Career Change Maker | Career Clarity, Career Opportunities, Career Pivots, Burnout, Corporate Job, Income

Janine Esbrand I Career Coach, Career Change Coach, Executive Coach
  • 4.8 (47)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

***Top 1.5% Global Careers Podcast For Corporate Women***Are you navigating a mid-career transition and wondering what’s next? Have you built a successful corporate career but realised you don’t want your boss’s job?Do you feel the tension between wanting more freedom and not wanting to sacrifice security? If you’re ambitious but no longer willing to burn out for another promotion, you’re in the right place. I’m glad you’re here. This podcast helps high-achieving mid-career women gain career clarity and confidently design their next chapter, whether that means evolving inside corporate, exploring a portfolio career, or building a hybrid path. If you’re ready to stop default climbing and start making strategic, aligned decisions about your future, this podcast will give you the insight and tools to move forward with confidence.  Hey 👋 , I’m Janine Esbrand, corporate lawyer turned career strategist and executive coach. For years, I had my eye on the corporate partner title. I kept my head down, worked the long hours, and chased the next big deal because that’s what success was supposed to look like. Then I became a mother. And I realised I didn’t want to build a life around my career, I wanted to build a career around my life. So, I stepped off the default corporate path and designed a portfolio career that allows me to work on my terms, create meaningful impact, and show up fully, both professionally and personally. Now, I help ambitious mid-career women do the same: gain clarity, challenge the default ladder, and design aligned, sustainable careers that reflect who they are now, not who they used to be. This podcast will give you the strategy, mindset and tools to make it happen. So grab your notebook, pour your hot drink of choice and lets design what’s next. Next Steps:🎙️ Explore for 1:1 Coaching: www.careerchangemakers.com/claritycall🌐 Visit the Website: www.careerchangemakers.com📩 Contact Us: hello@careerchangemakers.com

  1. 5D AGO

    311 I Why Traditional Advice Is No Longer Relevant For Mid-Career Women

    Are you still following a career blueprint that was designed for a world that no longer exists? As we navigate 2026, the traditional "rules" of professional growth are being rewritten, yet so many mid-career women are still holding themselves back by trying to play an outdated game.  In this episode, I’m diving deep into why the career advice we were given a decade ago is actually sabotaging our progress today. I share why "staying the course" can sometimes lead to stagnation and how you can shift your perspective to navigate this new landscape with confidence. From the rise of AI to the strategic power of the "job hopper" label, it’s time to stop settling for a career that fits your past and start redesigning one that fuels your future.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Expiry Date of Traditional Advice: Why the "proven" strategies of the past are now the biggest hurdles for mid-career women. The Power of the Pivot: Why I’ve embraced "job hopping" as a tool for advancement rather than a mark of inconsistency. Navigating the AI Shift: How to focus on your unique human value so that technological changes become your competitive advantage.  Career Redesign vs. Career Recovery: How to move from just "getting through the week" to intentionally engineering a path that aligns with your personal growth.  Action Steps: Audit Your Internal Rules: Identify one piece of "standard" career wisdom you’re still following (like staying in a role for a minimum number of years) and ask if it actually serves your 2026 goals. Give Yourself Permission to Move: Stop viewing a career change as a "restart." View it as a strategic upgrade to a version of work that fits your current season of life. Prioritize Navigation over Path: In a changing economy, your ability to navigate and adapt is more valuable than any linear ladder. Start looking for the moves that keep you agile.  Ready to Redesign Your Career? If you’re feeling the tug to move but aren't sure how to navigate the current market, I’m here to help you get unstuck.  👉 Book a clarity call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s map out your next best step together.  Send a text Website: careerchangemakers.com Email: hello@careerchangemakers.com LinkedIn: Janine Esbrand Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast

    17 min

  2. TRAILER

    Welcome To The Career Change Maker Podcast! Top Podcast For Mid-Career Women Redesigning What’s Next

