In today’s episode, Elena sits down with career strategist and HR expert Kate Sargent for a candid and practical conversation about navigating career transitions in today’s fast-changing world. With a wealth of experience ranging from high-level talent acquisition at top brands like Allbirds and The North Face to building her own thriving HR consulting business, Kate brings a truly real-world perspective to the challenges—and opportunities—of changing lanes, industries, or even striking out on your own.Together, they unpack essential strategies for anyone contemplating their next move: how to figure out what you want, how to keep your options open, and why everyone should always be “parallel pathing” their career. Kate shares her signature “bucketing exercise” for clarifying skills, demystifies the power (and pitfalls) of using AI tools like ChatGPT in the job search, and gives actionable networking tips—from making cold connections on LinkedIn to finding your “A-team” allies.If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or just ready for a fresh start, you’ll walk away from this conversation with a toolkit of advice, a dose of motivation, and a reminder that community and generosity can be game-changers on your career journey. Stay tuned for real talk, practical tips, and inspiration to help you thrive in your work—and beyond.Time Stamps:00:00 From Law Aspirations to Talent Acquisition04:08 Guiding Career Transitions07:43 The Bucketing Exercise for Career Growth10:28 "Resume Overhaul Using AI"14:54 "Networking: Three Key Connection Types"18:46 LinkedIn Networking: Give Compliments First22:42 Follow-Up Wait Time: Three Weeks24:50 Networking: Engage, Connect, Practice29:01 Optimize LinkedIn for Quick Impressions30:05 Effective LinkedIn Profile Strategies33:46 Diversify Job Search Paths39:05 Generosity Flywheel: Collective Giving Movement42:08 Abundance Mindset Over Scarcity43:22 Supportive LinkedIn Consultations OfferedConnect with Kate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksarge/Visit website: https://kjs.consulting/Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy

On this episode of the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast, host Elena welcomes Catharine Montgomery, founder of Better Together Agency, for an unfiltered conversation about resilience, career pivots, and the ongoing challenges of building a purpose-driven business. Catharine opens up about her journey from growing up in Alabama, launching her career at large PR agencies, and pursuing her passion for social impact—all while navigating the harsh realities of workplace racism, toxic organizational cultures, and the unexpected pitfalls of working with investors.Catharine’s story is one of grit and reinvention: after experiencing blatant racism at a so-called progressive agency and successfully negotiating a buyout, she found herself at another crossroads when her business partners became obstacles rather than allies. Through each challenge, Catharine leaned on community, mentorship, and her unwavering commitment to using communications for social good. Together, Elena and Catharine unpack lessons learned about recognizing toxic work environments, the importance of knowing your worth, and staying grounded when starting over—sometimes more than once.Tune in for candid reflections, practical insights for founders (especially those working with investors), and real talk about resilience, authenticity, and the power of building a business that stays true to its mission. Whether you’re navigating your own career transitions or simply looking for inspiration, this episode will remind you that your story—and your impact—aren’t defined by your setbacks, but by how you choose to rebuild and move forward.Time stamps:00:00 "Agency Career Journey Shift"05:26 Starting a Social Impact Agency09:23 "Quitting Better Together"12:17 Realizing Microaggressions and Racism13:30 HR Challenges in Addressing Racism17:40 Structural Racism Needs Addressing21:41 "Diversity Misunderstood in Slack"25:17 Investor Decisions and Due Diligence26:25 "Stay Involved in Business Finances"30:09 Building Awareness for Community Impact33:31 "Reflecting on Starting the Agency"36:18 Reflecting on Entrepreneurial Beginnings39:26 Embracing Change and AI GrowthConnect with Catharine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cnmontgomery/Website: https://thebettertogetheragency.com/Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy

Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In this episode, Elena sits down with trailblazing executive Jennifer Langton, known for her remarkable career spanning finance, technology, and sports leadership—including 14 years at the NFL.Jennifer opens up about her unconventional journey, from being the only girl on an all-boys lacrosse team to breaking barriers in male-dominated industries. She shares invaluable career advice, lessons from the field that shaped her leadership style, and behind-the-scenes stories of driving transformative innovation in high-stakes environments. Whether you’re an aspiring leader, navigating the tech world, or simply looking for inspiration to own your story and ambition, Jennifer’s candid insights and practical strategies deliver a playbook for growth, resilience, and authentic connection. Get ready for a conversation packed with wisdom, real talk, and empowering takeaways!Time stamps:00:00 Connecting Through Data and Authenticity03:58 From Atari to NFL Strategy08:48 Transforming Youth Sports Safety Strategies13:55 Business School Inspired Leadership Journey16:01 "Authentic Connection Fuels Team Success"18:38 Financial Strategy: Lessons from Sports24:48 Building Trust Eases Change Fears28:19 Digital Athlete Data Management30:22 Building Trust through Authentic Leadership34:46 "Sports Roots to Safety Leadership"38:20 "Breaking Barriers Through Youth Sports"41:33 Building Trust Through Authentic Connection44:32 "Post-NFL Journey: Inspiring Change"48:25 Facing Giants: A Defining Moment50:12 "Breaking Barriers in Boys' Sports"52:32 Impactful Presentations Across Audiences56:16 "Impact Through Authentic Connection"Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferlangton/Website: https://jenniferlangtoninc.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenny_langton/#Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy

Welcome back to Shift with Elena Agar! In today’s episode, Elena sits down with the incredibly insightful Tasha Golden, who shares her fascinating journey from being a touring indie pop artist to becoming a behavioral scientist with a PhD in Public Health Sciences. Together, they dive into the power of creativity—not just in art, but as a vital mindset for navigating change, managing well-being, and finding meaning in our careers and everyday lives.Tasha opens up about how personal experiences with burnout and mental health challenges fueled her desire to understand why the arts make such an impact on our emotional lives, and how these insights can help bridge critical gaps in healthcare, education, and the workplace. She unpacks the science behind the links between creative engagement and improved mental, physical, and social health, and why fostering creative thinking is more essential now than ever in our rapidly changing world.Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, this episode will challenge what you think you know about creativity, inspire you to reimagine your own story, and give practical tips for cultivating more hope and purpose, both personally and as part of a larger organization. Tune in for this heartfelt, energizing conversation that reminds us all there’s power in the stories we tell ourselves—and endless possibilities in the ones we have yet to write.Time stamps:00:00 Music's Unique Role in Emotional Disclosure05:36 Navigating Success and Isolation07:52 Identity Beyond Careers10:46 Rewriting Your Life's Story14:26 Creativity Begins with Refusal18:40 Energy Release Through Music & Dance22:18 Workplace Design Influences Human Experience25:05 Empowered Communication Transforms Teams29:02 Rethinking Workplace Health Priorities30:24 Rethinking Work-Life Meaning34:42 Invest in People, Boost Success37:55 Design's Influence on Environment & Society40:08 Rethinking Environmental Investment Mindset43:26 Custom Webpage for Podcast ListenersConnect with Tasha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashagolden/Website: https://www.tashagolden.com/Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy

Welcome back to the Shift with Elena Agar Podcast! In today’s episode, Elena sits down with Lidia Axe, a dynamic guest whose journey takes us from her early days in Moscow, working part-time at a beer company, to building a successful corporate career at PwC, and ultimately, venturing into entrepreneurship and coaching. Lidia shares candid stories about how chance encounters shaped her career, the challenges (and realities) of building a brick-and-mortar business while raising a family, and what it really means to find fulfillment beyond climbing the corporate ladder.Together, Elena and Lidia dive deep into topics like generational differences in social skills, overcoming the fear of starting over, and why sometimes the best path forward is unlearning what the world has taught us and staying true to ourselves. Lidia's perspective on redefining success—shifting from outcome-based metrics to impact and connection—offers both inspiration and practical advice for anyone navigating their own career shift or considering starting something new.This conversation is packed with real-life insights, laughter, and the kind of honest advice you can’t find in textbooks. Whether you’re early in your career, thinking about a pivot, or looking for courage to step outside your comfort zone, Lidia’s journey and Elena’s thoughtful questions will leave you motivated to embrace your next shift. Time stamps:00:00 "Journey to PwC: Overcoming Recruitment"04:54 Unexpected Networking Opportunities07:42 Career Exploration at PwC11:59 Encouraging Real Connections Over Digital13:25 Grateful for Flexible Work Opportunities19:27 "Mama's Dream: Partnership & Business"22:00 Importance of Business Scalability26:10 Passion for Helping Solopreneurs27:10 Embracing New Beginnings33:09 "Value Every Individual's Impact"36:23 Accepting Different Lifestyles38:58 Unlearning for True Self-Discovery40:35 The Joy of Daring Adventures46:44 "Embracing Moving Meditation"48:44 Inspired Coaching Journey Amidst Challenges52:54 Inspirational Impact Through Storytelling54:57 "Awaiting Travel Experiences"Connect with Lidia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lidia-chmel/Website: https://getitdonecoaching.com/Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy

In today’s conversation, Elena sits down with Saad Bin Shafiq, a relentless serial entrepreneur whose journey takes us from a tiny Himalayan village in Pakistan to scaling companies, overcoming failures, and building innovative products in the heart of the tech world. Saad shares how he went from selling peanut butter sandwiches as a kid, to navigating scholarship life abroad, working every job imaginable, and ultimately founding Nodes.inc—a hiring platform that’s turning heads in the recruitment space.This episode is packed with authentic insights about the entrepreneurial journey: the real grit behind “overnight success,” the invaluable lessons that come from failure, and the mindset required to keep building, no matter how tough things get. Saad opens up about the drive rooted in family, why passion is sometimes overrated, and how listening to customers can transform not just products, but entire businesses. Whether you’re deep in your founder journey, or just dreaming of your first venture, Saad’s story will motivate you to think bigger and stick with it—even when no one’s watching.Plus, Elena and Saad dive into the future of recruiting technology, including how AI is making hiring smarter and simpler, and what that means for both companies and job seekers. It’s a conversation full of actionable advice, entrepreneurial energy, and a reminder that the journey to success is never a straight line.Tune in, share with your fellow builders, and get ready to shift your mindset with Saad Bin Shafiq!Time stamps:00:00 Entrepreneurial Journey with Saad Shafiq03:08 Childhood Ambitions to Entrepreneurship09:12 From Consultant to Automation with GPT10:31 Unexpected Entrepreneurial Success Story12:59 "My Transformative Elite School Experience"17:46 Embracing Independence Through Wealth21:15 Customer-Centric Product Development25:02 AI-Driven Talent Matching System26:12 Candidate Feature Launch with Fit Score29:01 Evaluating Technical Screens and Inclusivity32:07 Think Bigger, Achieve MoreConnect with Saad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saad-bin-shafiq/Website: https://nodes.inc/Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy

In this episode, Elena sits down with Matt Gjertsen, founder of Better Everyday Studios and former SpaceX learning and development leader—who also happens to be an Air Force veteran and pilot. Together, they dive into the world of talent and leadership development, exploring what really makes effective training stick in corporate environments (and why most companies are still getting it wrong!). Matt shares his unique journey from being a space-obsessed kid, piloting refueling jets, to shaping learning cultures at some of the world’s most innovative companies. They discuss practical strategies for creating impactful training, why behavioral change—not just classroom learning—matters most, and the realities of shifting from high-level corporate roles to entrepreneurship. Whether you’re an HR/L&D pro, business leader, or someone dreaming about launching your own venture, this conversation is packed with actionable advice, honest insights, and a few fun stories from inside the cockpit. Don’t miss it!Time Stamps:00:00 Air Force Journey to Astronaut03:32 Competitive Peer Ranking Journey09:25 "From Air Force to SpaceX Success"12:25 Focus on Behavior, Not Outcomes14:50 Environmental Influence on Behavior18:07 Rethinking Training: Identifying Real Issues22:06 Building Client Relationships Strategically24:21 Leadership and Management: Contextual Actions27:12 Soft vs. Hard Skills Dilemma30:16 Delegating Authority as a Pilot35:35 Career Success vs. Personal Fulfillment38:17 Reevaluating Personal Values42:40 Connect on LinkedIn, Explore Better EverydayConnect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgjertsen/Website: https://bettereverydaystudios.com/Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy

In this episode, Elena reconnects with Andy Lipshultz, a dynamic voiceover talent whose professional journey is anything but ordinary. Andy—who previously joined the podcast a couple of years ago—shares his experience navigating career changes across vastly different industries, from the music business and banking to technology and now, a thriving independent voiceover career having voiced commercials and corporate narration for partners like Google, Lego and Bridgestone alongside fun animation, games, audio dramas and audiobooks.Elena and Andy dive into the realities of career pivots: how to recognize when it’s time for a change, redefine what success means, and take calculated risks while balancing life’s responsibilities. They candidly discuss overcoming fear, staying curious, and finding the courage to start over—even when it means taking a step back to ultimately leap ahead. If you’re considering a new career path, interested in entrepreneurship, or curious about the world of voice talent, this episode is packed with practical advice, relatable stories, and fresh inspiration. Tune in for actionable tips and a dose of motivation from someone who has reinvented himself time and time again!Time Stamps:00:00 Career Change Insights with Andy03:53 Career Journey: Tech to Voiceover07:32 Path to Music Industry Success11:52 Success Through Core Identity Recognition14:12 Adapting to Career Changes17:58 Dual Path Life Planning23:45 Courage and Curiosity in Decision-Making24:26 Cultivating Courage and Curiosity28:21 Minimize Risk Through Education33:53 Resilience Through Adversity34:58 Coping with Layoffs and Identity37:51 Voiceover Marketing and CoachingConnect with Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andysaysit/Visit website: https://www.andysaysit.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andylipshultz/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andysaysit Follow Elena: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/Website: https://elenaagar.com/Listen on:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-with-elena-agar/id1530850914Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UKh6dWcuQwJlmAOqD8wijIf you like this video, please like, subscribe, comment, and share! Your support is extremely valued! #careercoaching #careertips #careerresilience #futureofwork #careerstrategy