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

Vinnie Potestivo started off in the casting department at MTV in New York City, and he went on to be a talent executive at the network working with the biggest names in music to develop their personal brands through original content. I am talking about Mandy Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Simpson, TJ Lavin, and Lauren Conrad, just to name a few. Vinnie is now an Emmy Award-winning media brand advi...

How is your money mindset?  Are you confident that you are manifesting the money that you deserve in your career or in your business?  Dr. Amanda Barrientiez "The Money Healer" is an expert in money mindset and she is the founder of Inner Power Daily.  Dr. Amanda joins host Shannon Russell on Episode #85 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast to share how she went from food stamps to b...

Successful Beverly Hills lawyer, Lauren Abrams, joins Shannon on the Second Act Success Career Podcast to share the inspiration behind her second act launching 52 Weeks of Hope. Lauren is the founding member and managing partner of the Law Offices of Lauren Abrams, where she has practiced employee law for over 22 years. After facing a "dark night of the soul" experience, Lauren realized...

If you want to increase your expert authority in your current career field, to help you as you change careers, or to grow your business or brand, this episode will be huge. On this Episode #83 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , I am a podcast guesting expert with me to talk all things podcast and how you can utilize this platform to your advantage. Sara Lohse is the founder of Favorite Dau...

So often we think the dreams we have as little kids can not possibly become reality when we are adults, right? Well, my guest on Episode 82 is about to prove us wrong! Heather Wallace began riding horses at a very young age, but after suffering from anxiety in her teens she stopped riding. Decades later after a career in medical publishing, three kids, and time as a stay-at-home mom, Heather retur...

Are you a DIY enthusiast hoping to turn your hobby into a profit? Meet Melissa Commandant, better known as Mel Did It Herself. Mel began her career in social work working in homeless shelters in her community serving others. When the pandemic hit, Mel fell into furniture refinishing to past the time. One piece sold and then the next, and now a few years later, Mel is a full time entrepreneur runni...

Your Career Is Not Your Identity! | Ep #80 Reminder our careers do not define us. If someone asks you to describe yourself and you lead with your job title, then this episode is for you. We are so much more than our careers! In this episode, host and career coach Shannon Russell explains why your career is not your identity and how you can begin to separate what you do for a living from who you ar...

Meet Melody Murray, a former Reality Television Producer and Director who decided to leave the entertainment industry to pursue a degree in mental health. Melody joins Shannon Russell on Episode #79 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast to discuss this drastic career transition.  Melody explains how she was prompted to make a career shift after witnessing some issues on sets of the reality TV s...

This is a Second Act Success Story you must listen to my friend! Meet Nosheen Khan. Nosheen worked as a senior loan processor and office manager before facing health issues that made her unable to go to work. She was fired from her job, and found herself at home in bed, struggling to find a job. This was before the days of remote work, but Nosheen tried to get any Virtual Assistant job she could f...

Have you dreamt of building a business? Are you ready to take your side hustle full time? Do you have a small business you want to grow? Shannon sits down with Business Coach Krista Campbell to talk strategies to turn your idea into a business built for you. Krista is a coach and mentor for creative business owners. Take a listen as Krista shares tips and advice on leaving a corporate career and h...

Have you thought about turning something personal into profit? Rebecca Linney ran a business with her husband full time, yet after having her son she made an interesting pivot. Rebecca noticed that her son was not sleeping in his own bed and it was quite a struggle for the family. She came up with an idea on how to help him feel better about sleeping alone, and she turned this idea into a children...

How To Quit A Job Without Burning A Bridge | Ep #75 Trying to leave a job, no matter what the circumstances, can be an emotional decision. You may be ready for a career change, but you don't want to to disappoint your coworkers or your family/friends. You may be in a toxic workplace where you know you need to leave, but you are hesitant. In this episode of the Second Act Success Career Podcas...

