Let’s talk about the quiet guilt that no one warns you about when you start a side hustle.

You’re thriving in your corporate career, but something in you wants more. So you take the first brave step into building a coaching business… and suddenly, you’re questioning everything.

“Will people think I’m not serious about my job?”
“Can I grow a business without hiding it - or feeling like I’m betraying my employer?”

This episode goes deep into the mindset shift that changes everything: you’re not cheating on your 9 to 5 - you’re leading yourself.

I’m walking you through:

• What integrity actually means when you’re building a business on the side
• How to stop hiding and start honouring both your career and your business
• Why splitting your identity is exhausting (and how to stop doing it)
• The 5 things I always come back to when I feel misaligned
• How to build something that feels honest, grounded, and fully yours

The right way to building a side business while in your 9 to 5 is the one that feels honest and aligned, that feels good, with who you are now and who you’re becoming.

Links + Resources:

>> Book a 30-min clarity call with me - If you’re ready to build something real 0 but want help mapping it out the smart, aligned way.

>> Grab the free Business Idea Validator tool - It helps you flush out your most aligned, profitable coaching idea (even if you’ve got 10 swimming in your head).

>> Or just DM me “INTEGRITY” on LinkedIn and I’ll send you everything directly.

Are you sitting on a dozen side hustle ideas but not sure which one is worth pursuing?

In this episode, I’m breaking down the “too many ideas” trap that keeps corporate women stuck in indecision - and the exact steps you can take to validate your coaching idea fast, without wasting time or building things nobody wants.

We will cover :

• Why clarity doesn’t come from thinking - it comes from testing
• How to know if your idea is actually profitable
• The 3-step method I use with clients to validate and refine their coaching offer
• How to use my free AI Coaching Idea Validator to shortcut the process

Download the free workbook + GPT tool here: This free resource and GPT tool will help you test your coaching idea, clarify your niche, and get real-world feedback - even if you don’t have an audience yet.

Let’s get you out of your head and into action.

>> Connect with me on LinkedIn 

>> Follow me on Instagram 

You’ve worked hard, built a solid career, and you’re good at what you do.

So why does it still feel… flat?

If you’ve been thinking,

In this episode, I’m getting real about:
✨ That weird in-between space where your job still looks good on paper - but doesn’t light you up anymore.
✨  Why jumping to a new job often doesn’t fix the root of the problem
✨  How starting a side coaching business helped me show up differently at work - more energised, more confident, more me
✨  How you can do it too

We’re not talking about burning bridges here. We’re talking about building options.

 So your next career move doesn’t have to be escape - it can be expansion. 

Resource: 

>> Free eBook: Validate Your Coaching Idea in 30 Minutes (With My Free GPT Validator Tool)

>> Connect with me on LinkedIn 

>> Follow me on Instagram 

After 19.5 years full-time corporate career in financial services… and 5 years building my online coaching business on the side… I’ve officially gone all in.

And with that - comes a brand new name and a bold new direction for the podcast.

Welcome to The Career-Integrated Entrepreneur™ Podcast - the rebrand of the podcast formerly known as Hustle With Heels.

In this reintroduction episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of:

• Why I rebranded the podcast
• What career-integrated entrepreneurship really means
• How I built my business with limited time and full-time responsibilities
• Why job security is no longer enough - and how a side coaching business can become your real safety net
• What you can expect from this new chapter of the show

This next chapter is here to support you as you start mapping out your own version of career-integrated entrepreneurship. One that gives you options, stability, and a business you actually want to show up for, without compromising your performance at your 9 to 5 job.

Resource: 

>> Free eBook: Validate Your Coaching Idea in 30 Minutes (With My Free GPT Validator Tool)

>> Connect with me on LinkedIn 

>> Follow me on Instagram 

What happens when the job title is gone?

Not the shiny LinkedIn headline. Not the six-figure salary. Not the identity you've spent years building your reputation around.

In this episode, I'm talking about the moment I realised how tightly my self-worth was tied to my corporate title, and what it looked like to start peeling that identity away. Not in theory, but in real time - messy, emotional, and honest.

I share:

• What no one tells you about identity loss after redundancy or career change
• How to start seeing yourself as more than a title or a resume
• The turning point that helped me fully own the role of business coach, even before I left corporate
• Four powerful tips to step into your next identity while staying grounded in who you're becoming

You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow, but you can start recognising that you’re allowed to evolve - and you don’t need anyone else’s permission to begin.

