In this episode of Finding Your Direction, Emma speaks with Andrew Clohessy, who shares his extensive and transformative career journey.

Andrew recounts his humble beginnings in Limerick, his rapid rise in the electronics manufacturing industry, and his subsequent shift to people-focused roles.

He details the challenges and lessons learned from global project management, including the impact of extensive travel on family life, his bout with burnout, and eventual transition to consulting.

Andrew emphasizes the importance of balance, self-care, and the value of meaningful work. He also shares his reflections on leadership, career evolution, and the pursuit of personal and professional fulfillment which provide profound insights for listeners navigating their own career paths.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:18 Andrew's Early Life and Career Beginnings

02:03 Transition to Leadership and Career Growth

06:04 Challenges and Realizations

09:18 Career Shift and Consulting

20:08 Reflections and Future Directions

32:36 Advice and Closing Remarks

Things that you will learn more about in this episode:

- The importance of reflection in career development.

- How to navigate career transitions and find your true path.

- How to balance professional ambitions with personal well-being.

- How to overcome career burnout.

- How to transition from multinationals to the SME sector.

- Finding joy and meaning in work.

- The power of pausing during your career journey.

Connect with Andrew Clohessy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-clohessy/

Connect with Emma:

Instagram: @emmalynchcoaching

Website: www.emmalynchcoaching.com

Sign up to our bi-monthly newsletter here

Book a short chemistry call to find out more here

In this episode of Finding Your Direction, Emma welcomes Dr. Áine O'Dea, who shares her dynamic career journey from being an occupational therapist in the UK and Ireland, focusing on mental and children's health, to facing a life-changing car accident.

Áine discusses the impact of her injury, her struggle with chronic pain and fatigue, and how she pivoted to a new role. She recounts her decision to pursue a master's and PhD, the challenges during COVID-19, her venture into academia, and finally establishing a business offering clinical supervision and training for health professionals and coaching.

Áine's story is a testament to resilience and adaptability in the face of career adversity.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:15 Áine's Career Journey in Occupational Therapy

02:34 A Major Career Shift Due to an Accident

04:05 Coping with Career-Ending Injury

07:03 Pursuing Further Education and New Opportunities

12:52 Starting a Business and Adapting to COVID-19

16:23 Advice for Career Transitions

19:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Things that you will learn more about in this episode:

1) How to identify alternative career options when something out of your control forces a change.

2) The challenge of separating your identity from your career.

3) The importance of the first step in career change, even when you are not sure of the end goal.

4) The importance of resilience in career change.

5) What to do if you have invested time and money in studying for a qualification and you realise that is not what you want to do.

6) How you can use a PHD outside of academia.

Connect with Dr Aine O'Dea

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/draineodea/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.aineodea/

Website: https://radianceconsultinghub.com/

Connect with Emma:

Instagram: @emmalynchcoaching

Website: www.emmalynchcoaching.com

Sign up to our bi-monthly newsletter here

Book a short chemistry call to find out more here

In this episode, host Emma interviews Jennifer McConnell, who shares her diverse and extensive career journey. Originating from HR and secretarial roles.

Jennifer's career spans various industries, including film, PR, and business network management. Her roles took her across the globe, managing HR in sectors as diverse as telecoms in the Caribbean and nonprofit community work in Papua New Guinea.

Jennifer discusses the importance of career transitions, succession planning, and the insights she's gained from working in high-pressure global environments, and how she combines the knowledge from her studies in HR and anthropology.

She also highlights her new venture, Living Legacy, which focuses on helping individuals and organizations with succession planning, end-of-life plans, and creating meaningful legacies.

00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Jennifer McConnell

00:13 Jennifer's Early Career and Education

01:09 Diverse Industry Experiences

02:33 Challenges and Redundancies

04:50 International Adventures and HR Roles

09:02 Burnout and Career Break

09:47 Return to Education and Nonprofit Work

35:02 Living Legacy and Future Plans

43:31 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Things that you will learn more about in this episode:

1) Knowing when its time to make a change in your career.

2) Taking the time to step back and think about the legacy that you want to create in the world.

3) How trying out or prototyping your career can support a career change.

4) Ideas for approaching career change.

5) The different resources that can support career change.

Connect with Jennifer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermcconnell/

https://www.livinglegacy.ie/

Connect with Emma:

Instagram: @emmalynchcoaching

Website: www.emmalynchcoaching.com

Sign up to our bi-monthly newsletter here

Book a short chemistry call to find out more here