    The Podcast for Ambitious Mid-Career Women Redesigning What’s Next ***Top 1.5% Global Careers Podcast*** Are you navigating a mid-career transition and wondering what’s next? Have you built a successful corporate career but realised you don’t want your boss’s job? Do you feel the tension between wanting more freedom and not wanting to sacrifice security? If you’re ambitious but no longer willing to burn out for another promotion, you’re in the right place. I’m so glad you’re here. This podcast helps high-achieving mid-career women gain career clarity and confidently design their next chapter,  whether that means evolving inside corporate, exploring a portfolio career, or building a hybrid path. If you’re ready to stop default climbing and start making strategic, aligned decisions about your future, this podcast will give you the insight and tools to move forward with confidence.  Hello, Hello! I’m Janine Esbrand, corporate lawyer turned career strategist and executive coach. For years, I had my eye on the corporate partner title. I kept my head down, worked the long hours, and chased the next big deal because that’s what success was supposed to look like. Until I became a mother. And I realised I didn’t want to build a life around my career, I wanted to build a career around my life. So I stepped off the default corporate path and designed a portfolio career that allows me to work on my terms, create meaningful impact, and show up fully, both professionally and personally. Now I help ambitious mid-career women do the same. If you’re ready to gain clarity, challenge the default ladder, and design an aligned, sustainable career that reflects who you are now, not who you used to be, this podcast will give you the strategy, mindset and tools that you need.  So grab your notebook, pour your hot drink of choice, and let’s design what’s next.  Send a text Website: careerchangemakers.com Email: hello@careerchangemakers.com LinkedIn: Janine Esbrand Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast

    2 min

  3. FEB 26

    310 I Feeling Guilty About Making A Career Move? Try This Reframe

    Are you considering a career move but feeling held back by guilt? Whether it’s leaving a role you worked years to attain or walking away from an industry that looks "perfect" on paper, the weight of loyalty and identity can be paralysing. In this episode, I dive deep into why we feel guilty about wanting more and how to shift your perspective to embrace the evolving seasons of your career. Drawing from my own transition from corporate law to in-house practice after becoming a mother, I talk about how to move from a place of "should" to a place of intentional alignment. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Trap of "Good on Paper": Why objective success (titles and salary) often masks a deep lack of personal alignment.The Psychology of Career Guilt: Understanding how your identity and past hard work can make you feel "stuck" in a role that no longer serves you.Embracing Seasonality: Why the decisions you made 5 or 10 years ago don't have to dictate your future.Pivot Without Burning Bridges: How to leave a role or industry with agency and intention rather than fear or drama. Action Steps: Give Yourself Permission to Re-evaluate: Be honest about what isn’t working in your current role and accept that your priorities may have shifted.Audit Your Alignment: Move beyond external markers of success. Ask yourself if your current role aligns with your current personality, values, and motivations.Choose Intention Over Fear: Decide to stay or go based on what makes sense for your current season of life, not out of a sense of obligation to your past self. Do you find yourself relating to this episode and need some guidance? 👉 Book a clarity call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore your next best step. Send a text Website: careerchangemakers.com Email: hello@careerchangemakers.com LinkedIn: Janine Esbrand Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast

    12 min

  4. FEB 19

    309 I Career Clarity After 13 Years in the Same Organisation with Claire Bartkus

    If you’re feeling stuck at mid-career, unsure whether to stay, pivot, or start something new this episode is for you. In this case study, I’m joined by my former client Claire, who went from feeling uncertain about her next move after leaving a role of 13 years in education to gaining crystal-clear career clarity and launching her own consulting business in just three months. We talk about what it really takes to get unstuck, how to move from overthinking to aligned action, and why clarity doesn’t have to take years when you approach it strategically. If you’ve been sitting in “what’s next?” mode for longer than you’d like, this conversation will give you both perspective and momentum. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why mid-career transitions can feel heavier and how to navigate them strategicallyThe difference between being “stuck” and being unclearHow Claire moved from uncertainty to launching a consulting business in 3 monthsWhat actually creates clarity (hint: it’s not more overthinking)The mindset shifts required to stop default climbing and start designing what’s nextAction Steps: 1️⃣ Get honest about what feels misaligned.  Instead of asking “What job should I apply for?” ask “What do I no longer want to tolerate?” 2️⃣ Stop gathering endless information and choose one direction to test.  Clarity often comes from action, not analysis. 3️⃣ Define your next 90-day focus.  If you had to move forward strategically for the next three months, what would you prioritise? 👉 Book a clarity call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore your next best step. Connect with Claire and learn more about her work - https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-bartkus/  Send a text Website: careerchangemakers.com Email: hello@careerchangemakers.com LinkedIn: Janine Esbrand Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast

    35 min

  5. FEB 12

    308 I How To Be More Visible As An Introvert

    In this episode, I’m speaking directly to the introverts and the “just let me do my good work” professionals who feel resistant to the whole “be everywhere, build your personal brand, post every day” narrative. Visibility is important for career progression, whether you want to move up internally or explore opportunities externally. But being visible doesn’t mean becoming someone you’re not. I break down how to approach visibility in a way that feels aligned, strategic, and sustainable, especially if you don’t naturally enjoy being in the spotlight.  I share the three-step framework I use with my coaching clients to help them build visibility without compromising their personality or values. If you’ve ever been passed up for opportunities and wondered why less experienced people seem to get ahead, this episode will give you clarity and a practical way forward. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why visibility is required for career progression (even if you’re brilliant at what you do)The difference between being everywhere and being strategicThe 3-step visibility framework: Who, How, WhenWhy people promote based on perceived potential and how to influence that perceptionAction Steps: Identify Your “Who.” Ask yourself: Who specifically needs to see me and understand my value? A hiring manager? A senior leader? A decision-maker in your industry? Get clear.Choose Your Method. Decide how you will raise your visibility with intention. This might look like speaking up once in key meetings, booking strategic coffee chats, supporting a senior leader’s project, or attending a targeted event.Set Your Cadence. Visibility doesn’t mean constant noise. It means consistency. Choose a rhythm that works for you; monthly or quarterly and commit to more than one touchpoint.If this episode resonated with you and you’re ready to build a visibility strategy that feels aligned to who you are that’s exactly what we work on inside my one-to-one coaching. Once we’re clear on where you want to go, we design the right visibility plan to get you seen by the right people without forcing you to become someone you’re not. 👉 Book a clarity call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore your next best step. And if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review.  It helps the show reach more ambitious professionals who need this message. Send a text Website: careerchangemakers.com Email: hello@careerchangemakers.com LinkedIn: Janine Esbrand Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast

    9 min

  6. FEB 5

    307 I Why Surface Level Confidence Isn’t Enough For Career Progression

    🎙️ Episode Overview In this solo episode, I’m talking about something I see come up again and again during career transitions: the difference between appearing confident and actually feeling confident. I work with so many high-achieving professionals who look confident on the outside; capable, accomplished, and put together, yet internally they’re second-guessing themselves, especially when they’re navigating interviews, considering a move, or trying to figure out what’s next in their career. In this episode, I unpack why “faking it till you make it” doesn’t work long-term when you’re in transition, and what actually helps you build confidence that supports you as you move towards your next role, opportunity, or career chapter.  I also share a recent client example that highlights how confidence grows when you reconnect with your experience, your value, and the evidence of what you already bring to the table. If your confidence has dipped as you think about what’s next or you’re tired of performing confidence rather than truly feeling it,  this episode is for you. ✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why confidence often dips during career transitions, even when you’re highly capableThe difference between looking confident and feeling confident and why that matters in interviews and career conversationsWhy “fake it till you make it” can leave you feeling scattered and disconnectedHow reflecting on your experience helps you position yourself more confidently for what’s nextWhy confidence comes from action and evidence, not waiting until you feel “ready”🧭 Action Steps Take stock of your experience: I encourage you to write down what you’ve done, achieved, and navigated especially the things you tend to dismiss.Connect the dots: Look at how your past experience links to the roles or opportunities you’re exploring next.Build confidence through action: Take small, intentional steps outside your comfort zone and pay attention to what you learn along the way.💬 Ready for Support? If you’re in the middle of a career transition and want to feel more confident in interviews, networking conversations, and decision-making, I’d love to support you. 👉🏽 Book a Clarity Call at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall and let’s explore how coaching can help you move forward with confidence as you step into your next career chapter. Send a text Website: careerchangemakers.com Email: hello@careerchangemakers.com LinkedIn: Janine Esbrand Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast

    14 min

  7. JAN 29

    306 I Closing the Gap Between Goal Setting and Actually Achieving

    🎙️ Episode Overview If you’re great at setting career goals but struggle to actually achieve them, this episode is for you. As we reach the end of January and motivation starts to dip, I wanted to have a real conversation about why so many people get stuck between intention and execution, and how you can close that gap. In this episode, I break down the real reasons goals stall. I talk about the danger of taking action without structure, how too much external noise leads to confusion, and why misdiagnosing the problem can keep you spinning your wheels.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why setting the goal is often the easy part and what usually gets in the way after thatHow lack of structure and too many opinions can lead to confusion, inaction, and burnoutWhy doing more isn’t always the answer and how to approach things insteadAction Steps Pause and audit what you’re doing: Look at your actions and ask yourself what the data is telling you about what’s working and what isn’t.Identify the real bottleneck: If you’re not getting results, figure out where things are breaking down instead of trying to do everything at once.Create intentional structure: Start with the end in mind and work backwards to define the right steps, in the right order for you.🔗 Book a Career Clarity Call If you’re ready to close the gap between the goals you’ve set and actually achieving them, book a clarity call with me at careerchangemakers.com/claritycall Send a text Website: careerchangemakers.com Email: hello@careerchangemakers.com LinkedIn: Janine Esbrand Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast

    19 min

  8. JAN 22

    305 I From Career Confusion to Launching an Unexpected Business with Maren Sorber van Halteren

    From Burnout to Business Owner (Client Case Study) In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful career coaching case study with my client, Maren. After moving from the Netherlands to Sweden and building a “squiggly” career across physiotherapy, admin, tech support, HR tech and customer success, she hit a point of exhaustion and misalignment at work. Maren came to coaching feeling tired, frustrated, and unsure of her next career move. Together, we explored her strengths, values and ideal work life. What started as a search for a new role turned into something bigger: the clarity and confidence to start her own business and design work that truly fits her. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How career coaching creates clarity The tools we used to help Maren understand her strengths, preferences and ideal working environment.From self-doubt to self-advocacy at work How Maren went from “keeping quiet” to confidently speaking up, communicating her value, and challenging assumptions about what was possible in her career.A practical path from employee to business owner How she made a calculated, low-risk transition into entrepreneurship in Sweden, including using a legally protected leave to start her business without losing job security.In this episode, we talk about: What burnout and misalignment looked like for her day-to-dayWhy trying to “figure it all out in your head” keeps you stuckHow informational interviews and LinkedIn outreach gave her real-world dataThe mindset shift from “maybe one day I’ll start a business” to “I’m a business owner now”The emotional reality of starting a business: fear, excitement, headaches… and growthMaren also shares how coaching helped her avoid taking the long, indirect “multi-stop flight” in her career, and instead take a more direct route to the work and life she actually wanted. Connect with Maren  Today, Maren runs Floohi, where she helps small and growing businesses: Create calm, systemised operations behind the scenesStreamline workflows and processesUse tools like Notion to bring structure and clarity so founders can focus on what they do bestIf you’re a business owner who feels like everything is in your head and your backend is chaos, you’ll love hearing how Maren supports her clients. 👉 Connect with Maren and learn more about Floohi via the links in the show notes. Considering Coaching? If you’re: Drained and disengaged in your current roleWondering what else you could do with your experienceConsidering a career change or starting a business but don’t know where to startthis episode will give you a real-life example of what’s possible with structured career coaching, accountability, and a clear plan. If you’re ready to explore your next chapter and want support, book a career clarity call.  Want to connect and share your thoughts on the episode? Send an email to podcast@careerchangemakers.com Send a text Website: careerchangemakers.com Email: hello@careerchangemakers.com LinkedIn: Janine Esbrand Instagram: @careerchangemakerspodcast

    39 min
See All (321)

Trailer

4.8
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

***Top 1.5% Global Careers Podcast For Corporate Women***Are you navigating a mid-career transition and wondering what’s next? Have you built a successful corporate career but realised you don’t want your boss’s job?Do you feel the tension between wanting more freedom and not wanting to sacrifice security? If you’re ambitious but no longer willing to burn out for another promotion, you’re in the right place. I’m glad you’re here. This podcast helps high-achieving mid-career women gain career clarity and confidently design their next chapter, whether that means evolving inside corporate, exploring a portfolio career, or building a hybrid path. If you’re ready to stop default climbing and start making strategic, aligned decisions about your future, this podcast will give you the insight and tools to move forward with confidence.  Hey 👋 , I’m Janine Esbrand, corporate lawyer turned career strategist and executive coach. For years, I had my eye on the corporate partner title. I kept my head down, worked the long hours, and chased the next big deal because that’s what success was supposed to look like. Then I became a mother. And I realised I didn’t want to build a life around my career, I wanted to build a career around my life. So, I stepped off the default corporate path and designed a portfolio career that allows me to work on my terms, create meaningful impact, and show up fully, both professionally and personally. Now, I help ambitious mid-career women do the same: gain clarity, challenge the default ladder, and design aligned, sustainable careers that reflect who they are now, not who they used to be. This podcast will give you the strategy, mindset and tools to make it happen. So grab your notebook, pour your hot drink of choice and lets design what’s next. Next Steps:🎙️ Explore for 1:1 Coaching: www.careerchangemakers.com/claritycall🌐 Visit the Website: www.careerchangemakers.com📩 Contact Us: hello@careerchangemakers.com

Information

You Might Also Like