Second Act Success: Business Tips & Career Change Advice for Women

Were you recently laid off and handed a severance check... but no clear plan for what’s next? Don’t just spend it— flip it . In this powerful episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , business coach Shannon Russell shares how your severance package can become the startup capital you need to finally launch your dream business. What you'll learn in this episode: How to reframe a layoff...

Ever dreamed of quitting your 9–5, moving somewhere tropical, and starting fresh as your second act? 🌴  On this episode #210 of the Second Act Success Podcast , Shannon Russell sits down with HGTV’s Betting on Paradise stars, Steph Sitt and Luke Shantz , to share their incredible journey from corporate life in Canada to renovating a rundown hotel in Costa Rica, all while raising two young daughte...

Are you waiting for a layoff, burnout, or bad boss to make the next move for you? In this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host and business coach Shannon Russell challenges you to stop waiting and start building a business that puts you in charge. Shannon walks you through how to: Create an exit strategy from your 9–5 job Start a side hustle using your existing skills Build a br...

What happens when you get laid off, divorced, and find yourself at rock bottom all at once? For serial entrepreneur and real estate powerhouse Betsy Pepine, it sparked a second act that changed everything. In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host Shannon Russell chats with Betsy about how she went from being a single mom with two toddlers and no job to building a t...

No distractions, no excuses! How you can start your business, while the kids are back to school.  In this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host and business coach Shannon Russell shares actionable tips for moms and working women who want to start a business while the kids are in school. Whether you're a stay-at-home mom or juggling a 9–5, this episode will show you how to ma...

Are you struggling with energy, brain fog, or feeling stuck in midlife? This episode is for you. In this powerful episode #206 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host Shannon Russell chats with Jenny Waters, a former engineer who turned a family health crisis into a mission-driven wellness business. Jenny shares her raw and relatable story of perimenopause, her husband’s autoimmune diagnos...

Have you ever hit a breaking point at work where you just knew—you were done? In this powerful episode #205 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host Shannon Russell sits down with leadership coach and HR strategist Lindsay White, who shares the moment she abruptly quit her 20-year corporate career with no plan... and never looked back. Lindsay opens up about the toxic leadership that pushed...

Is it too late to start over at 50? Absolutely not. In this powerful episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , Shannon Russell is joined by Certified Financial Planner, midlife millionaire coach, and host of Smart Women Talk Radio , Katana Abbott . Katana shares her remarkable story of resilience—from personal trauma to building a thriving financial planning business managing over $100 mi...

Tired of the Sunday Scaries and dreaming of quitting your 9-5 to start a business that lights you up? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to do it alone either. In this episode , Shannon Russell shares the behind-the-scenes details of her signature coaching program, the Second Act Accelerator , a 90-day proven framework that helps women leave their careers and build the freedom-filled business the...

Is starting a business part of your healing journey? For Suzy Wraines, it absolutely was. In this powerful episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, Suzy shares her inspiring story of how she went from a military medic and veterinary technician to a trauma-informed business coach for medical professionals. Host Shannon Russell talks with Suzy about the emotional toll of transitioning out o...

Thinking about quitting your 9-5 and launching a business? Before you hand in your resignation letter, this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast   is your essential pre-launch checklist. Host Shannon Russell, a career transition coach and former television producer, walks you through the 5 things every woman should do before starting a business . In this powerful episode, you’ll learn...

🎉 It’s the 200th episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , and we’re celebrating with a special Q&A edition! Host and business coach, Shannon Russell, is answering your most pressing questions about how to quit your job, start a business, and reinvent yourself at any age. In this milestone episode, Shannon covers:  ✔️ How to know when it’s the right time to quit your 9-5  ✔️ What to...

In this empowering episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host Shannon Russell speaks with holistic living expert, life coach, and wellness advocate Lynnis Woods-Mullins. After a successful career in corporate HR, Lynnis took a life-changing leap at age 51—leaving her job due to anxiety and burnout to reclaim her health and purpose. What started as a sabbatical turned into a thriving s...

In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host Shannon Russell sits down with Sunny Sun, a first-generation immigrant from China turned entrepreneur and nonprofit founder. Sunny shares her remarkable journey from moving to the United States for college to leaving a fast-paced corporate finance career as an accountant in Manhattan to start her own STEM-based education bus...

Feeling stuck in your creative career? Whether you're a producer, designer, editor, writer, artist, or performer— this episode is your roadmap to turning your creative skills into a successful business. Host Shannon Russell, a former TV producer turned business coach, shares how she transitioned out of the entertainment industry and built a thriving second act as an entrepreneur. In this epis...

What does it take to turn a passion for fitness into a thriving business—and then franchise it successfully across the country? In this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell sits down with Devan Gonzalez, fitness entrepreneur and co-founder of Strive 11 Fitness, to explore how he turned his love of coaching into a six-figure in-person training business and later la...

Have you ever wondered if your professional experience could be turned into a thriving business? In this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host Shannon Russell sits down with curriculum and course creation expert Shannon Boyer to explore how she transitioned from a career in college education to launching a business that empowers entrepreneurs to teach what they know—successfully...

Are you feeling stuck in your career or craving more creativity and fulfillment in your life? In this inspiring solo episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host Shannon Russell encourages you to rediscover the dreams you once held and explore how to bring them into your present life. Whether you’re navigating a life transition, dreaming of launching a business, or simply want to feel m...

After 19 years in education and an ADHD diagnosis, Cindy Baker made a bold pivot—leaving the classroom to launch her own business as a productivity coach for entrepreneurs. In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host Shannon Russell sits down with Cindy to discuss her career evolution, her late-in-life ADHD diagnosis, and how she turned her challenges into a business...

It’s publication day for my new book! In this special episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell celebrates the release of her new book, Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life . Shannon reads pages from Chapter 2 of her book, diving into what a “second act” truly means and how women can embrace the powerful pivot from...

Have you ever faced a life-changing crossroads where you had to choose between your career and your heart? In this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host Shannon Russell shares a deeply personal story about the day she said no to interviewing Taylor Swift — and why that pivotal decision changed the course of her career and life. From working as a television producer for major netw...

In this inspiring episode of Second Act Success , host Shannon Russell sits down with Monika Nielsen, founder of Style Closet Coach and the beloved “closet therapist” for women reinventing themselves in midlife. After homeschooling her three children for 22 years, Monika launched a business helping women declutter their closets and rediscover their style. She shares how she turned a personal momen...

Are you waking up every day feeling stuck, unfulfilled, or just "going through the motions" in your job? In this empowering episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , career transition and business coach Shannon Russell shares a powerful message about what it really means to live by default—and how to break free from it. If you’ve been dreaming about starting a business, changing...

In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , Shannon sits down with Michal Morrison—an archeologist-turned-entrepreneur—who transformed personal adversity into a groundbreaking second act. After surviving a traumatic brain injury, Michal left behind her world-traveling career in archaeology to launch her own science-backed skincare company using cutting-edge stem cell techn...

Have you ever dreamed of leaving your 9-5, hitting the road, and building a business on your own terms? In this inspiring episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , host Shannon Russell sits down with executive coach and change management consultant Julie Noonan to explore her bold leap from corporate America to full-time RV living. After a successful career leading transformation at Fortu...