NEXT | Navigating Career Pivots & Reinvention in the Age of AI

Erika Parker Price

NEXT is your weekly guide to discovering and building your next chapter, whether that's a job, a business, or another passion that comes in a less traditional box.    Hosted by Erika Parker Price, the show draws on both her corporate background in tech, as well as her entrepreneurial experience as a career coach. 

  1. Sep 28 ·  Video

    40. You Are Not a Pawn in Someone Else's Game with Jeremy Schifeling

    In this episode of NEXT, Erika Parker Price sits down with career expert, writer, consultant, and speaker Jeremy Schifeling to talk about what it really means to build a meaningful career in a time of rapid change. Jeremy shares his unconventional path from teaching kindergarten to working at LinkedIn and Google, and eventually building his own career-focused business. Along the way, he explains why the old rules around job hopping no longer make sense, why small side projects can become life-changing opportunities, and why human skills are becoming more valuable than ever in an AI-shaped world. This conversation is packed with practical advice for anyone feeling stuck, curious, or ready for a change. Jeremy offers a simple framework for exploring what’s next, including how to use AI tools in a human-centered way, how to identify the overlap between your strengths and the world’s needs, and why doing the work is still the biggest differentiator. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why career paths no longer need to be linearHow to start building something on the side without quitting your jobWhy “power skills” matter more than ever in the AI eraHow to use AI to uncover real human pain pointsA practical way to explore your next move using IkigaiWhy high agency may be the most important skill of the futureKey takeaways: Small, consistent steps can lead to major career pivots over time.AI is powerful, but it works best when paired with empathy, storytelling, and human judgment.LinkedIn is not just an online resume — it’s part of your story and positioning.The best candidates and creators are the ones who do the work others won’t.Feeling stuck is often solved by creating options, not making a sudden leap.“The work is the differentiator.” “If you can dream it, you can build it.” “We need people to build those skills and bring them into the workforce.” “You are not a pawn in someone else’s game.” About Jeremy Schifeling Jeremy Schifeling is a writer, consultant, speaker, and career strategist who works with universities, students, and professionals around the world. His work focuses on helping people navigate career change, use AI thoughtfully, and build more human-centered careers. Ready to get support on what's next? Check out erikaparkerprice.com and book a free call. Questions? Comments? DM Erika on LinkedIn

  2. Sep 22 ·  Video

    39. "I Want to Quit and Just Be a Barista!"

    In this episode, Erika explores a question many people quietly ask themselves: why does someone else’s job sometimes look so appealing? Using the familiar “I want to be a barista” fantasy as a metaphor, she breaks down what’s really happening when we romanticize a different path. Erika shares insights from client conversations, Reddit threads, and a real-life conversation with a former barista to uncover four key reasons people are drawn to certain jobs: the environment, the meaning behind the work, the feeling of competence, and the financial/security piece. Along the way, she connects these themes to the concept of ikigai — the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for. Rather than treating these fantasies as signs that you should quit your job and become a barista, Erika reframes them as clues. They can reveal what you’re missing in your current life and point you toward what deserves more attention, research, and reflection. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why people are drawn to “other” jobs that seem simpler or more satisfyingHow the barista fantasy connects to deeper needs and valuesThe four themes behind job envy: environment, meaning, skill, and moneyHow ikigai can help you understand what you’re really seekingWhy romanticizing another job can be a useful lesson, not necessarily a career directiveKey takeaways: If you keep wishing you had a different job, pay attention to what exactly appeals to you.The thing you admire may not be the job itself, but one of the elements inside it.Your envy can become a guide for what to explore next.Momentum comes from noticing the clues and moving toward them, even if you later decide it’s not the right path.Mentioned in this episode: IkigaiClient reflections on career changeReddit discussions about leaving corporate workThe “third place” idea and the value of community spacesClosing thought: The job you’re romanticizing may not be your destination — but it can be a powerful teacher on the way there. Call to action: If you’re interested in exploring ikigai more deeply, join Erika’s waitlist at erikaparkerprice.com/findyournext. Ready to get support on what's next? Check out erikaparkerprice.com and book a free call. Questions? Comments? DM Erika on LinkedIn

  3. Sep 7 ·  Video

    37. Rewrite Your Story to Rewrite Your Habits with Connie Kwan

    Connie Kwan on story habits, identity, and building a new writing routine Erika Parker Price interviews Connie Kwan, a builder and storyteller whose career spans product leadership, AI-powered prototyping, teaching storytelling, and now writing a book called STORYHabits. This conversation is both an origin story and a practical coaching session, as Connie walks Erika through her STORY framework for changing habits through identity and motivation.We discuss how habits shape career transitions, why identity is the missing piece in habit change, and how to make a goal small enough to actually stick. The episode also explores how AI is changing engineering team habits, code review, and norms faster than most organizations can adapt. Key topics Connie Kwan’s path from corporate product leader to portfolio career as a builder and storytellerThe origin of Story HabitsConnie’s thinking on habit change was shaped by her work at a smoking cessation company.That experience gave her a scientific lens on motivation, behavior change, and what helps habits actually stick.She later connected that with her storytelling work and realized identity and story were missing from the habit-change conversation. Why identity matters more than streaks in habit buildingWorkshop: Erika’s writing habitThe S T O R Y frameworkS - Set the right goalT - Ten valuesO - Overlay the habit onto a valueR - Run the testY - Evaluate whether the story worked or needs revisionConnie uses Erika’s own values to find an anchor that supports the writing habit.How to think about confidence and motivationThe goal should feel 90 percent achievable.Connie emphasizes keeping both confidence and motivation above roughly 90 percent throughout the process.Small wins matter because they create the loop that makes the habit repeatable.How AI is changing team habitsTimestamps 00:00 - Introducing Connie Kwan and the purpose of the episode  01:46 - Why Connie fits both sides of the show’s mission  05:14 - Connie introduces herself as a builder and storyteller  06:23 - From smoking cessation to the origins of Story Habits 08:00 - Why identity is the missing piece in habit change 10:57 - How habits can rewrite your life one step at a time 13:16 - Inherited habits, hacked habits, and chosen habits 16:43 - Choosing Erika’s writing habit to workshop live 18:08 - S T O R Y begins with setting a realistic goal 20:50 - Defining values as anchors for habit change 22:27 - How connection becomes the strongest writing anchor 24:50 - Using courage as a possible motivation, then ruling it out 27:04 - Why creativity is central to Erika’s identity as a writer 30:10 - Future-focused fiction and the pressure to “get it right” 33:07 - Purpose as a deeper reason to write the book 34:42 - What Erika does instead of writing and why 36:25 - Moving from story work to logistics and calendar design 39:21 - The “because” that gets Erika to the desk 41:23 - Reviewing the S T O R Y framework and running the test 43:28 - Small goals for career change and skill building 48:41 - How team habits are changing in an AI-driven workplace 53:49 - Why teams need to rebuild norms around AI use 57:51 - Where to find Connie and what’s next for the follow-up 58:19 - Connie’s closing thought: rewrite your story to rewrite your habits “Rewrite your story to rewrite your habits.” Ready to get support on what's next? Check out erikaparkerprice.com and book a free call. Questions? Comments? DM Erika on LinkedIn

4.9
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

NEXT is your weekly guide to discovering and building your next chapter, whether that's a job, a business, or another passion that comes in a less traditional box.    Hosted by Erika Parker Price, the show draws on both her corporate background in tech, as well as her entrepreneurial experience as a career coach. 

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