huang never thought much about her gender and how it related to the workplace until she was fired when she was 2 months pregnant. While the firing was unrelated to the pregnancy – it was a management shakeup – it definitely made her take a look at the world differently.

Rather than go back to work for another company, she launched her own with the social mission to improve the lives and workplace for women through transparency. Today, she’s turned that little startup into the largest online career community for women. Fairygodboss has raised $14 million in venture capital funding and has 4.5 million women visiting the Fairygodboss website each month for the company reviews, job postings, and community feed where they can chat and get advice.

Enjoy her story and come join my very own Ready Pause Go group on Fairygodboss.

Navigating the Ripple Effects of your Spouse's Career Sep 23, 2019

When Lara was in college, she had a very specific vision of her future. She dreamed of a nice, simple life where she and her husband were teachers in the same small town and they'd raise a family together. All was on track until her husband decided he wanted to go to medical school.

Lara originally thought the idea was kind of cool and romantic, but didn't fully recognize how many years and moves it might take for them to realize that new dream. Along the way, she earned her Masters degree in teaching and taught classes ranging from SexEd to History and English.

They also started a family and had five sons. With her passion for teaching, Lara tried her best to keep her foot in the door of the classroom, but the challenges of moving every few years and some specific issues with her children eventually made her realize it was logistically impossible.

Even though she gave up the classroom, she still had a desire to teach and needed a creative outlet. That drive and desire led her to creating a podcast that serves a population close to her heart - spouses of doctors. Today she hosts the Married to Doctors podcast and coaches clients on related issues.

From School Volunteer to Elected Official Sep 16, 2019

Caroline Mason spent her early career in high-tech and never expected to run for office, but her days as a volunteer in her kids' classrooms eventually led to that path. Now she views this as an entirely new - and rewarding - career.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why she moved to Sun Valley right after graduation
How she found her first freelance job
How she landed her first board position
How her marketing business succeeded - without a website or any marketing!
How the economic recession impacted her business
Why she turned down running for office the first time
What was different the second time around
What a school board member actually does
What’s involved in actually running an election campaign
How she gets to impact 20,000+ students in her community

Back to School is for Moms Too Sep 09, 2019

Sure, the kids are back in school, but what about you? What are you going to learn this season?

I have some ideas for you!

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One Mom's Journey to the Live Stage Sep 02, 2019

LeighAnn Heil was comfortable on stage with all the work she'd done early in her career as a Stage Director, but it wasn't until after her career pause that she regularly found herself front and center as a singer/songwriter.

She started her first band with the parents from her son's playgroup. Although the folk band was "just a hobby," it also taught her everything she needed to know when she decided to get serious several years later. Freshly settled in Austin, the music capital of the world, she was 42 years old when she launched Good as Gone, an Americana country band that graced the Billboard charts and licensed songs internationally.

Today, she is a media and mindset coach that helps others get on stage and access the untapped power within each of them. In this interview, LeighAnn also talks about how her power of belief is rooted in the hard lessons and success she experienced while parenting her son with Asperger's.

Mentioned in this episode:

Onstage Power Entrepreneurs Facebook group

LeighAnn Heil Website

What's Holding You Back? Aug 24, 2019

What's holding you back? Join me for an honest discussion of what's holding ME back and what I plan to do about it. Then, we'll dive into what's holding YOU back and what YOU plan to do about it.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get on the waitlist for the Ready Pause Go online course.

The Achiever Fever Cure: How I Learned to Stop Striving Myself Crazy Aug 19, 2019

As a successful CEO, Claire Booth was understandably focused on her achievements. The problem was that she had tied her entire identity to achieving. She was also struggling with depression, anxiety, and crippling insomnia. Eventually realizing the connection, she embarked on a year-long "mesearch" project that led her to recognizing Achiever Fever and finding its cure. The book, The Achiever Fever Cure: How I Learned to Stop Striving Myself Crazy, is the summary of her journey and roadmap for others.

