In this episode of the Be the CEO of Your Career summer series, Tammy Gooler Loeb explores the third practice in her framework: Synthesize and Focus. After a period of discovery, people will have gained new information, perspectives, and ideas, considering the possibilities and themes that emerge from them. Synthesize and Focus is the process of bringing those pieces together, finding patterns, and identifying a direction that aligns with their values, strengths, interests, and practical needs. In her conversation with Dr. Mira Brancu, founder and CEO of Towerscope, Tammy saw this practice come to life. Mira's career has included school counseling, clinical psychology, research, leadership, organizational development, and entrepreneurship. What initially appeared to be a series of unexpected turns eventually revealed a pattern. Mira consistently found herself drawn to examining processes and systems to improve how people work together while navigating complex environments, and helping leaders become more effective. An important moment came when Mira decided to consider a backup plan for her career. She made a list of everything she was good at, then removed items from the list that she didn't enjoy. Mira then examined the remaining list to identify items that met at the intersection between what she enjoyed, what had income earning potential, and what could address a meaningful need. That process led her to identify a focus on supporting women in leadership and helping people navigate complex organizations and workplace politics. Mira's story also demonstrates that synthesis doesn't necessarily mean choosing one thing and abandoning everything else. Her work with the Veterans Affairs Administration and her own business began feeding one another, allowing her to bring insights from one environment into the other. She also emphasizes the importance of building relationships throughout a career transition rather than trying to make every decision alone. In This Week's Podcast, Learn More About: What it means to Synthesize and FocusWhy career clarity often comes after a period of discoveryIdentifying patterns across seemingly unrelated career experiencesUnderstanding the intersection of strengths, interests, values, and needsWhy being good at something doesn't necessarily mean you'll enjoy itMira's journey from psychology into organizational developmentHow mentors can sometimes recognize strengths before we doThe value of understanding systems and complex environmentsHow Mira created a career "sweet spot"Balancing meaningful work with practical considerationsWhy career decisions don't have to be made in isolationHow relationships, mentors, coaches, and professional networks are vital to reinventionWhy synthesis can be useful at any career crossroads Learn more: Visit: gotowerscope.comFollow Mira on LinkedIn Your CEO of Your Career Move: Take everything you've been discovering lately and lay it out in front of you. That could include conversations you've had, ideas you've explored, skills you've identified, things you've enjoyed, possibilities you've considered, and even things that didn't work out. Then ask yourself three questions: What am I good at? What do I enjoy? What does the world need that I could contribute to? Look for the overlap or intersection. That intersection may reveal where your focus wants to go next. And if you're struggling to see the pattern on your own, take Mira's advice: don't sit with your thoughts and over-deliberate by yourself. Bring other people into the process. Find mentors, coaches, professional organizations, and people who have already navigated their own career transition. Stay Connected: Connect with Tammy on LinkedInWork From The Inside Out WebsiteRead Tammy’s book: Work from the Inside OutSubscribe to the newsletterSubscribe to YouTube: @tammygoolerloebBuy Me A Coffee to support the podcast
