The Career Butterfly
133 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 44 ratingsThis podcast is for the millions of women who have taken a career break and are ready to find their wings and soar like a butterfly. We provide weekly insights and interviews with women who have successfully returned to work, as well as experts working to make it easier to hit pause and unpause on your career.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
The Growth of On-Demand Work with Simplicity Consulting
September 28, 2020 01:27 - 37 minutes - 32.5 MBThe growth of on-demand work is definitely a bright spot in the 2020 job market. Today's guest, Markelle Rich, a Talent Manager for Simplicity Consulting explains this project-based work, as well as why some actually prefer it to full-time employment. With competitive pay, flexibility, and the opportunity for robust benefits, it's easy to see why. Want to get in touch with Simplicity? Email Markelle at [email protected] Also mentioned on the podcast... Take Back 2020! workshops ...
Let it be Easy. How One Woman Consistently Pulled in Multiple Job Offers
September 21, 2020 17:50 - 45 minutes - 35.7 MBWhat if finding a job could be easy? Accounting Manager Shelly Phan brings exactly that perspective to the show today and I found it refreshing! Over the course of having 3 kids, she found herself in the situation of going back to work a few times. Tune in to hear the preparation she took (including taking courses), how she found the jobs and the mindset she took on the interviews with her. Her advice for other women out there in the position of going back to work? Get the skills, do t...
Why Not Now?
September 14, 2020 18:01 - 40 minutes - 28.6 MBGina Noel had already had long stints in a few different careers (grocery worker and massage therapist) before she realized and pursued her true calling to become a nurse. In the interview, she describes the "planting of the mustard seeds" along her journey - from a personal experience with a family member in the hospital to experiencing the helplessness of completing the Boston Marathon just before the bomb went off to listening to her massage clients explain their undiagnosed medical pr...
The Silver Lining of 2020: Remote, On-Demand, Family-Friendly Work
September 06, 2020 16:57 - 18 minutes - 17.8 MB2020 has been a year like none other. For the most part, there's been a lot of negative outcomes. But there are also some dramatic shifts taking place that seem permanent. 1) The acceptance of remote, flexible work when possible 2) The recognition of the employee as a human with outside responsibilities (kids, parents, life!) 3) The boom of on-demand consulting work 4) The growing acceptance of online business in a broader way In this episode, I dive into what's driving these chang...
Discover Your Personal Brand
June 28, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 54.9 MBYou know companies and products have personal brands, but have you ever thought about individuals having them as well? Personal branding expert Amanda Miller Littlejohn is here to explain what a persona brand is (hint: even if you haven't been intentional about it, you already have one!), how it can help you personally and professionally, and talks about how to build yours. She shares wisdom from her own journey and also draws upon the expertise she shares in her book, Package Your Ge...
Finding Lightness and Laughter in an Unintentional Pause
June 21, 2020 11:00 - 54 minutes - 51 MBPauses come in all shapes and sizes, but they also can be planned or unplanned. 2020 is shaping up to be the year of unintentional pauses for millions. This week's guest, cartoonist Chari Pere, finds herself in that category and is here to share how she's managing this phase of life. She has freelanced for most of her career working with everyone from author Gretchen Rubin to the corporate brand Red Bull. Along the way, she's become known not only for happy comics, but also for cartoons t...
Why I Quit My Corporate Job - and Never Looked Back
June 14, 2020 16:00 - 51 minutes - 52 MBWe're celebrating Father's Day this week in North America so we're keeping with tradition and getting the dad's perspective once again. In this episode, the guest's pause looks more like a permanent break - from corporate life. Dom Vogel has a story that's familiar to many. He had a dream of reaching the top of his chosen field. He worked hard over a decade in cybersecurity to achieve that dream - only to discover he no longer wanted it once he arrived. Even worse, he didn't care for the ...
Launching a Business During the Pandemic
June 07, 2020 18:09 - 50 minutes - 42.8 MBTimes are tough in so many ways right now. Politically, economically, socially. It might seem like the worst time to launch a business, but Katie Morland has found success doing just that. Do you ever have an idea at 1:00am that just won't let you sleep? When it happened to Katie, she got up and acted on it. That was the birth of her group Mommy Needs a Laugh. Despite all that is heavy in the world - and the interview delves into that as well - Katie knows that sometimes we need a moment ...
Rebuilding After Loss
May 31, 2020 16:00 - 55 minutes - 49.5 MBThe fact that tomorrow isn't guaranteed was a painful lesson that Ashley Bugge was forced to learn. She was pregnant with her third child and living an idyllic life in Hawaii when her military husband died tragically in a scuba diving accident. Ashley shares deeply in this interview how she coped in her darkest days and how, today, she works every day to build her life into exactly what she wants it to be - even after the unexpected loss. The career pause she took was unintended, but it...
Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset
May 25, 2020 18:39 - 20 minutes - 19.9 MBDo you have an abundance mindset or a scarcity mindset? Do you make decisions from a place of "there will always be enough... time/money/love" or the opposite? Has the pandemic had an impact on this for you? Tune in to learn more about these opposite mindsets and work towards cultivating an abundance mindset.
Regaining your Confidence
May 18, 2020 00:26 - 34 minutes - 27.8 MBKarin Pfister always assumed she'd be a stay-at-home mom, but it was a few years of motherhood until she finally had that chance. While she loved it for several years, she eventually discovered it wasn't the best balance for her. Despite the fact that she was doing the most important job in the world, she also found she lost her own value in that time. She was lucky enough to find her way back to work when she was ready. Her career has always been centered around education and has include...
You Are Not Alone
May 10, 2020 16:00 - 16 minutes - 18.8 MBHappy Mother's Day to all the hard-working moms out there. I see you and I appreciate all you do every day to raise all the children of the world. This episode is dedicated to my own mom and comes on the heels of one of the hardest weeks of our lives together. We said goodbye to my dad this week and I want her to know she is not alone. I also want all of you to know that. Sometimes it might feel that way if you're just looking at the shiny highlights that people post, but deep down, I ...
From Reality TV Producer to Social Mediaholic
May 03, 2020 16:00 - 47 minutes - 38.3 MBReena Friedman Watts has done everything from producing Jerry Springer to researching CourtTV shows to booking sponsors for major online entrepreneurs, including Cathy Heller and GaryVee. Today, she considers herself a social mediaholic and uses that talent to help businesses and individuals find their own voice in social media. She's a huge fan of LinkedIn, but doesn't limit herself to just that platform. She runs a Facebook group called Business, Laughs, and LinkedIn where you can find...
My Soul Needs This
April 26, 2020 16:00 - 46 minutes - 31.1 MBWhat does your soul need? Do you ever think about it? It's not the word that comes up most often on my podcast so I was really moved when Patricia Medranda referred to her desire to teach middle school kids as something her soul needed. Had she always dreamed of becoming a teacher? Not even close - she originally wanted to be a surgeon. After her first career pause, she worked for a pharmaceutical company. And then she paused again. In her interview, she shares how her early interest in...
Never Give Up: My Return to Microsoft
April 19, 2020 16:00 - 14 minutes - 16.3 MBWhat are your dreams? Are you still chasing them? I had a dream these past few years that I could never fully put to rest. Three and a half years ago, when I returned to work, I thought I would return to high-tech in a similar position to what I had done before. But that proved harder than I expected so I settled for other jobs and then eventually put my heart into this podcast. But the dream never went away and this week I returned to Microsoft in a long-term contract position for a r...
The Great Pause of 2020
April 13, 2020 01:32 - 25 minutes - 30.2 MBThis week, we take our own pause to discuss the pause the world is taking. How is coronavirus and the economic instability affecting you and your family? We also look ahead to the future and the ways that we may all emerge strong from this crisis.
The Journey of the Relocating Spouse
April 05, 2020 16:00 - 51 minutes - 39.4 MBAditi Patil was on her fourth relocation for her spouse's career when she decided there should really be a community to support people in her position. There wasn't an existing group so she took it upon herself to create one, We are Pistachio. The name represents the way she describes relocating spouses: tough, open, happy, global - and just a little bit nutty! Aditi had a solid career with Citibank, a love for leadership and development, and a recent coaching certification when she first...
What Are You Afraid to Ask For?
March 30, 2020 07:30 - 17 minutes - 19.6 MBThis episode is all about the things we are afraid to ask for, the reasons behind that fear, and ways to overcome this. We cover everything from fear of rejection to people pleasing. On the solutions side, I refer to The Work by Byron Katie and her fantastic book Loving What Is: 4 Questions that Can Change your Life Is it true? Can I absolutely know it's true? How do you react when you believe that thought? Where would you be without that thought? What are YOU afraid to ask for? L...
Patience and Perseverance for the Long Job Search
March 23, 2020 07:30 - 58 minutes - 53 MBHow long would you look for a job? Would you have the patience and perseverance to stick it out for 4 years? Senior Software Engineer Lori Hill did just that! She learned a lot along the way and she shares all those tips in this interview. Here are just a few: Network with the people who have the job you want Learn about the interview process in your industry and then master those skills Interview in "sprints" - and then learn what you need to do better for the next round Keep buil...
Unprecedented Times and Announcing Book Club!
March 16, 2020 07:30 - 16 minutes - 19.4 MBThese are unprecedented times. We are caregivers. We are a world in crisis. What does that mean for us? Tune in to find ways to not get lost in the chaos. And, to meet this need right here in this community... I'm launching my Book Club. The first book is Rising Strong by Brene Brown. I'll be going live in the Ready Pause Go Facebook group every Thursday at 10pm PST so we can chat and share! March 19 - Chapters 1-4 March 26 - Chapters 5-8 April 2 - Chapters 9 - 11 Read along and...
Transferring Your Corporate Skills to a Flexible Freelance Career
March 09, 2020 07:30 - 46 minutes - 40 MBAmanda Accioly had a decade in finance when she decided there must be something more out there for her. It wasn't that she disliked her career - she enjoyed it, she had a comfortable six-figure income, and a nice office. The problem was that, after she had kids, it didn't feel like enough. She wanted to have more time for her family. She also had an internal voice that told her there was another way to share her talents with the world. So she started freelancing - first in a Done-for-You ...
Developing a Growth Mindset
March 02, 2020 08:30 - 15 minutes - 17.4 MBDo you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset? Tune in to learn the characteristics of each and why, regardless of where you are today, developing a growth mindset is critical for anyone coming out of a career pause. Mentioned in this episode: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Dr. Carol Dweck
How Seasonal Work can Enhance your Resume
February 24, 2020 08:30 - 15 minutes - 18 MBRather than looking at the return-to-work journey as black or white, permanent or temporary, full-time or part-time, today I delve into seasonal possibilities. Seasonal job opportunities can be driven by all kinds of things: the weather, the school year, the holidays, the voting calendar... Right now, in the United States, it's the season of political campaigns and those campaigns are in need of volunteers! Have you thought of how applying your passions for a candidate or a cause could...
Phoenix Rising from the Ashes
February 17, 2020 08:00 - 53 minutes - 44.8 MBFriend of the show Lindsey TH Jackson is back to share her upcoming book, From the Ashes: A 30 Day Renaissance to Looking Good, Feeling Good, and Living Well. In her previous interview, Lindsey shared all about her own career pause following the closing of her business and the birth of her second child. Today, she shares with us the book she was writing at that time and why she's just now ready - 5 years later - to share it with the world. She calls it the book she wrote to her future se...
Park Place Payments is Disrupting an Industry with its Women Dominated Salesforce
February 10, 2020 05:02 - 48 minutes - 48 MBYou might not think of payment processing as a sexy business, but CEO/Founder Samantha Ettus disagrees. She's disrupting the industry with her new company, Park Place Payments, and helping women achieve financial independence in the process. Park Place Payments is dramatically growing its salesforce in 2020 and is specifically looking for women re-entering the workforce because Sam knows how many incredible women are on the sidelines after leaving successful careers. She also knows that ...
