The Career Transition Podcast

After 30+ years climbing the ranks in hospitality — hotels, casinos, ownership groups, leadership roles across the country — Rich hit a moment most senior leaders never admit out loud:

He looked around at a career he'd spent his entire adult life building…

And realized the dream he'd been chasing wasn't the one he actually wanted anymore.

In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to walk away from a decades-long career and pivot industries as a senior leader — without starting over, without taking a pay cut, and without losing the seniority you've earned.

We talk about:

• The identity shock of leaving the only industry you've ever known
• How "triage hospitality" during the pandemic forced a deeper reckoning about work-life balance, longevity, and what success actually means at this stage of life
• The courage it takes to resign from a stable, well-paying executive role with nothing lined up
• Why resume-only career coaches couldn't solve his real problem (and why most senior leaders fall into this trap)
• How the Chunks of 10 framework helped him reconnect with his origin story and uncover transferable strengths he didn't realize he had
• Why the community component is non-negotiable when you're navigating a high-stakes pivot at the executive level
• The mindset shifts required to transition strategically (not emotionally or out of burnout)
• Why holistic positioning matters far more than rewriting your resume when you're crossing industries

Rich went from 30+ years in hospitality leadership to landing a leadership role in an entirely new industry — without starting over, without stepping backward, and without sacrificing the lifestyle he finally decided he deserved.

If you're 20+ years into your career and quietly wondering if you've been chasing the wrong dream, this conversation will help you think clearly before you act impulsively.

If you'd like help navigating your own crossroads, book a 15 min Career Diagnosis using this link: https://go.nadabuhendi.com/video

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and share your feedback about this episode. I always love hearing from my listeners: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadabuhendi/

After 10 years of building successful businesses, Rashid hit a moment most senior leaders never admit:

He looked around at his peers getting promoted, buying houses, building stability…

And wondered if he’d made the wrong bet.

In this episode, we unpack what it really takes to navigate a senior career pivot, especially in today’s market.

We talk about:

• The identity shock of feeling “behind” after a decade of success
• Why entrepreneurial experience is hard to translate into corporate leadership
• The mindset shifts required to transition strategically (not emotionally)
• The qualities senior professionals need to compete in this market
• Why accountability and positioning matter more than rewriting your resume

Rashid went from running his own ventures to landing at Amazon across countries without starting over.

If you’re 15+ years into your career and questioning your next move, this conversation will help you think clearly before you act impulsively.

If you’d like help navigating your own crossroads, book a Career Strategy Call using this link: https://go.nadabuhendi.com/video

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and share with me your feedback about this episode. I always love hearing from my listeners: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadabuhendi/

Every episode is a snippet from my Career Transformation Program. If you'd like to dive deeper and work more closely with me to achieve similar results as my clients, I invite you to book your career diagnosis here: https://www.nadabuhendi.com/introduction-call/

If you'd like to learn more about me, visit: https://www.nadabuhendi.com/about/. You can also follow me on LinkedIn here.

At 17, my father threw a can of car oil at me & left a wall dent

So in that moment, after he missed, I made an important decision:

I decided to travel as far away as possible from him. 🌍

It really was that simple.
Live or die.
And I chose live.

So I hit the reset button at 18, left my birth country, and landed in Canada with 2 suitcases on my own.

But nothing was peachy.

I spent another 18 years recovering from trauma.

Trauma that has caused me to question:
- Am I good enough?
- What if I fail?
- Do I deserve this job?

In this episode of the Career Transformation Podcast
I talked about what most career coaches don't talk about.

The elephant in the room.
The impact of a crappy childhood on your career.
And what you can do about it.

Burnt out? Anxious? Battling with the alarm every morning? Been there but overcame it. In this episode I partner with Christine Hronec, an award-winning chemist, 3-time champion fitness competitor, and nutrition expert to answer questions on how to uplevel your performance naturally.

Christine is the reason I lost 30lb+ after feeling burnt out during the pandemic.

In this episode you will guide people into action rather than micromanage them. If you feel like your team never listens to you then this is for you. If you feel like you're unable to persuade leadership, this is for you too.


Here are 3 takeaways:
1. How to be seen as a guide instead of a micromanager
2. Adding "coaching" skills to your toolbox and earn respect at the leadership table
3. Learn the difference between coaching and managing


I also answer FAQ from my community

If you'd like to dive deeper and work more closely with me to achieve similar results as my clients, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn and send me a DM so we can schedule a virtual coffee. You can find me here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadabuhendi

If you'd like to learn more about me, visit: https://www.nadabuhendi.com/about/. 


To learn more about Damon, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damonbpoole/ and check out his website at: https://facilitivity.com

Get Damon's book Professional Coaching for Agilists: https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Coaching-Agilists-Damon-Poole-ebook/dp/B08JGQ2BC4

In this episode you will learn my proprietary storytelling framework that I've used not only to help my clients with interviews but also write their resume. I presented this framework at the Scrum Alliance and in an interview at The Globe & Mail.


Here are 3 takeaways:
1. Ditch the STAR framework and use The Hero's Journey
2. The Doctor Frame technique to Interviewing
3. How to Apply The Hero Journey to Your Resume & Interviews


I also answer FAQ from my community:
1) How do I remember what I've done with over 10 years of experience
2) I don't have any good stories, do you have tips?

Every episode is a snippet from Career Transformation Program. If you'd like to dive deeper and work more closely with me to achieve similar results as my clients, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn and send me a DM so we can schedule a virtual coffee. You can find me here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadabuhendi/

If you'd like to learn more about me, visit: https://www.nadabuhendi.com/about/. You can also follow me on LinkedIn here.
To learn more about John, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejohncollective/

This is one of my favourite episodes where I bust myths around how the Application Tracking System Works and the mythical bots who don't exist


Here are 3 takeaways:
1. The goal of a resume
2. How the Application Tracking System actually works
3. How recruiters scan resumes


I also answer FAQ from my community:
1) Do recruiters and hiring managers read cover letters?
2) What's up with automated rejections?
3) What if I don't match the job posting criteria, do I still apply?

Every episode is a snippet from Career Transformation Program. If you'd like to dive deeper and work more closely with me to achieve similar results as my clients, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn and send me a DM so we can schedule a virtual coffee. You can find me here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadabuhendi/

If you'd like to learn more about me, visit: https://www.nadabuhendi.com/about/. You can also follow me on LinkedIn here.
To learn more about John, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejohncollective/