Career Change & Business Advice for Women | Second Act Success Podcast

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 feeling stuck in a job to starting something that lights them up. This heartfelt reading is a sneak peak into what this book explores- how life stages influence career shifts, why nine out of ten women dream of changing careers, and how to turn fear into fuel for transformation.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Discover the true meaning of a "second act" and how it relates to your life and career.
• Learn why career change is often necessary for fulfillment and health.
• Understand the myth of career stability and how to take control of your work and life.
• Get inspired by real-world statistics and stories of reinvention.
• Find clarity around whether it’s time for you to make a career shift or start your own business.

🔗 Grab your copy of the book at startyoursecondact.com or wherever you buy books!

SHOW NOTES:

https://secondactsuccess.co/192

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Ready to Start Your Second Act?
Thinking about changing careers or starting a business? Let's map out your next steps.

→ Book Your Free Second Act Strategy Call

More From Shannon:

📖 Grab Shannon's Book, Start Your Second Act
🎤 Watch Shannon's TEDx Talk
📥 Download Free Resources
➡️ Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn

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 networks to choosing motherhood and entrepreneurship, Shannon reflects on the moment she realized her dream had evolved — and why it's okay for yours to evolve too.
 Tune in to hear how trusting your instincts, even during difficult moments, can lead to a more fulfilling second act.

Key Takeaways:

• It's okay to outgrow the dreams you once chased.
• Priorities shift as we move through different seasons of life.
• Defining success on your own terms leads to a life of greater purpose.
• How one brave decision can spark an entirely new career and identity.
• Why permission to pivot is the greatest gift you can give yourself.

Whether you’re contemplating a career change, starting a business, or simply wondering if it’s time for a second act, this episode will inspire you to trust yourself — and take the leap.

SHOW NOTES:

https://secondactsuccess.co/191

Shannon's book- Start Your Second Act - https://startyoursecondact.com

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Ready to Start Your Second Act?
Thinking about changing careers or starting a business? Let's map out your next steps.

→ Book Your Free Second Act Strategy Call

More From Shannon:

📖 Grab Shannon's Book, Start Your Second Act
🎤 Watch Shannon's TEDx Talk
📥 Download Free Resources
➡️ Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn

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 moment of self-discovery into a purpose-driven second act that empowers other women to feel confident in their clothes—and in themselves.

Whether you're standing in front of a closet full of clothes that no longer reflect who you are, or you're preparing for a career pivot and want to show up authentically in your next chapter, Monika’s approach will inspire you to make space for the woman you’re becoming.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Why your wardrobe may be holding you back from stepping confidently into your second act
• How to ditch the guilt and give yourself permission to evolve—both in style and in life
• Monika’s process for helping women align their wardrobe with their lifestyle and goals
• The power of donating clothes to support other women reentering the workforce
• Tips on identifying your “closet personality” and making mindful shopping choices
• Why starting over is not just possible—but powerful

🔗 https://secondactsuccess.co/190

Connect with Monika: 

styleclosetcoach.com  

@styleclosetcoach

Take Monika's Quiz

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Ready to Start Your Second Act?
Thinking about changing careers or starting a business? Let's map out your next steps.

→ Book Your Free Second Act Strategy Call

More From Shannon:

📖 Grab Shannon's Book, Start Your Second Act
🎤 Watch Shannon's TEDx Talk
📥 Download Free Resources
➡️ Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn

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 careers, or simply building a life that aligns with your values, this episode is your wake-up call.

Shannon discusses the difference between comfort and alignment, why midlife is the perfect time to reinvent yourself, and how to take small but intentional steps toward your second act. You’ll learn how to stop ignoring your inner voice, how to take action on that business idea or career pivot you’ve been sitting on, and why you don’t need permission to begin again.

Whether you’re craving more creativity, flexibility, or freedom in your life, this episode will inspire you to stop settling and start designing a future that lights you up.

👉 Topics covered:

• What it means to live by default vs. design
• How to listen to your inner voice and trust your intuition
• Why you’re not stuck—even after 20 years in the same career
• Simple steps to validate your business idea or pivot plan
• Encouragement for midlife women looking to change careers or start a business

🎧 Listen now and start taking action toward your second act success!

Book a FREE Strategy Call with host and career/business coach Shannon Russell - https://www.calendly.com/second-act-success/coaching-strategy

___________

Ready to Start Your Second Act?
Thinking about changing careers or starting a business? Let's map out your next steps.

→ Book Your Free Second Act Strategy Call

More From Shannon:

📖 Grab Shannon's Book, Start Your Second Act
🎤 Watch Shannon's TEDx Talk
📥 Download Free Resources
➡️ Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn

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 technology.

