Taking Control of Your Career with Sally Spicer

Sally Spicer

Taking Control of Your Career is a career coaching podcast for women who know they’re capable of more but feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start. Hosted by career coach Sally Spicer, this podcast is about cutting through the noise, calming the panic, and having the honest conversations most of us avoid. There’s no hype, no hustle, and no pressure to have it all figured out — just clear thinking, practical tools, and grounded support to help you stop second-guessing yourself and start making career decisions that actually feel right. If you’re navigating career transition, questioning your next move, or ready to redefine success on your own terms, this podcast will help you move from uncertainty to confident, intentional action. Career clarity. Confidence. Control.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Are You Practising the Life You Want… or the One You're Trying to Escape?

    What if the life you're longing for isn't being blocked by a lack of time... What if it's being shaped by the habits you've spent years practising? This week's episode was inspired by a powerful coaching session that reminded me just how easy it is to become disconnected from our own lives without even noticing. What started as a conversation about career quickly became something much deeper. It became a conversation about presence. About productivity. About joy. And about how so many ambitious women become so good at managing life that they stop actually experiencing it. My client described feeling restless. At first she assumed she was bored, but as we explored it together, she realised something much more significant. She wasn't bored. She'd become disconnected. Disconnected from the simple moments that once brought her joy. Reading to her children. Walking the dog. Cooking dinner. Even sitting with her family had become another task to complete before moving on to the next thing. And honestly... I think so many of us will recognise ourselves in that. In this episode, I also share my own story about Sunday dinners, family holidays and the moment I realised I'd quietly turned things I genuinely loved into responsibilities I simply had to get through. Because here's the truth... If we're constantly rehearsing busyness, productivity and exhaustion, those become our default settings. And unless we consciously interrupt those patterns, we'll carry them into every new chapter of our lives and careers. A new job won't change them. A promotion won't change them. More flexibility won't change them. Because wherever we go... we take ourselves with us. In this episode we explore: Why feeling restless isn't always a sign you need a new jobHow high-achieving women quietly disconnect from their own livesWhy productivity can become part of our identityThe hidden ways we practise the life we're trying to escapeWhy waiting for burnout or redundancy to force change is more common than you thinkThe powerful coaching question: "How are you complicit in the conditions you complain about?"Why self-awareness is the first step towards creating lasting changeHow to stop carrying old patterns into your next career moveIf you've been telling yourself that everything will feel better once you get a new job, this episode is your reminder to pause first. Because changing jobs without changing patterns often leads us straight back to the same feelings in a different organisation. Ready to stop repeating the same cycle? If you're craving more clarity, more fulfilment and a career that feels aligned with who you are now—not who you've spent years trying to be—I'd love to invite you to explore Reset & Rise. It's my signature coaching programme designed to help ambitious women reconnect with themselves, challenge the beliefs that keep them stuck and create lasting change from the inside out. Because your next chapter deserves more than a new job. It deserves a new way of leading yourself. You'll find the links in the show notes. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. Come and connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram and let me know what landed for you. And if you know another woman who needs permission to stop simply getting through life and start experiencing it again, please share this episode with her. Because sometimes the biggest career breakthrough doesn't begin with changing jobs. It begins with changing ourselves. Fill in the Career Clarity Activation form for a 1:1 conversation with Sally  LinkedIn Instagram

  2. Jul 20

    Why Do We Shrink When We Talk About Money? 💰

    Why is it that so many capable, ambitious women can negotiate million-pound budgets, lead teams and deliver incredible results… but the moment someone asks, 'What do you want to earn?"' everything changes? In this episode, I'm diving into one of my favourite subjects: money. After more than 20 years in recruitment, salary negotiations and career coaching, I've seen the same pattern play out time and time again. Women who know their value suddenly begin negotiating against themselves before anyone else has even had the chance. They tell themselves they should be realistic. That they don't need what they used to earn. That changing career means accepting less. That money isn't important. But what if the biggest barrier to earning more isn't the market? What if it's the story we've been telling ourselves? In this episode I share personal stories from my own career, including negotiating promotions, challenging unfair pay decisions and why I believe the ability to talk confidently about money is one of the most valuable career skills you can develop. This isn't really an episode about money. It's about self-worth. It's about permission. And it's about having the courage to ask for what you're worth. In this episode we explore: Why so many women feel uncomfortable talking about moneyThe hidden ways we negotiate against ourselvesHow conditioning shapes our earning potentialWhy possibility and permission matter more than confidenceQuestions to ask before accepting a salary or pay riseHow to prepare for salary negotiationsWhy knowing your value changes everythingThe mindset shift that can transform your earning potentialIf you've ever talked yourself out of asking for more, convinced yourself to settle for less or felt uncomfortable putting a number on your own value, this episode is for you. Ready to stop settling? If you're ready to stop second-guessing yourself, build confidence in your value and create a career that feels as good as it looks on paper, take a look at Reset & Rise. It's my signature coaching programme for ambitious women who know they're capable of more but need the clarity, confidence and strategy to make it happen. If you enjoyed this episode... Please follow the podcast, leave a review and share it with another woman who needs to hear this conversation. Because the more we normalise talking about money, the easier it becomes for all of us to earn what we're truly worth. Fill in the Career Clarity Activation form for a 1:1 conversation with Sally  LinkedIn Instagram

  3. Jul 13

    You have not got a confidence issue and I'm here to tell you why!

    You Have Not Got a Confidence Issue What if the thing you've been trying to fix... isn't actually the problem? So many women tell me they've "lost their confidence." They question their abilities, start considering roles below their capability, wonder if they've lost their edge, and quietly convince themselves they're no longer the person they used to be. But what if that's not true? In this episode, I'm sharing one of the most powerful coaching conversations I've had this year (shared anonymously, of course). Together, we unpack why confidence is so often the presenting problem, while the real issue lies somewhere much deeper. If you've spent years working in an environment where you've been overlooked, dismissed, underestimated or constantly adapting just to survive, this episode will help you understand why you feel the way you do—and why there's absolutely nothing "wrong" with you. We'll explore: Why confidence is often a symptom, not the root cause.The difference between confidence and self-worth—and why confusing the two keeps so many women stuck.How toxic or misaligned workplaces slowly chip away at your sense of identity.Why feeling out of your depth is often a sign of growth, not proof that you're incapable.The hidden cost of staying in environments that can never recognise what you have to offer.Why so many successful women remember the fear far more vividly than the evidence of what they've achieved.How to separate who you are from what your environment has made you believe about yourself.One line from this conversation has stayed with me ever since: "She wasn't failing. She simply wasn't being allowed to succeed." Sometimes coaching isn't about helping someone become somebody new. Sometimes it's simply about helping them remember who they've always been. If you've ever found yourself saying: "I've lost my confidence." I'd love you to listen to this episode with one question in mind: Have you really lost your confidence... or have you simply spent too long somewhere that made you forget your worth? Ready to stop doubting yourself and start taking control of your career? If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to invite you to my free Taking Control of Your Career webinar. We'll explore why so many capable women feel stuck, overlooked or disconnected from their careers—and, more importantly, what to do about it. 📅 Tuesday 14th July | 7:00pm (UK) LINK TO BOOK It's completely free and packed with practical coaching, mindset shifts and career strategies to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. And if you can't wait until then, come and connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram where I share daily insights, career coaching and honest conversations for ambitious women who know they're capable of more. If you enjoyed today's episode, I'd be incredibly grateful if you could follow the podcast, leave a review and share it with another woman who needs to hear this message. Because I promise you... You have not got a confidence issue. Fill in the Career Clarity Activation form for a 1:1 conversation with Sally  LinkedIn Instagram

