Career Pivot Podcast with Bec Sands

Welcome to episode #7 of the Career Pivot Podcast, hosted by Bec Sands. This episode is available on Spotify, Stitcher, iTunes and Google Podcasts, and if you enjoy it, I would love it if you could please subscribe and leave me a review.

In today’s podcast episode, I interview Jade McKenzie, a five-times internationally award-winning business coach and event professional with over 15 years’ experience in event management and business development in the corporate, not-for-profit and entrepreneurial sectors.

Jade pivoted her career into her own business and specialises in working with thriving entrepreneurs and business owners, ranging from start-ups to multi-millionaires who want to create successful and sustainable events and businesses. Her clients include Melissa Ambrosini, Denise Duffield-Thomas, Gala Darling, The Beautiful You Coaching Academy, Rebecca Campbell and UN Women National Committee Australia.

Show Notes

1:25 Where Jade was before she pivoted her career, and the catalyst that made her change.

3:30 The ‘whole body’ experience of starting her business.

5:08 How Jade’s business, Event Head, started out with a small vision and evolved into something much more, including a combination of events and coaching.

7:00 The new role Jade created in her business that hadn’t existed anywhere before.

9:15 Some of the biggest challenges Jade faced when starting out in her business, the mindset she adopted to make things easier for herself, and how she overcame those challenges.

11:11 How ongoing learning and courses such as Marie Forleo’s B School supported Jade to position herself in the female entrepreneurial market.

12:50 How Jade ‘bootstrapped’ her way through starting her business without a safety net.

13:10 The role that was pivotal for Jade to learn the skills she needed to start her own business.

15:00 Everything is a process. Nothing is about you personally and you can’t fail! Jade discusses how important it is to be objective in your business, the face and brand of your business but it’s really about being there for your potential clients.

16:00 The lesson you need to learn when building a business based on your own personal brand.

17:15 Jade’s suggestions for what you can do first to pivot your career.

21:02 Two of the books that have made a massive impact for Jade in relation to finding and pursuing her passion.

Welcome to episode #6 of the Career Pivot Podcast, hosted by Bec Sands. This episode is available on Spotify, Stitcher and iTunes, and if you enjoy it, I would love it if you could please subscribe and leave me a review.

In today’s podcast episode, I interview Gemma Laurelle, originally a criminal lawyer with over a decade of experience and now a video games voice actor, game enthusiast and actress.

After 10 years as a criminal lawyer, Gemma found that she had lost passion for her work, was more stressed than ever, and noticed that her health was suffering too. Taking control, she made a drastic career change, leaving her position as a barrister to pursue her passion for gaming and acting – an outlet she had previously used to escape from the day-to-day.

Gemma has also recently produced, written and starred in a new comedy series Vikings Now (a show following the disastrous adventures of three Vikings banished by Odin to modern-day Australia as punishment for their epic mistakes).

Show Notes

1:26 Where Gemma was at before she pivoted her career, and how she went from a “highly repressed” to “highly expressed” environment.

2:15 The accumulation of moments that encouraged Gemma to pivot her career, despite being in what she’d thought would be her ‘dream job’.

3:56 How Gemma worked up the courage to make the big change.

4:50 The elements of the job that were fun - but the one thing it wasn’t giving her that she truly needed.

6:25 The first steps Gemma took to pivot her career.

7:50 How the mind can stop you from taking a step forward and taking action.

10:03 The biggest challenge Gemma faced when transitioning her career, and how she overcame it.

13:10 The best things Gemma finds about working for herself and having her own business.

16:10 How Gemma transitioned from the frenetic pace of being a criminal lawyer to being in her own business and able to spend more quality time on each client.

18:30 What it means when you can’t switch off from work, which is true for so many industries, and the impact it can have.

20:40 Gemma’s top three recommendations for someone who feels they aren’t in the right career or role for them, and what they can do straight away.

25:00 Two of the books that have made a massive impact for Gemma in relation to finding and pursuing her passion.

Additional links:

Work It Out, Mel Robbins

Find Your Why, Simon Sinek

Find out more about Gemma Laurelle.

Sign up for Bec’s free weekly newsletter for more tips on how to find clarity and pivot your career.

Welcome to episode #5 of the Career Pivot Podcast, hosted by Bec Sands. This episode is available on Spotify, Stitcher and iTunes, and if you enjoy it, I would love it if you could please subscribe and leave me a review.