Discover how Michal’s passion for history, her resilience through health setbacks, and her mission to create social impact through entrepreneurship led to the creation of Michal Morrison Skincare and the development of the revolutionary ingredient, BetaStem-6™.

Whether you’re recovering from a life-altering event or simply dreaming of starting a business that makes a difference, Michal’s journey is a powerful reminder that reinvention is always possible. Listen now!

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• How Michal transitioned from a career in archaeology to founding a biotech beauty brand
• The role of a traumatic brain injury in reshaping her life’s direction
• Why she chose skincare as her second act—and how her mother’s skin cancer inspired the mission
• The importance of resilience, adaptability, and spiritual growth after life-changing experiences
• Lessons in startup fundraising, science-driven product development, and brand-building
• Encouragement for women to embrace flexibility in career and life transitions

🔗 Connect with Michal:

• Website: michalmorrison.com
• Instagram: @michalmorrisonskincare
• Threads: @michalmorrison

__________

Ready to Start Your Second Act?
Thinking about changing careers or starting a business? Let's map out your next steps.

→ Book Your Free Second Act Strategy Call

More From Shannon:

📖 Grab Shannon's Book, Start Your Second Act
🎤 Watch Shannon's TEDx Talk
📥 Download Free Resources
➡️ Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn

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 Fortune 500 companies and consulting firms like Ernst & Young, Julie traded in her corner office for life on the open road. She now runs two thriving businesses remotely—while traveling across the U.S. with her husband in their RV.

Julie shares her story of financial planning, navigating change, and building a second act that prioritizes freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment. Plus, she gets real about the challenges of entrepreneurship, remote work, and why the “build your dream life overnight” narrative is often misleading. Listen now to Episode #187 of the podcast to hear Julie's second act success story.

Key Takeaways:

• How to strategically plan your exit from corporate life
• What it really takes to run a business while traveling full-time
• The importance of financial preparation before launching a second act
• Why building a community is essential for entrepreneurs
• How to balance work, freedom, and purpose as a digital nomad
• Why starting over later in life can be your greatest advantage

This episode is packed with honest advice and powerful insights for anyone craving more purpose and freedom in their career.

🎧 Tune in and get inspired to start your second act with intention and courage!

SHOW NOTES:

https://secondactsuccess.co/187

Connect with Julie:

www.intuitivewisdomcoach.com

https://www.youtube.com/@restlesswomen/videos

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Ready to Start Your Second Act?
Thinking about changing careers or starting a business? Let's map out your next steps.

→ Book Your Free Second Act Strategy Call

More From Shannon:

📖 Grab Shannon's Book, Start Your Second Act
🎤 Watch Shannon's TEDx Talk
📥 Download Free Resources
➡️ Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn

Have you ever dreamed of writing a book but weren’t sure where to start? In this episode of The Second Act Success Career Podcast, host Shannon Russell takes you behind the scenes of her journey to becoming an author! She shares how she went from dreaming about writing to officially publishing her book, Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life.

Shannon opens up about the writing and publishing process, including:
 ✅ How she chose her book topic and structured her content
 ✅ The biggest challenges and lessons learned while writing
 ✅ The differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing
 ✅ Why writing a book can be a powerful second act career move
 ✅ How to market and launch your book successfully

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book as part of your career transition or business journey, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you get started. Tune in and get inspired to share your story with the world!

🔗 Pre-order Shannon’s book now: www.startyoursecondact.com

SHOW NOTES:

https://secondactsuccess.co/186

Shannon's book - https://startyoursecondact.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secondactsuccess/

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Ready to Start Your Second Act?
Thinking about changing careers or starting a business? Let's map out your next steps.

→ Book Your Free Second Act Strategy Call

More From Shannon:

📖 Grab Shannon's Book, Start Your Second Act
🎤 Watch Shannon's TEDx Talk
📥 Download Free Resources
➡️ Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn

Have you ever dreamed of leaving your corporate job to follow your creative passion? In this episode of Second Act Success, Shannon Russell sits down with Francesca Montillo, founder of Lazy Italian Culinary Adventures. Francesca shares her incredible journey from a stable career in healthcare management to building a thriving business centered around Italian food, wine, and travel.

Born in Italy and raised in Boston, Francesca always had a love for Italian culture and cuisine. But it wasn’t until she was on the verge of turning 40 that she decided to take the leap and reinvent her career. She started small, running food and wine tours to Italy while working her full-time job, and eventually transitioned to running her business full-time. Along the way, she also became a published cookbook author and embraced the challenges of entrepreneurship.

