Your Career Journey

Initiative, Responsibility, and Owning Your Career: Leadership Lessons From A Veteran CEO

What does it really take to build a long, successful leadership career? In this episode, I’m joined by Barry Moline, who shares the story behind his 29-year career as a CEO and the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership. Barry didn’t follow a conventional path. He started as a high school teacher, where he developed the foundations of clear communication and patience, before leaving the profession due to structural changes. From there, he moved into energy engineering during the 1980s energy crisis, and later joined the Peace Corps in Guatemala with his wife. That experience became a defining moment. Building programs from scratch, navigating uncertainty, and learning resilience all played a role in shaping his leadership style and ultimately opened doors to opportunities in Washington, DC and beyond. Throughout our conversation, one theme comes up again and again, initiative. From unexpectedly refereeing a major hockey game as a teenager to “raising his hand” for opportunities throughout his career, Barry shares how taking responsibility and stepping forward, even when you don’t feel fully ready, can shape your trajectory in ways you don’t expect. We talk about: ✅ How “raising your hand” creates visibility and opportunity ✅ The mindset shift from employee to leader ✅ Why persistence and ownership matter more than having a perfect plan ✅ How to run effective brainstorming sessions and encourage honest input ✅ The importance of developing future leaders and thinking beyond yourself ✅ Simple but powerful communication techniques (including better listening) ✅ Why you need to take ownership of your career, not wait for it to happen This is a practical, experience-led conversation about leadership, responsibility, and the small decisions that shape long-term careers. To connect with Barry: Website: barrymoline.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-moline/ Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with:  💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you  💡 Confidently communicate your value  💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network  💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move  💡 Navigate the job market effectively  💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources:  Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/  LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources:  📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice  📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call:  https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

Navigating Burnout: The Journey from Corporate Overload to Reinvention

What does burnout actually look like, and how do you move through it? In this episode, Emma sits down with Isabelle Tremblay, a senior Marketer with 25 years of experience in corporate Canada. Discover how a once thriving workplace culture transformed into a hustle driven environment after multiple mergers. Isabelle shares her experience of managing two executive-level roles at the same time with large brand portfolios, navigating a 20+ person team, and balancing the pressures of a difficult divorce and her daughter’s mental health crisis. This led to her breaking point and the diagnosis of situational stress disorder (burnout) that followed. Isabelle talks through her journey of healing through medication, self-development, and a transformative daily meditation practice that became her lifeline. After leaving the corporate world and redefining success for herself, Isabelle took a new and different path, authoring her book “Love Leads Succeed.” Where she advocates for love and service-based leadership, emotional intelligence, and prioritising mental health over toxic hustle culture. Key Topics Covered: * The impact of corporate culture on mental health * Strategies for overcoming burnout * The importance of emotional intelligence in leadership * Practical tips for prioritising mental health in a demanding work environment This is such an honest and brave conversation. And another example of how the worst thing that’s happened to you might turn out, in hindsight, to be the best thing.  To connect with Isabelle: Website: eyenovating.ca LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/isabelle-tremblay-21109226 YouTube:@LoveLeadSucceed Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with:  💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you  💡 Confidently communicate your value  💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network  💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move  💡 Navigate the job market effectively  💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources:  Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/  LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources:  📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice  📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call:  https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

From Overwhelmed to Organised: Reducing the Mental Load & Creating Systems That Actually Work

