Career Change Maker | Career Clarity, Career Opportunities, Career Pivots, Burnout, Corporate Job, Income

Are you struggling to stay motivated when your corporate job is leaving you feeling drained and depleted? Do you find yourself wondering whether the problem is your job — or whether you've simply lost your sense of purpose? Are you looking for practical ways to reconnect with your motivation without throwing everything away and starting over?In this episode, I share three powerful strategies to help mid-career women stay motivated, even when their corporate role feels misaligned or exhausting. I dive into why staying motivated isn't just about loving every moment of your job, but about reconnecting with what drives you at a deeper level.I explore the importance of anchoring back to your personal why, shifting your focus from what you're losing to what you're gaining, and expanding your impact beyond your day-to-day role, so you can stay motivated and build momentum no matter what season of your career you're in.What You'll Learn:Reconnect With Your Why: How identifying and revisiting your personal purpose can instantly reframe your work experience and help you stay motivated through the tough seasons.Shift From Losses to Gains: Practical ways to refocus your attention on the skills, perspectives, and growth you're accumulating - even in a challenging environment.Expand Your Impact: How pursuing side projects, volunteering, and activities outside your role can reignite your motivation and sense of fulfilment.The Wheel of Life: Why taking a holistic view of your life balance is key to measuring fulfilment and staying motivated across all areas - not just your career."Reconnecting with your why is one of the fastest ways to stay motivated, even when the day-to-day feels hard."Invest in Yourself and Your Career:Community — Join our brand new Network for mid-career women redesigning what's next in their careersCoaching — Join the Career Navigator Coaching Programme: My high-touch, 1-to-1 experience to help you clarify and package your expertise, build a personal brand that opens doors, and create a career that generates opportunities and income beyond your job title and AI disruption. Book a Career Clarity Call to discussSend us Fan MailConnect with me!Website: careerchangemakers.comEmail: podcast@careerchangemakers.comLinkedIn:  Janine EsbrandInstagram: @careerchangemakerspodcastCareer Change Makers on Apple Podcasts

Are you feeling stuck in your current role but not quite ready to hand in your resignation? Do you find yourself drained by the daily grind, wondering if there’s a way to find more fulfillment without starting from scratch? Are you curious about how small, strategic shifts in your perspective and habits can lead to a massive transformation in your work-life balance?In this episode, I share three practical, high-impact strategies for mid-career women who want to improve their work experience right where they are. We dive into why the answer isn't always to leave your company, but rather to redesign your current reality to better align with your strengths and values.I explore the power of "energy audits" and "job crafting," explaining how these tools can help you reclaim your time and joy. Whether you are navigating a transition or simply looking for more peace in your professional life, this episode provides the roadmap to becoming the architect of your own career satisfaction.What You’ll Learn:The Energy Audit: How to conduct a weekly energy log to pinpoint exactly what is fuelling you and what is draining you.Job Crafting for Alignment: Practical ways to reshape your current responsibilities to better fit your unique strengths and professional goals.The Identity Shift: How to address the "identity gap" and begin redefining your self-perception beyond just your job title.Strategic Redesign: Why releasing the grip on your current professional identity can open up a world of new possibilities you hadn’t considered."Releasing the grip of your job title can open new possibilities."Invest in Yourself and Your Career:Community - Join our brand new Network for mid-career women redesigning what's next in their careers Coaching - Join the Career Navigator Coaching Programme: My high-touch, 1-to-1 experience to help you build a career aligned with your life. Book a Career Clarity Call to discussSend us Fan MailConnect with me!Website: careerchangemakers.comEmail: podcast@careerchangemakers.comLinkedIn:  Janine EsbrandInstagram: @careerchangemakerspodcastCareer Change Makers on Apple Podcasts

