03: It’s Not You, It’s Me

Oct 16

Episode 3: It’s Not You, It’s Me
Is It Time to Break Up with Your Job?
With guest, Wendy Bernero

In this episode, Elizabeth sits down with Wendy Bernero, a seasoned marketing and business development leader, to discuss the challenging but rewarding path of making career transitions when professional and personal values are no longer aligned. Wendy shares her personal journey, providing insightful reflections on when and how to know it’s time to make a change. Together, they explore the importance of self-awareness, work-life balance, and the courage required to step away from situations that no longer serve us.

Together, they cover:

The Moment of Realization: What happens when you reach a point in your career where your work begins to feel misaligned with your core identity? For Wendy, the tipping point came when the organization she worked for demanded significant layoffs within her team—a group she had spent years building and developing.
Balancing Competing Priorities: The delicate balancing act many of us face, where personal life, work responsibilities, and family needs pull us in different directions. The imbalance became particularly stark for Wendy when her older son faced health issues, and she was navigating with the emotional bandwidth required to manage both work pressures and family responsibilities.
Mustering The Courage to Leave: Once the decision becomes clear, there can be internal conflict that comes with the decision. Wendy talks about second-guessing herself in the moment, having sleepless nights, and ultimately finding a sense of pride for standing her ground.
Life After the “Big” Job: We reflect on the shift from a high-powered position to a period of uncertainty, noting how people treat you differently once you no longer have a prominent title and the power attached to it. But also how these transitions can open up new pathways you might not have previously considered.
Sometimes, you choose to take the leap and quit a job, driven by a need for change or personal growth. Other times, you get pushed, whether through layoffs or being let go, forcing you to adapt to an unexpected transition. Either scenario offers opportunities for reinvention and discovering what’s next.

Additional Resources: