Mid-Career Change

Mark Crossfield

Ever felt stuck in your career and wondered if it's too late to make a change? Listen to Mid-Career Change, a podcast dedicated to helping you rediscover purpose and make impactful shifts in your career. Hosted by Mark Crossfield, a professional career coach specialising in mid-career transitions, this podcast explores how you can find renewed fulfilment, clarity, and direction in your work. Whether you’re looking to overcome challenges, unlock new opportunities, or simply enjoy each workday more, Mid-Career Change offers actionable advice and inspiring stories from those who have transformed their own paths. In each episode, Mark shares practical guidance to help you move forward confidently, along with real-life stories of people who made the leap, found their “aha” moments, and redefined success on their own terms.

  1. 2D AGO

    139. The Invisible Career Scripts Shaping Your Choices

    In this episode, I explore a quiet but powerful idea: the invisible career scripts many of us follow without realising. These scripts are the stories we inherit from family, education, workplaces, and professional cultures. Ideas about what success should look like, what feels sensible, and what feels risky. They often sound like good advice: work hard, don’t rock the boat, be grateful for what you have. And for a long time, they usually work. But at some point in mid-career, those same scripts can start to feel restrictive. You may find yourself feeling restless, disconnected, or quietly questioning whether the path you’re on still fits. In this episode, I talk about how to recognise when you’re living inside one of these inherited stories, and why simply noticing them can create space for change. I also share how writing can help you step outside the inner editor and hear what you actually think, rather than what you feel you should think. If your career looks fine on paper but feels slightly out of step, this episode will help you understand why that might be happening, and how to begin thinking differently about what’s next. This episode is the first in a short series, and it lays the foundation for rebuilding confidence and exploring future direction in the episodes that follow. If you’d like to explore these ideas further, you can find my book Write Your Career here: https://www.bravocoaching.co.uk/books Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email mark@bravocoaching.co.uk visit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

    8 min
  2. JAN 28

    138: Exploring Independent Work in Mid-Career

    In this episode of Mid Career Change, I’m joined by Michael Tabirade for a thoughtful conversation about what happens when a familiar career path no longer fits in the same way.  Michael spent many years in senior public sector leadership roles, working on large-scale transformation programmes across health and government, before moving towards more independent, portfolio-style work. We talk about the identity shift that often comes with leaving big roles, the mindset changes involved in stepping away from employment, and how to begin exploring independent ways of working without rushing or burning out. This episode is for anyone in mid-career who’s quietly questioning whether there might be a different way to work – one that offers more autonomy, balance, and alignment with what matters now. We explore: ·     The emotional reality of stepping away from established roles ·     Letting go of titles and rebuilding professional identity ·     Designing a portfolio-style working life that supports wellbeing ·     Common blind spots when moving towards independent work ·     Simple, practical first steps you can take while things are still unclear If you’re feeling curious rather than certain, and drawn to change without wanting to make a dramatic leap, this conversation will give you space to think – and permission to start gently. Michael's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@michaeltabirade?si=8umywRtGuktLp4Sl Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeltabirade/ Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email mark@bravocoaching.co.uk visit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

    36 min
  3. JAN 14

    137. Three Questions to Help You Rethink Your Career

    In this episode of the Mid-Career Change podcast, I explore three gentle signs that something in your working life might be asking for attention — and what those signs are really telling you. January is often a moment of clarity. With a bit more distance from your usual routines, you start to notice things you might have brushed aside during a busy year. But recognising these signs doesn’t mean you need to make a big career change. More often, they’re early signals worth listening to — hints that something wants to grow, shift, or come into focus. In this short, reflective episode, I share three of the most common signs I see in my coaching work: • Something feels “off” — a sense that a task, expectation, or part of your role is no longer in step with who you are. • You’re craving more energy or meaning — noticing where you feel most alive in your work, and where you don’t. • You’re imagining other futures — those small, curious “what if?” questions that surface when your identity is starting to stretch. For each sign, I offer a simple writing prompt from my new 30-day course, Write Your Career, to help you interpret what the sign is pointing toward. These questions aren’t about pressure or dramatic decisions. They’re about clarity — about hearing yourself more clearly and reconnecting with what matters. Whether you’re feeling stuck, quietly restless, or simply sensing that something in your working life might need attention, this episode gives you a gentle, practical way to explore what’s going on beneath the surface. And if you’d like to work through these prompts more deeply, the Write Your Career course is available now at the January launch price of £49, with or without one-to-one coaching. Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email mark@bravocoaching.co.uk visit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

    7 min
  4. 12/17/2025

    134. Career Transitions, Confidence and Community

    In this episode, I’m joined by Career and Leadership Transitions Specialist Suzanne Penny, who brings more than 20 years of experience in outplacement, recruitment and people development — along with her own lived experience of redundancy and reinvention. Suzanne and I first spoke back in 2023 for the Association for Coaching podcast, and so much has evolved for both of us since then. Today we reconnect to explore the realities of mid-career change: the moments that shake your confidence, the small steps that make the biggest difference, and why no one should navigate transition alone. We talk about the emotional impact of redundancy, what really helps people rebuild clarity and confidence, and the practical ways to move forward when you’re feeling misaligned or unsure. Suzanne also shares powerful stories of clients she’s supported — including members of her new community space, created to take the loneliness out of redundancy. Together, we explore themes of wellbeing, resilience, and the importance of pausing before rushing into what’s next. We also dig into the rise of purpose-driven work, the changing world of hybrid careers, and how mid-career professionals can leverage their experience, strengths and values to shape a meaningful next chapter. Whether you’re going through change yourself or supporting others through it, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective and plenty of practical ideas. Suzanne’s message is clear: you’re not starting from scratch — you’re starting from experience. If you’re navigating uncertainty, wondering what’s next, or craving a sense of community during transition, this one’s for you. https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannepennyexecutivecoach/ https://www.suzannepenny.com/ Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email mark@bravocoaching.co.uk visit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

    46 min
  5. 11/19/2025

    132. How to Build Resilience During Career Transition – with Nina Stephenson-Camps

    Mid-career change can open the door to fresh possibilities, but it can also bring pressure, uncertainty and moments where clarity feels out of reach. In this episode, I’m joined by Nina Stephenson-Camps, founder of Thrive Always, to explore how we can stay grounded and think clearly during times of transition. Nina specialises in what she calls real-time resilience — simple, practical mindset tools you can use right in the moment when stress rises or your confidence wobbles. Drawing on her experience working with global brands like Google and Microsoft, she shares how people can steady themselves mid-meeting, mid-decision or mid-change without losing momentum. We talk about the pressures many mid-career professionals face, including identity shifts, self-doubt, and the mental overload that comes with exploring new directions. Nina introduces techniques such as the one-minute breathing reset, thought reframing and compassionate pausing, helping you bring calm and clarity back into the moments that matter. We also look at how stress blocks creativity — and how a more settled mindset can help you open up new career possibilities. If you’re navigating a change, feeling stretched, or simply wanting practical ways to think more clearly under pressure, this episode offers grounded tools you can use straight away. https://www.thrive-always.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninastephensoncamps/ Thanks for listening! If you need support with your career: call me on 07833 593875 email mark@bravocoaching.co.uk visit www.bravocoaching.co.uk

    36 min

About

Ever felt stuck in your career and wondered if it's too late to make a change? Listen to Mid-Career Change, a podcast dedicated to helping you rediscover purpose and make impactful shifts in your career. Hosted by Mark Crossfield, a professional career coach specialising in mid-career transitions, this podcast explores how you can find renewed fulfilment, clarity, and direction in your work. Whether you’re looking to overcome challenges, unlock new opportunities, or simply enjoy each workday more, Mid-Career Change offers actionable advice and inspiring stories from those who have transformed their own paths. In each episode, Mark shares practical guidance to help you move forward confidently, along with real-life stories of people who made the leap, found their “aha” moments, and redefined success on their own terms.

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