The Great Shedding

For more than 30 years, Jametta Barden built a successful career leading complex technology implementations while quietly becoming one of the most trusted and respected people inside her organization. When an unexpected corporate layoff ended that chapter, she initially believed she was ready to retire. But once the shock settled in, she found herself confronting the same questions many experienced professionals face:

Who am I without my title? Did my work really matter? What's next?

In this heartfelt conversation, Jametta shares the emotional journey from uncertainty and embarrassment to freedom, purpose, and possibility. She reflects on discovering that her greatest legacy wasn't the projects she completed—it was the people she encouraged, mentored, and inspired along the way.

Together, Jacqueline and Jametta explore the importance of separating identity from career, preparing financially for unexpected disruption, embracing the freedom to redefine success, and creating a life centered around what truly matters.

This episode is a powerful reminder that while careers may end, your influence doesn't.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Why losing a job can unexpectedly challenge your sense of identity.
• How financial preparedness creates freedom to choose your next chapter.
• The difference between being busy and doing work that truly matters.
• Why your greatest professional legacy is often the impact you have on people.
• How to recognize that your value extends far beyond any company or title.

If you've ever questioned your worth after a career transition, this conversation will remind you of one important truth:

You matter more than you think.

After 26 years in healthcare and 18 years in leadership, Nichole Lunde found herself facing an unexpected career transition—and a deeply personal question: What if success is no longer about the title, but about creating a life that works for me?
In this candid conversation, Nichole shares how career displacement gave her the opportunity to pause, reconsider what mattered most, and redefine what she wanted from her work. She reflects on the demands of executive leadership, the loss of confidence that can follow displacement, and the importance of recognizing the experience and impact hidden within years of job responsibilities.
Together, Jacqueline and Nichole explore what it means to look beyond titles and compensation to identify the essence of meaningful work. Nichole also shares how professional support helped her reposition her experience, strengthen her résumé and LinkedIn presence, and pursue opportunities with greater intention—ultimately leading to a new role that offered purpose, a strong team culture, competitive compensation, and more time for herself.
Whether you are navigating a layoff, reconsidering your definition of success, or searching for work that better fits your life, this episode is a reminder that reinvention does not always mean moving higher. Sometimes, it means moving closer to what matters most.

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After more than three decades in corporate technology, including fourteen years at a previous company, Darius Brown faced an unexpected career separation. Yet instead of letting a single moment define his future, he chose differently.

In this conversation, Darius shares how experience, self-awareness, and confidence allowed him to approach career disruption with intention rather than fear. He reflects on why external validation loses its power when you truly know your value, the difference between your personal brand and the value you deliver, and why seasoned professionals should stop chasing opportunities that don't align with who they are.

Together, Jacqueline and Darius explore what it means to pause before rushing into the next role, evaluate your transferable skills, maintain structure during uncertainty, and intentionally design your next chapter instead of reacting to it.

This episode is filled with practical wisdom for professionals navigating career displacement—and a powerful reminder that your career may change, but your value does not.

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After experiencing her second career layoff, Sheena Murphy initially did what many displaced professionals do: hit the panic button, submit applications, and try to replace what she had lost. But when the job search did not move as expected, she was forced to pause—and confront how burned out and disconnected she had become from the life she truly wanted.
In this candid conversation, Sheena shares how career disruption became an unexpected invitation to release the “shoulds,” reconnect with her core values, and build Radiant and Rooted Coaching. A defining moment came from watching her daughter begin college and make choices based on what she wanted—not simply what others expected. It prompted Sheena to ask herself: Am I choosing my life, or am I letting life choose for me?
Together, Jacqueline and Sheena explore the connection between stress and well-being, why rest does not have to be earned, and how our emotions and physical bodies often reveal what we have been unwilling to acknowledge. Sheena also offers practical guidance for professionals navigating displacement, including preserving evidence of their impact, allowing time to grieve, and examining their best and worst career days for clues about what they want next.
This episode is a reminder that career disruption may take away a title—but it can also create the space to choose yourself, bet on your abilities, and build a life rooted in courage, integrity, and joy.

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After spending 13.5 years building a successful career in HR technology, Ashlee Schuler never expected to find herself asking one of the most difficult questions of her professional life: How do I explain my value outside the company that helped define it?
In this candid conversation, Ashlee shares her journey through corporate displacement, the emotions that followed, and the challenge of translating years of experience into a new professional identity. She reflects on grief, self-discovery, and the importance of separating your worth from your employer, while embracing the opportunity to rediscover what matters most.
Together, Jacqueline and Ashlee explore what it means to navigate career disruption with intention, redefine success, and prepare for the next chapter. Ashlee also shares practical insights for experienced professionals facing today's changing workforce—from communicating your impact to planning financially for uncertainty and embracing AI as part of the future of work.
Whether you're navigating a layoff, considering your next career move, or simply questioning what's next, this episode is a reminder that your greatest value isn't found in your title or the company on your résumé—it's found in the impact you've created and the person you've become.

Your story may inspire someone. Be our next podcast guest
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After nearly a decade of building a reputation for leading complex initiatives and getting things done, Liz Valadez faced an unexpected reality: experience alone was no longer enough.
In this conversation, Liz shares her journey through career displacement, navigating an internal job search that often felt more procedural than personal, adapting to AI-driven hiring practices, and confronting the fear that many experienced professionals quietly carry—wondering whether their years of contribution still matter.
Together, we explore how the rules of work have changed, why networking and community became essential to her next chapter, and how taking time to rediscover herself beyond her professional identity ultimately reshaped her perspective.
If you've ever questioned your value after a career disruption or wondered how to translate decades of experience into today's workforce, this conversation offers both honesty and hope.
Because sometimes the greatest challenge isn't finding your next job—it's remembering that your experience has value, even when it temporarily feels invisible.

Your story may inspire someone. Be our next podcast guest
https://forms.gle/wXeEMDh59QboNrRx6

LINKEDIN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmcdbrown/
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/be_the_ceo_of_you/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61...

After nearly a decade of building a reputation for leading complex initiatives and getting things done, Liz Valadez found herself facing an unexpected reality: experience alone was no longer enough.

In this conversation, Liz shares her journey through career displacement, navigating an internal job search that often felt more procedural than personal, adapting to AI-driven hiring practices, and confronting the fear that many experienced professionals quietly carry—wondering whether their years of contribution still matter.

Together, we explore how the rules of work have changed, why networking and community became essential to her next chapter, and how taking time to rediscover herself beyond her professional identity ultimately reshaped her perspective.

If you've ever questioned your value after a career disruption or wondered how to translate decades of experience into today's workforce, this conversation offers both honesty and hope.

Because sometimes the greatest challenge isn't finding your next job—it's remembering that your experience has value, even when it temporarily feels invisible.