Overcoming Impostor Syndrome
February 03, 2020 08:30 - 35 minutes - 33.2 MBWho am I to go for this? Do I even deserve to be standing in this room? If you ever have those thoughts, you're in good company as ~ 70% of us suffer from impostor syndrome at some point in our life. There's also evidence that it's likely to rear its ugly head during times of big change which might explain why many of us have experienced it recently. Life coach Micha Goebig dives deep on impostor syndrome in this episode, including breaking down the four different types: Perfectionist,...
Starting a Career at 40
January 27, 2020 08:00 - 35 minutes - 28.8 MBI've learned in doing this podcast that everyone's career pause is unique. They vary in length, reason, and many of other ways. Today's guest, Sally Gasper, is unique because her pause came right at the beginning. She had always planned to be a teacher, but she married young and had five children in quick succession. As her children grew to be school-age, she chose to homeschool them and truly enjoyed her role as their teacher. As they grew older, however, they transitioned into tradit...
Land your Next Job with These Job Search Strategies
January 20, 2020 08:30 - 56 minutes - 53.2 MBIf you're looking for a job - or thinking about it - you don't want to miss this week's episode. Lynn Juve is a job search strategist. She's the first person I've ever met with that title, but you can think of her as a career coach with the very solid focus on landing you a job. You'll want to tune in to hear: Why she thinks a lot of us have a hard time defining what job we're looking for Her best advice for people who've taken a long break from high-tech Why you should be cautiou...
The 21st Century Job that Delivers on Flexibility: Virtual Assistant
January 13, 2020 08:00 - 40 minutes - 36.5 MBDahianna is one hard-working mama. With 3 young kids and a three-year career pause, she returned to work as a legal secretary making as much money as she had in her previous career as a paralegal. But that isn't the end of the story. She's happy with her career, but she also wants to be there for her family so she's a woman in transition. Although she's still hard at work at the law firm, she's also launching a Virtual Assistant (VA) business where she'll be able to use her skills to help...
From Grad Student to College Professor
January 06, 2020 08:00 - 40 minutes - 32.7 MBLiesl left her career in wireless telecom to stay home with her first child, but it wasn't long before she realized she needed more adult interaction. The choice she made ended up having a huge impact on the rest of her career choices. She decided to return to school and found the fulfillment she was looking for in finishing an MBA program she had started a few years earlier. Along the way, she found an interest in organizational behavior and eventually transitioned from student to volunt...
Looking Back on 2019
December 23, 2019 08:00 - 29 minutes - 35.8 MBLet's take a pause and see where we've been this year. I am thrilled to have had you on this journey for all 52 weeks. Today, we look back on who I interviewed and what we all learned together. I'm taking the last week of 2019 off, but will be back on Monday, January 6th. Signing off on 2019 and looking ahead with excitement to 2020!
The Freelance Life: Balancing Work and Family as a Writer
December 16, 2019 08:00 - 38 minutes - 17.4 MBStacy Juba was lucky enough to start her career in a field that easily lends itself to freelance work. While she started as a newspaper writer, over the years, she's transitioned these skills to everything from a freelance writer to a published author to an editor and writing teacher. Her books cover a wide range of genres including children's (The Flag Keeper), young adult (Dark Before Dawn), chicklit (Fooling Around with Cinderella) and mystery (Twenty Five Years Ago Today). A mom of ...
How a Side Hustle Can Shape Your Career Path
December 09, 2019 20:49 - 33 minutes - 23.3 MBJen doesn't define herself by any one of her jobs or side hustles. It all blends together into her whole identity. Even in her initial career as a marketer for startups, she consulted on the side. It was that side hustle that led her to where she is today as an executive coach. Think she's given up side hustles? Definitely not. Today, she side hustles as a fitness coach! Jen's suggestions for finding your own side hustle: Look for something that aligns with your gifts and passions (for...
