"My big door closing moment was when I was made redundant in the pandemic with 2 small children who were 1 and 3, and thought I would never get a good job again.”

Turing adversity into opportunity. In today's episode I’m talking to Elizabeth Willetts, founder of Investing in Women. Elizabeth’s company grows from strength to strength, if you follow her on socials she is smashing it. But that wasn’t always the case - and, like many success stories, starts when a door is slammed shut. 

Like many of us, Elizabeth found herself redundant during Covid in 2020 and decided it was a moment to channel her inspirational grandmother’s entrepreneurial spirit and start her own business. 

Elizabeth shares her navigation of overcoming challenges, from grappling with imposter syndrome to tackling the technical hurdles of starting a business. With insights from nearly 20 years in recruitment, Elizabeth also discusses her forthcoming book "Flex," aiming to help others achieve career success on their terms. 

"The journey from redundancy to creating my own business wasn't straightforward, but recognising my unique experience in recruitment became a vital pivot point. This inspired me to launch 'Investing in Women', and my upcoming book, 'Flex', shares exactly how you can have career success on your own terms."

Here are the highlights:

04:34 Realisation of redundancy took several months

06:49 Wanted part-time job; started home business instead

11:49 Talked to mum about previous self-employment

21:30 Experiencing impostor syndrome

32:26 Redundancy often leads to positive outcomes

  Elizabeth’s Another Door go-tos

The things that helped Elizabeth navigate change.

Book: Atomic Habits, by James Clear

Music: Fighter, by Christina Aguilera

The one piece of advice: “As one door closes, another one definitely, definitely opens. It's about going for things, being curious, and not being afraid because I think life's too short to be afraid.”

More about Elizabeth:

Elizabeth started Investing in Women from her dining room table during the pandemic after being made redundant from her In-House Recruiter role at one of the Big 4. With two toddlers, she didn’t want to work full-time but struggled to find a part-time job at her level of experience, so she decided to put her 17 years of recruitment experience to good use and founded a recruitment company to help people find flexible and part-time jobs. Investing in Women is now an award-winning recruitment company, and her debut book, Flex is due out in January 2025.

Find out more: https://investinginwomen.co.uk/

 

Connect with Elizabeth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-willetts/

 

More about the host Eleanor

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.” 

 

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you. 

 

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

 

In this special solo episode, it's just you and me pondering the intricacies of navigating change. The past few years I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs, and so in this chat I'm sharing my reflections on pausing, embracing messiness, playing with ideas, and the power of trying. We'll also explore the concept of restarting with a fresh perspective, anchored in self-care and gentle intention. 

Join me as I explore these themes, offering insights and tools to help you face uncertainty and thrive through change. This framework is part of my upcoming book, all about how to navigate change. 

Let’s roll up our sleeves and embrace the messiness of change together.

"The answer is never in the panic. The answer is always from a really slowed down intentional space, when you know exactly what you want and you’ve figured out how you're going to get it."

If you are rethinking work and want a space to explore what happens next check out rethinkers.space.

 

About your host Eleanor Tweddell:

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.” 

 

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you. 

 

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

 

 

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

 

 "Career transitions may feel uncertain, but aligning your daily actions with your core values can guide you through any ambiguity. It's not about having every step mapped out; it's about being directionally correct and consistent in your efforts."

This episode I’m with Micheal Glassocks who shares his career shifts, aligning work with personal values and the power of being "directionally correct”. 

Michael discusses his transitions from a successful role in project management in the NHS to project managing a new career as a coach, prompted by his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. 

We discuss how people around you react when you are changing, how there are often a few wrong moves in change before the ‘right’ one and how having one goal can help focus you - Michael shares his goal of ‘coach every day until 80’.

His story is filled with valuable insights and lessons for anyone considering a career change or looking for more alignment in their professional lives. 

"The reason why I'm very good at switching into a growth mindset, is because of the practice and the past experiences of it I've had. The way I've built confidence in most of the things I've done is by doing them.”

 

Here are the highlights:

03:25 Career transition after personal and professional realizations.