Are you a new manager feeling technically competent but completely unequipped to lead a team?Do you worry that you lack the "executive presence" needed to thrive in high-pressure leadership roles?Are you curious about how AI can actually support your human growth rather than just automating your tasks?In this episode, I’m joined by Benjamin Husser, CEO of Ignitus, to discuss how AI is being used to democratise high-level coaching. We dive into the gap many new managers face when transitioning from technical experts to people leaders and explore how "real-time augmentation" can provide the support you need at the exact moment you need it.Ben shares the journey of building an AI coaching platform rooted in human expertise, explaining why AI should never replace traditional coaching, but how it can serve as a powerful "accelerator" for the 90% of managers who currently don’t have access to professional development support.Ben Husser is Ignitus' CEO, and a former Chief of Staff to tech CEOs (ex-Tripadvisor, ex-Euronews). Over a decade advising senior leaders, he’s run executive committees, led strategic initiatives across three continents, and helped raise £100M+ from investors. Now, drawing on the mentorship that shaped his career, he’s on a mission to make great mentoring accessible to all.What You’ll learn:The "Human-First" AI Approach: Why effective AI coaching must be trained on the frameworks of real-world experts (like hostage negotiators and executive coaches).Real-Time Augmentation: How AI can analyse your digital workflow to give you situational advice before a difficult conversation or a big board meeting.The Promotability Stat: Why managers with coaches are 5x more likely to be promoted and how AI bridges that gap.Critical Thinking in the Age of AI: Ben’s "Golden Rule" for using AI without losing your own unique professional style or critical thinking skills.Invest in Yourself and Your Career:Community - Join our brand new Network for mid-career women redesigning what's next in their careers Coaching - Join the Career Navigator Coaching Programme: My high-touch, 1-to-1 experience to help you build a career aligned with your life. Book a Career Clarity Call to discussConnect with BenExplore Ignitus: Visit ignitus.app to learn more about AI-powered leadership growth.Get 1 month free trial of Ignitus! Send us Fan MailConnect with me!Website: careerchangemakers.comEmail: podcast@careerchangemakers.comLinkedIn:  Janine EsbrandInstagram: @careerchangemakerspodcastCareer Change Makers on Apple Podcasts

Feel like you’ve been spending months trying to figure out your next career move, but haven’t actually made any progress?Are you frustrated by the gap between knowing you want a change and actually taking the steps to make it happen?Do you worry that you’re "too old," "not experienced enough," or that a move might sacrifice your financial security?In this episode, I’m sharing why strategy might not be your problem and why your default thinking is the issue. Many professionals stay stuck on the "career couch" because of unconscious "background code" that limits what they believe is possible  and therefore holds them back from career opportunities.  Using my own journey to the TEDx stage as a roadmap, I’m digging into the cognitive psychology model that you can use to increase your career opportunities and thrive. You’ll learn: How to identify the thoughts that are holding you back How to rewrite your mental scriptsHow to ditch procrastination and start redesigning your career.  Invest in Yourself and Your Career:Book a Career Clarity CallThe Career Navigator Coaching Programme: My high-touch, 1-to-1 experience to help you build a career aligned with your life. Book a Career Clarity Call to discussRelated Episode: Episode 304: 'Why All-Or-Nothing Thinking Is Keeping You Stuck'Send us Fan MailConnect with me!Website: careerchangemakers.comEmail: podcast@careerchangemakers.comLinkedIn:  Janine EsbrandInstagram: @careerchangemakerspodcastCareer Change Makers on Apple Podcasts

Are you still following a career blueprint that was designed for a world that no longer exists? As we navigate 2026, the traditional "rules" of professional growth are being rewritten, yet so many mid-career women are still holding themselves back by trying to play an outdated game. In this episode, I’m diving deep into why the career advice we were given a decade ago is actually sabotaging our progress today. I share why "staying the course" can sometimes lead to stagnation and how you can shift your perspective to navigate this new landscape with confidence. From the rise of AI to the strategic power of the "job hopper" label, it’s time to stop settling for a career that fits your past and start redesigning one that fuels your future. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The Expiry Date of Traditional Advice: Why the "proven" strategies of the past are now the biggest hurdles for mid-career women. The Power of the Pivot: Why I’ve embraced "job hopping" as a tool for advancement rather than a mark of inconsistency. Navigating the AI Shift: How to focus on your unique human value so that technological changes become your competitive advantage.  Career Redesign vs. Career Recovery: How to move from just "getting through the week" to intentionally engineering a path that aligns with your personal growth. Action Steps:Audit Your Internal Rules: Identify one piece of "standard" career wisdom you’re still following (like staying in a role for a minimum number of years) and ask if it actually serves your 2026 goals. Give Yourself Permission to Move: Stop viewing a career change as a "restart." View it as a strategic upgrade to a version of work that fits your current season of life. Prioritize Navigation over Path: In a changing economy, your ability to navigate and adapt is more valuable than any linear ladder. Start looking for the moves that keep you agile. Ready to Redesign Your Career? If you’re feeling the tug to move but aren't sure how to navigate the current market, I’m here to help you get unstuck. 👉 Book a clarity call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s map out your next best step together. Send us Fan MailConnect with me!Website: careerchangemakers.comEmail: podcast@careerchangemakers.comLinkedIn:  Janine EsbrandInstagram: @careerchangemakerspodcastCareer Change Makers on Apple Podcasts

