Chief Change Officer Podcast Summary

Episode: Career Math 101: Erica Sosna’s Formula for Bouncing Back – Part One
Host: Vince Chen
Release Date: February 1, 2025

Introduction to the Episode

In the latest episode of Chief Change Officer, host Vince Chen delves deep into the inspiring journey of Erica Sosna, a distinguished career coach, podcast host, and author of Career Equation. This two-part series explores Erica's remarkable resilience, purpose-driven transformation, and the innovative formula she developed to help individuals navigate their career paths effectively.

Erica's Background and Career Journey

Early Career and Foundational Work (04:34 - 09:47)

Erica Sosna introduces herself as a seasoned career thought leader with over two decades of experience. She is the creator of the Career Equation, a model designed to help individuals align their internal passions with external professional demands. Erica's journey began after university when she joined the prestigious Civil Service Fast Stream in the UK. Despite securing a competitive position, Erica sensed a misalignment with her personal values and career aspirations, which led her to explore the broader landscape of personal development and career coaching.

Erica Sosna (04:34): “I became very curious about what is it that makes work work for people? How do I get underneath what thriving looks and feels like?”

Transitions and Challenges (09:47 - 18:43)

Erica recounts her early entrepreneurial venture, the Life Project, aimed at helping individuals under 25 navigate their career choices by leveraging personal development insights. Her work with prestigious institutions like Oxford and Cambridge showcased her commitment to transforming career education. However, funding cuts and a shifting governmental landscape forced Erica to pivot back to the corporate sector. This transition was fraught with challenges, including skepticism from potential employers about her ability to commit after running her own enterprise. Erica faced setbacks, including a non-renewal of her probation at a consultancy and taking on an unsustainable workload at another firm, which eventually led her to reevaluate her career strategy using her own Career Equation model.

Erica Sosna (09:47): “I really had to work hard to parlay who I was and what I'd done to even get a chance to talk at interview about how I might be a valuable addition.”

Key Insights and Lessons

Development of the Career Equation (16:38 - 25:37)

Erica shares the pivotal moment in 2022 when a life-altering accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. This traumatic event not only challenged her physically but also shifted her perspective on life and career. Determined to overcome her injuries, Erica embarked on an intensive rehabilitation journey that took nearly two years. This period of adversity reinforced her belief in aligning one’s career with personal values and strengths—a core principle of her Career Equation.

Erica discusses how the accident underscored the importance of flexibility, autonomy, and working within environments that honor one’s unique design. This realization led her to restructure her consultancy to a three-day workweek, allowing her to balance her professional responsibilities with personal recovery and parenting. Additionally, Erica launched her podcast to reach a broader audience, emphasizing the need for continuous growth and adaptability in one’s career.

Erica Sosna (18:43): “It really caused me that summer to stop and think. And I was actually in the process of writing my first book that summer, Your Life. What Became Your Life Plan, and it really caused me to go, can I just apply my own model and thinking to what's going on here to really make sure that this third time I make the right choice.”

Resilience and Personal Growth

Erica’s story is a testament to resilience and the power of self-reflection. Her ability to bounce back from failures and adapt to unforeseen circumstances highlights the essence of her Career Equation. By focusing on what truly matters—personal joy, meaningful work, and impactful contributions—Erica has been able to rebuild her business, launch a successful podcast, and excel in her role as a parent despite significant challenges.

Vince Chen (17:08): “Those setbacks ended up leading to new insights, to new heights. Knowing what I can and I cannot do, what I can accept and what doesn't fit me at all, it helps me become laser focused on what really works for me and what's worth pursuing.”

Notable Quotes

• Erica Sosna (04:34):
  “I fundamentally work with people's narrative, helping them to understand who they are at heart and then the direction that character, the hero, in their story themselves wants to take.”

• Erica Sosna (09:47):
  “I really had to work hard to parlay who I was and what I'd done to even get a chance to talk at interview about how I might be a valuable addition.”

• Erica Sosna (18:43):
  “I have gone from completely paralyzed to walking again. I have rebuilt a business and launched a podcast. I have been a great parent in spite of all of those challenges and obstacles.”

• Vince Chen (17:08):
  “Those setbacks ended up leading to new insights, to new heights.”

Conclusion and Teaser for Part Two

As the episode wraps up, Vince Chen reflects on the profound impact of Erica’s journey and the invaluable lessons learned through her experiences. He highlights the transformative power of resilience and the importance of aligning one’s career with personal values and strengths.

Vince Chen (25:37):
“Erica shares her career journey, the twists, the turns and the accident that changed everything. Tomorrow in part two, she will share the hard earned wisdom she gained from overcoming paralysis, starting a new chapter shaping a path to personal and professional growth.”

Listeners are invited to return for Part Two, where Erica will delve deeper into the Career Equation, offering actionable insights and strategies to help individuals become better versions of themselves in their careers.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Chief Change Officer offers a compelling narrative of overcoming adversity, the significance of self-awareness in career planning, and the enduring human spirit's capacity for growth and transformation. Erica Sosna’s story not only serves as an inspiration but also provides practical tools for listeners to navigate their career paths with clarity and purpose.

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