In today’s podcast episode, I interview Katy Rachel Moore, an actor and presenter who pivoted from an eight-year career in public relations. Katy is originally from England and made the sea change out to Sydney four years ago. She has been pursuing acting since the age of seven years old, and along the way has featured in a number of stage productions and appeared in TV and short films, both in the UK and Australia. She has an honours degree in drama and English. Katy recently made the full career pivot, landing a dream full-time role doing TV presenting training here in Australia. (Although it has been on temporary hold due to COVID-19).

Show notes

1:26 Where Katy was at before she pivoted her career, and why she booked a one-way ticket from London to Australia!

2:17 Katy’s true passion, and how she continued to nurture this alongside her PR career.

3:50 How Katy got into PR originally and what made her pivot into her true passion, despite hiding and pushing it down for a long time.

5:45 Despite having a PR job she enjoyed, the one decision that gave Katy the motivation to continue to pursue acting on the side.

7:00 One big indicator to tell whether or not you’re doing what you love and are passionate about.

7:31 Katy’s turning point and how she landed a role in the entertainment industry.

8:50 What it means when you feel envious of other people pursuing dreams that you have (or once had) for yourself - and what you can do about it.

10:50 The number one thing that holds so many people back from pursuing their dreams.

12:00 What it takes to go after a creative pursuit.

13:38 The parallels between creative living and having your own business.

14:20 Katy’s three top recommendations for people who are in a career but feel unsure whether it’s right for them, and aren’t sure what they want to do instead.

20:30 How you can take steps to support yourself as well as pursue your passion.

22:41 Two of the books that have made a massive impact for Katy in relation to finding and pursuing her passion.

Welcome to episode #4 of the Career Pivot Podcast, hosted by Bec Sands. This episode is available on Spotify, Stitcher and iTunes, and if you enjoy it, I would love it if you could please subscribe and leave me a review.

In today’s podcast episode, I interview Kerstyn Walsh, business owner and founder of renowned Australian wedding planning service, Hire A Bridesmaid. Kerstyn has attended more than 150 ceremonies, both in Australia and overseas, and has carved out a niche as the country’s one-and-only professional bridesmaid. Her background is in real estate and events where she spent over a decade before pivoting into her own business. Kerstyn is now planning to diversify her wedding business online, as well as in-person.

This episode was recorded pre-COVID-19 but is highly relevant in terms of pivoting in your career and then your business online!

Show Notes

1:30 Where Kerstyn was at before she pivoted her career.

2:40 Kerstyn’s moment of epiphane and how it made her realise she can do anything and everything she wants in her career and life.

3:30 The catalyst that made Kerstyn want to pivot, and how she got her business idea and launched.

7:26 How everything takes so much longer when you’re in a heightened state of emotion.

8:24 How Kerstyn logistically went from real estate into her wedding business.

11:40 A day in the life of Kerstyn when she’s running her business.

16:40 What you should do if you’re feeling stuck in a career or role that you may be great at, but don’t feel it’s right for you.

21:00 Why you need to pivot if things feel too hard in your career or business, and how.

22:00 Kerstyn’s tips if you’re feeling stuck and not taking action despite knowing you’re not in the right place for you.

23:15 The worst thing that can happen if you start taking action to pivot your career: you pivot again.

27:00 How Kerstyn has spent the past 12 months creating an affordable online course to help them plan their weddings and have a stress-free day.

Welcome to episode #3 of the Career Pivot Podcast, hosted by Bec Sands. This episode is available on Spotify, Stitcher and iTunes, and if you enjoy it, I would love it if you could please subscribe and leave me a review.

In today’s podcast episode, I interview Michelle Broadbent, a Business Manager who transforms the businesses and lives of female entrepreneurs by providing them with operational, administrative and logistical support. She is passionate about seeing other women succeed and her super power is harnessing their energy, reigniting their passion, enabling them to elevate their businesses and enjoy that next stage of business growth. Michelle has just passed the three-year mark in her business which she started after a 10-year career in television.

Show Notes

1:27 Where Michelle was at before she pivoted her career, and the catalyst that made her want to pivot.

4:15 One thing that you forget to remember when you’ve been in an industry for a really long time.

6:00 The one thing that made Michelle want to make a big change and reassess her lives.

6:50 The steps Michelle took to find clarity on what she wanted to do next, despite feeling completely lost.

9:20 The biggest thing most people take for granted about themselves and their strengths.

11:35 The biggest challenges Michelle faced when stepping into her own business.

13:20 What Michelle realised when charging prices and how she moved forward.

14:05 The best things about making the pivot.

17:00 Should you, or should you not, start a business? A few thoughts on this.

20:15 What you should do if you’re feeling stuck in your role or career.

21:40 One buffer that can help you to test the waters if you’re considering starting your own business.

23:20 One book Michelle has read that has made a massive difference in pursuing her passion.