Career Switch Podcast: Expert advice for your career change

Sometimes you don’t have to go far to make a career switch. My guest today is a great example of how to change careers without changing companies. 

Mia Villarreal went from social media strategist to product marketing manager—within the same organization—in only a couple of years. 

In this episode, Mia shares how she first got into VMware, a global software developer, in 2020 as a contractor—a move that gave her access to the company...

Madeline Miller, a Gen Z and Millennial career and leadership coach, shares her A.I.R. Formula—Alignment, Influence, and Resilience—to help professionals connect with a more fulfilling career. 

Drawing from her own career switch as an entertainment attorney turned entrepreneur, Madeline breaks down the mindset shifts needed to:

• Align your work with your values 

• Build influence

• Develop the resilience to keep moving forward

"If...

Barbara Brandon-Croft is recognized as the first Black woman cartoonist in the U.S. to break into the mainstream press with Where I’m Coming From, her cartoon feature centering on Black female voices.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, Barbara looks back at her various careers—from her early days as a fashion and beauty writer to her time as a cartoonist at the Detroit Free Press in the 90s, and later, as the research direc...

Former newspaper reporter Jonathan McFadden opens up about the identity crisis he battled with his career change. He recalls everything he was afraid to lose if he left journalism—would it be worth it? 

“I, like many of us do, conflated my value as a human with my value as an employee,” says Jonathan.

In this episode, Jonathan shares how he tried a couple of different jobs and industries before landing on user exp...

Whether you’re feeling stuck, curious about a new field, or dealing with the ups and downs of a career switch, you can make spirituality part of your journey. 

We revisit a chat with author and life coach Nancy Gavilanes, who shares how your faith can guide you through a career change.  

“You need faith to have patience, persevere, and not give up,” says Nancy. 

Episode Highlights

• The spiritual component of...

It takes time to change industries or professions, and depending on how you handle that time—and the feelings that come with it—it could lead to burnout. 

I speak with Dr. Kyle Elliott, a career coach and founder of CaffeinatedKyle.com. Kyle coaches career changers, so they avoid burnout as they work on their career switch. 

In this episode, Kyle shares how having clear targets, realistic goals and a good support ...

As a person of color (POC) and/or first-generation professional, your family’s culture and background likely influenced your beliefs, which can now impact your making a career change.

Dani Tan is a leadership and career coach, who works with POC and First Gens who are often the first, few or only in their space. Dani reveals how the scarcity mindset from our parents can affect our career choices. And she shares how the power of netw...

My guest today is trying to change careers now while he has a full-time job, a mortgage and two young kids. David Mock opens up about the challenges he's facing, his immediate concerns (will it work out?, will it be worth it?), and how he's getting through it all. 

Currently, David feels stuck and he shares how he's working on becoming a certified junior cybersecurity analyst, a new career that would provide...

If you’re dreaming about breaking out on your own to do something creative, this episode is for you! Creative strategy coach Michelle Guo works with creatives, such as freelance web designers, copywriters and social media managers. As the founder of Magicave Media, Michelle empowers her clients to build a sustainable business around their desired lifestyle.  

Is a creative career right for you? Michelle helps you figure th...

After she was laid off in her 50s, Argentine-born Mirta Rinaldi decided to follow her passion for cooking. Today, Mirta is in her 70s and teaches Argentine cuisine. She also owns her own business, Mendulcina, where she hosts cultural experiences and makes and sells delicacies from her home country. 

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mirta shares how she made her career change and the rich ties her new career as a cookin...

Did you know? 48% of U.S. employers offer undergraduate or graduate tuition assistance as a benefit? This means you can start making your career change NOW while you’re still at your current job! 

When Weavy Garcia’s company offered an MBA program to their employees, he went for it. It was an opportunity to learn about business, get his master’s, and switch from IT into sales, a more lucrative option for him. 

In ...

Any career switch will have its ups and downs. I speak with recovery coach Gerardo Matamoros about some potentially harmful behaviors you may start relying on to help you handle whatever is going on right now with your career change.

Gerardo is the owner of consulting firm 7RM7 and a group facilitator for Smart Recovery, a nationwide nonprofit which offers free support groups to individuals who want independence from any t...

When making a career change from corporate to non-profit, who wouldn’t want that HR perspective? The chance to find out from a Human Resources manager what they’re looking for when hiring. Thanks to nonprofit consultant and coach Niki Lomibao, that’s exactly what you’ll get in this episode!

Niki has 10 years of HR experience in the non-profit world and she’s hired plenty of career changers. As the principal CEO of Desert Blue Consul...

Helene Godin was a lawyer for 22 years before she burnt out on the long hours and commute. She quit in 2010 with no plan.

Over the next year, Helene used her skills as a lawyer to study the gluten-free market and develop recipes. In 2011, she opened By the Way Bakery.  Today, Helene has five retail locations and her gluten-free, dairy-free and kosher products are sold at Whole Foods and Stew Leonard’s grocery chains.

In th...

You need confidence to make a career change. Public speaking and confidence coach Sammie Walker Herrera  shares how you can be more confident with job interviewing, networking and negotiating.

In this episode of Career Switch Podcast,  we cover how to look and sound confident when answering some common interview questions in-person or virtually, how to ask people for their salary range without cringing, and how to use sil...

If you're an editor who's been affected by the layoffs in journalism and media, this episode is for you! I chat with editorial recruiter Chandra Turner, founder of The Talent Fairy, a recruiting agency that specializes in placing editorial talent.  

Chandra was a top editor at consumer magazines, such as CosmoGirl and Parents, before she was laid off in 2017. Today, she works with large corporations, startups and...

Welcome to Season 3! Are you thinking about making a career change, but aren't sure? I speak with certified life and career coach Deirdre Taylor about three big signs you should watch out for that are telling you it’s time for a career switch. We also cover how to begin taking those first steps with your career change in this episode of Career Switch Podcast.  

Deirdre has over a decade of experience supporting her cl...

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I speak with Charlotte Castillo, managing director of Poderistas, a non-profit founded by Latinas that focuses on building a digital community to inspire civic engagement among Latinas.

In this episode of Career Switch Podcast, Charlotte tells us how she first got involved with Poderistas as a volunteer and how she used her marketing and brand strategy expertise to help launch the orga...

Some of the most listened to episodes of Career Switch Podcast are those that feature guests who’ve switched industries or professions after age 50. So, I decided to dedicate an entire episode to making a career change when you’re over 50. 

I speak with Penny Kastaris, executive coach and senior consultant with Right Management Talent Solutions, a company that offers career transition services.

Penny is a young Boomer, who...