Wondering if you suffer? You might if you identify with 3+ of the following:

A strong need to prove yourself
Measuring your worth by your accomplishments
Needing to feel like you have everything under control
Persistent self criticism
Needing to feel productive and terrified of wasting time
Being future focused with an inability to be present
Fearing you won’t live up to your potential
Habitual worry
Frequent comparison with others
Using food, alcohol, work, workouts, etc. to make yourself feel better

Claire also found her way to a cure which she shares briefly in today's show and extensively in her book.

Admit it to yourself
Tell someone else
Do the work – Claire consulted countless books, podcast, retreats, coaches

Also mentioned in this podcast:

Byron Katie and "The Work"

What If You Chose the Wrong Career? From Lawyers to Entrepreneurs Aug 12, 2019

Annabelle and Annie became fast friends from the first day they started at the same law firm. They'd done well in law school and landed great jobs at the firm of their dreams, but it turns out neither of them found the career to be a good fit.

Although she loved the people and even the hours, Annie found she didn't enjoy the work itself, which surprised her more than anyone else. Around the same time, Annabelle was feeling the pull towards the entrepreneurial life.

A frustrating experience in their own corporate gift-giving experience led them to the idea of Taja Collection. In a matter of months, they went from “there should be a better customizable candle out there” to making candles in their own kitchen.

Today, they are growing both the business and their own families with each of them having babies under the age of 1. In this episode, they talk honestly about the flexibility and demands of entrepreneurial life.

Taja Collection

Allowing Karma into your Job Search: How Beth's Job Found Her Aug 05, 2019

What if you never had to look for a job? What if they just came to you? Is that even possible?

That is exactly how it worked out for this week's guest Beth Bazley who is a Director for Save the Children. But that didn't happen by accident. While raising her children, she was also busy cultivating a community, volunteering for organizations that mattered to her, and doing the work that no one else wanted.

Her family life evolved in a way she never expected when tragedy struck and her husband died when their girls were still young. Her community embraced her and, when the time was right, she went right back to volunteering.

A few years - and several international trips later - she knew she was ready for something new. She cleaned her closet (literally) and went out shopping for her life ahead. And that's when the phone rang with her next opportunity.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why Beth chose the hardest jobs as a volunteer
What Beth found most rewarding about volunteering
Who rescued them when they experienced great tragedy
How Beth moved forward after her husband's death with their Family Playbook
Why Beth kept volunteering even after her family changed
Why Beth believes in karma
How Beth showed her kids a real work/life balance
Why Beth recommends a different work/life path for her daughters
Why "No is a perfectly good answer" is frequently Beth's opening line when she is asking for time or money

When your Child’s Needs Don’t Fit Your Career: Julia’s Journey from Engineer to Writer Jul 29, 2019

Julia Goldstein invested many years in her education to earn a BS, MS and PhD in Engineering and Material Science. When she had her first child, she assumed she’d go back to work full-time. She never thought she’d panic as her maternity leave was coming to an end. Fortunately, she successfully negotiated a part-time return and even found a way to stay in her local mom’s group.

When it was time to go back after her second child, she thought she would follow the same path. That’s when she realized just how unique each child was - she would later discover he was on the autism spectrum - and how this would impact her journey.

Julia shares honestly about the challenges she faced and how she overcame them. Along the way she evolved from an engineer who writes to a freelance technical writer. Over the years, she kept her connections and said yes to opportunities that came her way. Today, she fills her schedule with a few select corporate clients and has recently published a book in her field.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How she managed to negotiate a part-time return from maternity leave
What she did when her daycare suddenly closed
Why she decided to delay her passion project
How her writing skills emerged even when she was an engineer
About the alumni research project she created to keep her mind active as a new mom
How she represents part-time work on her resume/LinkedIn
Why she went back to school to study Business Leadership
Why she still needed flexibility even when her kids were beyond the daycare stage
Where she gets her clients for her freelance work
Her suggestions for new writers

Mentioned in this episode:

Material Value: More Sustainable, Less Wasteful Manufacturing of Everything from Cell Phones to Cleaning Products

Julia's author website

Julia's business website

NonFiction Authors Association

How One Mom Found her True Calling as a Teacher Jul 21, 2019

Terri never knew she was supposed to be teacher. She majored in Political Science and always thought she'd grow up to be a lawyer. She didn't take that path, but along the way, she did develop her truest priority, which was to be there for her kids. She achieved that - and found her true calling along the way.

