HBR On Leadership – "Make a Mid-Career Industry Change with Confidence"

Date: August 20, 2025
Host: Amy Bernstein (Women at Work, Harvard Business Review)
Guests: Nina Bowman (Executive Coach, Paravis Partners), Renee Doughty (Learning & Development), Lauren Dickey (Consulting, Private Tech Company)
Run Time: Approximately 54 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode explores how mid-career professionals can confidently switch industries—especially when financial and personal stakes are high. Host Amy Bernstein speaks with executive coach Nina Bowman about mindsets, strategies, and storytelling skills that help translate past experiences into new opportunities. The discussion is enriched by real-life stories from women who moved from academia to tech and from government to consulting, highlighting the emotional and practical facets of making bold career changes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Narrative in Career Transitions

• Telling Your Story

  • A mid-career move tests your ability to connect disparate experiences into a cohesive narrative.
  • The process isn’t just about resume-writing—it’s "a great exercise because it forces you to make sense of your career. There are no false moves in a career if you can make sense of them." (Amy Bernstein, 01:14)

• Self-Reflection and Honesty

  • Creating an authentic narrative requires “stringent honesty.” (Amy Bernstein, 01:54)
  • If your story “rings false,” hiring managers will sense it. (Nina Bowman, 02:00)

2. Mindset and Overcoming Internal Barriers

• Agency and Motivation

  • Many successful people realize late in their careers that they’ve been following paths laid out by others.
  • “There gets to be a point...when we look up and we say, 'Who’s driving this train? Is it me, or is it everyone else?'” (Nina Bowman, 06:48)

• Dealing with Fear and Building Confidence

  • The biggest regret isn’t failure but not trying:
    "The thing we regret is when we don't do something. That's what comes back to haunt us." (Nina Bowman, 11:35)

• Growth Mindset

  • "A job that you can do 100% of isn't a good job for you. You need room for growth in any role." (Nina Bowman, 11:45)

3. Identifying Transferable Skills

• Soft Skills Matter Most

  • “The soft skills are actually the hard things.” (Nina Bowman, 12:25)
  • Communication, decision-making, collaboration, and leadership are critical across sectors.

• Practical Exercise

  • Nina coaches clients to create a complete inventory of work and personal experiences to spot recurring energizing patterns and strengths (21:09).

4. Strategic Networking and Research

• Networking Breakdown

  • Networking isn’t just about getting to a decision-maker—there are many small steps, like learning about new roles, industries, and cultures.
  • Tap into “not just my professional network…my personal network. I meet people at the dog park…maybe they know someone.” (Nina Bowman, 17:25)

• Informational Interviews

  • "People like to talk about what they do and you're not asking them for a job." (Nina Bowman, 27:47)

5. Managing the Emotional Toll

• Cost of Staying Still

  • It’s not just staying in a job—it’s paying a cost in frustration, stagnation, and wellbeing (23:14).

• Making Space for Transition Work

  • Carve out time methodically: weekends, vacation days, or even “30 minutes a day” (Renee Doughty, 46:50) can drive progress without disrupting responsibilities.

6. Crafting the Pitch & Overcoming Gaps

• Framing Your Story for Employers
  • Frame your career shifts by solving the interviewer's problems, even if it doesn’t look logical on your resume (33:20).
  • “You can make anything sound logical,” says Bowman. The key is to relate your experiences to the challenges and needs of the new role.

7. Advice for Primary Breadwinners & Caregivers

• Safety and Practicality
  • Incremental steps, not all-or-nothing leaps: “Most people don’t have the luxury of stopping work.” (24:30)
  • Recognize your responsibilities and adjust the search process (hour blocks, networking in manageable increments).

8. After the Leap: Adapting to a New Environment

• Combatting Imposter Syndrome
  • "We were selected because we’re bringing new energy, new ideas... Sit in the strength of that." (Nina Bowman, 35:02)
  • Adopt a learning stance when confronting the unknown, and focus on the value, not gaps.

Real-Life Stories (Listener Spotlights)

Renee Doughty: From Higher Ed to Corporate L&D

• Process:

  • Reflected on what she loved most (adult development, workplace training) and tailored her pitch to align with corporate L&D needs (39:22–42:10).
  • Used LinkedIn and informational interviews to clarify fit.
  • Set a 30-minute-a-day job search routine, even while caring for a newborn (46:50).

• Challenges and Advice:

  • Emphasizes need to “grieve” lost professional identity:
    “I really had to reconcile that. If I had invested more than 15 years...I had to go through those stages of feeling mad and feeling, 'Who am I if I'm no longer a professional in higher education?'” (Renee Doughty, 51:03)

Lauren Dickey: From Federal Policy to Tech Consulting

• Process:

  • Sought professional growth; found lack of advancement in current sector.
  • Spent a year networking, often facing setbacks, before translating her government expertise into skills valued in tech (such as interpreting global events and managing uncertainty) (37:40, 43:09).

• Attitude Toward Networking:

  • Shifted from viewing it as a chore to “what can I learn from this person?” (Lauren Dickey, 46:06)

• Advice:

  • “Do it. It's hard and scary, but…if you have a support network…it's probably the right decision.” (Lauren Dickey, 52:25)
  • Celebrate achievements and keep the door open to former passions through side projects or board roles (54:05).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Regret & Growth:
  “The thing we regret the most is when we don't do something right, that's what comes back to haunt us.” – Nina Bowman (11:35)

• On Soft Skills:
  “The soft skills are actually the hard things.” – Nina Bowman (12:25)

• On Emotional Work:
  “You have to get to a place where you recognize that there is a cost to staying still—that there's a cost to staying, it's not free.” – Nina Bowman (23:18)

• On Grief and Identity:
  “I needed to give myself some space to grieve. Our careers are big parts of our identities…there's a lot of existential questions.” – Renee Doughty (51:03)

• On Networking Perspective:
  “What can I learn from this person? If I could end a conversation being able to answer that question, that was…time well spent.” – Lauren Dickey (46:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:14] – Why narrative is critical for mid-career moves
• [04:27] – Memorable career shifts and their logic
• [06:48] – Reclaiming agency in your career
• [11:35] – Regrets, growth, and why you should try
• [12:24] – Women focusing on skill gaps vs. strengths
• [16:11] – Readiness indicators for a big move
• [17:25] – Rethinking networking
• [23:14] – Emotional cost of staying in the wrong job
• [24:30] – How to manage a transition without quitting
• [27:47] – Listener question: switching sectors as a breadwinner
• [33:20] – How to frame your narrative through the interviewer's needs
• [35:02] – Addressing imposter syndrome after the switch
• [36:43] – Renee and Lauren share their stories
• [46:50] – Making progress with limited time: the “30 minutes a day” rule
• [51:03] – Advice: make space to grieve lost identity
• [52:25] – Advice: try, celebrate, maintain ties to your past career

Additional Takeaways

• Start with self-assessment: Identify not only your hard and soft skills but also what gives you energy and meaning.
• Break down the process: Take one step at a time—focus on roles and daily tasks before fixating on industry labels.
• Find your examples: Look for others who’ve made similar switches for inspiration and reassurance.
• Stay invested and flexible: Adjust your approach as your situation or constraints change—whether through headhunters, networking, or personal time management.

Final Thought

Mid-career industry changes can be daunting, but with honest self-reflection, strategic storytelling, tailored networking, and an appreciation for transferable skills, you can chart a path that honors your experience and fuels your growth. Grieve what you leave behind, but look forward to what you’re building anew.