Switch, Pivot or Quit

Switch, Pivot or Quit

One of the top business podcasts in a Google search. As your host who has been there and done that (P.S. my name is Ahyiana Angel) I'm providing an intimate look at navigating life transitions (personal and professional) on your own terms. This pod is for the person seeking encouragement, inspiration + change in a life filled with demands on who you should be. I'm here for you when you're asking yourself, "What's next?!" I speak with experts, professionals, and day-to-day doers who have learned best practices through their journey with personal and professional development work. My journey consists of having successfully switched careers from a sports entertainment publicist to a published author and now I run my own podcast production company (Mayzie Media), and give motivational talks! My goal is and will always be to provide helpful advice when you're deciding if you need to Switch, Pivot, or Quit®. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ahyiana.angel/

Episodes

Dr. LaNysha Adams: From Cardiac Arrest Survivor to Redefining Success—Empowerment, Career Pivots, and Never Outshining the Master

December 28, 2025 • 50 mins
What happens when a life-threatening cardiac arrest forces you to completely reimagine success? Dr. LaNysha Adams, 10-time award-winning author and TEDx speaker, shares her powerful journey from academic battles and entrepreneurial hustling to flatlining on her couch—and the profound transformation that followed. Discover why she says "you can be pivoted at any moment," the workplace power dynamics that nearly cost her a PhD, and h...
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From 25-Year Corporate Career to Life Coach: Kavita Ahuja on Making Midlife Transitions on Your Own Terms

December 15, 2025 • 25 mins
What happens when a successful pharmaceutical executive walks away from a 25-year career because the voice inside grew too loud to ignore? Kavita Ahuja, founder of It's My Time Now coaching and host of The Midlife Reinvention podcast, shares her powerful journey of leaving corporate success behind at 50 to help other women navigate major life transitions. From grappling with cultural expectations to that pivotal moment when her son...
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From Burnout to Badass- How a Fortune 500 Executive Survived the Cultural Success Tax with Dana L Cox

December 7, 2025 • 41 mins
What happens when you try to quit but your boss refuses to accept your resignation? Dana L Cox shares how that pivotal conversation transformed her from an administrative assistant crying every day to a Fortune 500 global executive—and why she eventually ended up "crispy" from burnout anyway. In this raw conversation, Dana breaks down the hidden "cultural success tax" Black women pay in corporate America, reveals the signs of burno...
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Why She Left It All Behind From Apple to Instagram: How One Woman Pioneered Social Media Strategy at Tech's Biggest Companies

November 16, 2025 • 51 mins
What happens when you land your dream job at Apple, only to realize comfort zones have expiration dates? In this episode, I sit down with communications strategist Fana Yohannes, who shares how she went from being an early listener of this podcast to revolutionizing social media at Apple and Instagram—and eventually walking away from it all to build something on her own terms. We're unpacking the invisible excellence trap, why havi...
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From Google to $100M Beauty Brand: How Kara Brothers Pivoted from Tech to StarFace President | Career Transition & Leadership

November 9, 2025 • 34 mins
What does it take to leave a 15-year career in tech at companies like Google and leap into the beauty industry? Kara Brothers, former President of StarFace (those iconic star-shaped pimple patches), opens up about her journey from feeling like she wasn't thriving in corporate America to scaling a startup from $5 million to $100 million in revenue. In this raw conversation, she shares the truth about navigating career uncertainty, b...
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The Playing Small Tax

November 2, 2025 • 10 mins
I'm breaking down something I call "the playing small tax," and trust me, it's costing you way more than you think. We're talking about the hidden price of hiding your gifts: the opportunities you don't take, the ideas you keep to yourself, and the people who miss out when you stay quiet. I'll walk you through the four devastating ways this tax shows up in your life and career, plus I'm giving you a simple audit to help you see exa...
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Shrinking to Fit vs. Expanding to Lead

October 26, 2025 • 10 mins
Ever catch yourself shrinking down your ideas, dimming your expertise, or staying quiet when you know you have the answer? In this episode, we talk about the game-changing difference between adapting your communication style and abandoning your authentic self, and why making yourself smaller isn't professionalism, it's self-sabotage. Discover the Authenticity Calibration framework that helps you show up fully without apologizing fo...
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The Sunday Scaries Solution

October 20, 2025 • 9 mins
Feeling that pit in your stomach every Sunday night? You're not alone. But what if those Sunday Scaries aren't something to push through, but a message to decode? In this episode, I'm sharing the three critical things your weekend anxiety is trying to tell you about your career alignment, and why the people you admire most don't experience Sunday dread. Plus, we're talking about a simple 10-minute exercise that will help you turn t...
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Your Comfort Zone Has an Expiration Date

October 12, 2025 • 13 mins
What if the thing that feels safest right now is actually the biggest risk to your future?

