If you think conflict at work is something to avoid—or outsource to HR—this episode might just change your mind.

My guest, NadeenSivic, has spent nearly three decades leading tech teams across Australia and the UK. She’s known as “the fixer” of messy teams and offers a street-smart, no-nonsense lens on workplace conflict: not as a problem, but as a natural part of work that every manager needs to master.

We talk about:

• Why conflict is not the enemy
• The difference between contrast, friction, and true conflict
• Why most mid-level managers are thrown into the “execution mosh pit” without proper tools
• Nadeen’s dead-simple “Said / Done / Produced” framework you can try in your next Teams meeting

You’ll laugh, nod, and quite possibly see your last team meeting in a whole new light.

🎯 Ready to lead with more confidence and fewer HR escalations?

Join the waitlist for The Manager’s Lab: www.the-managers-lab.com

Ever stumbled when someone asked, “So, tell me about yourself?” You’re not alone—and the good news? You can get better at it.

This week, I answer a listener question about the most deceptively simple interview prompt there is—and why your answer might be derailing more than your confidence.

I’ll walk you through:

• What this question really means (hint: it’s not a test)
• Why reviewing your CV from the past 20 years is not the story to tell
• Three different approaches that make you memorable—not forgettable

Whether you’re in the middle of interviews or just rethinking how you present yourself, this is your reminder: you don’t need to be dull, and you don’t need to shrink. You just need to show up as the version of you that brings energy, clarity, and value.

🎧 Press play, and let’s design the joyful version of you they can’t ignore.

👉 Need help finding your superpowers?

Check out this starter kit: https://midlifeunstuck.activehosted.com/f/17

Am I Too Old To Change Careers?

This question came from a listener who asked: “I'm 62—am I too old to change careers?”

I remember a conversation with a Speedy Sherpa client in his 50s that sent me down a rabbit hole looking for what I began calling "the unicorns"—people in their 60s who weren’t just working, but thriving in meaningful full-time roles. And yes, I found them. But they didn’t get there by accident.

In this episode, I’m sharing:

• Why “Corporate Toast at 50” is still far too common
• What thriving 60-somethings do differently
• The real reason career joy is rare—but not impossible—after 60
• And why you don’t need permission… you just need a plan.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “too late” to make a change—this one’s for you.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• The Speedy Sherpa Programme: https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/the-redesign
• Article: 50 Year Old “Corporate Toast” https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/new-blog-1/2017/9/20/50-year-old-corporate-toast
• The (2025) Midlife Work-Life Satisfaction Report - https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/new-blog-1/2025/midlife-worklife-satisfaction

In this episode of Joy at Work, I reconnect with my old friend and ex-colleague Nia Trussler, now an Associate Partner at Page Executive. We worked together in the headhunting world over a decade ago, and today, she joins me to shed light on a powerful shift in how companies are selecting senior leaders.

Gone are the days when only linear, polished blue-chip CVs were the golden ticket. Nia shares how companies are now valuing non-linear, innovative career paths—those who’ve zig-zagged, pivoted, and taken unconventional routes.

We discuss:

• The rising demand for complex, multidimensional leadership roles
• Why traditional career ladders are no longer the norm
• The power of your neglected network
• How to get noticed by headhunters today (even if you’re not marketing yourself)

This one is packed with real insight from the other side of the hiring table. Whether you’re rethinking your next move or curious about how the exec job market is evolving, you’ll want to tune in.

🔗 Ready to explore what’s next for you? Start with the Derailed Life Satisfaction Assessment – it’s the perfect entry point to begin your career redesign.

Have you been ignoring the rattles in your career for a while?

In this episode of Joy at Work, I answer a heartfelt listener question: “When is the best time to change careers after 40?”

If you're over 40 and feeling that something's just... off — like you're driving a car that no longer fits the journey you're on — you're not alone. I talk through the quiet warning signs that we so often ignore, and the real cost of waiting too long to make a change.

Midlife career change isn’t about starting over. It’s about tuning up, resetting your GPS, and taking the next small, intentional step.

🔧 You don’t need to burn it all down — but you do need to lift the bonnet and take a look inside.

🎁 If you’re feeling stuck in a career cul-de-sac, grab this mini-worksheet on questions worth answering:

👉 Download the Free Guided Worksheet

Have you noticed your job applications getting ignored—even when you're asking for less money? You might be in The Squeeze.

