Little Moves, Big Careers: Smart Career Growth Strategies for Ambitious Professionals.

Caroline Esterson from Inspire Your Genius
  • 0.0 (0)
  • CAREERS

Struggling to get noticed and move up in today’s fast-changing workplace? Little Moves, Big Careers is your go-to podcast for smart, actionable career growth strategies that cut through the noise. From visibility and confidence to self-leadership and influence, every episode mixes bold insights, cheeky truths, and practical takeaways that actually work inside real organisations to help you stand out and get promoted. No corporate waffle; just unapologetically honest career talk for people who want to perform, progress, and stand out for all the right reasons. New episodes drop every Tuesday.  Start your journey with 'The Survivor’s Guide' episode to learn how to lead through change and rebuild your career even when things get sticky. Hosted by Caroline Esterson, career strategist and co-founder of www.inspireyourgenius.com, this show reveals the unspoken rules of modern work and teaches you the small, smart moves that make a big difference. Sign up for your Genius Files weekly - your backstage pass to the unspoken rules of high-performance careers. Smart shifts that make you say, “Oh damn, that’s exactly what I needed.”  https://inspire-your-genius.kit.com/a162791a94

  1. How to Bounce Back from Career Setbacks: Transferable Skills, Resilience & Reinvention with Sonia Allen

    4D AGO

    How to Bounce Back from Career Setbacks: Transferable Skills, Resilience & Reinvention with Sonia Allen

    Send us a text Careers don’t follow straight lines. They zig, they stall, they fall over… and sometimes they completely reinvent themselves. In Part 2 of my conversation with the brilliant Sonia Allen, we dig into the transferable skills that future-proof your career, how to bounce back from big professional knockbacks, and why sometimes the scenic route turns out to be the smartest one. From walking away from costly business decisions, to rebuilding after failed ventures, to redefining success around purpose, people and wellbeing - this is a powerful, honest conversation about what really keeps you moving forward when things don’t go to plan. If you’ve ever thought: “Did I just mess up my career?” Then this episode is for you. Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    37 min
  2. How to Bounce Back After Career Setbacks (and Build a Portfolio Career) with Sonia Allen | Part 1

    JAN 27

    How to Bounce Back After Career Setbacks (and Build a Portfolio Career) with Sonia Allen | Part 1

    Send us a text Ordinary choices, extraordinary resilience and a career built with courage, curiosity and a lot of grit. What does real resilience actually look like over a lifetime (not just in the highlight reel)? In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Caroline sits down with her lifelong friend Sonia Allen to explore a career built on grit, curiosity, and bold decisions (even when the odds were stacked high). From running a household alone at 17, to sleeping on college floors to keep her further education dream alive…From rising fast in the leisure industry to having her career derailed by a serious car accident…From leadership roles in education to facing cancer and completely rethinking what “success” means…Sonia’s story is a masterclass in adaptability, transferable skills, and choosing to keep moving forward when life throws serious curveballs. In Part One, we explore: Why “making it work” became Sonia’s default response to setbacksThe bold move she made at 22 that changed her career trajectoryHow leadership is really about people, not job titlesWhat happens when your identity is wrapped up in your work and it’s suddenly taken awayHow illness forced a rethink of priorities, purpose, and paceThis is not a neat, linear career story.  It’s a real one. And that’s exactly why it matters. 🎧 Part Two drops next week, where we dive into transferable skills, bounce-back-ability, and how Sonia rebuilt a whole new working life on her own terms. RESOURCES You can contact Sonia hereAnd Caroline here or caroline@inspireyorugenius.comYou can explore the work of The Tea Leaf Trust or donate hereAll Hands and Hearts Disaster Relief herewww.inspireyourgenius.comReady to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    1h 1m
  3. Career Turning Points: How Small Decisions Shape Strong Leaders and Teams with Jon Turner

    JAN 20

    Career Turning Points: How Small Decisions Shape Strong Leaders and Teams with Jon Turner

    Send us a text This is a very special episode of Little Moves, Big Careers. Today’s conversation is with Jon Turner, Managing Director of Siemens Electrification & Automation in the UK and Ireland AND the very first person I interviewed for the book research that sparked this whole project. It was in this conversation that the “little moves” pattern first became impossible to ignore. Jon’s career was shaped by sliding-door moments, chance conversations, small risks, great mentors, and a deep willingness to learn. From a lift conversation that led to a life-changing opportunity, to navigating career pivots, leadership challenges, and glass ceilings, Jon’s story is a powerful reminder that careers are rarely linear and that patience, curiosity and relationships matter more than perfect plans.  What really stands out in this interview, though, isn’t just what Jon did; it’s how he did it. He talks openly about: Why making mistakes early in your career is not just normal, but essentialThe danger of ambition running ahead of learningWhy authenticity matters more than trying to “fit the mould”How mentoring (and reverse mentoring) shapes better leadersWhy strong teams are built on trust, energy and everyday human connectionAnd why being an avid learner is the most important career strategy of allJon also speaks beautifully and proudly about his wife, Alison, and the partnership behind his career, reminding us that success is never a solo sport, and that the people who support us matter just as much as the roles we hold.  Very sadly, Jon passed away suddenly in November after a short battle with kidney cancer. With the generous blessing of his wife, Alison, I am honoured to share his words in this episode and to help keep Jon’s legacy of warmth, curiosity, generosity and belief in people alive. If you’ve ever felt pressure to have your whole career mapped out… If you’ve ever worried about making the “wrong” move…  Or if you simply want a reminder that great careers are built one small, human step at a time… This episode is for you. 🎧 And if you take something from Jon’s words, Ali and I would love to hear it. You can share your reflections with me at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - your messages mean more than you know. Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    1h 4m
  4. How to Spot Career Signals That Shape Your Next Move

    JAN 13

    How to Spot Career Signals That Shape Your Next Move

    Send us a text Before we dive into real-life career stories, let’s talk about something seriously underrated: noticing. Big career changes rarely start with big decisions.  They start with small signals we almost ignore. In this short, punchy bridge episode, Caroline shares a personal story and explains why the moments that don’t look like turning points often matter most. You’ll learn Why your emotional reactions at work are actually useful dataHow to spot early career signals before frustration turns into burnoutThe simple CPR check (Content, Process, Reaction) to decode what’s really going onAnd how to turn tiny clues into 2mm career moves that build momentumPlus, there’s a quick game of Signal or Static? to help you practise spotting what’s worth paying attention to ... and what’s just background noise. This is your warm-up before we launch into real career stories next week. Listen like a detective. Your future self will thank you. What We Cover Why meaningful things often start with random, tiny momentsThe brain’s habit of explaining away other people’s successEmotional reactions as early warning signs (or growth signals)The CPR Career Check: Content, Process, ReactionGame time: Signal or Static?Turning noticing into small, brave, practical next movesYou can also download this episode’s Bold Moves Brief for a one-page action guide to noticing and nudging your next step. 👉 www.inspireyourgenius.com/podcast Coming Up Next We’re moving into real, human, behind-the-scenes career stories - the moments of doubt, sideways moves, lucky breaks, and brave conversations that actually change things. Make sure you’re following so you don’t miss them. You can connect with Caroline here or email her at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com. Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    23 min
  5. How to Reset Your Career Goals for a New Year (Lessons from 2025)

    JAN 6

    How to Reset Your Career Goals for a New Year (Lessons from 2025)

    Send us a text 2025 wasn’t dramatic in one big way; it was heavy in lots of small ones. In this episode, Caroline Esterson reflects on what last year really taught us about work, careers, and ourselves AND how to move into 2026 with more clarity, energy, and intention. From isolation and hybrid working, to AI overload, budget cuts, and collective exhaustion, this isn’t about predictions or platitudes. It’s about noticing what changed and making small, deliberate moves that help your career flourish, even when the world feels wobbly. No reinvention required. Just a few intentional shifts. Resources 2026 Planning worksheet Connect with Caroline here You can email Caroline: caroline@inspireyourgenius.com Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    35 min
  6. Christmas Career Stories: How To Tap Into What Matters To You

