Making Sense of the Mess with Abby Covert: Information Architecture, Community, and Redefining Success

Making Sense of the Mess with Abby Covert: Information Architecture, Community, and Redefining Success

What happens when the career path you’ve built no longer aligns with the life you want? In this episode, Christine sits down with Abby Covert, information architecture expert, author, and founder of the Sense Makers Club [https://www.thesensemakersclub.com/], to explore what it means to walk away from traditional definitions of success and build something new. After years of working in tech and teaching information architecture around the world, Abby made the decision in 2020 to leave her corporate role and create space to figure out what was next. What emerged was the Sensemakers Club, an evolving, community-driven experiment in learning, curiosity, and connection. Christine and Abby discuss:  * Why “making sense” is an ongoing process, not a fixed outcome * How community creates confidence, not just connection * The reality of leaving (or staying in) tech in today’s market * The tension between values-driven work and financial sustainability * Why many mid-career professionals may need to build beyond a single job * What it means to redefine success on your own terms This conversation is deeply relevant for anyone questioning their path, navigating uncertainty, or trying to design a more expansive and aligned life.

The Long View of IA with Karen McGrane: Career Reinvention, Reputation, and a Changing Industry

What does a long career in information architecture and UX teach us about navigating industry change? In this episode, Christine Perfetti speaks with UX and content strategy leader Karen McGrane about reputation, career reinvention, and adapting to shifts in the tech industry. Karen shares lessons from decades in consulting, the impact of the recent consulting downturn, and why she recently made the unexpected move back in-house at Contentful. They also discuss hiring in today’s market, the importance of professional networks, and why many experienced professionals are beginning to think in terms of portfolio careers. Karen will be speaking at the Information Architecture Conference (IAC26) in Philadelphia, April 14–18, 2026. Use the code liftup for $50 off the main conference registration. Learn more: https://www.theiaconference.com [https://www.theiaconference.com]

The Vision Was Given to You: Kenyetta Hall on Mindset, Managed Risk, and Building Your Own Table

In mid-career, many of us reach a moment where the old definition of success no longer fits. but the next one isn’t fully clear yet. In this conversation, I sit down with Kenyetta Hall, product leader, professor at UNC Chapel Hill, advisor to founders, and creator of The Katalyst Effect to talk about what it really takes to pivot with clarity and confidence. We explore: * Why “the vision was given to you” and doesn’t require outside validation * The difference between taking reckless risks and managing risk strategically * How to meet your organization’s definition of success without overextending yourself * Kenyetta's Six M Framework (Mindset, Mission, Motivation, Movement, Money, and Management) * Why baseline financial clarity matters before you can think expansively * The power of a tactical pause to reflect, reset, and reimagine what’s next This is not a conversation about quitting your job overnight. It’s about building your own table thoughtfully.

The Product of You: Designing What’s Next in the Messy Middle with Sarah Doody

What if the greatest product you’ll ever work on is you? In this candid and deeply honest conversation, Christine sits down with career strategist and UX leader Sarah Doody to talk about what it really takes to navigate mid-career uncertainty, especially in today’s volatile tech landscape. They explore: * Why mid-career professionals (not just juniors) are struggling right now * How to distinguish between a qualifications problem and a positioning problem * The myth of “terminal uniqueness” and why your nonlinear career is not a liability * How to optimize your LinkedIn presence strategically (not generically) * Whether you really need a connection to get hired * How mindset and action work together * And what it looks like to build resilience when life and business feel like a “shit show” Sarah also shares openly about her own recent challenges and offers a rare and refreshing glimpse behind the curtain of entrepreneurship. This episode is for mid-career and midlife women who are: * Considering a pivot * Questioning their relevance * Navigating layoffs or stagnation * Or simply asking, “What’s next for me?”

Climbing Out of Burnout: Mount Kilimanjaro, Reinvention, and Choosing an Expansive Life with Mugdha Kulkarni

In this deeply honest episode, Christine Perfetti sits down with Mugdha Kulkarni to explore what happens when your body finally says enough. A former Amazon engineering leader, Mugdha shares her journey through burnout, a life-altering panic attack, the healing power of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, and the brave decision to walk away from corporate life to rebuild a life rooted in health, creativity, and meaning. If you’re standing at the edge of change, this conversation will meet you there. You can learn more about Mugdha's new business, Thyme for Something Sweet [https://www.instagram.com/thyme.for.something.sweet/] on Instagram.