07:01 Experiencing disconnect between career progress and enjoyment.

10:49 Confidence grows with directionally correct actions.

19:10 Growth mindset through practice and past experiences.

20:56 Emotions are data; use them for decisions.

26:07 Practical exercise: envision your ideal gravestone message.

 

Michael’s Another Door go-tos

The things that helped Michael navigate change.

Book: "Start With Why" by Simon Sinek

Music: "Iron Lion Zion" by Bob Marley 

The One Piece of Advice: “Look at anybody who's deemed in a societal sense as successful, they've been consistent in the actions they've taken and they've always been curious. They're always learning, not just more about themselves, but about the industry, the business that they're operating in. If you can be consistent and always be curious, that will stand you in good stead.”

More about Michael

Michael has a notable background in the NHS, specialising in Project and Programme Management. Despite thriving in this role, a significant life event in 2021—his father's diagnosis with Alzheimer's—prompted Michael to reassess his career and life goals, ultimately steering him towards a more fulfilling path in coaching.

In 2022, Michael became an ICF-approved coach, adding a credible and structured framework to his coaching practice. His experience extends beyond the NHS to supporting small businesses with start-ups, launches, and attracting investments for organic growth. Known for his positive and easy-going demeanor, Michael adopts an informal yet professional approach, guiding, supporting, and challenging his clients to achieve their career ambitions and live a meaningful life.

 

Connect with Michael:

https://www.michaelglassockcoaching.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelglassockcoaching

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelglassock

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelglassockcoaching

 

More about Eleanor Tweddell:

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.” 

 

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of “Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you”. 

 

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

"I have learned so much over this process of what matters and what doesn't, how to protect yourself, what boundaries to put in place, whether you're giving up alcohol, a person, or an eating disorder."

In this episode, I talk to Hannah Harvey who shares her story about closing a door on alcohol, which also led to her leaving her marriage. 

Hannah opened up about her liberating journey to sobriety, revealing how quitting alcohol transformed her life and led her to write "How to Divorce Sober." We talk about overcoming societal pressures, personal growth, and finding clarity through challenging transitions. Hannah shares how she turned life's obstacles into opportunities and her inspiring vision for helping others do the same. 

 

Here are the highlights:

 

00:59 Hannah's book explores divorce and personal recovery.

04:48 Struggling with drinking, self-esteem, male-dominated industry.

11:35 Life change affected blogging identity and direction.

16:36 Discovering new reality through immersive book reading.

19:02 Sudden clarity led to quitting drinking.

23:27 Putting out metaphorical fires; learning boundaries.

27:10 Fear and curiosity deter exploration of the unknown.

30:17 Unwanted change led to personal growth unexpectedly.

31:38 Writing the book on divorce journey.

36:37 Challenges reveal healing opportunities for personal growth.

Hannah’s Another Door go-tos

The things that helped Hannah navigate change.

Book: "Control Alcohol" by Annie Grace

Music: "I Feel Free" by Cream 

The One Piece of Advice: “I think when you choose or you're pulled through a door, you can almost certainly expect that whatever needs to be healed is going to show itself. So often you'll go through something and you're like, right, I'm on my new path, this is exciting. And then, something will happen. And you're like, are you actually kidding? But almost certainly that is happening for a reason because that is going to heal something within you that will then take you further on your path.”

More about Hannah

Hannah is on a mission to help people find hope after trauma and embrace a bright future.

Alongside her book How to Divorce Sober, Hannah’s support network incorporates online courses, an immersive mentoring service, day and weekend retreats, yoga classes and her popular podcast, Happily Ever After with Hannah Harvey.

Hannah frequently contributes to BBC Radio Newcastle, where she engages in discussions on the critical issues addressed in her podcast. She also forged close links with Escape Family Support, an organisation that helps the families of people suffering from problems related to drugs and alcohol by delivering restorative yoga programmes.

Previously, Hannah ran Mums’ Days, an amazingly successful award-winning parenting blog that led to her creating content for John Lewis, Tesco, and Argos.

Hannah lives with her two children in Whitley Bay, just a stone’s throw from the ocean. She loves being near the sea and often enjoys ice-cold swims to clear her head. The beach is also perfect for her special meditation sessions and ceremonies.

 

Connect with Hannah:

https://www.hannahharvey.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahharveyuk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-harvey-uk/

 

More about Eleanor Tweddell:

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.” 

 

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door and the author of “Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you”. 

 

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

 

"The whole time I could have left but I just wanted to believe so much that it was the right thing for me."

What happens when you don’t get joy from your job anymore? I’m talking to Claire Fitzsimmons, co-founder of ‘If lost start here’. She shares her journey of closing a door on what was perceived as a ‘dream job’ in the art world and following her heart into the well-being world. We also talk about her Mum’s struggle with mental health and how it led Claire to starting a business where they create a unique "well-being prescription" designed to navigate life with creativity and joy. She also opens up about her struggles fitting into traditional roles and redefining what is important. Her story offers us invaluable lessons on embracing change and finding fulfilment.

“I just love the feeling of walking through a gallery and then being around the art and I still love that. I think that's why it was so hard to let go of because it felt really good, but what I hadn't understood was what my role in it would be, and who I had to be in that environment.”

 

Here are the highlights:

05:41 The struggle of leaving a beloved art world job

12:12 Monetising passions can diminish the joy

13:39 Prioritising personal curiosity over external expectations

17:57 Exploring my mother’s story to understand my own

23:53 Navigating external advice vs. internal connection

27:54 Creative spaces make therapy accessible and engaging

34:42 Different needs: nature connection, and a spiritual practice

37:09 Create your own life guide with support

Claire Fitzwilliam’s Another Door go-tos

The things that helped Claire navigate change.

Book:  "Tiny Beautiful Things", by Cheryl Strayed 

Music: "My Favourite Coffee House" playlist on Spotify

The one piece of advice: “Feel your way through change and I say that because I often do work around emotions with people and it's often the missing piece.”

 

About Claire Fitzsimmons:

Claire Fitzsimmons helps people to have more good days by developing an everyday life practice that meets them wherever they are, with whatever it is they need. Claire draws from positive psychology, transactional analysis, somatics, neuroscience, Positive Intelligence, emotions coaching, and the science of well-being to help people understand what it means to be a person in this world, and how we can possibly do life with all that life now needs to contain. Claire also works with women in mid-life, particularly negotiating shifts associated with (peri)menopause. She is one of the world’s first certified Emotions Coaching Practitioners (with In Good Company), an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC), and earned her Certificate in Counseling and Psychotherapy from London’s CCPE.

Find out more: https://www.ifloststarthere.com/

 

Connect with Claire:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-fitzsimmons

Substack: https://moregooddays.substack.com/

 

 

About your host Eleanor Tweddell:

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.” 

 

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you. 

 

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

 

 

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

 

“If it's consulting for forever, then it's consulting for forever. But at least be the captain of your own ship and being curious about what it would be like to be the captain of my own ship.”

I am talking to Dr. Enya Doyle, known as the ‘Harassment Doctor’. Enya’s closing door was the moment she decided to leave academia and start her own consultancy. Enya shares her career journey, starting from her academic roots in gender and classical music to becoming a leading consultant in anti-harassment and inclusion.

The conversation is about seeing opportunity when it feels like there isn't, see something that needs addressed and decide to do something about it. I found it empowering to listen to her motivations and drive. Enya talks about the ‘Finding yourself’ moment - after spending so long living in the identity of ‘being smart’ to deciding to do ‘smart’ differently, bringing with her all that curiosity and love for learning into her next door opening. 

Enya discusses the pivotal moments that shaped her path, from completing her PhD and confronting the challenges of the COVID-19 lockdowns to navigating personal health struggles and eventually establishing her own consultancy. Her story is a testament to the power of curiosity, adaptability, and the importance of doing "the next right thing."

And an impressive reference to Disney films the whole way through our chat! 

"Focus on doing the next right thing for yourself, rather than being overly concerned with long-term plans or others' expectations."

 

Here are the highlights:

 

04:54 Academia fosters curiosity and lifelong learning.

11:14 Grew up during the Northern Ireland conflict.

15:58 Surround yourself with supportive, like-minded people who uplift you.

21:28 Assume the best; people have diverse perspectives.

24:14 Arts organisations must protect freelancers and contractors.

29:17 NHS is thorough; many people often misunderstood.

31:03 Embracing self-employment; flexible, and fulfilling work journey.

Dr. Enya Doyle’s Another Door go-tos

The things that helped Dr. Enya navigate change.

Book: ‘The Year of Yes’ by Shonda Rhimes

Music: Moana Soundtrack

The one piece of advice: “In Frozen 2, there is a song called ‘Do the next right thing’. I think we spend a lot of our lives being told about five year plans. For me, you just got to do the next right thing. Take the next step. Do the next thing that's right for you.”

 

More about Dr Enya Doyle

 

Raised in Ireland and now based in London, Dr Enya Doyle’s unwavering commitment to driving social change has been recognised nationally for almost fifteen years. Enya has a powerful track record of providing effective and insightful training as well as thoughtful, evidence-based guidance. She collaborates with companies of all sizes across the world to prevent unwanted behaviours amongst colleagues and helps People and EDI teams respond better when it does happen. Enya specialises in challenging gender-based discrimination, sexism, and sexual violence. 

 

enyadoyle.com 

@theharassmentdoctor

www.linkedin.com/in/dr-enya-doyle 

 

About your host Eleanor Tweddell:

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.” 

 

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you. 

 

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

 

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

 

“What if I could author my life the way I want it to be? What would that look like? And the more I started to think about that it was, you know, not working for anybody. It was creating my own spaces, creating my own company where I get to do the things I really care about, and where I can structure it”

 

Join me talking to Glenn Block, whose journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship is packed with valuable lessons and insights, and stories of how getting it wrong on the first go can turn out to be OK! Glenn shares the moment he decided to close a door on working in ‘big tech’ and launch not one but two of his own businesses. We discuss the magic of having unfiltered conversations with people when you first have an idea, our love of books and the importance of watching out for your mental health during life changes. 

 

 "Leaving corporate politics felt like closing the door on a toxic relationship; it was a necessary step towards reclaiming my mental health and professional integrity."

 

Here are the highlights:

06:47 MBA led to realisation: Leave the corporate for new opportunities.

20:39 Enjoying flexibility and fulfillment outside corporate environment.

22:30 Launched business in 2023; in a struggling economy.

30:01 ADHD's hyperfocus can lead to extreme productivity.

33:10 Learned more being self-employed than in a corporate job.

42:07 Seeking music to inspire hope during change.

51:57 Runway provides security and focus for success.

 

Glenn’s Another Door go-tos

The things that helped Glenn navigate change.

Book: “Leadership and Self Deception” by The Arbinger Institute

Music: "My Life" by Billy Joel

The one piece of advice: "Planning is crucial. Having a financial runway, for me it was a year-long plan, gave me the stability I needed to make the leap from corporate life to self-employment with confidence."

About Glenn Block

Glenn is a product and innovation leader with almost 30 years of experience in the tech industry. Throughout his career he has been at the forefront of building innovative enterprise solutions and advancing cloud computing. He has led initiatives at a number of top tech companies including Microsoft, Docusign, Auth0, and Splunk. After many years of witnessing the deep systemic inequities in the tech industry and how that impacts product development, Glenn started ProdSense where he advises organizations on how to build more inclusive products.

 

Glenn’s mission is to create a more inclusive and safe environment in tech. He invests a large amount of his energy in mentoring, advising, and sponsorship especially for black women, women of color, and the LGBTQ community. He has also worked in multiple organizations to change culture and policies, and has collaborated with several non-profit organizations as part of his mission including TechBridge Girls, Tech2Empower, and Code Nation.

 

He is a lifelong learner and received his executive MBA in leadership and social justice from Seattle University

 

Find out more: https://prodsense.net

 

Connect with Glenn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gblock/

 

About your host Eleanor Tweddell:

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.” 

 

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you. 

 

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

 

“Until that moment I had never left a job with nothing to go to. I've always had something lined up. So this time I was like, Iesha, what are you gonna do? I had no idea. And that was perfectly OK. I had to trust myself”

 

Today's guest, Iesha Small, shares her journey from engineering to the world of education to her current role as Head of Comms, and now encouraging others with her writing and coaching.

 

We talk about the twists and turns of career change, and pivoting. Where you aren't always sure what your next move is, but you make it anyway. 

 

Sometimes doors close for us, and we have to decide what to do next, other times we are closing that door for ourselves, and we are in full ownership of why it’s important and what we want next.

 

Iesha shares her thoughts and ponders in a brilliant weekly blog, and takes the pressure and perfection out of career changing. 

 

"What's the point of achieving all this stuff if it is not gelling with what you actually think is important in life?"

 

Here are the highlights:

 

11:19 First time quitting a job without backup.

16:26 Decided to take breaks and rest intuitively.

20:59 Serendipitous job came from conversations during time off.

25:20 Started career pivot talks on LinkedIn.

31:42 Choose family time over earning more money.

32:26 Intentional career shift after realising future uncertainty.

42:19 Weekly emails help with career strategy and values.

55:58 Show Your Work: Share expertise, attract opportunities.

 

Iesha Small’s Another Door go-tos

The things that helped Iesha navigate change.

Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho; Show Your Work by Austin Kleon.

Music: "You Can't Break My Soul" by Beyoncé.

One piece of advice: “ If you don't fail, you're probably not doing anything hard enough.”

 

About Iesha Small:

Iesha Small is a communications professional who has navigated a diverse career path from mechanical engineering to education and now communications. She leverages this experience to help leaders and professionals confidently pivot careers and build profitable passion projects. As a Head of Communications and founder of Cute Fruit Ltd, Iesha combines corporate expertise with entrepreneurial insights. Her accomplishments include publishing "The Unexpected Leader," appearing on BBC, writing for The Guardian, and speaking at the National Theatre. Iesha's approach, rooted in her background as an introvert from a working-class family, offers practical advice for career development. She's found success in building an online presence, particularly on LinkedIn, which has transformed her understanding of digital communications. Iesha provides online workshops, one-on-one career strategy sessions, and a Career Pivot Pro course, helping others achieve their professional goals through continuous learning and adaptation.

 

Find out more: https://ieshasmall.com/ 

 

Connect with Iesha:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ieshasmall/ 

 

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

 

About your host Eleanor Tweddell:

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.” 

 

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you. 

 

Connect with Eleanor:

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

 

Are you looking for speakers with a fresh voice for your next workshop or conference? Check out

https://recommended.anotherdoor.co.uk

 

"I just started to ask myself, as many people do ‘Do I want to do this for another 20 years? Is there something else?’. I got curious, maybe there are some other doors I want to look through and maybe it's time to shut this door and find out."

Does a dream job really exist? We’re joined by the seasoned journalist and career coach Rachel Schofield to talk about ‘dream jobs’. We explore the themes of unearthing core passions, overcoming imposter syndrome, and finding stability amidst the chaos of change. And what if you have, on paper, a dream job, but have a feeling there might be something else you want to do?

Rachel shares her own story from a 20-year career at the BBC to creating a new career in coaching and training, offering insights and practical advice for anyone starting a new career chapter. Listen to rediscover joy in your work and the permission to experiment and try new things.

“Maybe I'll go up to that tree house and see what's behind that door. Just go and take tiny little steps of experimentation. In career terms that might mean, I've often thought I'd like to do X. So let me go and talk to someone who does it. I've often thought it would be fun to be a graphic designer. So between now and Christmas, I'm going to do a weekly evening class at my local further education college. I don't have to be ready to upend my whole world. I'm just going to go and play.”

 

Here are the highlights:

04:15 Doubts arose about a lifelong TV news presenting career.

07:23 Career transitions evoke mixed emotions and considerations.

12:00 Transitioned from news to coaching; misses presenting. 

18:56 Repurpose experience; embrace new directions confidently.

20:54 Juggling journalism, coaching and presentation training. 

25:32 Embrace challenges; expertise grows through experience.

31:38 Coffee chat led to a book opportunity.

34:07 Social media fosters envy; practice graciousness instead.

36:45 Being last doesn't necessarily mean you failed.

 

Rachel Schofield’s Another Door go-tos

The things that helped Rachel navigate change.

Book: ‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert. 

Music: ‘Closer to Fine’ by the Indigo Girls. 

The one piece of advice: 

"When you're thinking about particularly a career shift...really lean into experimentation. So rather than thinking you need to sit there and figure it all out...just think maybe I'll just knock on that blue door over there. Maybe I'll just look in that little tiny door that looks like a fairy door at the bottom of the tree."

 

About Rachel Schofield

Rachel Schofield is a career coach, author, facilitator and speaker. Before making her very own career pivot, Rachel reported and presented for the BBC for over twenty years. Her book "The Career Change Guide: Five Steps to Finding Your Dream Job" was published by Penguin in 2023. She works with private clients and also corporate workshops and coaching groups within women's leadership programmes for the brilliant DEI consultancy, Shape Talent.

 

Find out more: https://rachelschofield.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reworkyourlife/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelschofield/

 

About your host Eleanor Tweddell

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.” 

 

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you. 

 

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

 

Are you looking for speakers with a fresh voice for your next workshop or conference? Check out

https://recommended.anotherdoor.co.uk

 

 

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk

“The problem with having ‘a corporate hangover’ is that it doesn't allow you to be authentically yourself. And in order to be a successful business owner, you need to be authentically yourself.”

 

On this episode we have Sarah Clarke, who closed a door on a corporate career after being made redundant and discovering she was pregnant for a second time. Sarah shares how motherhood and the redundancy gave her the impetus to start her own business. She now helps women start and grow their businesses as "The Happy Startup Coach."

 

"I kind of remember mulling over my idea for this new business with the friend I was staying with at the breakfast bar. I was like, well, you know, lots of people have really crappy returns to work, don't they?"

 

Here are the highlights:

 

04:26 Enjoying work, learning, culture change, OD and got the bug.

11:00 Taking a three-month contract to cover maternity pay after redundancy.

18:38 Prepare properly before taking action, gain clarity.

25:25 Navigating and caring for yourself through entrepreneurship.

30:34 Find your business coaching niche in yourself.

35:19 Reflect on passions, dislikes, and energising activities.

 

Sarah’s Another Door go-tos

The things that helped Sarah navigate change.

Books: ‘Be a Free Range Human’ by Marianne Campbell and ‘The Source’ by Dr. Tara Swart

Music: ‘Go your Own Way’, Fleetwood Mac

The one piece of advice: “I wanted to take action. I wanted to do. Because you feel like you're taking back control of a crappy situation. If I could possibly recommend anything, I would recommend the opposite - to not do, to just be.”

 

 

About Sarah Clarke:

 

Sarah Clarke is a Mum, wife, optimist and self-confessed personal and career development geek. Sarah is on a mission to help talented women unlock their potential and find more happiness at work, by showing them how to design their best work lives – on their terms.

 

“I’ve worked in the fields of employee happiness and development for nearly 2 decades and am incredibly passionate about the professional potential of women.I left the corporate world of employee engagement and development in 2016 and went freelance.I then set up my own career and leadership development coaching business, Shine Brighter, in March 2018.”

 

Since 2018 Sarah has helped hundreds of talented women reconnect with their unique strengths, values and personality preferences and rebuild their self-belief, allowing them to unlock their potential and shine brighter in their careers and businesses. Find out more: https://shinebrighterconsulting.co.uk/

 

Connect with:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehappystartupcoach/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahjclarke/

 

Get Recommended

Are you looking for speakers with a fresh voice for your next workshop or conference? Check out

https://recommended.anotherdoor.co.uk

 

About your host Eleanor Tweddell

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.” 

 

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you. 

 

Connect with Eleanor

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

 

 

Podcast produced by winteraudio.co.uk