In this episode, I'm discussing why your comfort zone has an expiration date and sharing the three warning signs that indicate you're heading toward irrelevance instead of growth. Discover the "Controlled Discomfort" strategy that helped me transition from NBA publicist to podcast entrepreneur, and learn how small weekly expansions can prevent...
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Permission Slips Are for Elementary School

October 5, 2025 • 11 mins
How many decisions are you not making because you're waiting for someone else to say it's okay? In this episode, I'm getting real about the three years I spent waiting to write a book—even though I was already qualified, already capable, and already writing. The only thing missing? My own permission.

In this episode, you'll discover:
  • The three phrases that keep high-achievers stuck in permission-seeking mode
  • Why the authority you'...
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The Invisible Excellence Trap: Why Being Really Good at Your Job Might Be Making You Invisible

September 28, 2025 • 14 mins
What if your biggest strength is sabotaging your career? In this eye-opening episode, we dig into how being exceptional at supporting others can trap you in career invisibility. Drawing from my own experience, I'm uncovering the hidden cost of "invisible excellence." You'll discover:
  • The 3 warning signs you're caught in the invisible excellence trap (hint: if you're always the "go-to" for execution but never innovation, this is ...
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Why Your Next Career Breakthrough Requires Blank Space with Sabina Nawaz

May 25, 2025 • 45 mins
In this transformative final episode of the season, global CEO coach and author Sabina Nawaz shares her journey from Microsoft software engineer to executive leadership expert, offering practical strategies for career transitions and authentic leadership.
Discover the power of "blank space" - intentional quiet time that can unlock career clarity and creative solutions. Sabina reveals how pressure can either corrupt your leadership o...
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From Content Creator to Corporate_Moving Abroad and Back with Paige Mariah

May 18, 2025 • 29 mins
This week I'm chatting with Paige Mariah about her transformative career journey. Paige shares her experience moving from Chicago to London for grad school, building a successful career as a full-time content creator abroad, and her recent transition back to corporate America working for Kellogg. She discusses overcoming imposter syndrome, embracing change despite fear, and finding work-life balance after experiencing the freedom o...
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Vanessa Simmons on Wellness, Self-Care, and Businesses Evolution After Pastry

May 11, 2025 • 24 mins
This week I'm chatting with entrepreneur, actress, and wellness advocate Vanessa Simmons. Known for her role on Run's House and co-founding the successful footwear brand Pastry, Vanessa opens up about her entrepreneurial journey, sharing valuable insights on knowing when to pivot in business and the importance of mental health awareness.

In this episode, Vanessa discusses her new wellness platform U4IA, an educational hub focused on...
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Interviewing Oprah Via Bold Pivots - Dominique B. Fluker on Switching Careers, J-School, and Building her brand

May 4, 2025 • 44 mins
In this inspiring conversation, I reconnect with a longtime friend of the podcast, Dominique B. Fluker, whose journey I've witnessed from PR agency copywriter to nationally recognized multimedia journalist and contributing lifestyle editor at Essence Magazine. Dominique shares the pivotal moments that shaped her bold career transitions—from quitting TikTok and moving to LA without a job or graduate school acceptance, to walking red...
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Navigating Your Career Path with Whitney Faires - Authenticity, Leadership, and The Excellence Equation

April 27, 2025 • 35 mins
Chatting with Whitney Faires, an executive coach with over two decades of corporate experience. Tune in to hear invaluable insights on leadership, overcoming self-doubt, and thriving in your professional journey. Whitney shares her journey from corporate sales to executive coaching, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and intentional career moves. She delves into her creation, the Excellence Equation, an eight-step framework...
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You Can't Skip the Process

April 20, 2025 • 8 mins
It's tempting to want to find a way around the work or potential struggle, but the process often offers more than we know we need. 
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Mastering Self-Leadership & Career Growth with Elizabeth Lotardo

April 13, 2025 • 39 mins
This week the conversation touches on the importance of self-leadership, managing difficult conversations with your manager, and staying fulfilled at work amidst uncertainty. Elizabeth Lotardo offers actionable advice on upskilling, finding purpose in your current role, and maintaining meaningful workplace relationships. The episode also delves into the challenges and strategies of leading without formal authority and managing care...
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The Giving/Receiving Imbalance - When You're Always the Resource

April 6, 2025 • 26 mins
This week I'm sharing observations about the challenges of the one-sided nature of giving. I share my frustrations and the hidden labor that goes unnoticed. We'll explore how setting boundaries and rephrasing requests can ensure mutual benefits. Plus, I’m stirring up some self-reflection on our giving-and-taking dynamics. Tune in to hear my thoughts, stories, and tips on fostering respectful and reciprocal professional relationship...
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I'm a Hardworking Lazy Girl - Can You Relate?

March 30, 2025 • 24 mins
We're talking about the intriguing paradox of being a 'hardworking, lazy girl.' We'll explore the shift away from hustle culture towards honoring our need for rest, and how you can be both incredibly productive and selectively lazy. We'll look at strategic ways to manage your energy, use time blocking, automate tasks, and practice strategic procrastination. Embrace your natural productivity rhythms and learn why rest is an essentia...
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