Feeling overwhelmed, stretched, and constantly thinking about everything you haven’t done yet? You’re not alone, and a lot of it comes down to the invisible mental load we carry every day. In this episode, I’m joined by productivity and organisation expert Lisa Woodruff to talk about how to move from overwhelm to clarity, reduce mental clutter, and build systems that genuinely make life easier. Lisa’s journey is just as inspiring as her work. After starting her career in teaching and spending years as a stay-at-home mum, turning 40 prompted her to reassess what she wanted next. Inspired by generations of women in her family who had built their own businesses, she started with a simple blog in 2012, which has since grown into courses, products, and a podcast helping thousands of people get organised. In our conversation, we talk about the real reason so many people feel overwhelmed. The invisible labour that sits behind running a household, alongside careers, families, and often caring responsibilities. Lisa shares practical, realistic strategies to help you regain control, including: • How to think about your household like a CEO would run a business • Why systems (not willpower) are the key to staying organised • Where to start when everything feels messy or out of control • Simple ways to organise your time, tasks, and mental load • Why aiming for excellence is far more helpful than chasing perfection • And her popular Sunday Basket method for managing your week with more clarity This episode is a mix of personal story, practical advice, and simple mindset shifts that can make a real difference, whether you’re juggling a career, family life, or just feeling overwhelmed by everything on your plate. If you’re looking for ways to feel more organised, reduce stress, and create systems that actually stick, this one is full of actionable ideas. To connect with Lisa: Website: organize365.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisawoodruff Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with:  💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you  💡 Confidently communicate your value  💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network  💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move  💡 Navigate the job market effectively  💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources:  Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/  LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources:  📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice  📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call:  https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

How to Become a Fractional CMO (Career Path, Skills & Lessons) with Laura Zahariou

What does it really take to grow from a solo marketer into a strategic leader and eventually step out on your own? In this episode, Laura Zahariou shares her career journey from being the only marketer in mid-sized businesses to building a career as a fractional marketing leader. Early in her career, Laura found herself as a solo marketer reporting directly to CEOs and founders, sitting in conversations about revenue, cash flow, margins, and operations. It gave her strong commercial awareness but also required her to be proactive in developing her marketing skills outside her role. We discuss how mentoring and executive coaching played a huge role in her continued professional development, and the advice she would give others in the same situation. We also talk about what prompted her to leave her corporate career and start her own business. Laura talks us through her thought process and what she's learnt that has surprised her. We explore: • The transition from solo marketer to strategic leader • What a Fractional CMO actually does • The importance of proactive learning and development • Why marketers need to treat networking as a priority (and even set KPIs around it) • The impact of remote work on learning, confidence, and soft skill development • Why in-person connection still matters • Learning to “panic slowly” This episode is full of practical insight for marketers looking to grow, step into leadership, or explore more flexible career paths. To connect with Laura: Website: https://www.growthlanemarketing.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-zahariou-2680696b/ Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with:  💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you  💡 Confidently communicate your value  💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network  💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move  💡 Navigate the job market effectively  💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources:  Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/  LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources:  📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice  📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call:  https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call

Marketing Me: Personal Branding, Visibility, and Authenticity with Nina Christian

How do you position and promote the most important brand you’ll ever work on,  yourself? In this episode, I’m joined by Nina Christian to explore the realities of personal branding, visibility, and building a professional reputation that actually feels authentic. After more than 20 years of building an award-winning marketing agency and working closely with both organisations and individuals, Nina has distilled her experience into her Marketing Me framework and book. Designed to help people communicate their value clearly and confidently. We start by unpacking why the term personal branding can feel uncomfortable for so many people, and where the concept actually comes from, as Nina points out, whether we like the term or not, our personal brand already exists, so we may as well be intentional about shaping it. From there, we dive into the topic everyone seems to be talking about right now: authenticity. What does it actually mean in the context of personal branding? Do you really have to share your whole life online to be visible? Nina also shares why many marketers struggle to market themselves, despite doing excellent work for clients. And how getting clear on your differentiators, messaging, and the right channels (from podcasts to other platforms) can help build both confidence and consistency. We also discuss Nina’s latest insights on key market shifts for 2026, and finish with a simple but powerful reminder: you don’t need everything figured out, you just need to take the next step. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable with the idea of personal branding, struggled with visibility, or wondered how to talk about your value more clearly, this conversation is full of practical insights. Insights report: https://www.ninachristian.com/insights Website: https://www.ninachristian.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ninachristian Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with:  💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you  💡 Confidently communicate your value  💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network  💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move  💡 Navigate the job market effectively  💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint 🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources:  Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/  LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/ 🎁 Free Resources:  📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice  📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide 📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call:  https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call