“Leave when they want you to stay.”
That’s a lesson most leaders learn quietly—if at all.

In this episode of Who Moved My Career?!, Nicole McNamara sits down with Brian Gallagher, former CEO of United Way Worldwide, for a rare, deeply personal conversation about a career he doesn’t often unpack publicly.

Over more than three decades at United Way, Brian helped reshape the organization’s mission, brand, and global impact. Here, he shares the inside story—what it’s like to stay in one role for a long time, how leadership slowly changes you, and the moment he knew it was time to leave, even when others wanted him to stay.

Brian opens up about imposter syndrome, early life experiences that shaped his leadership, and why building a portfolio career after United Way—now at Leargas Group—brought clarity, purpose, and renewed fulfillment.

This episode is for leaders, nonprofit professionals, and high performers navigating career pivots, wrestling with identity beyond a title, or wondering what legacy really means when the work evolves.
🎧 Listen for an honest look behind a remarkable career—and the courage it takes to turn the page.

Scott Barghaan walked away from a big job at a big company — not because something went wrong, but because he wanted something more intentionally designed.

In this episode, Scott shares how he’s built a portfolio career around his curiosities: advising, mentoring and teaching.

Scott mentions no fewer than 15 people who shaped his path along the way. Managers. Mentors. Sponsors. Friends. People who opened doors and people he showed up for.

He’s also clear about what grounds all of it: family and health come first, and career decisions only make sense when they support both.

This conversation isn’t about hustle or chasing titles.

It’s about designing a career that reflects what actually energizes you — and recognizing that none of us do this alone.

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Mallory Byers, who went from crushing it at Salesforce to experiencing an unexpected layoff that changed everything. But this isn't just another career pivot story—it's about what happens when you're forced to confront the question: Who am I without my job title?

Mallory opens up about her journey from high-performing executive to career coach, revealing the inner work that transformed not just her career, but her entire life. We dive deep into:

✨ Why self-trust is the foundation of any meaningful career change✨ How to recognize (and disrupt) the patterns keeping you stuck✨ What it really means to embrace uncertainty as a superpower✨ The ripple effect of doing inner work on your relationships and well-being✨ Practical strategies for owning your value in job searches and negotiations

If you're a high performer who's ever felt lost, stuck in a pattern, or afraid to make a change—this episode is for you. Mallory's insights on becoming the CEO of your own career will challenge you to ask: What would I do if I wasn't afraid?

High performers aren’t supposed to feel lost — until they do.

In this episode, host Nicole McNamara sits down with Adunola Adeshola, career strategist and Forbes Contributor, to talk about what happens when success stops feeling satisfying.

They unpack the idea of being “uncomfortably happy” — that uneasy space between achievement and purpose — and explore how asking for help, redefining your identity, and owning your story can change everything.

Adunola shares hard truths about the current job market, why top performers struggle in career transitions, and how to build a life that feels as good as it looks on paper.

When Emmy Award–winning ABC anchor Larry Miller sits down, you expect headlines.
What you don’t expect are French horns, male danseurs, and a conversation that stretches from childhood obsessions to purpose, pivots, and what it means to be one of the few Black journalists on TV in Oregon.

Larry’s interviewed me plenty, but this time, he’s on the other side of the mic.

We talk about his mom, his music, his mistakes, and the moments that told him he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

It’s funny, reflective, and full of heart — a reminder that our paths make sense only when we look back.

🎧 Who Moved My Career with Larry Miller — listen now.

A layoff isn’t just a career setback, it’s an emotional reset. In this episode, Nicole McNamara talks with Steve Jaffe, author of The Layoff Journey, about what really happens after the email hits: the grief, the loss of identity, and the surprising moments of humor that help you heal. They unpack how to process the emotions first, rebuild your confidence, and move from victim to architect of your next chapter.

In this episode of Who Moved My Career?!, Nicole sits down with her longtime friend and serial entrepreneur Neil Sands — founder of Lost Irish Whiskey, Clir Water, and a few other ventures that prove bold ideas (and good stories) never go out of style.

They met in grad school in Dublin, crossed paths again at Salesforce (Neil hired Nicole!), and now reunite to talk about what it really takes to build something from scratch — the conviction, the chaos, and the quiet confidence behind every entrepreneurial leap.

It’s part storytelling, part therapy, and part Irish toast to those willing to bet on themselves again and again.

BTW - get some Lost Irish at https://lostirish.com/

From poker player to product builder to founder of FractionalJobs.io, Taylor Crane has bet big on the future of work — and it’s not full-time.

In this episode, Nicole McNamara and Sam Tortora sit down with Taylor to unpack what fractional work really means, why startups are embracing it, and how professionals can build thriving portfolio careers on their own terms.

They dig into the flexibility, freedom, and real-world challenges behind the movement — from retainer-based pay to health insurance gaps — and why, as Taylor puts it, “fractional isn’t easier, it’s just smarter.”

If you’ve ever wondered how to break into fractional work or hire top talent without full-time overhead, this conversation is your playbook for the new labor economy.

🎧 Topics include:

• The difference between fractional and freelance

• The demand for expert-level, part-time roles

• How long fractional engagements really last and how to get started

• The mission behind FractionalJobs.io

In this episode of Who Moved My Career?!, hosts Nicole McNamara and Sam Tortora sit down with Gavin McMahon — engineer turned storyteller and author of Story Business — to prove that storytelling isn’t fluff; it’s a power move.

From boardrooms to job interviews, Gavin shows how the right narrative can do what data can’t: shift perception, build trust, and even move markets. He breaks down the story beneath the story, why authenticity beats “LinkedIn polish,” and introduces story stocks — the tales investors buy into long before they buy equity.

If your career path looks more like a plot twist than a straight line, this one will help you turn your messy middle into your market advantage.

A year ago, we first met Sam Tortora in Episode 2. Today, she’s back — not just as a guest, but as our new co-host.

This conversation sets the tone for the next chapter of Who Moved My Career?!: LinkedIn vs. Reality. Think of it like sitting down with your coworkers after hours, when the polished profiles and “I’m thrilled to announce” posts finally drop away.

Together, we unpack the tension between how we present ourselves professionally and what actually happens inside workplaces. Why it’s so hard to have the uncomfortable conversations. Why we avoid them. And why we need them more than ever.

Because at its core, this podcast is about creating a safe space to talk about the stuff we don’t usually say out loud at work — the messy, honest, human side of our careers.

Takeaways:

• LinkedIn is the highlight reel; this podcast is the blooper reel.

• We aim to create space for the conversations you wish you could have with coworkers.

• Workplace dynamics don’t get better by avoiding them — they get better by naming them.

• Expect relatability, honesty, and a little cheek.