Evolve Your Path

We're back for Season Two with new guest, Carly Valancy!

Carly Valancy is the founder of Reach Out Party and TETHER, and co-founder of Momentum Growth. She helps creative people find their people through intentional networking, community building, and connection. A former Head of Brand & Marketing at Primer, Carly is known for her "100 Days of Reaching Out" challenge and her Anti-Networking events that prioritize depth over volume. She's been featured in CNBC and teaches at Harvard and Boston College on the power of human connection.

Join the Reach Out Party:

https://carlyvalancy.com/reach-out-party

Connect with Carly on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlyvalancy/

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Unlock the secrets to living a fulfilling, multi-faceted professional life with Jenny Calvert. In this episode, we explore the significance of energy awareness, breaking free from societal constructs, and creating multiple income streams aligned with your passions.

In this episode:

• Jenny shares her journey from corporate burnout to passion-driven work in coaching, facilitation, and community building
• How to recognize and shift energetic states from destructive (catabolic) to constructive (anabolic) energy
• The power of unlearning stories that limit your potential and recognizing "capital T" vs. "lower T" truths
• Practical tips: starting an energy journal to identify patterns of engagement and energy drain
• Navigating multiple identities without feeling confined by labels or expectations
• Embracing "heavy" versus "light" mode: the importance of deep work and intentional growth
• How to explore multiple income streams while honoring your values and avoiding burnout
• Strategies for owning your narrative when balancing diverse professional roles

Resources:

• Deep questions workbook for energy awareness (free)
• Scott Barker - Personal Journey
• Heavy/Theory Substack
• Chani Planner for mindfulness
• Scott Barker's Wake Up Call Newsletter
• Life Audit workbook

Connect with Jenny:

• LinkedIn
• Website (coaching)

Connect with Evolve Your Path:

Instagram

Substack

Slack Channel

In this episode, Megan hosts Emily Hollender, a marketing and community-building expert, to explore how passions like surfing influence personal well-being and professional success. They dive into strategies for transitioning to freelance work, building authentic client relationships, and navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship with confidence.

About Emily:

Emily Hollender is a brand marketing and community-building leader with over a decade of experience driving growth at category-defining startups, including Rent the Runway, The Wing, and Tia. She's best known for building and scaling RTR's Campus Ambassador Program, launching The Wing's Digital Membership, and driving Tia's Go-to-Market expansion. Currently, through her fractional marketing practice, Next Wave Marketing, Emily partners with early-stage consumer brands to unlock sustainable, community-led growth. She also teaches the popular Maven course From Full-Time to Fractional: A Step-by-Step Launch Playbook for Senior Leaders, equipping experienced operators with the tools to launch successful independent practices.

In this episode:

• Emily shares her journey from corporate startups to freelance community strategist
• How surfing fosters grounding, resilience, and community connection
• Common misconceptions about marketing and how to define your niche
• Strategies for acquiring first clients through authentic networking
• Managing imposter syndrome and self-doubt as a fractional professional
• The importance of clear scope, outcome alignment, and setting boundaries
• Insights into creating impactful messaging and evolving your personal brand
• How to test new markets and opportunities without overcomplicating branding
• Practical tips for overcoming mindset blocks and taking small, actionable steps
• The value of community and relationships in business growth and fulfillment

Links:

About Emily: www.emilyhollender.com / https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-hollender/

Fractional Practice: www.nextwave.marketing

Sign up for Emily's Maven Course:

https://maven.com/emily-hollender/full-time-to-fractional?promoCode=EVOLVE25

Promo Code: EVOLVE25

Resources:

• Blue Crush – Inspiring film about women surfers
• Toxic Grit by Amanda Getz – Navigating a portfolio career
• Setting the Table by Danny Meyer – Relationship-focused leadership
• Old Girls Club

This episode offers actionable insights for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in blending personal passions with professional pursuits to craft a fulfilling, resilient career.

In this episode of the Evolve Your Path podcast, host Megan Flanagan speaks with career coach Julia Cohen about navigating career transitions, identifying personal values, and the challenges of the current job market. Julia shares her non-linear career journey, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's work with personal passions and values. They discuss the significance of self-reflection in career choices, the role of coaching in personal development, and practical strategies for job seekers, including interview preparation and creative approaches to job searching. The conversation highlights the need for patience and kindness during the job search process, as well as the importance of being proactive and resourceful in finding opportunities.

Guest Bio:

Julia Cohen is a certified career coach with 12 years of experience in operations and product management before transitioning into coaching. She now works with professionals across industries who are navigating what’s next — whether they’re exploring a career pivot, seeking work that better aligns with their values, returning to the workforce after a break, or stepping into a new leadership role. Her goal is to help you gain clarity, rebuild confidence, and take practical steps toward a career that feels fulfilling and sustainable.