  4. Jul 6

    The Hidden Cost of Waiting to Be Noticed in Your Career

    What if working harder isn't the answer? So many ambitious women have built successful careers by keeping their heads down, delivering exceptional work and believing that, eventually, someone will notice. But what happens when they don't? In this episode, I explore one of the biggest patterns I see in my coaching work: waiting to be recognised instead of taking ownership of your career. Following one of my favourite Taking Control of Your Career webinars, I wanted to dive deeper into something that comes up time and time again. Women who are incredibly capable, experienced and committed are often overlooked—not because they lack talent, but because they've spent years believing their work should speak for itself. The reality? Being indispensable doesn't automatically make you visible. And visibility isn't about becoming louder or turning into someone you're not. It's about making sure the people who can influence your career understand the value you bring. In this episode we also explore why so many women minimise their achievements, why self-advocacy feels uncomfortable, and how years of conditioning can leave us waiting for permission instead of creating opportunities. I also discuss the research behind The Authority Gap by Mary Ann Sieghart—a brilliant book that explains why women are still taken less seriously than men and how unconscious bias affects our careers every day. If you've never read it, I can't recommend it highly enough. Find out more about the book here: The Authority Gap by Mary Ann Sieghart In this episode we explore: Why working hard doesn't always lead to career progressionThe hidden cost of waiting to be recognisedWhy women minimise their achievements without realising itThe difference between visibility, self-promotion and self-advocacyHow unconscious bias and the authority gap affect women's careersWhy staying invisible feels safe—but ultimately limits your opportunitiesHow self-leadership changes the way you approach your careerPractical ways to become more visible without becoming someone you're notIf you've ever found yourself thinking: "My work should speak for itself.""I don't want to come across as arrogant.""Someone will notice eventually."...this episode is for you. Ready to take control of your career? If you're tired of waiting to be recognised and you're ready to create more clarity, confidence and momentum in your career, I'd love you to join us. Taking Control of Your Career is a practical webinar for ambitious women who feel overlooked, underutilised or ready for more. Or, if you're ready to go deeper, Reset & Rise is my signature coaching programme designed to help you reconnect with who you are, build confidence in your value and create a career that feels as good as it looks on paper. You'll find all the links in the show notes. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love you to subscribe, leave a review and share it with another woman who needs to hear this conversation. Because waiting to be noticed isn't a career strategy. Taking ownership is. Fill in the Career Clarity Activation form for a 1:1 conversation with Sally  LinkedIn Instagram

  5. May 29

    Staying Invisible Feels Safe… Until It Costs You Your Career

    Have you ever been told: 'Just keep doing a good job and people will notice?' For many women, that's exactly what we've done. We've worked hard. Delivered results. Been reliable. Supported everyone around us. Taken on the extra work. Stayed professional. Stayed helpful. And yet, somewhere along the way, many of us realise we're still waiting to be recognised, promoted, listened to, or considered for the opportunities we really want. In this episode of Taking Control of Your Career, I'm exploring one of the biggest career myths women are taught: That hard work alone is enough. Because whilst staying invisible can feel safe, it often comes at a much bigger cost than we realise. This conversation isn't about becoming louder, more self-promotional or turning yourself into a LinkedIn influencer. It's about understanding what visibility really is, why so many women avoid it, and what happens when we spend years shrinking ourselves to fit expectations that were never designed to help us thrive. We explore: ✨ What visibility is - and what it isn't ✨ Why women are often conditioned to prioritise being liked, reliable and helpful over being seen ✨ How the 'good girl' script follows us into our careers ✨ Why visibility feels risky, even when we know it's important ✨ The hidden cost of staying silent and ignoring your own voice ✨ How invisibility impacts confidence, career progression and self-trust ✨ The difference between contribution and recognition ✨ Why visibility is becoming a future career skill in a world shaped by AI, automation and organisational change ✨ What really happens in talent and succession planning conversations behind closed doors ✨ Practical ways to increase your visibility without compromising who you are One of the biggest messages in this episode is this: Visibility isn't about being seen. It's about being known. Known for your ideas. Known for your expertise. Known for your contribution. Known for what you stand for. Because when decisions are being made about opportunities, promotions, projects, restructuring, succession planning or even redundancy, people can only advocate for what they know. And if nobody knows what you think, what you're capable of or where you want to go next, you risk becoming invisible in conversations that directly affect your future. I've spent over 25 years working in recruitment, talent and career development and I've sat in countless talent discussions where roles were removed, restructured or redesigned. I've also seen entirely new opportunities created around people organisations wanted to keep. The difference is rarely capability. More often than not, it's visibility. Key Takeaway Staying invisible feels safe because it protects you from judgement. But it can also protect you from opportunity. The goal isn't to become louder. The goal is to become more expressed. To share your ideas. To communicate your value. To contribute to the conversations shaping the future. Because your career shouldn't be built around hoping somebody notices. It should be built around making sure the right people understand the value you bring. Resources Mentioned 📖 The Authority Gap – Mary Ann Sieghart 📖 Work Like a Woman – Mary Portas 📖 Research from Herminia Ibarra on leadership identity and visibility 📖 Women Don't Ask – Linda Babcock & Sara Laschever Ready For More? If this episode resonated and you're feeling stuck, overlooked, disconnected from your career, or unsure what comes next, the first step is gaining clarity. Complete my Career Clarity Form and let's start understanding where you are, what's keeping you stuck, and what your next chapter could look like. Career Clarity Form:  You can also subscribe to my newsletter: Reset & Rise – For women rethinking success, work and what comes next. Connect with Sally Founder, Coach & Career Strategist Helping women redefine success, reconnect with themselves and build careers that don't cost them themselves. LinkedIn Instagram Fill in the Career Clarity Activation form for a 1:1 conversation with Sally  LinkedIn Instagram