The Podcast for Ambitious Mid-Career Women Redesigning What’s Next***Top 1.5% Global Careers Podcast***Are you navigating a mid-career transition and wondering what’s next?Have you built a successful corporate career but realised you don’t want your boss’s job?Do you feel the tension between wanting more freedom and not wanting to sacrifice security?If you’re ambitious but no longer willing to burn out for another promotion, you’re in the right place.I’m so glad you’re here.This podcast helps high-achieving mid-career women gain career clarity and confidently design their next chapter,  whether that means evolving inside corporate, exploring a portfolio career, or building a hybrid path.If you’re ready to stop default climbing and start making strategic, aligned decisions about your future, this podcast will give you the insight and tools to move forward with confidence. Hello, Hello! I’m Janine Esbrand, corporate lawyer turned career strategist and executive coach.For years, I had my eye on the corporate partner title. I kept my head down, worked the long hours, and chased the next big deal because that’s what success was supposed to look like.Until I became a mother.And I realised I didn’t want to build a life around my career, I wanted to build a career around my life.So I stepped off the default corporate path and designed a portfolio career that allows me to work on my terms, create meaningful impact, and show up fully, both professionally and personally.Now I help ambitious mid-career women do the same. If you’re ready to gain clarity, challenge the default ladder, and design an aligned, sustainable career that reflects who you are now, not who you used to be, this podcast will give you the strategy, mindset and tools that you need. So grab your notebook, pour your hot drink of choice, and let’s design what’s next. Send us Fan MailConnect with me!Website: careerchangemakers.comEmail: podcast@careerchangemakers.comLinkedIn:  Janine EsbrandInstagram: @careerchangemakerspodcastCareer Change Makers on Apple Podcasts

Are you considering a career move but feeling held back by guilt? Whether it’s leaving a role you worked years to attain or walking away from an industry that looks "perfect" on paper, the weight of loyalty and identity can be paralysing.In this episode, I dive deep into why we feel guilty about wanting more and how to shift your perspective to embrace the evolving seasons of your career. Drawing from my own transition from corporate law to in-house practice after becoming a mother, I talk about how to move from a place of "should" to a place of intentional alignment.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The Trap of "Good on Paper": Why objective success (titles and salary) often masks a deep lack of personal alignment.The Psychology of Career Guilt: Understanding how your identity and past hard work can make you feel "stuck" in a role that no longer serves you.Embracing Seasonality: Why the decisions you made 5 or 10 years ago don't have to dictate your future.Pivot Without Burning Bridges: How to leave a role or industry with agency and intention rather than fear or drama.Action Steps:Give Yourself Permission to Re-evaluate: Be honest about what isn’t working in your current role and accept that your priorities may have shifted.Audit Your Alignment: Move beyond external markers of success. Ask yourself if your current role aligns with your current personality, values, and motivations.Choose Intention Over Fear: Decide to stay or go based on what makes sense for your current season of life, not out of a sense of obligation to your past self.Do you find yourself relating to this episode and need some guidance?👉 Book a clarity call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore your next best step.Send us Fan MailConnect with me!Website: careerchangemakers.comEmail: podcast@careerchangemakers.comLinkedIn:  Janine EsbrandInstagram: @careerchangemakerspodcastCareer Change Makers on Apple Podcasts

If you’re feeling stuck at mid-career, unsure whether to stay, pivot, or start something new this episode is for you.In this case study, I’m joined by my former client Claire, who went from feeling uncertain about her next move after leaving a role of 13 years in education to gaining crystal-clear career clarity and launching her own consulting business in just three months.We talk about what it really takes to get unstuck, how to move from overthinking to aligned action, and why clarity doesn’t have to take years when you approach it strategically.If you’ve been sitting in “what’s next?” mode for longer than you’d like, this conversation will give you both perspective and momentum.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why mid-career transitions can feel heavier and how to navigate them strategicallyThe difference between being “stuck” and being unclearHow Claire moved from uncertainty to launching a consulting business in 3 monthsWhat actually creates clarity (hint: it’s not more overthinking)The mindset shifts required to stop default climbing and start designing what’s nextAction Steps:1️⃣ Get honest about what feels misaligned. Instead of asking “What job should I apply for?” ask “What do I no longer want to tolerate?”2️⃣ Stop gathering endless information and choose one direction to test. Clarity often comes from action, not analysis.3️⃣ Define your next 90-day focus. If you had to move forward strategically for the next three months, what would you prioritise?👉 Book a clarity call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore your next best step.Connect with Claire and learn more about her work - https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-bartkus/ Send us Fan MailConnect with me!Website: careerchangemakers.comEmail: podcast@careerchangemakers.comLinkedIn:  Janine EsbrandInstagram: @careerchangemakerspodcastCareer Change Makers on Apple Podcasts