    12/30/2025

    Christmas Career Stories: How To Tap Into What Matters To You

    Send us a text A quieter, gentler story to close the series. Ellie, home on Boxing Day, surrounded by cold stuffing, rogue Brussels sprouts, and the sudden realisation that she can’t keep shrinking at work. No big drama. No catastrophe. Just an honest, still moment - the kind that changes a life quietly. In this episode you’ll hear: Why identity beats resolutionsWhy quiet decisions stick longer than loud declarationsHow “I’m not shrinking this year” becomes a 2mm shiftThe power of reflective moments that no one seesPower Move: Stand Tall Little Move: Make a decision about who you are becoming. What You’ll Take Away: Your biggest breakthroughs won’t look big from the outside. But you’ll feel them. And once you’ve made the internal shift, the external changes follow naturally. Contact Caroline caroline@inspireyourgenius.com or Connect with her here Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    9 min
  7. Christmas Career Stories: How To Influence Even In High Pressure Situations

    12/23/2025

    Christmas Career Stories: How To Influence Even In High Pressure Situations

    Send us a text Ah, the office Christmas party. Less “festive joy,” more “performance review with glitter.” Nia (our quietly brilliant operations manager ) positions herself near the buffet like a tactical genius. But when Gareth from Sales knocks the cable out of the snow machine mid-brag, the night descends into festive chaos. Nia steps in with the kind of calm, grounded authority that makes real leadership obvious… without saying a word. In this episode you’ll hear: Snow machine pandemoniumOne-woman peacekeeping forcesGareth being… GarethWhy quiet leaders are the ones we follow without realisingPower Move: Build Your Circle Little Move: Be the steady one when nonsense erupts. What You’ll Take Away: Influence isn’t loud. Influence is presence. And the people who keep the room calm are the people who get remembered. Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    10 min
  8. Christmas Career Story: How To Create Clarity Even When Under Pressure

    12/16/2025

    Christmas Career Story: How To Create Clarity Even When Under Pressure

    Send us a text This is the big one. The call centre story. The real, messy, emotionally brilliant tale of Amina - QC Queen, calm diplomat, and unofficial backbone of the entire operation. On December 22nd the wallboard turns red, the VIP line collapses, agents are in tears, and the CEO shows up unannounced… just in time to take a call he’s absolutely not ready for. Amina doesn’t rescue him. She reveals the truth. In this episode you’ll hear: The sound of collective panic when the wallboard hits “Queue: 198”How emotional labour keeps entire industries runningThe CEO learning more in five minutes than in five strategy decksThe moment frontline expertise becomes undeniablePower Move: Be Seen Little Move: Make the truth visible to the person who needs to see it. What You’ll Take Away: Leadership isn’t title. It’s clarity under pressure. And sometimes the smallest act (showing someone the reality) changes everything. Contact Caroline caroline@inspireyourgenius.com or Connect with her here Ready to make your next bold move? Grab the free Bold Move Audit and join the insider crew. Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at caroline@inspireyourgenius.com - I read them all.

    11 min
See All (44)

Trailer

About

Struggling to get noticed and move up in today’s fast-changing workplace? Little Moves, Big Careers is your go-to podcast for smart, actionable career growth strategies that cut through the noise. From visibility and confidence to self-leadership and influence, every episode mixes bold insights, cheeky truths, and practical takeaways that actually work inside real organisations to help you stand out and get promoted. No corporate waffle; just unapologetically honest career talk for people who want to perform, progress, and stand out for all the right reasons. New episodes drop every Tuesday.  Start your journey with 'The Survivor’s Guide' episode to learn how to lead through change and rebuild your career even when things get sticky. Hosted by Caroline Esterson, career strategist and co-founder of www.inspireyourgenius.com, this show reveals the unspoken rules of modern work and teaches you the small, smart moves that make a big difference. Sign up for your Genius Files weekly - your backstage pass to the unspoken rules of high-performance careers. Smart shifts that make you say, “Oh damn, that’s exactly what I needed.”  https://inspire-your-genius.kit.com/a162791a94

Information