289: Unlocking Potential at Every Stage of Life with Addie Swartz

In this episode of Work From the Inside Out, Tammy Gooler Loeb sits down with entrepreneur and leadership innovator Addie Swartz, CEO of reacHIRE. Addie shares the remarkable throughline of her career, from selling apple pies at age 12 to founding multiple mission-driven companies, all rooted in a belief that talent, confidence, and potential exist everywhere, even when they’re overlooked.

Throughout the conversation, Addie reflects on pivotal moments that shaped her path, including her time at Bain, Disney, and Lotus, and the personal experiences that inspired her to build businesses supporting women, girls, and professionals navigating career transitions. From creating positive role models for young girls through The Beacon Street Girls to helping experienced professionals return to meaningful work, Addie illustrates how life’s disruptions often reveal powerful opportunities.

Addie also discusses the evolution of reacHIRE and its leadership platform, Aurora, which help individuals grow, re-enter, and advance within organizations by focusing on strengths, confidence, and intentional support. Her advice for anyone facing a transition is both reassuring and practical: lean into your potential, stay curious, and don’t go it alone. This episode is a powerful reminder that every stage of life holds the possibility for growth and reinvention.

In this week’s Work from the Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

• How early entrepreneurial experiences can shape lifelong leadership instincts
• Why confidence, and not capability, is often the biggest barrier during career transitions
• The hidden cost of sidelining experienced talent after career breaks
• How strengths-based leadership development drives engagement, growth, and retention
• Why meaningful careers are built through curiosity, courage, and support at every stage of life

Learn more about Addie:

• Follow Addie on LinkedIn: @addieswartz
• Visit the website: reachire.com
• Explore Aurora



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