The Career By Design Podcast with Stacey Back

It’s time to call it out. ‘Following your passion’ is poor career advice. Today, I’m talking about how this common cliché can hold you back in your career and what to focus on instead. One of my most popular podcast episodes to date is about how to find your passion. This tells me it’s a topic many people are thinking about -- and one that comes up often in my work with high-achieving leaders. I s...

How do you take back control of your career when when disruption hits your industry overnight? Whether AI is impacting your role, you’re navigating change or finding yourself at a career crossroads, then today’s episode is for you. I’m joined by Leanne Shelton -- leading AI trainer, coach and Founder of HumanEdge AI. What I love about Leanne’s story is that only a couple of years ago, she was at h...

How often do you hit a big goal -- only to rush straight on to the ‘next thing’? It’s something I see all the time with the high-achievers I coach and I’ve been guilty of it too. So today, I’m doing exactly what I encourage my clients to do: pausing to celebrate a BIG milestone. Because this is an extra-special episode...  We’ve officially reached 50 EPISODES of the podcast!! When I first launched...

What do you do if your current role isn’t the right fit for YOU? You love your work, clients (or aspects of what you do). Yet your ‘ideal’ role or the way you want to work is… outside the box. Well, today I’m talking about how to design the career you WANT.  Over the years, I’ve seen so many talented people leaving jobs in search of the ‘right role’.  They start a new role and at first, it’s great...

Do you ever feel insecure or question your abilities? If so, you’re not alone. Even the most accomplished leaders I coach experience self-doubt. So today, I’m unpacking how it could be quietly sabotaging your success. Self-doubt is one of the biggest barriers to career progression. You feel like a fraud despite evidence of your accomplishments, avoid taking risks or stepping outside your comfort z...

Going round and round in circles trying to figure out what you want next in your career? Today, I’m talking about how I moved from overthinking to clarity -- and now support my clients to do the same in their careers. There’s a common mistake I see high-achievers make when they’re at a career crossroads. One which is keeping them stuck. And it’s something I did too…  Back in 2017, I was feeling un...

Are you caught up in the ‘hamster wheel’ of daily tasks and realising you’ve completely neglected your long-term career goals? Today we’re talking about how to take back control and start creating the career you WANT -- without burning out or starting over. This is the first instalment of a brand new ‘Career By Design’ case study series. In these episodes, I’m giving you an exclusive, behind the s...

Are robots REALLY coming for your role? Today, we’re talking about what AI actually means for your career and simple steps you can take now to stay ahead. In my last corporate role, there was a running joke I had IT Helpdesk on speed dial. Digital devices seem to self-destruct in my presence -- and I’m certainly no AI expert!  But despite my tech challenges, I’ve chosen to fully embrace AI. I’ve t...

How do you build confidence as a leader? Is confidence something you’re born with, which only certain people possess -- or can you create it over time? This is exactly what I’ll be unpacking on today’s episode. Shifting from self-doubt to confidence is one of the three core pillars of my work -- and a common reason leaders seek my support. Confidence is critical to building visibility, credibility...

Are you waiting until your next performance review to have a conversation about your career goals? Today, we’re talking about why this isn’t the most strategic move -- and what to do instead. And just like that... we’re officially HALF-WAY through 2025! In Australia, July marks the start of a brand new financial year. This means most annual performance reviews have happened and companies are now a...

Thinking about a new direction in your career -- but don’t know if your boss will back it? Unsure if the opportunity EVEN exists internally? If you’ve been wrestling with these questions, you’re not alone. This is a common challenge I hear from high-achieving leaders who’ve accomplished a lot -- yet feel like they’ve hit the ceiling in their current company or team. Last week, I spoke to a group o...

Do you keep saying yes -- when every part of you wants to say no? Three of the biggest self-sabotaging behaviours I see in high-achieving leaders I work with -- what I call the 3P's -- are people pleasing, perfectionism and procrastination. Today, we're diving into people pleasing -- a topic that comes up in nearly EVERY client conversation. One client shared they were struggling to comp...