  6. May 22

    Why Successful Women Still Feel Stuck

    Why Successful Women Still Feel Stuck The thing keeping so many women stuck is not failure. It’s success that came at a cost. In this episode, I unpack one of the most confusing experiences high-performing women face: building a life that looks successful on paper whilst quietly feeling disconnected, exhausted, flat or deeply unsure about what comes next. We explore:  Why “stuck” is often not the real problem  How years of conditioning can disconnect women from themselves  The hidden cost of being the dependable one  Why high-functioning women struggle with confusion  The difference between urgency and alignment  Why confidence is often a symptom — not the root issue  How over-functioning, perfectionism and survival mode keep women trapped  Why awareness must come before action  The reason changing jobs doesn’t always solve the problem  What “clarity before confidence” actually means I also share personal reflections from my own career journey, alongside powerful insights from coaching women through career transitions, reinvention and identity shifts inside Reset & Rise. This is not a conversation about “fixing yourself.” It’s about reconnecting with yourself underneath the noise. Because often the women calling themselves stuck are not incapable, behind or failing… They are exhausted from years of overriding themselves. And honestly?  That’s a VERY different conversation. Key Takeaway You are not broken. You are likely disconnected from yourself whilst carrying too much for too long. And once awareness returns?  Clarity starts to return too. Then confidence follows.  Then momentum. The real kind. Connect With Me If this episode resonated with you and you’re rethinking your career, identity, success or next chapter, you can connect with me here: Instagram: @_sallyspicerincluded LinkedIn: sally spicer Newsletter: Reset & Rise — For women rethinking success, work and what comes next. Ready For More Support? If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed or unsure what your next chapter looks like, the first step is not panic action — it’s clarity. You can start here:  Career Clarity Form Fill in the Career Clarity Activation form for a 1:1 conversation with Sally  LinkedIn Instagram

  7. May 15

    Confidence returns, when clarity returns

    What if the thing you’ve been calling a confidence problem… is actually a clarity problem? In this episode, I’m unpacking one of the biggest patterns I see in women navigating career change, burnout, redundancy, leadership transitions, and periods of feeling professionally “stuck.” So many women tell me:  “I’ve lost confidence.”  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”  “I feel behind.”  “I just can’t seem to move forward.” But after more than 20 years in recruitment and nearly 7 years coaching women through career transitions, I’ve learned this: Lack of confidence is often the symptom - not the root cause. Because when you’re disconnected from what you want…  When you’ve been surviving for too long…  When you’ve built a career around proving, performing, adapting, and coping…  Of course you start second-guessing yourself. In this conversation, we explore:  Why clarity changes everything in your career  The hidden link between burnout and “low confidence”  Why busy doesn’t always mean aligned  How over-functioning impacts career decisions  The difference between panic applying and intentional job searching  Why so many high-achieving women feel disconnected from success  How to reconnect with yourself before making your next career move  Redefining success on your terms  Career coaching insights for women in transition  How to stop outsourcing your self-worth to external validation This episode is for women who are:  Feeling stuck in their career  Navigating redundancy or career transition  Questioning what they want next  Experiencing burnout at work  Struggling with confidence at work  Rebuilding after a difficult season  Wanting more alignment, clarity, and intention in their career and life If this resonates, the Career Clarity Form is the best place to start. It helps me understand where you are now, what’s feeling difficult, and what support might help you move forward with more confidence and clarity. ✨ Complete the Career Clarity Form here: And if this episode resonated with you, please share it with another woman who needs the reminder that she is not behind — she may simply need space to reconnect with herself again. #CareerClarity #WomenInBusiness #CareerChange #CareerCoach #WomenInLeadership #BurnoutRecovery #CareerTransition #FemaleLeadership #WomenAtWork #Confidence #MindsetShift #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerDevelopment #RedundancySupport #JobSearchSupport #PersonalDevelopment #WomenEmpoweringWomen #SelfLeadership #ProfessionalWomen #ResetAndRise Fill in the Career Clarity Activation form for a 1:1 conversation with Sally  LinkedIn Instagram