Chapters:

00:00 Navigating Career Journeys

03:20 Defining Personal Success

06:18 Identifying Values and Interests

09:15 Career Coaching Insights

11:46 Long-Term Career Planning

14:31 Current Job Market Challenges

17:20 Interview Preparation Strategies

20:06 Cutting Through the Noise

22:57 Creative Job Search Strategies

25:33 Final Thoughts and Advice

28:25 Introduction to Evolve Your Path Podcast

28:50 Transitioning and Resources for Growth

Connect with Julia:

LinkedIn

Follow Evolve Your Path:

Substack

Instagram

Apply to join our Slack Community!

Join coach Bryan Collins of Poetic State to discover how embracing your unique identity, cultivating vulnerability, and visualizing future success can transform your personal and professional life. In this episode, we explore the power of authenticity, the importance of meaningful connection, and practical frameworks for unsticking yourself in a world full of possibilities.

Key topics:

• The role of authentic branding and messaging in building trust and connection
• How embracing your 'weird' or unconventional qualities fosters greatness
• The metaphor of life as a "space in a hole in the wall" practice for unique identity
• The significance of “moon boarding” and visual mood-boarding for envisioning goals
• Strategies for identifying when you’re truly stuck and how coaching maintains momentum
• The impact of future visualization: acting like your successful self
• The importance of humility, vulnerability, and self-awareness in creative reinvention
• How creatives process decision-making amid abundant possibilities
• Overcoming scarcity mindset to attract the right clients and opportunities
• The benefits of ongoing maintenance and routine in personal development

Resources:

• Moonboarding — For creating inspired visual goals
• Future Self Visualization Techniques — Practical ways to activate future success
• Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear — Building habits for routine maintenance

Connect with Bryan:

LinkedIn

Poetic State - coaching & website

Connect with Evolve Your Path:

Substack

Instagram

Slack Channel

In this episode, Megan Flanagan interviews Natalie Hoop, a leader in the fractional consulting space. They discuss the journey into fractional work, the changing landscape of careers, and the importance of community and networking. Natalie shares her insights on the misconceptions surrounding fractional roles, the reality of finding clients, and the need for individuals to take ownership of their careers. The conversation also touches on the future of work, emphasizing the rise of freelance and fractional opportunities, and the importance of work-life balance.

Notable quotes:

"Career paths are not linear; embrace change."

"You are the CEO of your own career."

"Job stability is a myth in today's market."

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Fractional Leadership

02:52 The Journey into Fractional Work

05:43 Career Evolution and the Changing Job Market

08:59 Redefining Job Stability and Career Ownership

11:58 The Reality of Starting a Fractional Business

14:46 Misconceptions About Fractional Work

18:03 Finding Clients and Building Relationships

20:51 What's Broken in Job Hunting

23:50 The Future of Work: Freelance and Fractional Roles

26:37 Navigating the Shift to Fractional Work

29:52 Personal Growth and Work-Life Balance

32:43 Conclusion and Resources

Connect with Natalie:

LinkedIn

https://www.nataliehoop.com

Connect with the Evolve Your Path community:

Apply to join the EYP slack community

Join our Women in Transition cohort in March

Find the podcast blog posts

In this episode of Evolve Your Path, we welcome Liz Cohen, founder of Lizco Studio, a product design consultancy based in Golden, Colorado. Liz shares her journey from a coffee shop worker in Boston to a UX designer and product manager, revealing the challenges she faced in her early career. Despite her passion for design, Liz often felt misaligned with her roles, leading her to explore various paths until she found her niche in the startup scene. The conversation delves into her decision to leave a stable job and embrace entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of networking and saying yes to opportunities that arise.

As Liz recounts her experiences, she emphasizes the significance of trusting oneself and the value of community support. She discusses the challenges of starting her own business, including the struggle for work-life balance and the need to set boundaries with clients. Liz's story serves as an inspiration for those contemplating a career shift or entrepreneurial venture, encouraging listeners to embrace uncertainty and pursue their passions with confidence.

Keywords:

entrepreneurship, UX design, product management, career change, startup culture, design consultancy, networking, work-life balance, personal growth

Notable quotes:

"I always wanted a seat at the table."

"I was at the lowest point of my career when I just sort of got pulled out of the trenches by just saying yes to things."

"You might think you want a seat at a certain table and then you get to that table and it's not what you thought it was."

"Trust yourself; you’ve made it this far, you can keep going."

"Say yes to things that you're scared of or that you don't know if you can do."

