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Shelby Kiernan: From Teenage Hustler to Midlife Reinvention — a story of bold moves, breakdowns, and bouncing back
Shelby Kiernan’s story is a masterclass in reinvention — not the fluffy kind, but the real, raw, what-am-I-worth-now kind. After 12 years in a job she loved, Shelby was laid off and faced a new kind of challenge: rebuilding confidence in a world that quietly tells older women they're past their prime.
In this episode, we trace Shelby’s journey — from her teenage jobs in small-town Wyoming to leading teams in higher education, healthcare, and beyond. She opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, why being “good with people” is the job, and how she rebuilt her career through 65+ face-to-face conversations (yep, real networking — the kind that works).
Whether you’re in career transition, questioning your worth, or trying to figure out what’s next, this conversation will hit home. Shelby doesn’t sugarcoat it — she shows you what it really takes to bounce back, reconnect with your bold younger self, and find the confidence to show up as the leader you already are.
Key themes:
Career transitions, imposter syndrome, soft skills as core capabilities, networking tips, mid-career layoffs, leadership development, women in the workplace, rebuilding confidence, job searching after 40.
Meet Shelby:Shelby Burnette Kiernan is the Clinical Director of School-Based Services at Aurora Mental Health & Recovery, where she leads a team bringing mental health support directly into schools. With over 30 years of experience across healthcare, education, and nonprofits, she’s passionate about making care more accessible—especially for kids and families who need it most. Known for her people-first leadership and ability to turn big ideas into action, Shelby brings warmth, strategy, and a deep belief in the power of strong teams to everything she does. She’s also a licensed marriage and family therapist and proud mom of three.
Connect with Shelby:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shelby-b-kiernan
Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:
Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd
Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda
Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven
pauldehavenmusic.com
View all episodes
By Candice MitchellShelby Kiernan’s story is a masterclass in reinvention — not the fluffy kind, but the real, raw, what-am-I-worth-now kind. After 12 years in a job she loved, Shelby was laid off and faced a new kind of challenge: rebuilding confidence in a world that quietly tells older women they're past their prime.
In this episode, we trace Shelby’s journey — from her teenage jobs in small-town Wyoming to leading teams in higher education, healthcare, and beyond. She opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, why being “good with people” is the job, and how she rebuilt her career through 65+ face-to-face conversations (yep, real networking — the kind that works).
Whether you’re in career transition, questioning your worth, or trying to figure out what’s next, this conversation will hit home. Shelby doesn’t sugarcoat it — she shows you what it really takes to bounce back, reconnect with your bold younger self, and find the confidence to show up as the leader you already are.
Key themes:
Career transitions, imposter syndrome, soft skills as core capabilities, networking tips, mid-career layoffs, leadership development, women in the workplace, rebuilding confidence, job searching after 40.
Meet Shelby:Shelby Burnette Kiernan is the Clinical Director of School-Based Services at Aurora Mental Health & Recovery, where she leads a team bringing mental health support directly into schools. With over 30 years of experience across healthcare, education, and nonprofits, she’s passionate about making care more accessible—especially for kids and families who need it most. Known for her people-first leadership and ability to turn big ideas into action, Shelby brings warmth, strategy, and a deep belief in the power of strong teams to everything she does. She’s also a licensed marriage and family therapist and proud mom of three.
Connect with Shelby:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shelby-b-kiernan
Your host, Candice Mitchell, can be found online at:
Website: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicemitchelltdnerd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talent_development_nerd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@candicemitchell.TDNerd
Talent Development Academy: https://talentdevelopmentnerds.com/tda
Original music composed by: Paul DeHaven
pauldehavenmusic.com