Career transitions are becoming the norm, especially after layoffs, restructurings, and organizational change. In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola Alabi sits down with career coach and Amazon #1 bestselling author Michelle Schafer to discuss how working professionals can navigate career transitions with confidence, clarity, and strategy.
Michelle is a two-time restructuring survivor who transformed career setbacks into a practical five-step career growth framework. She has helped nearly 1,000 professionals rebuild confidence, articulate their value, and reposition themselves for new opportunities without starting over.
In this conversation, we cover how to recover from layoffs, overcome career fog, communicate your professional value, and build career resilience in today’s uncertain job market. This episode is designed for mid-career professionals, leaders, and high performers who want actionable strategies, not generic career advice.
If you are navigating a career pivot, recovering from a setback, or planning your next career move, this episode will give you tools you can apply immediately.
Topics covered include:
Career transitions after layoffs and restructurings
How to rebuild confidence after career setbacks
Articulating your value in interviews and leadership conversations
Career resilience strategies for mid-career professionals
Navigating career change with purpose and clarity
Explore Michelle Schafer’s career growth resources and coaching here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleschafercoaching/
Website: https://mschafercoaching.ca/
Free offer #1: A free chapter from her book - sign up here: https://mschafercoaching.ca/cultivatingcareergrowth/
Order Cultivating Career Growth: Navigating Transitions with Purpose here:
https://mschafercoaching.ca/cultivatingcareergrowth/
Free offer #2: Download the reflection tool Career Focus Framework here: https://mschafercoaching.ca/gain-clarity-and-confidence-in-your-job-search/
Career setbacks, layoffs, and restructurings can leave even high performers feeling lost. In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola Alabi interviews Michelle Schafer—career coach, author of Cultivating Career Growth, and two-time restructuring survivor—on how to rebuild confidence, clarify your professional value, and pivot with purpose.
Michelle shares her practical five-step framework for career growth, strategies for navigating mid-career transitions, and advice for professionals who feel stuck, overlooked, or unsure of their next move. If you’re navigating a layoff, career pivot, or professional reinvention, this episode provides clarity, direction, and actionable guidance.
Topics covered:
Career transitions after layoffs
Rebuilding confidence after setbacks
Articulating your value in interviews
Mid-career reinvention strategies
Purpose-driven career growth
Subscribe for more career advice, leadership insights, and real conversations about navigating today’s workplace
What if the key to career growth, leadership, and peace wasn’t doing more—but letting go? In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola Alabi sits down with Brittany Bettini, CEO of I Need a VA and author of the upcoming book She Delegates. Brittany shares her powerful journey from surviving domestic violence to building a thriving business rooted in intentional leadership and delegation. This conversation explores why “doing it all” is a myth, how delegation can be a form of healing, and how women can scale careers and businesses without sacrificing themselves in the process.
Learn more about Brittany and her work at I Need a VA: https://ineedava.com
Delegation is not a weakness—it’s a leadership superpower. In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola Alabi interviews Brittany Bettini, CEO of I Need a VA, entrepreneur, and author of She Delegates. Brittany shares how delegation helped her rebuild confidence, heal from trauma, and scale a business without burnout.
This episode is for women entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals who feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuck in the belief that they must do everything alone. Brittany offers practical insights on leadership, building teams, balancing motherhood and business, and creating freedom-driven systems that support sustainable growth.
Topics covered:
Delegation for entrepreneurs and leaders
Women in leadership and business
Burnout recovery and prevention
Building systems that scale
Healing, confidence, and career growth
Subscribe for more career advice, leadership conversations, and real stories of reinvention
In this powerful episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola Alabi sits down with Robin Goad, AWS executive, speaker, coach, and author of Girl by Birth. Woman by Fire. Robin has spent more than 30 years leading across top Fortune 100 companies and teaching women how to win in corporate America without losing themselves.
Robin opens up about her journey from trauma and self-doubt to becoming a bold, influential leader known for her resilience and authenticity. She breaks down the “Unwritten Rulebook,” her R.E.A.L. Framework™, and the strategies women need to move from invisible to undeniable at work.
If you’re ready to master the corporate game, accelerate your career, or rebuild after life’s fires, this episode offers bold insights and practical tools you can apply today.
Find out more about my guest here: https://www.therealrobingoad.com
In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola Alabi interviews Robin Goad, a senior leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and author of Girl by Birth. Woman by Fire. Robin shares powerful career strategies for women who want to rise, lead, and thrive in corporate America.