  8. May 10

    Career visibility. We know it matters. So why does being seen still feel so uncomfortable?

    In this episode, I explore the deeper emotional and systemic reasons so many women struggle with visibility at work - despite being highly capable, experienced, and ambitious. Because this isn’t really about confidence. It’s about conditioning. It’s about the stories many of us inherited around staying likable, staying agreeable, working hard quietly, and waiting to be noticed. I unpack: Why visibility is career-definingThe difference between visibility and self-promotionWhy so many women self-edit professionallyThe emotional discomfort of being seenThe identity shifts that come with taking up more spaceHow workplace conditioning impacts confidence and progressionWhy opportunities often go to those who are visible, not just capableI also share a powerful client story about stepping into leadership visibility and why networking, visibility, and presence can feel so exposing - even for exceptional women. If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or stuck waiting for permission to take up more space in your career, this episode is for you. Because the question isn’t: 'What’s wrong with me?' It’s: 'What story have I been taught about visibility - and do I still want to live by it?' Connect with Sally: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallyspicer/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sallyspicerincluded/ Explore coaching & Reset and Rise: https://talent-included.mykajabi.com/career-clarity-check-in Fill in the Career Clarity Activation form for a 1:1 conversation with Sally  LinkedIn Instagram

  9. Feb 6

    Why I Fell Out of Love with International Women’s Day - and Why I’m Taking Back Control

    International Women’s Day often leaves us inspired - but unchanged. In this episode, I share why I fell out of love with IWD, despite spending over 25 years working at the heart of recruitment, careers, and leadership. I talk honestly about what I’ve seen behind the scenes:  the quiet ways women’s careers stall,  the stories we absorb about capacity, confidence, and gratitude,  and how well-intentioned initiatives often fail to shift real outcomes. This isn’t a conversation about fixing women.  It’s about understanding the systems we’re operating in -  and reclaiming agency within them. Drawing on my background as a recruiter, coach, and inclusion practitioner, I explore: Why performative IWD activity rarely moves the dialWhat 26 years in recruitment taught me about gender and career progressionThe difference between “confidence issues” and systemic constraintsWhy mid-career dissatisfaction is often a turning point, not a failureWhat it really means to take back control of your career — on your termsThis episode is for you if: You’ve ever left an IWD event feeling energised… then quietly gone back to the same realityYou feel successful on paper but disconnected or dissatisfied in realityYou’re questioning what success means to you now — not what it meant 10 years agoI also share why my approach to International Women’s Day looks different,  and how my work is focused on creating space for clarity, agency, and deliberate decision-making — not performative gestures. If something in this conversation resonates, I’d love you to stay connected. Portsmouth- 10th March - https://talent-included.mykajabi.com/international-women-s-day-2026 London dates coming soon. https://www.instagram.com/_sallyspicerincluded/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallyspicer/ Fill in the Career Clarity Activation form for a 1:1 conversation with Sally  LinkedIn Instagram

