Disrupt Your Career

In this episode, we speak with John Tarnoff, who reflects on how repeated career disruptions—from Hollywood to a failed startup—led him to reinvent his own career and develop the Boomer Reinvention framework. He explains why mid-career professionals struggle with transitions, introduces the concept of identifying your “superpower,” and shares practical advice on networking, visibility, and navigat...

In this episode, we speak with Tendayi about the importance of flexibility in career planning. He shares his journey from academia to innovation consulting, emphasizing the value of seizing opportunities and staying open to new directions. Tendayi differentiates between incremental, adjacent, and transformative career innovation, highlighting the risks of rigid planning and the need to adapt to ch...

In this episode, we speak with Cor Dubois, who explores how leaders can make more intentional career decisions through a “Personal Board of Directors.” He shares insights on the risks of unstructured career choices, the importance of purpose, network, and strategy, and how diverse external perspectives help uncover blind spots and hidden strengths. The conversation highlights accountability, long-...

In this episode, we speak with Selina Millstam, who reflects on her career journey from social work to senior HR leadership, driven by a deep curiosity about human behavior. She explores leadership as a “human relating” challenge, the importance of transparency, inclusion, and managing biases, and shares practical insights on well-being, career transitions, and legacy. The conversation also looks...

In this episode, we speak with Pauline Kiraithe, who reflects on curiosity, lifelong learning, and a passion for helping people live intentionally. She shares her journey from corporate HR to entrepreneurship, the personal crisis that sparked her search for purpose, and the realization that “the gift is in you.” Pauline discusses leadership role models, advice for early-career professionals, the i...

In this episode, we speak with Neri Karra Sillaman about her journey from childhood refugee to entrepreneur and academic, and how education became her North Star. She shares how experiences of inequality shaped her values, her approach to risk and failure as redirection, and why being an outsider can be a strategic advantage. The conversation explores building businesses with limited resources, “f...

You’ve built a life that looks successful, but inside, something’s stirring. You’ve done everything “right,” yet you find yourself wondering: Is this it? What now? In Live Your Opus: Reclaim Your Energy, Redefine Success, and Create a Life That Truly Matters, Janine Mathó writes for ambitious, high-achieving people who feel depleted, disconnected, or misaligned, and who sense that the version of s...

How often have we been told that success, especially in leadership, starts with “just being yourself”? In his latest book, Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead), renowned psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic challenges this deeply rooted belief. Drawing on decades of research, he argues that our cultural obsession with authenticity is often misguided and can act...

In this episode, we speak with Michael Stanford about his journey from business schools to global leadership consulting, reflecting on the pivotal transitions that shaped his professional identity. Drawing on his doctoral research and his book Leadership Transition: How Leaders Turn Chaos into Growth, he explains why leadership transitions often feel like a “torture of the soul” and why tactical c...

As we wrap up 2025, it’s the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and draw insights from some of the most inspiring conversations we’ve had this year on the Disrupt Your Career podcast. Throughout the year, we had the privilege of speaking with executives, thought leaders, authors, and coaches who generously shared their experiences of experimentation, resilience, reinvention, and purpose driven care...

In this episode, we speak with Navid Nazemian, executive coach and author of Mastering Executive Transitions . Navid shares insights from his career across seven industries and hundreds of C-suite clients, revealing why nearly 40% of executives fail in their first 18 months. He explains his Double Diamond framework for successful transitions, highlights the critical role of culture, politics, and...

Many professionals work hard, deliver strong results, and uphold high standards—yet still feel their career progression slipping further out of reach. Traditional advice like “let your work speak for itself” or “play the game” often traps people between burnout and becoming someone they don’t want to be. But this cycle can be broken, allowing you to advance with clarity, integrity, and confidence....

In a world where many leaders struggle to be seen and heard, Dr. Sheila Gujrathi offers a fresh approach. The Mirror Effect provides a practical roadmap for women and marginalized professionals to reclaim their power, navigate challenging environments, and thrive authentically. In this edition of Author Chat, Disrupt Your Career speaks with Sheila about her debut book, exploring her three-part fra...

In this episode, we talk with Celeste Warren, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leader about her unconventional path from journalism to HR leadership and her impact as Merck’s Chief Diversity Officer. She shares candid insights on challenges faced, lessons learned from allies, and why equity is essential for thriving organizations. We also explore her new book, The Truth About Equity, her tho...

In this episode, Bridget Farrands and Ian Hardie open up about the twists and turns of their career and leadership transitions. Bridget reflects on stepping out of the corporate fast lane into a portfolio of advisory and board roles, while Ian shares lessons from moving across industries, countries, and cultures into top executive positions. Bridget also talks about her book Lost in Transition, wh...

In this episode, we talk with Elizabeth Lotardo about her journey from advertising and marketing to writing and online teaching, and how she helps individuals and organizations create purpose-driven work. She shares insights on emotional engagement, finding meaning even in imperfect jobs, and the role of purpose in leadership and performance. Elizabeth reflects on the power of small shifts in mind...

In this episode, we talk with Julia Milner about her global journey from consulting to academia and how she bridges research with real-world leadership. She shares insights on empathy, coaching, and reframing failure, and reflects on embracing curiosity over control. Julia discusses how transitions build resilience, why small habits matter, and the value of self-kindness. She also offers grounded...

In this episode, we talk with Neil Courtis about his unconventional career journey from political research and financial journalism to founding a leading e-learning company. He reflects on moments of struggle and discovery, shares key insights from working with top thinkers on careers and business education, and champions the value of experimentation and relative skills in career change. Neil also...

In this episode, we talk with Peter Attfield about his diverse, four-decade career journey—from finance to consulting and global HR leadership. He reflects on pivotal moments of transformation, the challenge of adapting to different cultures, and why leadership truly matters. Peter shares insights on how careers unfold through both serendipity and courage, offers advice for younger professionals,...

In a world where striving for success often leads to overwhelm, Kathy Oneto offers a refreshing new approach. Sustainable Ambition redefines how we think about work and life—not as a balancing act, but as an opportunity to align our goals with what truly matters. In this edition of Author Chat, Disrupt Your Career speaks with Kathy Oneto about her book, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What...

In this episode, we talk with Irina Cozma about her journey from HR roles in global corporations to launching her own coaching and consulting practice. She shares how a mix of planning and serendipity shaped her career, why she believes every leader is above all human, and what it means to design better career adventures. Irina challenges traditional training methods, discusses her “Go Broad, Go D...

In this episode, we talk with Stéphanie Daudier about her career journey and the values that have shaped her path. She shares her transition from marketing and leadership roles to entrepreneurship and executive coaching after her time at L’Oréal. She discusses how she navigated career changes, including her shift to building a public presence, underscored by her TEDx speech. Stéphanie reflects on...

In this episode, we talk with Sheila Buswell about her unconventional career path from the US Army to engineering and entrepreneurship. She shares how personal challenges led her to create technology that enhances mobility and independence, the leadership lessons she’s learned along the way, and the connection between technology, upward mobility, and diversity. Sheila opens up about imposter syndr...

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Naeema Pasha about her inspiring career journey and the early influences that shaped her leadership path. She shares lessons from her diverse industry experiences and addresses challenges in advancing diversity and inclusion. Naeema discusses the motivation behind co-authoring Future Proof Your Career and explores its key insights on navigating change in the evol...

In this episode, we talk with Michelle Prince about her extraordinary career journey across healthcare, IT, and human capital advisory services. She highlighs the evolution of HR from paper-based systems to technology-driven processes, the international assignments that shifted her career trajectory, and the challenges of transitioning from corporate to solopreneur. She shares insights from her bo...