The Career Change Maker Podcast | Career Clarity & Career Pivots for Mid-Career Women
For high-achieving women rethinking their careers and navigating career change.
***Top 1.5% Global Career Change Podcast***
If you’ve worked hard to build a successful career but find yourself questioning whether it still fits, you’re not alone (and you’re not wrong for wanting more).
I’m Janine Esbrand, a former corporate lawyer turned Career Pivot Coach, and I created The Career Change Maker Podcast for high-achieving women who feel stuck, bored, or quietly misaligned in careers that no longer fit.
Through my own career pivots and my work coaching hundreds of women through intentional career change and career transitions, I’ve seen what it really takes to step off the default path and make thoughtful, strategic moves without starting over.
Each episode offers honest insights, practical guidance, and grounded encouragement to help you gain career clarity, trust yourself, and move forward with confidence into your next chapter.
This podcast is for you if you want permission to change, clarity on what’s next, and a clear way forward that honours your experience.
🎧 New episodes every week
đź”— Ready to explore your next move? Book a Career Pivot Clarity Call using the link in the show notes.
The Career Change Maker Podcast | Career Clarity & Career Pivots for Mid-Career Women
#293: The Power of a Second Act in Your Career with Shannon Russell
🎙️ Episode Overview
In this episode of the Career Change Maker Podcast, I’m joined by the amazing Shannon Russell, a former TV producer turned entrepreneur and now author of Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life.
Shannon shares her journey from working in a “dream job” in New York and Los Angeles to realising she wanted more balance, freedom, and presence with her family. We talk candidly about the messy middle of career transitions, how to recognise your transferable skills, and why your why is the anchor that keeps you steady through change.
If you’ve been contemplating a pivot but fear the sacrifice or uncertainty, this conversation will show you that it’s possible to reinvent yourself, strategically and successfully, in your second act.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
âś… How Shannon transitioned from TV production to running her own business.
âś… The journalling method she used to uncover her transferable skills.
âś… How to create a financial and mental runway for a career change.
âś… The power of knowing your why when people question your choices.
Action Steps
💡 Journal your own skill inventory — write down everything you do in your role and circle what could be transferable elsewhere.
💡 Map your financial runway: define your “enough” number and how long you could sustain yourself while building something new.
đź’ˇ Anchor your why: write it down and keep it visible for moments when doubts or outside opinions feel overwhelming.
✨ Let’s Work Together ✨
If you’re ready to make your own transition with clarity and confidence, I’d love to support you. Through my coaching programmes, I help ambitious professionals and emerging leaders take ownership of their career journey, strengthen their leadership, and create meaningful impact.
👉 Book a call with me here to explore your next steps.
đź“š Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode
- Shannon’s website: secondactsuccess.co
- Book: Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life by Shannon Russell
- Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn: Shannon Russell
- Connect with Janine on LinkedIn: Janine Esbrand
- Career Change Maker Website