Today, Terri gets to impact 180 impressionable minds each day. She'll never tell you that teaching middle school is easy, but she found it compatible with family life and personally fulfilling.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why Terri tells her own kids it's okay not to know who you are - even when you graduate from college
Why Terri pivoted to a family-friendly job before she even had kids
Who first suggested to Terri that she might be a natural teacher
How long it took to get the degree that qualified her to teach
How she thinks Smartphones are impacting our kids as young as kindergarten age
Her top 2 rules for parenting middle schoolers: Make them Read and Hold them Accountable.

Mentioned in this episode:

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

Why America Still Undervalues Motherhood – Moving Past Our Patriarchal History Jul 15, 2019

Recent studies show the economic value of a stay-at-home-mom in America is in the $$ six-figure range, but the way we treat mothers doesn’t always take that into account. Have you ever wondered why?

This week’s interview looks at it through the lens of American history. Guest Erin Papworth traces the history all the way back to our revolutionary days. Although we may have been rebelling against the British, we definitely brought their deep-rooted patriarchy into our new country. Coming closer to modern day, Erin walks us through women’s access to credit and access to birth control in the 1970s and the enormous impact this has on our future. It’s hard to believe that those two advances happened within the last generation.

But what about the rest of the world? As is the case in many areas related to women’s health and women’s rights, America can definitely learn from its peers. Erin spent 13 years in Africa working on women’s health and development and her insights might surprise you!

Today, she’s all about helping women navigate, or nav, their way through this modern world with an emphasis on financial empowerment. She created the Nav.It app to make your life easier by aggregating your view of your accounts and walking through all the financial building blocks from emergency funds to debt management all the way to investing.

Why Now is the Best Time to Return Jul 08, 2019

Whether you are ready to return to work right now or are unsure of what you would even do, here are 5 reasons to convince you to take action now!

1) Economy 2) Diversity 3) Acceptance 4) Skill Development and 5) Business Development

Tune in to hear what each of them means for you, your career pause, and your future!

Mentioned in this episode:

List of Companies with Returnships

Let's Talk $$! 4 Tools Every Family Needs in Their Safety Net Jul 01, 2019

No one likes to talk about the protection side of money, but what if taking care of those issues upfront left you free to ENJOY your money? Today's guest Jenifer Sapel believes in protecting your money first to allow you to enjoy it. She even named her company, Utor Wealth, after the Latin word for enjoy!

It wasn't always this way for Jenifer. Her earliest memories of money were based in fear, anxiety, and scarcity. The phrase she heard most often as a child related to money was "We can't afford it."

Determined to forge a different path, she worked hard to be financially secure at a young age. She took it even further when she pivoted her career into financial services. Today, she's all about showing people how to use money as a tool to live richly.

This episode is for everyone who has a family to protect - regardless of how much money you have and whether you are currently with an income or not.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Who convinced her that a commission-only job could work
How she gave herself 2 years herself to succeed
Why an acquisition where she was employed created the perfect time to start her own business
The difference between a financial advisor and investment advisor
Why employer disability insurance will never cover your entire income.
Why a mom without an income should consider life insurance
Why Jenifer blends opportunity funds with emergency funds
Why rate of return is not your only indication of financial health
How much you should optimally be saving once you have your safety net in place
Her thoughts on the gender pay gap when you return to work
Why she believes you are the best investment you'll ever make

Mentioned in this episode:

Utor Wealth

CFP Board

Smart Asset

Understanding Risk, Failure, and Why Women Aren't Reaching their Full Potential Jun 24, 2019

Lindsey T. H. Jackson is on a mission to empower 1 million female leaders by 2025. She owns several businesses, but at the root of it all she focuses on authenticity and holding space for each other.

In this episode, she shares the story of how a difficult pregnancy enabled her to finally walk away from a failing business. This personal experience eventually led to her research and deep work on women and why many fail to reach their full potential. After selling her business, she spent a few years at home as a mother—a time she found extremely confusing as she struggled to form her new identity.

Today, she is one of those multi-hyphenate entrepreneurs—a storyteller, a coach, a leader, a teacher, an author. She also recently launched Hezalia which is a marketplace for women's health and wellness practitioners and femtech developers.

Looking to the future, she’s excited about her upcoming book, Vagina Leadership: Rethinking Women and Failure, and her summer workshops: Mindful Mothering, Relationship Mastery, and Women on Fire.

Mentioned in this episode:

Lindsey T. H. Jackson

Hezalia

Men Take Career Pauses Too Jun 17, 2019

I'm changing things up this week in honor of Father's Day in the United States! I interviewed my first guy for the show!

Steve Layman is the perfect first guest because he not only took 5 years off to stay home with his two boys, but he also has a history of hiring people out of their own career pauses - including me!

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why Steve and his wife decided he would be the one to stay home from the beginning
His 3 rules for being a stay-at-home-parent
How Steve got his first customer before launching his company
How being his own boss gave him the flexibility to parent and work
Steve’s perception on whether it’s harder for men or women to return to the workforce
How men who take a career pause experience the same issues confidence and identity
Why, in hindsight, Steve wishes he had found a part-time project for himself while he was home with his kids

Mentioned in this episode:

Blox Construction

Starting a Business During Your Career Pause Jun 10, 2019

Meg Applegate is a natural opportunity visionary and encourager. As the founder and resume writer of Hinge Resume Collaborative, she is a matchmaker for people and their next opportunity through resume writing and design. She holds the certified professional resume writer (CPRW) credential and a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs. She is an ‘Ask the Experts’ contributor for the National Resume Writers’ Association and her work is featured in the most recent edition of Resume For DummiesⓇ. A native Hoosier and enthusiast of antiques and old homes, she is driven by her faith, family, dark chocolate and her morning cup of coffee.

In this episode, you'll hear:

How she cold-called her way into a new career
How, as a new mom, she found a jobshare with a colleague
About the identity crisis she faced at the beginning of her career pause when she was no longer receiving praise or achieving short term goals as she had at work
Why she decided to become a Certified Professional Resume Writer
How starting her own business gives her the flexibility she needs now and an opportunity to build into her long-term plan to career coach
How resumes have evolved into marketing your personal brand
What specific details you need to remove from your resume now to avoid it lookig outdated
How (and why) to be active on LinkedIn beyond your profile
How to create your own Personal Board of Advisors

Imposter Syndrome. Who Am I? Jun 03, 2019

We all have those "Who Am I?" moments...

Who am I to be interviewing for this job? Who am I to be to be starting this business? Who am I to be sitting at this table?

In today's episodes, I share some of my long ago and more recent imposter moments.

Most importantly, we'll talk strategy to move past it!

A Brene Brown Certified Dare To Lead Facilitator Delves Deep on Identity, Courage, and Authenticity May 27, 2019

Helen Brody is a therapist, a coach and a Brene Brown Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator. She's also a mother of two children who has faced her own issues related to career and motherhood.

In this episode, you'll hear:

The difference between therapy and coaching and leadership training.
How vulnerability is the way to courageousness.
How issues of shame, worthiness, and vulnerability are currently impacting our nation and our world.
How your negative thoughts may be contributing to a lack of confidence.
How the elements of the cognitive triad (thoughts, emotions and behaviors) influence each other.
How we function in an unconscious kind of way much of the day, but can change this by adopting an observer stance.

Mentioned in this episode:

EQ Mind Health

San Francisco Therapy Space

Dare to Lead by Brene Brown

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Parenting from the Inside Out by Dr. Daniel Siegel and Mary Hartzell

15 Years Later... Is My Resume Still Relevant? May 20, 2019

If there was ever a formula to follow in returning to work after a long career gap, I think Fiona Haynes has it mastered.

Past Work Experience + Side Hustle + Connection = Job

She had impressive work experience with The Economist. She took a job writing for About.com in the early Internet days. And she had a connection that introduced her to the company where she works today as a Financial Editor. The resume by itself might not work, but it's powerful when you combine it with the other elements.

In this episode you’ll hear:

How Fiona found her way into a media job even after missing an opportunity with Reuters and ending up in Library Science.
How she negotiated a remote and international opportunity with The Economist.
Why she got a 6 month maternity leave while living in the United States.
How a connection led to a side hustle as a freelance writer that gave her flexibility when her children were school age.
How volunteering was a good outlet during a personally difficult time
How a connection led to a full time job
How she uses her English accent to her advantage at work
About the challenges to remote work

www.readypausego.com

If You Want to Get Something Done, Hire a Mom! May 13, 2019

The Mom Project is a digital talent marketplace building bridges to help women ramp on and off the workforce as they choose. They work with companies of all sizes to create opportunities that range from freelance to permanent, entry-level to executive-level, on-site to remote.

The Mom Project is elevating the voices of moms and showing companies the benefits of embracing this amazing talent pool. They believe women shouldn't have to hide the fact that their moms - just look at their company name!

In this episode you’ll hear:

Why freelance project opportunities are crucial to both employees and employers.
How the need to backfill parental leave is creating new opportunities.
How Colleen went from a user of The Mom Project to their Director of Marketing—at 7.5 months pregnant.
Which industries The Mom Project is currently focusing on.
How having a diverse and inclusive culture is good for business.
How they use Flex Factors to allow women to say up front what they need out of a job.
About the Women’s Work Initiative to bring 1000 moms back to work in 2019.

Links mentioned in this episode:

The Mom Project

Ready Pause Go

Walking Away at the Height of Your Career May 06, 2019

Jennifer Loomis was an incredibly successful maternity photographer when she walked away from it all. She spent many years building the career she loved, but in her 40s, she found herself sitting in her OB/GYN’s office and being told she’d never be able to have a child. Devastated, Jennifer could no longer do her work taking pictures of women about to become mothers. First, she and her dog Salvador walked across Seattle, but she needed to go even further so she flew to Spain to walk the El Camino de Santiago.

In this episode you’ll hear:

How a referral from Annie Leibowitz helped launch her career – even though she wouldn’t commit to it for another 6 years.
How she views maternity photography as fine art.
Why she turned down Bravo TV five times to be the photographer for Pregnant in Heels.
How she found her way back to her career.
How a client opened the door and showed her the path that ended up to Jennifer’s pregnancy at 46.
What it’s like to try to cram a 50 hour workweek into 30 hours now.
How her creative awareness has evolved in phases from 1) A desire to challenge society’s definition of beauty to… 2) Making women feel beautiful and empowered to… 3)Realizing how the children come to cherish these photos of themselves inside their mothers. Photography shows children how loved they are to… 4) Capturing moments between families as they grow.

Mentioned in this episode:

Jennifer Loomis Photography Feel Beautiful

The Natural Light Collective

Photo Salvation

In Search of Flexibility. From Startup Executive to Entrepreneur. Apr 29, 2019

Donna Mezey built her career at a small stock photo agency that grew up to eventually become Getty Images. After a successful 10 years career, she left her executive role for the startup world. After a journey through a few different companies, she concluded that the startup work style wasn’t compatible with her life, which now included a family.

She set off on a quest to find a job that took advantage of her skills and experience in Customer Happiness, but would offer her the flexibility she needed. Through research she was doing for her own child’s educational path, she discovered the field of Independent Education Consultants (IEC). Donna was so drawn to their work that she became certified as an IEC herself. Today, her company works with high school students through. She’s all about finding the college that provides each child with the right financial, academic and social fit.

In this episode you'll hear:

How her career grew up along with that first tiny company as they went from storing photographs in plastic baggies to becoming the world's largest digital content provider.
Why she eventually decided to take a step down in career level.
How it feels to be the only parent in your department at work.
Why paying $285/hour for an Independent Education Consultant ended up saving her money, and put her on a journey to a new career.
Why, as a college counselor and alum of a prestigious university, she doesn’t recommend that route for her clients, or even her own child.
Why sending a high school student to a college counselor can save money overall and reduce stress.
About the free weekly content she provides on the college search process. Her College Admissions Demystified Facebook group includes a highlighted college of the week, application tips, and relevant articles.
Her take on the recent college admissions scandal.

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