I considered walking out of a tiny Tokyo restaurant because it felt uncomfortable, unfamiliar, and way too hard to navigate in English. It seemed like every head turned when we walked in, the menu was handwritten in Japanese, and then a “free delicacy” landed on the table that looked like chopped-up worms. That moment could’ve ended with us retreating to the nearest convenience store and calling it a night.

Instead, I took a bite. It was raw baby squid, and it was actually delicious. That tiny choice sparked a conversation with a local man named Hiro and, somehow, turned into the funniest, sweetest connection of our entire Japan trip. We talked, laughed, and even sang Country Roads together when it started playing in the restaurant. It reminded me how rare real connection can be when most interactions as a tourist are quick, polite, and transactional.

You never know what's waiting on the other side of an awkard moment. This episode is a reminder to stay open, say yes, and not walk away too quickly — in travel, in networking, and in life. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find Her Next Chapters.

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Work with Me

Want an HR expert’s eyes on your resume?
Book a 30-minute Resume Review with Christina - live on Zoom, recorded, and focused on one goal: getting you interviews.

Want to talk through your career goals and explore next steps?
Schedule a career consultation to see how I can support you.

Email me directly at christina@hernextchapters.com

Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina

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Free Resource

Grab the Strengths-First Resume Template - ideal for career transitions, whether you’re returning after a break, navigating a layoff, pivoting roles, or ready for a change.

Career pivots rarely happen in a straight line.

In this episode of Her Next Chapters, Christina talks with Brenda Brusegard, founder of Informed Tech Solutions, about her unconventional career journey from middle school science teacher to international educator to tech and AI consultant helping business owners streamline their operations.

Brenda spent more than 15 years in education, teaching in the U.S. and internationally in Ecuador, India, and Panama. Along the way, she discovered a love for technology, research, and problem-solving that eventually led her to start her own business helping entrepreneurs simplify their tech and automation systems using AI.

In this conversation, Brenda shares how small decisions and unexpected opportunities led to a major career shift, and why paying attention to what comes naturally to you can point toward your next chapter.

Christina and Brenda also tackle a topic that many career returners and career changers feel intimidated by: artificial intelligence. If AI feels overwhelming or unfamiliar, this episode offers a practical and encouraging starting point.

You’ll hear about:

• How following small “breadcrumbs” can lead to meaningful career pivots
• Why networking and real conversations still matter in a tech-driven world
• Simple ways to start using AI in everyday life and work
• How AI can help with tasks like planning, research, and productivity
• Why AI should do about 80% of the work, with humans responsible for the final 20%

Connect with Brenda:
LinkedIn: Brenda Brusegard
Website: informedtech.io
AI Course: Build Your Dream Team

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Work with Me

Want an HR expert’s eyes on your resume?
Book a 30-minute Resume Review with Christina - live on Zoom, recorded, and focused on one goal: getting you interviews.

Want to talk through your career goals and explore next steps?
Schedule a career consultation to see how I can support you.

Email me directly at christina@hernextchapters.com

Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Free Resource

Grab the Strengths-First Resume Template - ideal for career transitions, whether you’re returning after a break, navigating a layoff, pivoting roles, or ready for a change.

What happens when a lifelong identity no longer fits the season you’re in?

In this episode of Her Next Chapters, Christina sits down with Kiersten Lortz, former professional violinist turned women’s empowerment coach, author, and founder of the Possibilities Conference. After a 25-year career in music, Kiersten made a bold midlife pivot to support women navigating identity shifts, career transitions, and the emotional complexity of the empty nest years.

Together, they explore:

• Letting go of long-held professional identities
• Career pivots in midlife and starting over from experience
• The emotional realities of the empty nest transition
• Reclaiming your relationship with your spouse, your adult children, and yourself
• Why women often feel lost after their kids leave home
• Coaching vs. therapy and how forward-focused coaching supports real change
• Small, sustainable action instead of “massive action” during busy life seasons

Kiersten shares her journey from performing on major stages as a professional musician to launching a women’s empowerment conference and building a coaching practice centered on helping mothers reconnect during the college transition years (ages 16–24). She also discusses the loneliness many women experience during this phase and why community and structured support matter.

If you are navigating a career reinvention, identity shift, or the emotional complexity of midlife motherhood, this conversation will remind you that you are not starting from scratch—you are starting from experience.

This episode is for women who are ready to release old chapters, redefine what’s next, and step into their next season with intention.

Click on these links to learn more about Kiersten’s Possibilities Conference and coaching programs.
Or grab a copy of her book: Possibilities: Partnering with God to Become Your Best Self

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The hardest part of interviewing isn’t your qualifications — it’s knowing how to talk about them.
Let’s fix that.
Book your Interview Clarity & Confidence Session HERE.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Work with Me

Want an HR expert’s eyes on your resume?
Book a 30-minute Resume Review with Christina - live on Zoom, recorded, and focused on one goal: getting you interviews.

Want to talk through your career goals and explore next steps?
Schedule a career consultation to see how I can support you.

Email me directly at christina@hernextchapters.com

Connect with me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Free Resource

Grab the Strengths-First Resume Template - ideal for career transitions, whether you’re returning after a break, navigating a layoff, pivoting roles, or ready for a change.