Join us as Francesca shares her insights on making a career pivot, testing a business idea before going all in, and how she turned her lifelong passion into a fulfilling second act. If you’ve ever considered following your dreams and starting something new, this episode is for you!

Key Takeaways:

✅ Test Before You Leap – Francesca started her business as a side hustle while working full-time to ensure it was viable before making the transition.
✅ Follow Your Passion, But Be Smart About It – Taking calculated risks and planning ahead helped Francesca successfully pivot careers.
✅ Organic Growth is Powerful – She built her business through word-of-mouth, blogging, and social media rather than paid ads.
✅ Never Burn Bridges – Maintaining good relationships in her corporate career allowed her to extend her job when COVID disrupted her plans.
✅ Adapt and Innovate – When travel shut down, Francesca pivoted to Zoom cooking classes and writing cookbooks, keeping her business relevant.
✅ The Best Time to Start is Now – Don’t wait! If you have a dream, take small steps toward making it a reality.

🔗 Connect with Francesca Montillo:
📍 Website: https://www.thelazyitalian.com/
📍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lazyitalian
📍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lazyitalianculinaryadventures/

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Ready to Start Your Second Act?
Thinking about changing careers or starting a business? Let's map out your next steps.

→ Book Your Free Second Act Strategy Call

More From Shannon:

📖 Grab Shannon's Book, Start Your Second Act
🎤 Watch Shannon's TEDx Talk
📥 Download Free Resources
➡️ Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn

Are you thinking about pivoting into tech or launching your own business later in life? In this episode of Second Act Success, host Shannon Russell sits down with Kerry Ann King, CEO of Eluminate Labs, to discuss her inspiring journey from multiple career transitions to becoming a tech founder in her 50s.

Kerry Ann shares how she navigated layoffs, career shifts, and the challenges of being a woman in tech, ultimately building a software company focused on inclusivity and human well-being. She also dives into how her FIN Positive Productivity app is transforming task management by helping users create sustainable habits with real-time coaching.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Embracing career pivots: How Kerry Ann transitioned through multiple industries before launching her business
✅ Breaking into tech as a non-technical founder: Finding the right team and learning to lead in a male-dominated industry
✅ Building inclusive technology: Why tech should serve people, not exploit them
✅ The power of habits in career transitions: How small, consistent actions can prepare you for entrepreneurship
✅ Navigating layoffs and uncertainty: Turning setbacks into opportunities for growth

Tune in for an insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, resilience, and redefining success at any stage of life!

🔗 Connect with Kerry Ann King:
📍 Website: eluminatelabs.com
📍 App: FIN Positive Productivity (Available on iOS & Android)
📍 LinkedIn: Kerry Ann King
📍 Instagram & Facebook: @EluminateLabs

🎧 Subscribe & Review Second Act Success for more inspiring career and business advice and career transition stories!

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Ready to Start Your Second Act?
Thinking about changing careers or starting a business? Let's map out your next steps.

→ Book Your Free Second Act Strategy Call

More From Shannon:

📖 Grab Shannon's Book, Start Your Second Act
🎤 Watch Shannon's TEDx Talk
📥 Download Free Resources
➡️ Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn

What if getting let go from your corporate job was actually the best thing that ever happened to you? That’s exactly what happened to Kristen Lettini, host of the Build Your Own Fairytale Podcast, who turned a career setback into the ultimate opportunity to build a thriving business. 

In this episode #183 of Second Act Success, Kristen shares how she transitioned from a stable corporate job in marketing and communications to entrepreneurship, helping solopreneurs streamline their businesses with smart systems. She opens up about the shock of being laid off, the challenges of navigating corporate career changes, and the moment she finally decided to take control of her future.

If you’re feeling stuck in your 9-to-5 and wondering what’s next, this conversation will give you the motivation—and the practical tips—you need to start building your own second act.

Tune in to learn:
✔️ How getting let go led Kristen to discover her true passion
✔️ Why taking small action steps is the key to transitioning into entrepreneurship
✔️ The importance of business systems for creatives and solopreneurs
✔️ How she scaled her business while maintaining work-life balance

💡 Ready to escape the corporate grind and create a business that lights you up? Hit play now!

📌 Connect with Kristen Lettini:
Website: KristenLettini.com
Instagram: @kristenlettini

🎧 Listen to more career transformation stories at SecondActSuccess.co

________

Ready to Start Your Second Act?
Thinking about changing careers or starting a business? Let's map out your next steps.

→ Book Your Free Second Act Strategy Call

More From Shannon:

📖 Grab Shannon's Book, Start Your Second Act
🎤 Watch Shannon's TEDx Talk
📥 Download Free Resources
➡️ Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn