Nurture Before You Need: Building a Career of Purpose with Amy Bouque

On this episode of the Pathfinders Podcast, Amy Bouque, Chief People Officer at Kelly Services, joins Pete Schramm for an insightful conversation on what it means to lead, grow, and navigate a meaningful career. From her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut to forging a career in labor relations, HR, and people leadership, Amy’s story is rooted in resilience, intentionality, and relationships. 

She opens up about how early mentors, especially a fourth-grade teacher who saw her potential, shaped her journey. Amy shares how her career evolved through the support of former leaders, emphasizing the importance of nurturing relationships before you need them. Her personal board of advisors has played a pivotal role in every major transition.

Amy and Pete dive deep into the power of a career map and how, even though Amy spent years helping others build theirs, she realized she hadn’t fully formalized one for herself. They explore how creating clarity around career goals, skills, and relationships strengthens teams and reduces costly, unwanted turnover across organizations.

If you’re looking for advice on navigating change, investing in relationships, and designing a career, and a life, with meaning, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom, humor, and heart!