From Single Mom to Corporate America to Google for Startups Entrepreneur
December 02, 2019 08:00 - 45 minutes - 20.8 MBThere is no easy route to becoming an entrepreneur, but I think Aireka Harvell's had some very unique challenges. Despite running away from home at the age of 14, she was able to fall back on strong childhood values to turn her life around at the age of 18. A young mother, she quickly had 3 children and opted to take a career pause after the birth of her third child. It was this career pause that allowed her to return to college where she graduated and eventually went on to earn a Mast...
Lightening the Mental Load of Motherhood
November 25, 2019 08:00 - 38 minutes - 17.4 MBAmy Marie Hann's early career was in corporate America where she found her niche as an executive assistant. She stayed in that job until her oldest son was two years old and she decided to stay home. While she was thankful for the opportunity, as a self-proclaimed "Doer," she found the transition to be messy as well. It was challenging for her to give up the traditional sense of accomplishment that came from the job. At home, she became interested in starting a business, but didn't feel s...
After 21 Years, Stay--At-Home-Mom Reinvents Herself as a Realtor
November 18, 2019 08:00 - 46 minutes - 21.2 MBCareer reinvention is nothing new to Bettina Chaiken. She reinvented herself several times over two continents - from hairdresser to teacher to IT manager to travel agent - before she had children! When she was pregnant with her first child in America, all she knew was the German way where moms would be paid to stay home for a year and then their job would be waiting for them when they returned. To stay home in the U.S. meant leaving the workforce entirely, but she also couldn't imagine pa...
Following Breadcrumbs: Sarah's Path to Publishing her First Book
November 11, 2019 08:00 - 44 minutes - 20.6 MBWe pick up right where we left off this week in a 2-part interview with author Sarah Jane Marsh and the draft of her debut book, Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word. In this episode, Sarah shares the rest of what would become a six year journey to publication. A rebel herself - just like Thomas Paine - Sarah managed to find an agent who embraced her manuscript in its unconventionally long format. Together, they found a home with Disney Hyperion for what would become an 80-page, 2500 word ...
Carving a Career from your Childhood Passions
November 04, 2019 08:00 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MBSarah Marsh had two passions when she was a child: reading and animals. We all had childhood passions, but few have kept them as guideposts throughout their careers as she has. Sarah started as a zoo volunteer when she was still a teen and went on to study wildlife conservation in college. Her hard work paid off and she landed many exciting jobs: dolphin trainer, zookeeper and firefighter. In today’s episode, the first of two parts, Sarah shares her early career, a business detour that ear...
Cultivating an Authentic Network with Ellevate Network CEO, Kristy Wallace
October 28, 2019 07:00 - 40 minutes - 27.1 MBWhen I was on my own journey back from my career pause, one of the voices in my ear was Kristy Wallace, CEO of Ellevate Network and host of the Ellevate podcast. That's why I'm so excited to have her as a guest this week on Ready Pause Go! In this episode, you'll hear: What Ellevate Network is and why it might be right for you About their in-person networking events About their online networking events including2x/weekly webinars and Squads which provide dedicated 12 week networking ...
When - and How - to Say No
October 21, 2019 07:00 - 14 minutes - 14.4 MBThis is the second in a 2-part series with last week being all about saying YES. This week we tackle the concept of making space in your life for those opportunities to find you. And that all starts with NO. readypausego.com
Say YES to Open Doors
October 14, 2019 07:00 - 21 minutes - 20.2 MBDo you allow yourself to say YES to the opportunities that come your way? This week we're talking about the offers that come your way that move you closer to your goals. What if it terrifies you? What if you think you don't have the right skills? My advice: Just say YES. This is the first in a 2-part series on when to say YES and when to say NO. Ready Pause Go
Gender Equity Research Reduces Back-to-Work Stigma
October 07, 2019 07:30 - 52 minutes - 23.9 MBIn her previous corporate job, Sara was responsible for building systems to recruit and retain women and minorities. What she discovered was that the well intentioned efforts of most companies were actually what she now calls the Trifecta of Equality Doom – 1) recruit women, 2) ask them to lean in and 3) give everyone diversity training. Everyone seemed to be doing the same thing even though it wasn't producing results. With a background in systems, she was frustrated that this business cr...