In this episode, I share a concept I’ve observed for years but only recently named: The Squeeze. It’s a silent career crisis where your value appears to shrink in the market, even though your experience is growing. It’s not just about money—it chips away at your confidence, identity, and joy at work.

You’ll hear:

• The three types of professionals most at risk
• The tell-tale signs you're being squeezed
• Why bland messaging and generic job titles are costing you interviews
• How Rory, Kieran, and Jolene turned things around (real client stories)
• Three powerful ways to avoid—or recover from—The Squeeze

If you’re feeling overlooked, underpaid, or unsure how to position your value in your 40s, 50s, or 60s—this episode is for you.

🎁 Mentioned in This Episode

• Download the Superpower Starter Kit
• The Fierce Accelerator Programme
• The Fierce Emporium
• Jolene’s Story
• How to Stay Highly Paid in Your 40s, 50s, and 60s

🛠️ Curious what joy might look like for you?

Download the Superpower Starter Kit to begin identifying what makes you truly brilliant—and how to talk about it so people get it.

Have you ever been offered a promotion right when you were thinking about leaving your job? That’s exactly the situation this week’s listener finds themselves in.

In this episode of Joy at Work, I share a powerful real-life story of what happened when someone said yes to a role that didn’t align with their superpowers. I also walk you through four essential clarity questions to ask before accepting a promotion that could lock you in for years.

If you’re at a career crossroads or simply wondering if your next move fits who you are now, this episode is for you.

Want to design a work life that energises you instead of drains you? Learn more about The Fierce Emporium: 👉 https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/the-fierce-emporium

Mentioned in This Episode:

• X Change book: https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/book
• Superpower Starter Kit (free download): https://midlifeunstuck.activehosted.com/f/17

When your new boss is 20 years younger than you (and possibly owns trainers your teenager wants), the emotional whiplash is real.

In this episode, I respond to a listener who's just landed under the leadership of someone they could have taught to drive. I share seven very practical, very real strategies for navigating this shift—without bitterness, without sarcasm, and with all the self-possession you've built up over decades.

This isn't about sucking up or staying silent. It's about dignity, relevance, and choosing to lead in a new way. Whether you're simmering with frustration or simply unsure how to proceed, this one's for you.

You’re not too old, and it’s not too late.

Join the Midlife Unstuck Community → https://midlifeunstuck.activehosted.com/f/3

• 7 Dignified Strategies for Working with a Baby Boss
• Case Study Series on Midlife Career Redesign

This week I’m joined by Caroline Clark, a leadership coach, performance psychologist, and analogue space astronaut. Caroline recently spent five days locked inside a simulated space mission in Poland—with no windows, no phones, and no escape. What she discovered is that humour isn’t just “nice to have” in high-pressure environments—it’s a survival tool.

Together, we explore how laughter connects us, regulates stress, and creates resilience at work. Caroline shares why humour builds trust, strengthens teams, and even makes leaders more effective. We also talk about what makes humour appropriate (and what doesn’t), and how to bring more playfulness into our everyday working lives without losing professionalism.

If work has started to feel heavy, this episode is your reminder that joy, play, and humour aren’t distractions—they’re powerful ways to thrive.

👉 Curious where joy is showing up in your own life? Take my Derailed Life Satisfaction Assessment—a 30-minute guided programme that helps you explore what’s bringing you joy and what’s bringing you down: https://www.midlifeunstuck.com/derailed

Connect with Caroline Clark:

• Website: carolineclark.coach

• Substack: Liftoff with Caroline

• LinkedIn: Caroline Clark

Have you ever looked at your CV and thought, “This is a total mess”?

You’re not alone—and you’re not wrong. But that doesn’t mean your career isn’t valuable.

In this short and powerful episode, I unpack why non-linear career stories can actually be your superpower, especially during interviews.

Whether you’ve made instinct-led choices, followed opportunities based on relationships, or simply changed direction a few times—you’ve got a story to tell.

And it’s not about explaining every twist and turn.

It’s about highlighting the single thread that shows who you are, what you bring, and why you’re a fit for that role.

If your CV feels messy, this one’s for you.

👉 Curious what joy might look like for you?

Join the Midlife Unstuck community here: https://midlifeunstuck.activehosted.com/f/3