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

02:08 Early Career and Misalignment

10:56 The Decision to Leave

14:42 Moving to Colorado and New Opportunities

15:52 The Reality of Entrepreneurship

26:16 Building Lizco Studio

31:24 Challenges of Running a Business

40:57 Advice for Those in Transition

46:38 Introduction to Evolving Your Path

47:06 Coaching and Community Engagement

Connect with Liz:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizcohen1/

Join our Women in Transition Cohort, launching in March:

https://forms.gle/8FJGyqDn2wA7YosD6

Read the latest podcast post:

https://www.evolvedpotential.co/blog

In this episode, we interview Logan Currie, Founder of CareerSpan, who believes in career security > job security.
Logan is a part researcher, part marketer, part career-cartographer studying how people grow, adapt, and negotiate their worth in an AI-shaped world. Her DMs are open if you're thinking about talent, AI, or what's next.

Harvard Ed.M. '25 in Learning Design and Technology: focused on AI + adult learning, metacognition, intrinsic motivation.
Founding Member of Women Applying AI. 15 years across 5 countries → startups, education, future of work.
When not geeking out about skills, you'll find Logan:
- hunting for the best 面条 in Boston (suggestions welcome!)
- exploring Cambridge playgrounds with my kids
- reading many books... highbrow and lowbrow

Connect with Logan:

LinkedIn

CareerSpan

Connect with Evolve Your Path:

Join our EYP slack community

Blog on episodes

@evolve.your.path (IG)

In this episode, we interview Tomide Awe, who shares her journey from a corporate career in management consulting and tech to building a portfolio career on her own terms. Tomide discusses the importance of education, the value of an MBA, and the necessity of questioning traditional career paths. She emphasizes the significance of mental health, the need for ruthless prioritization in managing multiple ventures, and the power of community support. Tomide's mission is to empower women to take control of their lives and live authentically, challenging societal expectations along the way.

Keywords:

career, entrepreneurship, personal growth, work-life balance, education, coaching, consulting, women empowerment, mental health, portfolio career

Takeaways:

Tomide's journey reflects the importance of taking things one step at a time.

Education can be a tool for personal branding and career shifts.

An MBA can be valuable for industry changes but not always necessary.

Pushing back against societal expectations is crucial for personal happiness.

Mental health should be prioritized over corporate success.

Ruthless prioritization is key when managing multiple ventures.

Living life on your own terms requires questioning existing beliefs.

Discomfort can lead to significant personal growth and change.

Building a supportive community is essential for navigating career transitions.

Creating a platform for women to take control of their lives is a powerful mission.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Tomide Awe's Journey

03:01 Education and Career Path Insights

05:45 Questioning Traditional Paths and Personal Growth

09:02 Navigating Personal and Professional Life Changes

12:04 Rethinking Work and Life Balance

14:55 Challenging Assumptions and Beliefs

17:54 Building a Portfolio Career on Your Own Terms

20:48 Managing Multiple Ventures and Prioritization

23:49 Vision for 'On Your Terms' and Future Aspirations

26:55 Living Life on Your Own Terms Responsibly

Connect with Tomide:

LinkedIn

Amplio

Substack: On Your Terms

Connect with EYP:

Apply to join the Slack community

Read the latest blog/podcast post

High achievers often do everything “right”—yet still feel unfulfilled at work. In this episode of Evolve Your Path, Megan Flanagan talks with career strategist Rachel Spekman about navigating nonlinear careers, reclaiming agency, and reverse engineering your career around what genuinely lights you up. They explore why external success markers often fall short, how to identify your unique strengths, and the power of building a personal “board of advisors” to support career transitions.

If you’re questioning what’s next and craving more meaning in your work, this episode will help you take aligned, intentional steps forward—without needing all the answers first.

Key concepts:

career transformation, coaching, fulfillment, high performance, community support, reverse engineering, personal growth, professional mission, mental health, career change

Takeaways:

You can and very likely should reverse engineer your career.

Identifying what lights you up is crucial for career satisfaction.

Community support is essential during career transitions.

Childhood experiences can shape your professional path.

Finding your calling often involves deep personal reflection.

Building a board of advisors can provide valuable support.

Curiosity is a key driver in discovering your passions.

High-performing professionals often feel isolated in their struggles.

Progress is progress, no matter how small.

It's important to articulate what a great day looks like for you.

Memorable quotes:

"What lights you up is connection."

"What sparks you is curiosity."

"Progress is progress, better is better."

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Career Transformation

03:02 Reverse Engineering Your Career

05:51 Identifying What Lights You Up

08:50 Childhood Influences on Career Choices

11:34 Navigating Career Transitions

14:32 The Moana Moment: Finding Your Calling

17:23 Building a Board of Advisors

20:15 The Importance of Community Support

22:59 Understanding Your Special Sauce

25:53 The Journey of Becoming a Therapist

28:57 Scaling Coaching Practices

31:36 Patterns in High-Performing Professionals

34:29 The Role of Curiosity in Career Development

37:17 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Connect with Rachel:

https://www.rachelspekman.com (website)

Follow us @evolve.your.path on Instagram for the latest.

Apply to join the Evolve Your Path Slack Community:

https://forms.gle/cJyA1kMgHSEGNFtP6