Our final episode of Season One has our host Elissa Kelly in the guest seat, as Todd Weinstein assumes the host duties for this episode of My Professional Pivot.  Elissa shares her pivot from Corporate Executive to Executive Coach, how she redefined what success means to her, and how that lead her to her second career.  She shares her focus on elevating diverse leaders, the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, and the confidence that can be built by taking action.   


Todd Weinstein on Linked In
Todd Weinstein at Gavia Partners
 

Elissa Kelly - Instagram @elissacoaches
Elissa Kelly - Twitter @elissacoaches
Elissa Kelly - LinkedIn
Elissa Kelly - Website
My Professional Pivot - Website 

 Music Credit: David Heer 

Stephanie shares her childhood desire to be a teacher, her journey through her education, her interest in science, and her experience as a middle school teacher.  Passion and grit persisted as she pivoted to social entrepreneurship, opening the AZ Fair Trade Café in downtown Phoenix without money or business experience.  Stephanie shares her philosophy of leading with love, and the idea that there are no problems, only solutions.  She is proof that "the stumble" is the secret sauce to life. 

AZ Fair Trade Cafe
AZ Fair Trade Cafe on Instagram

Elissa Kelly - Instagram @elissacoaches
Elissa Kelly - Twitter @elissacoaches
Elissa Kelly - LinkedIn
Elissa Kelly - Website
My Professional Pivot - Website 

Music Credit: David Heer 

In this episode we hear from Dan Berschinski, who after graduating from West Point, served as an Army infantry officer in Afghanistan.  Early in his first deployment, he stepped on a hidden IED and lost both of his legs above the knees.  His injury and retirement meant that he could no longer pursue a career in the military and he was forced to completely redefine both his inner sense of self and find fulfillment in a new non-military career.   Dan shares about the importance of perspective, and how the resources available to him gave him the foundation to begin building a new life outside of the Army.  His philosophy of building a background that provides him opportunities in the future, has given him flexibility to pivot. 

Breakline - Non Profit organization focused on helping veterans, women, and people of color pivot into compelling careers in the tech industry

Dan Berschinski - Linked In
 

Elissa Kelly - Instagram @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - Twitter @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - LinkedIn

Elissa Kelly - Website

My Professional Pivot - Website 

Music Credit: David Heer 

Michele shares her story of starting as a property manager in real estate vacation rentals, transitioning to politics, and then into insurance where she moved from marketing to underwriting, operations and IT.  Through these divergent careers, she found her desire for variety, collaboration and community satisfied in different ways.  Michele shares the power of saying "yes", and the importance of including "and" after it, as well as the unexpected result of her multiple pivots - and the confidence pivoting can build.

Michele McCoy LinkedIn
 

Elissa Kelly - Instagram @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - Twitter @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - LinkedIn

Elissa Kelly - Website

My Professional Pivot - Website 

Music Credit: David Heer 

In this episode, Keith shares his journey from Manufacturing Manager to Product Leader, to Chief of Staff and then his pivot from Intel to a full time Faculty and Leadership role with The Hudson Institute of Coaching.  He shares how he navigated the investment he made in two roles while he was experimenting, and the importance of having someone outside your circle to help you explore.

Keith Naber - LinkedIn 

Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinviting Your Career, Herminia Ibarra 

Elissa Kelly - Instagram @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - Twitter @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - LinkedIn

Elissa Kelly - Website

My Professional Pivot - Website 

Music Credit: David Heer 

In this episode our guest Kathleen Vieira shares her journey from Advertising to HR to Learning & Development.  Her innate curiosity to learn and her desire to work with people and see an impact, lead her to go back to grad school and pursue an MBA, after realizing she didn't want to stay in Advertising.  After transitioning back to the corporate world, and creating a successful career in HR, she realized it was time to hop on the jungle gym and see what else was out there.  Hear about how she tried other jobs on, and wisely considered a few probing questions from her hairstylist, to identify what was next.    

 

Elissa Kelly - Instagram @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - Twitter @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - LinkedIn

Elissa Kelly - Website

My Professional Pivot - Website 

Music Credit: David Heer 

We're back ! Our guest Dixon Oates has made multiple pivots, most notably from Construction Management to Cannabis.  Dixon shares the highs (pun intended) and lows of his pivots, and the importance of identifying your aptitudes.  He's realistic about the opportunity he had to take a big risk, and how that has shaped his career. He digs deep and shares how a lack of finding his "thing" early on lead to self-doubt, and how that has changed over time.  Plus, in this episode, you get to learn what thermal mass construction is! 

Elissa Kelly - Instagram @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - Twitter @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - LinkedIn

Elissa Kelly - Website

My Professional Pivot - Website 

Music Credit: David Heer 

The Messy Middle is a quick update on the My Professional Pivot podcast and future episodes, which are currently being recorded.  If you know of someone who has pivoted and would be interested in sharing their story, have them email me at info@elissakelly.com


Elissa Kelly - Instagram @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - Twitter @elissacoaches

Elissa Kelly - LinkedIn

Elissa Kelly - Website

My Professional Pivot - Website  

Music Credit: David Heer