In this episode, I’m speaking directly to the introverts and the “just let me do my good work” professionals who feel resistant to the whole “be everywhere, build your personal brand, post every day” narrative.Visibility is important for career progression, whether you want to move up internally or explore opportunities externally. But being visible doesn’t mean becoming someone you’re not.I break down how to approach visibility in a way that feels aligned, strategic, and sustainable, especially if you don’t naturally enjoy being in the spotlight. I share the three-step framework I use with my coaching clients to help them build visibility without compromising their personality or values.If you’ve ever been passed up for opportunities and wondered why less experienced people seem to get ahead, this episode will give you clarity and a practical way forward.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why visibility is required for career progression (even if you’re brilliant at what you do)The difference between being everywhere and being strategicThe 3-step visibility framework: Who, How, WhenWhy people promote based on perceived potential and how to influence that perceptionAction Steps:Identify Your “Who.” Ask yourself: Who specifically needs to see me and understand my value? A hiring manager? A senior leader? A decision-maker in your industry? Get clear.Choose Your Method. Decide how you will raise your visibility with intention. This might look like speaking up once in key meetings, booking strategic coffee chats, supporting a senior leader’s project, or attending a targeted event.Set Your Cadence. Visibility doesn’t mean constant noise. It means consistency. Choose a rhythm that works for you; monthly or quarterly and commit to more than one touchpoint.If this episode resonated with you and you’re ready to build a visibility strategy that feels aligned to who you are that’s exactly what we work on inside my one-to-one coaching.Once we’re clear on where you want to go, we design the right visibility plan to get you seen by the right people without forcing you to become someone you’re not.👉 Book a clarity call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore your next best step.And if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review.  It helps the show reach more ambitious professionals who need this message.Send us Fan MailConnect with me!Website: careerchangemakers.comEmail: podcast@careerchangemakers.comLinkedIn:  Janine EsbrandInstagram: @careerchangemakerspodcastCareer Change Makers on Apple Podcasts

🎙️ Episode OverviewIn this solo episode, I’m talking about something I see come up again and again during career transitions: the difference between appearing confident and actually feeling confident.I work with so many high-achieving professionals who look confident on the outside; capable, accomplished, and put together, yet internally they’re second-guessing themselves, especially when they’re navigating interviews, considering a move, or trying to figure out what’s next in their career.In this episode, I unpack why “faking it till you make it” doesn’t work long-term when you’re in transition, and what actually helps you build confidence that supports you as you move towards your next role, opportunity, or career chapter. I also share a recent client example that highlights how confidence grows when you reconnect with your experience, your value, and the evidence of what you already bring to the table.If your confidence has dipped as you think about what’s next or you’re tired of performing confidence rather than truly feeling it,  this episode is for you.✨ What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy confidence often dips during career transitions, even when you’re highly capableThe difference between looking confident and feeling confident and why that matters in interviews and career conversationsWhy “fake it till you make it” can leave you feeling scattered and disconnectedHow reflecting on your experience helps you position yourself more confidently for what’s nextWhy confidence comes from action and evidence, not waiting until you feel “ready”🧭 Action StepsTake stock of your experience: I encourage you to write down what you’ve done, achieved, and navigated especially the things you tend to dismiss.Connect the dots: Look at how your past experience links to the roles or opportunities you’re exploring next.Build confidence through action: Take small, intentional steps outside your comfort zone and pay attention to what you learn along the way.💬 Ready for Support?If you’re in the middle of a career transition and want to feel more confident in interviews, networking conversations, and decision-making, I’d love to support you.👉🏽 Book a Clarity Call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore how coaching can help you move forward with confidence as you step into your next career chapter.Send us Fan MailConnect with me!Website: careerchangemakers.comEmail: podcast@careerchangemakers.comLinkedIn:  Janine EsbrandInstagram: @careerchangemakerspodcastCareer Change Makers on Apple Podcasts