Resource: 

>> Free eBook: $5K/Month Side Coaching Business Blueprint

>> Connect with me on LinkedIn 

>> Follow me on Instagram 

Redundancy isn't just a career curveball.

It's a wake-up call.

In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what really happens when job security disappears overnight - and why building a side business is no longer a “maybe one day” move. It’s the smartest way to take back control of your income, your career, and your future.

You’ll hear:

• The emotional + financial spiral most people fall into after redundancy
•  Why your next job might not be the right move - and what to do instead
•  What a financial runway really is (and how to build one fast)
•  The mistake most people make when trying to start a business in crisis mode
•  Why a side hustle is the new job security
•  Exactly where to start - whether you’re still in your 9–5 or already in between jobs

Whether you’re still in a job or facing unexpected change, this conversation will help you rethink security, explore your next step, and start building your own income options with clarity and strategy.

Plus, I’ll walk you through what to do (and what to avoid) if you’ve just been made redundant, and how to use this moment to build long-term career freedom.

Resource: 

>> Take the free quiz: “What’s the best side hustle idea for you?” [Note there is a one-week system delay in publishing this Free Quiz - if you want to access it as soon as it’s available, please DM me on LinkedIn or Instagram directly]

>> Connect with me on LinkedIn 

>> Follow me on Instagram 

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by all the advice out there about starting a side coaching business while still in your 9 to 5, this episode clears the noise.

I’m breaking down 5 of the biggest myths keeping corporate women stuck - like needing a big audience, a perfect niche, or hustling nonstop to get results.

You’ll learn what actually works when you're building a side coaching business with limited time, and how to stay focused on what really moves the needle.

If you're still in a 9 to 5 and trying to make the most of your limited hours, this is your reminder that you can build a profitable, meaningful business without sacrificing your career, your wellbeing, or your time with family.

Resources:

Free eBook: $5K/Month Side Coaching Business Blueprint

Connect with me on LinkedIn here

Check out my Instagram here

What if you didn’t need to start from scratch?

What if the skills, strengths, and experience you already have could be the exact thing someone else is searching for right now?

In this episode, I walk you through how to take what you already know and turn it into a high-value coaching offer that’s simple, scalable, and aligned with the life you actually want.

We’re not talking about building a business from theory. We’re building from your real experience, your lived insight, and your zone of genius.

You’ll hear:

• How to find your zone of genius and why it matters
• What makes a coaching offer irresistible and scalable
• The 3 components that turn your experience into a premium offer
• Why you don’t need to wait for “ready” or get another qualification

If you’ve been wondering, “Is what I know really enough?”
This one’s for you.

Resources:

Free eBook: $5K/Month Side Coaching Business Blueprint

Connect with me on LinkedIn here

Check out my Instagram here

If you have been telling yourself, “I am not ready to coach yet,” this episode is for you.

Today, we are talking about the real reason confidence does not come from another certification or course, and how you can start building unshakable confidence right now, even if you feel messy, scared, or unsure.

I am sharing the lessons I learned the hard way, why your lived experience matters more than you think, and how to finally stop waiting for permission to start your coaching business.

Inside this episode, we will cover:

• Why getting one more certification will not make you feel ready
• How real coaching confidence is actually built
• What truly qualifies you to help clients (hint: it is not another credential)
• How to overcome the fear of not being enough and start taking action now

If you have been stuck waiting for the perfect moment, this episode will help you move forward with confidence and clarity.

Resources:

Free eBook: $5K/Month Side Coaching Business Blueprint

Connect with me on LinkedIn here

Check out my Instagram here

You don’t need to quit your job to build a real business.

You just need to start with the right focus.

In this episode, I’m sharing what it actually looks like to build a $5K/month coaching business while working full-time, and why that number matters more than you might think.

I talk about what to focus on, how to use your 9 to 5 as your safety net, and the business model I used to start from scratch with 10 hours a week.

If you’ve been wondering whether you can really do this with the time and energy you have right now, this episode will help you see the path.

📩 Enjoyed this episode? Let me know!

• Screenshot and share on your Instagram stories or LinkedIn, and tag me @cindyexcell.
• Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review - it helps more corporate women & early-stage entrepreneurs like you find this show.

Resources:

Free eBook: $5K/Month Side Coaching Business Blueprint

Connect with me on LinkedIn here

Check out my Instagram here