Chat with Fairygodboss CEO Georgene Huang
September 30, 2019 07:30 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MBGeorgene Huang never thought much about her gender and how it related to the workplace until she was fired when she was 2 months pregnant. While the firing was unrelated to the pregnancy – it was a management shakeup – it definitely made her take a look at the world differently. Rather than go back to work for another company, she launched her own with the social mission to improve the lives and workplace for women through transparency. Today, she’s turned that little startup into the lar...
Navigating the Ripple Effects of your Spouse's Career
September 23, 2019 07:30 - 35 minutes - 24.9 MBWhen Lara was in college, she had a very specific vision of her future. She dreamed of a nice, simple life where she and her husband were teachers in the same small town and they'd raise a family together. All was on track until her husband decided he wanted to go to medical school. Lara originally thought the idea was kind of cool and romantic, but didn't fully recognize how many years and moves it might take for them to realize that new dream. Along the way, she earned her Masters degre...
From School Volunteer to Elected Official
September 16, 2019 07:00 - 40 minutes - 53.9 MBCaroline Mason spent her early career in high-tech and never expected to run for office, but her days as a volunteer in her kids' classrooms eventually led to that path. Now she views this as an entirely new - and rewarding - career. In this episode, you'll hear: Why she moved to Sun Valley right after graduation How she found her first freelance job How she landed her first board position How her marketing business succeeded - without a website or any marketing! How the economic...
Back to School is for Moms Too
September 09, 2019 07:00 - 26 minutes - 25.3 MBSure, the kids are back in school, but what about you? What are you going to learn this season? I have some ideas for you! Power Pause My first-ever online course launches October 1st! Sign up now! Udemy Skillshare LinkedIn Learning MOOC
One Mom's Journey to the Live Stage
September 02, 2019 07:00 - 52 minutes - 45.7 MBLeighAnn Heil was comfortable on stage with all the work she'd done early in her career as a Stage Director, but it wasn't until after her career pause that she regularly found herself front and center as a singer/songwriter. She started her first band with the parents from her son's playgroup. Although the folk band was "just a hobby," it also taught her everything she needed to know when she decided to get serious several years later. Freshly settled in Austin, the music capital of the w...
What's Holding You Back?
August 24, 2019 17:12 - 18 minutes - 19 MBWhat's holding you back? Join me for an honest discussion of what's holding ME back and what I plan to do about it. Then, we'll dive into what's holding YOU back and what YOU plan to do about it. Mentioned in this episode: Get on the waitlist for the Ready Pause Go online course.
The Achiever Fever Cure: How I Learned to Stop Striving Myself Crazy
August 19, 2019 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBAs a successful CEO, Claire Booth was understandably focused on her achievements. The problem was that she had tied her entire identity to achieving. She was also struggling with depression, anxiety, and crippling insomnia. Eventually realizing the connection, she embarked on a year-long "mesearch" project that led her to recognizing Achiever Fever and finding its cure. The book, The Achiever Fever Cure: How I Learned to Stop Striving Myself Crazy, is the summary of her journey and roadmap ...
What If You Chose the Wrong Career? From Lawyers to Entrepreneurs
August 12, 2019 07:30 - 40 minutes - 18.6 MBAnnabelle and Annie became fast friends from the first day they started at the same law firm. They'd done well in law school and landed great jobs at the firm of their dreams, but it turns out neither of them found the career to be a good fit. Although she loved the people and even the hours, Annie found she didn't enjoy the work itself, which surprised her more than anyone else. Around the same time, Annabelle was feeling the pull towards the entrepreneurial life. A frustrating experien...