They built the careers. They climbed the ladder. And then, at 50-something, they walked away — and started something of their own. Gen X women now make up 69% of women business owners in America, and research shows that founders over 50 are nearly twice as likely to build successful companies as founders in their 30s. So what's driving this wave, and what does it actually take to make the leap? Brand strategist Sue Kirchner has spent 25+ years building her own independent practice. In this episode, she breaks down the business models worth considering, the financial and emotional realities nobody warns you about, and why everything you've built in your career so far is your greatest competitive asset. If you've ever wondered what life on your own could look like, this one's for you.

In this episode, Kelly sits down with Javier Lozano, Jr., Founder of Bolder Media Co. and Fractional CMO. Javier breaks down exactly what "going fractional" means, how it differs from consulting or agency work, what kind of companies need it and when they finally make the call, and what senior marketers need to have in place before they can make the leap — including the non-negotiable skills, and why right now might be the best window yet to build a career on your own terms.

Christine Blosdale — The Expert Authority Coach™ — joins Kelly Callahan-Poe to tackle the real reason talented marketing and advertising professionals stay invisible: not lack of skill, but lack of positioning. With 25+ years of experience building brand visibility for entrepreneurs and thought leaders, Christine shares her 5-step Expert Authority Framework to help you go from best-kept secret to unmistakable. No hustle required — just clarity, confidence, and a few smart moves.

In this episode, Kelly sits down with Javier Lozano, Jr., Founder of Bolder Media Co. and Fractional CMO. Javier breaks down exactly what "going fractional" means, how it differs from consulting or agency work, what kind of companies need it and when they finally make the call, and what senior marketers need to have in place before they can make the leap — including the non-negotiable skills, and why right now might be the best window yet to build a career on your own terms.

Zander Sprague — TV host, award-winning author, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and self-described "God of Enthusiasm" — has built his life's mission around helping people make the EPIC choices that create an EPIC life. For Zander, EPIC isn't just a buzzword: it stands for Every Pilgrimage Involves Commitment, and his own pilgrimage began in the most painful way imaginable — with the murder of his sister. Rather than letting that tragedy define his limits, he let it define his purpose. In this conversation, Zander unpacks why "someday" is sabotaging your career, how to stop fearing failure and start planning for it, and why the path to your most EPIC professional life begins with exactly one step forward. Whether you're stuck at a crossroads, recovering from a setback, or just waiting for the "right time" to make your move — this episode is your permission slip to start.

What happens when a marketer walks into a boardroom speaking the wrong language? Behavioral marketing strategist and CMO Rich M. Smith unpacks why the gap between marketing and the C-suite isn't a personality conflict — it's a predictable cognitive phenomenon. Rich breaks down how loss aversion, outcome bias, and WYSIATI quietly sabotage marketing budgets, and what it takes to translate your strategy into the language of revenue, risk, and growth. From his 6-part CEO Translation Layer to the monthly meeting that builds more trust than any dashboard, this is a masterclass in making marketing make sense where the decisions get made.

What if your audience personas told you not just who people are, but how they actually make decisions? In this episode, Kylee Ingram, co-founder and CEO of Wizer, explores decision intelligence, cognitive diversity, and the seven decision profiles that shape how people process information, weigh risk, and act. She unpacks why traditional personality tools fall short, how bias and groupthink weaken decisions, and what marketers can learn from understanding the different ways people decide. It’s a practical conversation about smarter communication, better strategy, and why the right voices in the room matter more than ever.

Most people wait until something goes wrong to think about their career — a layoff, a bad review, a gut feeling that something's off. But what if you treated your career like your health, with regular checkups before the symptoms get serious?

In this episode, Kelly sits down with executive coach Wes Ehnert of Vertical Path Coaching & Consulting to talk about what a career checkup actually looks like — from auditing your materials and brand to setting measurable goals, benchmarking your market value, and always having a Plan B. Whether you're early in your career, navigating a transition, or just due for a gut check, this conversation will help you take an honest look at where you are — and where you're headed.