Second Act Success Podcast: Career Transitions, Entrepreneurship, and Business Advice for Women
Welcome to the Second Act Success Podcast, a top 2% globally ranked show designed for ambitious women ready to transition from employee to entrepreneur. This is your go-to resource for career inspiration, actionable advice, and proven strategies to help you navigate a career change, build your own business, and create a life you love. ✨ What You’ll Learn: How to craft your perfect exit strategy from your 9-to-5 and confidently transition into entrepreneurship. Marketing, business planning, and personal development tips to launch and grow a purpose-driven business. Real-life success stories of women who’ve turned their side hustle into thriving businesses. Insights on balancing career pivots, personal fulfillment, and family life as you build a flexible, abundant future. Hosted by Shannon Russell, a business coach and author of Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life. This podcast is your partner in navigating a second act in life. As an exit strategy expert, Shannon empowers women to leave unfulfilling jobs and create joyful, impactful businesses that align with their passions and experience. She is a former Television Producer turned franchise business owner, who is using her experience to help others make a change for the better in their lives. Each week, tune in for: Practical advice on building your business with clarity and confidence. Expert interviews and motivational stories of career change success. Tips on marketing, productivity, and turning your business vision into reality. Is this podcast for you? Are you dreaming of quitting your corporate job to start your own business? Do you want advice on marketing, personal branding, and entrepreneurial strategies? Are you ready to overcome fear and take the leap into your second act? Do you crave a flexible lifestyle that allows you to focus on your passions and family? Ready to become your own boss? Is it time to turn your side hustle into a full-time business? If so, you’re in the right place! The Second Act Success Podcast is here to help you thrive in your journey from employee to entrepreneur. Get inspired, take action, and produce your best life with Shannon by your side. New episodes every week. Subscribe now and start your journey to second act success today! 🔗 For more inspiration and resources, visit https://secondactsuccess.co/podcast. Subscribe now and embark on a transformative journey towards career fulfillment and success! Email shannon@secondactsuccess.co to connect!
Episodes
🎉 It’s the 200th episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, and we’re celebrating with a special Q&A edition! Host and business coach, Shannon Russell, is answering your most pressing questions about how to quit your job, start a business, and reinvent yourself at any age.
In this milestone episode, Shannon covers:
✔️ How to know when it’s the right time to quit your 9-5
✔️ What to do if you have a business ide...
In this empowering episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell speaks with holistic living expert, life coach, and wellness advocate Lynnis Woods-Mullins. After a successful career in corporate HR, Lynnis took a life-changing leap at age 51—leaving her job due to anxiety and burnout to reclaim her health and purpose. What started as a sabbatical turned into a thriving second act in holistic health and mid...
In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell sits down with Sunny Sun, a first-generation immigrant from China turned entrepreneur and nonprofit founder. Sunny shares her remarkable journey from moving to the United States for college to leaving a fast-paced corporate finance career as an accountant in Manhattan to start her own STEM-based education business with Snapology in New Jersey.
S...
Feeling stuck in your creative career? Whether you're a producer, designer, editor, writer, artist, or performer—this episode is your roadmap to turning your creative skills into a successful business. Host Shannon Russell, a former TV producer turned business coach, shares how she transitioned out of the entertainment industry and built a thriving second act as an entrepreneur.
In this episode, Shannon breaks down the realitie...
What does it take to turn a passion for fitness into a thriving business—and then franchise it successfully across the country? In this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell sits down with Devan Gonzalez, fitness entrepreneur and co-founder of Strive 11 Fitness, to explore how he turned his love of coaching into a six-figure in-person training business and later launched a successful gym franchise.
D...
Have you ever wondered if your professional experience could be turned into a thriving business? In this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell sits down with curriculum and course creation expert Shannon Boyer to explore how she transitioned from a career in college education to launching a business that empowers entrepreneurs to teach what they know—successfully and effectively.
Shannon Boyer shares...
Are you feeling stuck in your career or craving more creativity and fulfillment in your life? In this inspiring solo episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell encourages you to rediscover the dreams you once held and explore how to bring them into your present life. Whether you’re navigating a life transition, dreaming of launching a business, or simply want to feel more alive in your day-to-day, this e...
After 19 years in education and an ADHD diagnosis, Cindy Baker made a bold pivot—leaving the classroom to launch her own business as a productivity coach for entrepreneurs. In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell sits down with Cindy to discuss her career evolution, her late-in-life ADHD diagnosis, and how she turned her challenges into a business that helps others.
Cindy retired earl...
It’s publication day for my new book! In this special episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell celebrates the release of her new book, Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life. Shannon reads pages from Chapter 2 of her book, diving into what a “second act” truly means and how women can embrace the powerful pivot from feeling stuck in a job to starting s...
Have you ever faced a life-changing crossroads where you had to choose between your career and your heart? In this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell shares a deeply personal story about the day she said no to interviewing Taylor Swift — and why that pivotal decision changed the course of her career and life.
From working as a television producer for major networks to choosing motherhood and entre...
In this inspiring episode of Second Act Success, host Shannon Russell sits down with Monika Nielsen, founder of Style Closet Coach and the beloved “closet therapist” for women reinventing themselves in midlife. After homeschooling her three children for 22 years, Monika launched a business helping women declutter their closets and rediscover their style. She shares how she turned a personal moment of self-discovery into a purpose-d...
Are you waking up every day feeling stuck, unfulfilled, or just "going through the motions" in your job? In this empowering episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, career transition and business coach Shannon Russell shares a powerful message about what it really means to live by default—and how to break free from it. If you’ve been dreaming about starting a business, changing careers, or simply building a life ...
In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, Shannon sits down with Michal Morrison—an archeologist-turned-entrepreneur—who transformed personal adversity into a groundbreaking second act. After surviving a traumatic brain injury, Michal left behind her world-traveling career in archaeology to launch her own science-backed skincare company using cutting-edge stem cell technology.
Discover how Michal’s passion ...
Have you ever dreamed of leaving your 9-5, hitting the road, and building a business on your own terms? In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell sits down with executive coach and change management consultant Julie Noonan to explore her bold leap from corporate America to full-time RV living.
After a successful career leading transformation at Fortune 500 companies and consulting firms...
Have you ever dreamed of writing a book but weren’t sure where to start? In this episode of The Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell takes you behind the scenes of her journey to becoming an author! She shares how she went from dreaming about writing to officially publishing her book, Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life.
Shannon opens up about the writing and ...
Have you ever dreamed of leaving your corporate job to follow your creative passion? In this episode of Second Act Success, Shannon Russell sits down with Francesca Montillo, founder of Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures. Francesca shares her incredible journey from a stable career in healthcare management to building a thriving business centered around Italian food, wine, and travel.
Born in Italy and raised in Boston, Francesca alwa...
Are you thinking about pivoting into tech or launching your own business later in life? In this episode of Second Act Success, host Shannon Russell sits down with Kerry Ann King, CEO of Eluminate Labs, to discuss her inspiring journey from multiple career transitions to becoming a tech founder in her 50s.
Kerry Ann shares how she navigated layoffs, career shifts, and the challenges of being a woman in tech, ultimately building a sof...
What if getting let go from your corporate job was actually the best thing that ever happened to you? That’s exactly what happened to Kristen Lettini, host of the Build Your Own Fairytale Podcast, who turned a career setback into the ultimate opportunity to build a thriving business.
In this episode #183 of Second Act Success, Kristen shares how she transitioned from a stable corporate job in marketing and communications to entrepr...
Have you been wondering if you have what it takes to start a business with your skills and experience?
In this special episode of Second Act Success Episode #182, host Shannon Russell shares a replay of her popular Business Brainstorm Masterclass. You'll learn how to plan your exit strategy, discover the right business idea for you, and take the first steps toward entrepreneurship. Whether you're in the early sta...
Are you ready to leave your 9-to-5 and start a business that's perfectly aligned with who you are? In this episode of Second Act Success Career Podcast, host and career transition/business coach, Shannon Russell dives into the power of the YouMap® assessment—a personalized career tool that helps you discover your strengths, values, skills, and personality. Shannon explains how this game-changing assessment can guide you in cre...
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