👉 Topics Covered:
• How to navigate the unwritten rulebook of corporate success
• Building influence through power maps and receipts
• Promotion strategies for ambitious professionals
• How to rebuild after trauma, setbacks, and career pauses
• Leadership lessons from 30+ years in Fortune 100 companies
• How to build a life bigger than your job
• Women’s health, resilience, and wholeness
This is a must-watch for women in leadership, professionals in tech, early-career women, and anyone looking to grow their influence at work.
🎧 Listen to the full episode and subscribe for weekly career insights.
#WomenInLeadership #CareerAdvice #AWS #CorporateSuccess #LeadershipDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #WomenInTech
In this powerful episode, Bola sits down with executive leadership advisor and author Randall Thames, a transformational guide helping leaders achieve what he calls Inevitable Outcomes™. From being labeled “less than ordinary” as a child to becoming a CEO mentor, Randall shares the personal journey that shaped his Discover, Develop, Display™ framework.
Together, we unpack how to overcome internal “dragons,” build resilience through “Process as Armor,” elevate in place, and uncover the hidden superpower that already lives within you.
Whether you're a rising professional, a seasoned leader, or someone seeking purpose in your career—this episode will equip you with clarity, confidence, and actionable tools to rise to your role.
In this episode of the Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola sits down with Amy Rasdal, founder of Billable at the Beach® and a seasoned consultant who traded corporate life for a multiple six-figure consulting business.
Amy shares powerful insights on mid-career reinvention, the advantages of consulting as a second career, and how to leverage your existing skills to build a business with freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
You’ll learn:
Why consulting may be the ideal next move for mid-career professionals
How to identify and package your transferable skills
Strategies to find clients and build a sustainable consulting practice
If you've been craving more control over your time, your income, and your career direction, this episode is your roadmap.
Tune in and start your transformation today.
Find out more about Katrena: https://www.becomingtheexpert.com.au/note
Unlock your leadership potential and discover your superpower in this inspiring conversation with Randall Thames, CEO of Inspirit Institute, executive leadership advisor, author of Rise to The Role, and creator of the Discover, Develop, Display™ framework.
In this episode, we explore:
✅ How to overcome internal “dragons” holding you back
✅ The meaning of Inevitable Outcomes™
✅ How to build leadership resilience using “Process as Armor”
✅ Career strategies for elevating your influence
✅ How to map a SMART path to the C-suite
✅ How to discover your hidden superpower
If you're interested in leadership development, career growth, executive presence, resilience, or personal transformation—this episode is for you.
For more about Randall, check out this link: https://www.kornferry.com
👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share for more career and leadership content.
In today’s episode, Bola interviews Katrena Friel, an internationally recognized Business Mentor, TEDx speaker, and award-winning author. With 25+ years of experience helping entrepreneurs and leaders elevate their influence, Katrena reveals:
🔹 How to become the expert in your field
🔹 The 7 streams of income every business should develop
🔹 How to build a strong personal brand
🔹 Strategies for creating a future-proof business
🔹 Why clarity is the foundation of confidence and success
If you’re an entrepreneur, professional, coach, or leader looking to grow your influence, increase revenue, or reposition yourself as an authority — this video is for you.
📌 Subscribe for more career, business, and leadership insights.
In this episode of the Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola sits down with Amy Rasdal, founder of Billable at the Beach® and a seasoned consultant who traded corporate life for a multiple six-figure consulting business.
Amy shares powerful insights on mid-career reinvention, the advantages of consulting as a second career, and how to leverage your existing skills to build a business with freedom, flexibility, and financial stability.
You’ll learn:
Why consulting may be the ideal next move for mid-career professionals
How to identify and package your transferable skills
Strategies to find clients and build a sustainable consulting practice
If you've been craving more control over your time, your income, and your career direction, this episode is your roadmap.
Tune in and start your transformation today.
Thinking about making a mid-career pivot? Wondering how to transition from corporate life to a six-figure consulting business? In this episode, Bola interviews Amy Rasdal, a seasoned consultant and founder of Billable at the Beach®, who has helped hundreds of professionals launch successful consulting careers.
🔹 What You’ll Learn:
• Why consulting is the ideal second career
• How to leverage your existing skills and experience
• How to find your first consulting clients
• Pricing, marketing, and mindset strategies
• The freedom and flexibility consulting offers
If you’re looking for career freedom, flexible work, or a high-income consulting path, this episode is full of practical advice and real-world insights.
Check out her website for more details: https://www.billableatthebeach.com
👉 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more career growth content!
In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola Alabi sits down with Greg Hawks, keynote speaker, author, and corporate culture strategist, to explore how leaders and employees can reignite engagement by adopting an ownership mindset.
Greg shares the five UNLOCKS from his upcoming book, Act Like an Owner, revealing how accountability, trust, and collaboration drive results people actually care about.
Whether you’re a leader trying to re-engage your team—or an employee ready to take charge of your growth—this conversation will show you how to think, act, and lead like an owner.
Check out Greg's book; "Act like an Owner": https://www.greghawks.com/act-like-an-owner
Employee engagement is at an all-time low—but it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola Alabi talks with keynote speaker and author Greg Hawks about how organizations can unlock higher performance, trust, and accountability through ownership culture.
Greg shares insights from his upcoming book, Act Like an Owner: Five UNLOCKS for Creating Culture People Love and Results Leaders Need. Discover how to spot disengagement, break down silos, re-energize your team, and transform quiet quitters into contributors.
In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola sits down with Dr. Debra Clary—leadership strategist, TEDx speaker, and author of The Curiosity Curve: A Leader’s Guide to Growth and Transformation Through Bold Questions.
Dr. Clary shares how curiosity, often dismissed as a soft skill, is actually a strategic lever for growth and innovation. She explains how leaders can move their teams through the four zones of curiosity to unlock engagement, creativity, and trust.
If you’re a leader or professional looking to reignite your sense of wonder, lead with empathy, and drive performance through curiosity—this episode is for you.
Order Dr Clary's Book here: https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-Curve-Leaders-Transformation-Questions/dp/1639081380/ref
What if curiosity was the key to unlocking your greatest career and leadership potential?
In this episode, Bola Alabi talks with Dr. Debra Clary, leadership strategist, TEDx speaker, and author of The Curiosity Curve: A Leader’s Guide to Growth and Transformation Through Bold Questions.
You’ll learn:
✅ How to use curiosity as a leadership superpower
✅ The four zones of the Curiosity Curve™
✅ How curiosity drives innovation, engagement, and trust
✅ How to build a curiosity-driven culture in your workplace
📘 Order The Curiosity Curve (Fast Company Press, Oct 2025)https://www.amazon.com/Curiosity-Curve-Leaders-Transformation-Questions/dp/1639081380/ref
In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola sits down with Michael R. Drew, the powerhouse behind 131 bestselling books and co-author of Pendulum. Michael shares deep insights into the science of influence, the art of storytelling, and the timing of ideas that resonate across generations.
Whether you’re a professional seeking to build your personal brand, an aspiring author, or a leader aiming to communicate more effectively, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and inspiration to help you level up.
🎙️ Tune in and learn how to make your message matter.
How to Write a Bestselling Book | Michael R. Drew Interview | The Career Evangelist Podcast
In this episode, Bola Alabi interviews Michael R. Drew, publishing expert and co-author of Pendulum. Michael has helped over 131 books reach major bestseller lists like The New York Times and USA Today.
He reveals:
✅ How to turn your idea into a bestselling book
✅ The power of timing and cultural cycles (Pendulum insights)
✅ How storytelling can boost your career and leadership impact
✅ Mistakes to avoid when writing or publishing
✅ Lessons from 20+ years in the publishing world
If you’re an aspiring author, entrepreneur, or career professional, this episode will teach you how to communicate your story and position your message for success.
#MichaelDrew #CareerEvangelist #BookPublishing #PersonalBrand #Pendulum #Leadership #Storytelling #CareerGrowth
In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola sits down with Anna Tran, co-founder of Level Up With Anna PR, to explore how storytelling can transform your career and business. Anna reveals the strategies behind turning your personal journey into a powerful brand narrative that captures both media attention and audience trust.
From landing features in Forbes to building long-term visibility without gimmicks, Anna shares practical insights for anyone who wants to elevate their presence and influence.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation packed with real-world PR wisdom and career growth takeaways.
In this episode of The Career Evangelist Podcast, Bola sits down with Gladys H. DeClouet, a pioneering executive who has led multi-billion-dollar businesses across the oil and restaurant industries.
From being the first female engineer in offshore oil exploration to holding senior executive roles at BP, Burger King, and Jack in the Box, Gladys shares her insights on leadership, resilience, and breaking barriers.
Tune in as she reveals the lessons that shaped her remarkable journey — and how you, too, can rise above challenges to build a lasting career legacy.