🎙️ Navigating Career Change & Purpose with Ann-Sophie Czech, Co-Founder of ChangePath

How do you navigate career changes, doubt or uncertainty, find meaningful work, and build something that helps others do the same?

In this episode, we sit down with Ann-Sophie Czech, co-founder of ChangePath, a digital career-orientation platform helping young professionals understand their values, strengths, and aspirations. After climbing the corporate ladder at global companies like Publicis, MasterCard, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble, Ann-Sophie hit her own moment of questioning: Is this the life I want? That pivotal reflection ultimately sparked her journey into entrepreneurship.

Through our conversation, Ann-Sophie opens up about the emotional complexity of career crises, the role of mental health in professional fulfilment, and why self-reflection should sit at the centre of every career transition. We delve into how ChangePath combines AI with human insight to create personalised career recommendations, explore how work-life balance varies across cultures, and discuss why community support is crucial for navigating significant change.

Whether you’re exploring a career shift, building a company, or simply questioning what's next, this episode will help you rethink your path with greater clarity, courage, and compassion.

🔑 In this episode, we talk about:

• Ann-Sophie’s multicultural upbringing and early entrepreneurial influences
• Her journey up the corporate ladder — and what triggered her transition
• Why career crises often start with subtle emotional signals
• The role of mental health in career satisfaction
• How work-life balance differs across European cultures
• The origin story of ChangePath and its mission
• How AI and self-reflection combine to deliver personalised career guidance
• Real client stories and the psychology behind career decisions
• Why networking and community matter during periods of transition
• The realities of startup life: co-founders, scaling, and resilience
• Remote work, founder dynamics, and the pressures of being “on”
• Celebrating small wins to maintain motivation as a founder

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Self-discovery is the foundation of career clarity. You can’t choose the right path without understanding yourself first.
• “Change is super hard.” But it becomes easier with community, reflection, and support.
• AI can enhance—not replace—the human side of career orientation. Insight + technology = powerful guidance.
• Work-life balance is cultural. Where you live shapes how you work, rest, and thrive.
• Resilience is essential in entrepreneurship. The lows teach as much as the highs.
• Celebrate small wins. Progress becomes visible only when you acknowledge it.

📍 Chapter Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction to Ann-Sophie Czech and ChangePath

02:52 – Early influences and entrepreneurial sparks

05:47 – Climbing the corporate ladder: lessons from global brands

08:34 – The pivotal moment: transitioning to ChangePath

11:42 – Understanding career crises and mental health

14:39 – Work-life balance and cultural differences

17:17 – ChangePath: A digital solution for career orientation

20:17 – The role of self-reflection in career development

23:09 – Ikigai: finding joy and purpose at work

25:45 – Success stories and real-world applications

50:14 – Understanding workplace realities

53:04 – The Career Path Simulator

58:34 – Celebrating achievements in the workplace

01:00:54 – Navigating co-founder relationships

01:08:55 – The dynamics of remote work

01:19:38 – Challenges of startup founding

01:23:35 – Scaling ChangePath

01:27:06 – Advice for aspiring founders

🔗 Links & Resources:

🌍 ChangePath → https://www.changepath.ai/en

🧡 Why You’ll Love This Episode:

This is an episode for anyone standing at a crossroads. Ann-Sophie brings extraordinary clarity to the emotional and practical challenges of changing careers—and offers a new, human-centred way to think about professional fulfilment. Her blend of honesty, vulnerability, and strategic insight will help you rethink where you’re headed, why it matters, and how to take the next step with confidence.

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