  10. Jan 27

    🎙️ Rest, Conditioning, and Why Slowing Down Feels So Uncomfortable

    In this episode of Taking Control of Your Career, I take you inside a real coaching session from earlier this week to explore something I see time and time again with high-achieving women: why rest feels uncomfortable, and why we return to lives that quietly drain us. The session came off the back of an enforced pause over Christmas - illness, cancelled plans, and a decision not to work. What emerged was a growing sense of restlessness and a realisation that even the simplest parts of life had started to feel like tasks. Reading to her children. Walking the dog. Cooking dinner. All of it had become something to get through. She described being physically present but mentally elsewhere - often called out by her partner for “not being in the room”. That awareness was important, but it wasn’t the breakthrough. The real insight came next. She had set a genuine intention to be more present in 2026. To reconnect with things she actually enjoys - reading, walking, cooking. Nothing extreme. Nothing aspirational. Just accessible, friction-free choices. And yet, two weeks later, she hadn’t stuck with it. Instead, she’d slipped back into what felt familiar and validating: being busy, productive, and needed. Working hard in a job she says she loves — despite coming into my world because she’s deeply dissatisfied with her career. We explored how this showed up: Going to the gym but checking emails between setsGoing for a walk but listening to productivity podcastsFeeling successful only if she was exhaustedRest, it turned out, had to be earned. We talked about the invisible conditions she placed on herself before allowing downtime - the tick lists, the clearing of emails, the belief that rest comes last. These micro habits slowly become behaviours we mistake for personality traits. She also shared something I hear more often than people admit: a quiet wish that something catastrophic - but not fatal - might happen, just to give her permission to change. External permission to stop and do things differently. As the session unfolded, another truth emerged. She is ambitious, driven, and capable — and somewhere along the way she had fused ambition with hustle, worth with productivity, and value with being needed. That belief system runs deep. It’s not dismantled in one session. Over the coming months, we’ll break it down and rebuild something more sustainable, aligned, and intentional. 💭 Questions to Reflect On What are you in pursuit of right now?What conditions are you placing on yourself to achieve it?What stories are linking rest, worth, and achievement?One question I’ll leave you with: How are you complicit in the conditions you complain about? 🚀 Ready to Take Back Control? I work with high-achieving career women who know they want more — more clarity, momentum, and alignment. If you’re ready to break up with the stories keeping you stuck and finally move forward with intention, Reset to Rise is open. 👉 Fill in the activation form    Let’s book a 1:1 and explore your next move 🎧 Taking Control of Your Career   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_sallyspicerincluded/ Fill in the Career Clarity Activation form for a 1:1 conversation with Sally  LinkedIn Instagram

  11. Jan 17

    Let's start with some intention

    If you’re heading into career transition feeling stuck, restless, burnt out, or unsure what your next career move should be, this episode is for you. Before we talk goals, job titles, or next steps, we slow everything down. This episode is about intention not pressure. Not fixing. Not forcing clarity. In this session, I explore how so many career decisions are driven by fear, panic, and the need to escape discomfort and what changes when you start defining your career on your terms instead. We talk identity, self-doubt, the stories that keep us “safe” but stuck, and why you don’t need a new job to start showing up differently. In this episode, we cover: Why career transition often comes with noise, panic, and pressureThe difference between intention and achievementHow fear and self-protection shape career decisionsRedefining career success based on your current lifeThe stories that block clarity and how to loosen their gripReclaiming control, responsibility, and agencyThis is a grounding, honest conversation designed to help you calm the noise, reconnect with yourself, and move forward with intention not fear. Want to take things further here is the link to my activation form https://talent-included.mykajabi.com/career-activation And you can follow me on Linkedin here https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallyspicer/ And Insta here https://www.instagram.com/_sallyspicerincluded/ Fill in the Career Clarity Activation form for a 1:1 conversation with Sally  LinkedIn Instagram

    Let's start with some intention

About

Taking Control of Your Career is a career coaching podcast for women who know they’re capable of more but feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start. Hosted by career coach Sally Spicer, this podcast is about cutting through the noise, calming the panic, and having the honest conversations most of us avoid. There’s no hype, no hustle, and no pressure to have it all figured out — just clear thinking, practical tools, and grounded support to help you stop second-guessing yourself and start making career decisions that actually feel right. If you’re navigating career transition, questioning your next move, or ready to redefine success on your own terms, this podcast will help you move from uncertainty to confident, intentional action. Career clarity. Confidence. Control.