Her Next Chapters

I'm celebrating a birthday this week and am using it as a time to reflect on the past year while looking forward to the future. With the word "light" being my guiding  theme for 2024, I recount the emotional transition of stepping out from a corporate career to embrace my true purpose of using my experience, natural talents to help people find jobs they love. This episode is not onl...

Have you ever thought about how nurturing a garden mirrors the journey of raising children? This week on podcast I dive into my personal experiences as a mom and gardener to explore this beautiful analogy. From the thrill of seeing the first seedlings sprout to the challenges of transplanting young plants into new environments, parallels to parenting are everywhere. Free Resource Grab the Strength...

I felt like I was being ripped off, scammed even, at the auto dealership service center. Whaaat? That never happens!  Normally, my husband handles car-related things in our household, but this time, I took the lead. Knowing there would likely be a confrontation, I was wishing I could opt out this time, but I was fired up and prepared to hold my ground.  Listen in to hear the story, including:  Man...

During an intense group workout at Red Rocks Amphitheater last week I realized the power of coaching and community. I know without a doubt that if I had been there on my own, I would have given up much sooner, and wouldn't have worked as hard.   Included in today's episode are the insights I recorded on the drive home from the Red Rocks workout. The recording quality during these parts i...

What if expanding your network could be as simple as chatting with your neighbor at a summer BBQ? Tune into this episode of Her Next Chapters where we unlock the secrets to preparing for a successful job search while juggling the demands of summertime. We’ll reveal how stay-at-home moms can turn everyday interactions into valuable networking opportunities. Discover how a well-crafted elevator pitc...

What would your life look like if you embraced joy and positivity, even in the face of loss? Join me as I share the heartwarming lessons I learned from my dog, Ryder who recently came to the end of his life. From greeting people warmly to living each day with zest, Ryder's simple yet profound examples of living well can enrich our relationships and overall well-being. As we conclude this week...

In recognition of being at the mid-point of the year, we're going to revisit an earlier episode on the topic of goals. This episode originally aired on January 17, 2024 in recognition of National Quitter's Day, the day that most people give up on their New Year's Resolutions. What makes people abandon their New Year's resolutions, and how can you avoid falling into the same tra...

What if you could find strength and resilience in the most unexpected places? Join me  as I share a deeply personal story of saying goodbye to my cherished dog, Ryder, who has been my steadfast companion and co-host through many podcast episodes. In this heartfelt episode, I reflect on the poignant lessons from the children's book "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" and how its themes...

Ready to make your resume shine after a career break? Join me as I guide Charity, a dedicated mom, through a live resume makeover session. We'll focus on practical strategies for overcoming an employment gap. From emphasizing relevant job titles to showcasing technical skills, this episode is packed with actionable advice tailored for career returners. Charity's unique background in high...

This week's episode of Her Next Chapters tackles the ever-present imposter syndrome that plagues many moms. Host Christina Kohl shares her own experience of feeling completely unqualified as a parent when bringing her newborn home from the hospital. The episode explores the concept of imposter syndrome and how it manifests in motherhood, despite the lack of formal training. From figuring out...

After years of spending weekends at baseball games, gymnastics and scouting events and being completely involved in my children's lives, a major life change has arrived—our youngest child has graduated high school. The transition to an empty nest brings a mix of emotions, and it's something I deeply relate to as a mom. This episode reveals my personal journey through this emotional miles...

Could job sharing be the game-changing solution for modern work-life balance? In this episode, we're joined by Melissa Nicholson, founder of WorkMuse and host of the Job Share Revolution podcast, to explore this underutilized yet powerful work practice. Melissa takes us through her personal journey, from working alongside a job share team in her early career, to creating her own job share aft...

As my youngest son Alex is about to graduate high school, I reflect upon my silent, and unrecognized graduation as a parent in our local school district. With 3 kids, this is a role I've held for 21 years! In this episode, I reflect on the endings and beginnings that come with graduation, not only for our children, but also for us as moms. The spotlight is on the graduate, as it well should b...

This week's episode is a recording from a live event I hosted on LinkedIn earlier this month when I reviewed 4 action steps to help you restart your career. We discuss the importance of getting clear on your career goals, along with exercises to help gain that clarity. There are multiple tips for both activating and expanding your network,  practical considerations you'll want to conside...

The topic for today's episode was inspired by my daughter who recently stumbled her way through a phone call with our veterinarian's office when we needed our dog's vaccination record emailed in time for her visit to the dog groomer.  While her side of the call was a bit awkward, she got the result she needed. That phone call reminded me that whenever we step out of our comfort zone...

Have you ever stopped to consider the myriad tasks that unfold behind the scenes of our busy lives as mothers? This week on Her Next Chapters, I take a moment to reflect on the often-unseen world of "invisible labor" we contribute to our families. Things we do, both big and small, that we ourselves don't even recognize how important they are.  As we head into new chapters in our liv...

If you are returning to work after a significant career break of several years, there are some common resume mistakes that you'll want to avoid. As a career returner myself (13-years as a stay-at-home mom), I made these mistakes when I restarted my career a few years ago. Being in the unique position of both a job seeker with a career gap AND an HR/Recruiter, I have insights to share to help...

If you’ve been on a career break and are ready to land a job you love, you may be a good fit for my Career Comeback Coaching program (1:1 private coaching). This is for you if:  ✅ You are ready to transition from staying at home with the kids to step back into work that fulfills you and lights you up!   ✅ You want to learn from another stay-at-home-mom who created a successful career AND who jus...

In a recent conversation with a stay-at-home mom who is ready to restart her career, I asked her why getting a job was important to her. Her answer initially surprised me, but after thinking about it, her answer 100% made sense. Having a job would mean she’d have friends. Our conversation reminded me how lonely being a full-time stay-at-home mom can be. In this episode, I explore how my social con...

Hey moms re-entering the workforce! Nervous about that first day? This episode's for YOU! My guest Gabrielle Ferguson and I dish on how to rock those first weeks with confidence, thanks to returnship programs. We'll talk: Creating a welcoming work environment (think awesome manager training!) Beating imposter syndrome with support groups and workshops Real-life success stories of moms wh...

If your next chapter includes landing a job you love after a career break, you'll want to listen to today's episode. An excellent way to get your career back on track is through a returnship. These are like internships, but are created for people with mid-level career experience rather than entry-level, and typically require at least a 2-year career break. If you are curious about return...

As I created my son Alex's senior collage of pictures for high school, a wave of realization washed over me: these pictures showcased what he does, his activities, but do they truly capture who he is? This revelation struck a chord, reminding me that while being a baseball player or an Eagle Scout are labels, the things we DO don't define WHO we are.  That's the heart of our discuss...

Embark on a transformative journey with Christina as she unlocks the secrets to reactivating your career with finesse and passion, especially curated for stay-at-home moms seeking to return to work.  This episode is a treasure trove of strategies for tapping into the often-overlooked power of networking and how to  leverage your existing connections to land a job you love in 2024. From crafting an...

This episode of the Job Search Series focuses on activating your network to help land interviews for your dream job.  I share what worked for me, and provide examples and stories to inspire you to take action and tap into the power of your network.   Here's links to the episodes referenced: Episode 3: Strategic Volunteering Episode 6: Crafting your Elevator Pitch Free Resource Grab the Streng...

Today's episode continues the Job Search Strategy series, this time with a focus on the resume. This is a Masterclass on resume writing for career returners. Grab a pen and paper - you're going to want to take notes!  I share insights and examples on the following ..... How writing your dream job description first will help you create a powerful resume. How to address your career gap on...