Are you weighing up a big career decision? You’re wide awake in the middle of the night, trying to figure out WHAT you want next or HOW to reach the next stage in your career. Or you’re wondering whether to stay -- or go -- in your current role or career path. Whatever your situation, finding yourself at a career crossroads can be challenging. You feel pressure to make a decision -- and quickly. T...

Do you have a boss who’s difficult to deal with? Ever feel frustrated, unappreciated or question whether you should just quit?  If so, you’re not alone -- and that's exactly what we're diving into on today’s podcast.  It’s often said people leave managers, not jobs. And it’s understandable. A bad boss can drain your motivation, impact your performance -- and even leave you questioning wh...

Do you struggle to negotiate your worth -- or lose confidence and end up accepting less than you deserve? If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone -- and it’s exactly what we’re diving into on today’s episode. I remember walking into my boss’s office, palms sweating and heart racing. It was early in my career and my first real negotiation discussion. I was about to ask for the pay-rise I believed...

Feeling stuck -- or struggling to take action? If procrastination is sabotaging your success, you’re not alone. And that’s exactly what we’re addressing on today’s episode. You could be delaying an important project, putting off a career move -- or avoiding something which deep down, you really WANT to do. But dreams often get put on hold because you’re scared of failing. Procrastination is a chal...

Have you hit a point in your career where something seems -- off? Are you feeling stuck and wondering what’s next -- but aren’t sure where to start? In a recent masterclass, I introduced my signature Career By Design method -- a new way of approaching your career which starts with YOU, not external strategies. One participant shared this shift in approach was her biggest takeaway. But what helped...

Are you ‘doing your career differently’ -- or feeling stuck on the path you think you 'should' take? That’s exactly what we’re covering on today’s podcast. I talk a lot about redefining success and creating a career on YOUR terms. But as a high-achiever who’s found success by following a traditional career path, this can be tricky. Especially if you’re like many of my clients, who come f...

134 years. That’s how long it will take to reach gender parity. So what’s holding women back at work? And more importantly -- what can we do about it? That’s exactly what we’re diving into today. I grew up in the ’80s -- the decade of big hair, power suits and Working Girl. A time when women were independent and ambitious. To me, women had ALWAYS been successful at work -- and anything I wanted to...

Have you ever caught yourself comparing your success to someone else’s?  When I watched Demi Moore’s recent Golden Globe speech, it hit home. Comparison is something ALL ambitious leaders struggle with, no matter how successful or experienced you are. And today, we’re tackling it head-on.  Picture this... You’re feeling on top of the world -- fulfilled by your work and completely satisfied with wh...

February marks the REAL start of the year for many leaders, making it the perfect time to explore the key career and leadership trends defining 2025. Because here’s the thing -- the pace of change isn’t slowing down. We’re experiencing major global shifts -- economically, politically and socially -- which are reshaping the workplace in real time. So, let me ask you: Are you ready for what’s coming...

Feeling overwhelmed by EVERYTHING you need to do?  If so you’re not alone -- and this topic is exactly what we’re tackling on today’s episode! You started the year with big goals, a solid plan and plenty of motivation. But as January comes to a close, you’re struggling to follow through. Can you relate? With school holidays stretching until February and a long weekend approaching in Australia, thi...

Do you know what you’re working towards in 2025?  If not, you’re not alone. Many high performers I work with feel stuck, unsure of what they truly want and overwhelmed about where to start.  So in today’s episode, we’re talking about how to clarify YOUR vision for the year ahead! As a child, I remember sitting on the living room floor with my sister, surrounded by stacks of my mum’s glossy magazin...

Do you struggle to stick to your New Year resolutions? Every January you look forward to a fresh start and set new goals for the year ahead. But studies show over 80% of resolutions fail by February. So today I’m revealing the REAL reasons why -- and how to overcome them. Goals ARE important because they give you something to strive for. Still, I don’t buy into the ‘new year, new you’ hype. It’s u...

How often do YOU pause and reflect? It wasn’t until I hit the point of burnout several years ago that I realised: I NEVER reflected on my career. As an Activator in the StrengthsFinder assessment, I’m a natural doer. Someone who dives into action, works hard and follow through -- traits I share with my high-achieving clients.  Yet, this focus on 'doing': planning, strategising, ticking o...