“I will not drown in a puddle.” Beate Chelette has experienced more than her fair share of obstacles- immigrating from German, divorce, debt, betrayal, lawsuits, loss of a parent, being a single mom, etc. Beate began her career in photography, but pivoted to open her own  business. She had it stolen from her and found herself in $130,000 of debt. After so many losses, Beate wrote the President of...

The Second Act Success Career Podcast is celebrating our one year anniversary  this week! It has been a whirlwind of a year with 73 podcast episodes, so many remarkable guests, and too many career transition stories to share. Join host and career coach Shannon Russell, as she discussed all that she has learned this year as a newbie to the podcasting community and how she is not taking the growth o...

Have you dreamed of being able to leave a legacy with your Second Act? How about creating a nonprofit, volunteering at philanthropies full time, or finding a way to truly give back to a your community?  On Episode #72 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , Shannon sits down with a man who is building a legacy with his second act. Barry Braun was a Navy Engineer who began a successful sales car...

It seems like becoming a doctor is a dream of so many children, and their parents. For Dr. Debra Blaine, she became disheartened with the healthcare industry and needed a change. After over 30 years as a doctor, Debra turned to writing as a creative outlet. She successfully merged medicine with words and launched her first book. Now Debra is a published author of 3 books. She also coaches healthca...

Have you ever taken the stage or stood up to give a presentation at work and froze? We've all been there! Professional performer and the author of The Power To Speak Naked, Tyler Foley joins Shannon on Episode #70 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast to discuss how to be confident giving a speech. Tyler found the limelight and the love of applause at the age of six when he began acting. H...

Do you consider your career skillsets as currency? Well, you should! Your skillsets are your currency in life, so why not turn this experience into a profession teaching others what you know? Shannon sits down Mary Henderson, transformational leader and online business specialist in Episode #69 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast. Mary shares how after giving birth to her son, she had an epip...

Did you know that we spend most of our adult life in the midlife season? Shannon sits down with Bernie Borges, host of the Midlife Fulfilled Podcast, who has discovered that majority of people in midlife are not happy. Bernie has made it his mission to help others find their purpose in this mid-season of life. He shares his journey working in sales and marketing, and hosting several podcasts. Join...

Have you ever dreamed of the day when you can travel and build a business you love? On Episode #67 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , Shannon will introduce you to Austin and Monica, a digital nomad couple who are doing just this! They were newlyweds with big plans to serve in the Peace Corp after college, but then the pandemic halted their plans. The couple began working in healthcare at...

Women in the workplace have struggling for decades to gain respect in the room, and we continue to fight for a seat at the table. On Episode #66 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast , Shannon interviews Limor Bergman Gross , who worked in the male-dominated tech industry for years as a Director of Engineering.  She has experience breaking glass ceilings herself standing out in her field, and n...

Are you thinking about starting a business for your second act career? Have you considered franchising? Shannon Russell sits down with franchise expert Patrick Findaro of Vetted Biz and Visa Franchise on Episode #65 of the Second Act Success Career Podcast to discuss franchising 101. Patrick has interviewed over 1000 franchisees and analyzes franchise opportunities for his businesses, so he knows...

If you agree that being a mom and managing a career is hard work, then you’re in the right place my friend. Ashley Reckdenwald is the founder of Working Mom Notes , a popular Instagram account and online community for working mothers. After struggling work as a Physician's Associate and being a new mom, Ashley tried hard to balance the office, surgeries, breast feeding, and family. She was sh...

Do you go on a job interview and never hear back? Struggling with writing a resume and cover letter that will get seen?  Thinking about putting feelers out to find a new career? If you are ready to start over with a new job or a new career, then listen up!  On Episode #63 of the Second Act Success Podcast , I will be giving you resume tips, cover letter ideas, and advice on how to win at your next...

Legal Assistant Turned Virtual Assistant with Janis Melillo | Ep #62 Janis Melillo spent over 30 years of her career in the legal world as a paralegal. She was used to multitasking, and the skills she learned after decades in law led her to launch a Virtual Assistant business handling projects for people all over the world virtually. Janis also hosts three podcasts, has co-authored 16 books, and d...