What happens when your career looks successful on paper… but no longer feels aligned?

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Sarah Warrington, Head of Marketing at a private higher education institution, who shares her honest and inspiring career journey - from leaving accountancy after just 18 months, to building a meaningful leadership career in higher education marketing.

We explore the realities of career progression, navigating values misalignment, asking for what you really want, and why compassionate leadership can be a powerful advantage rather than a weakness.

Sarah also opens up about the coaching process that helped her gain clarity, confidence and the courage to make a career move while protecting the flexibility and family balance that mattered most to her.

This episode is full of reassurance and practical insight for anyone feeling stuck, professionally unfulfilled, or ready to redefine success on their own terms.

In This Episode We Discuss

Knowing when a career path no longer fits
Leaving a “safe” profession early in your career
Building a meaningful career in higher education marketing
The importance of values alignment at work
Why visibility and asking for opportunities matters
Negotiating flexible working successfully
Career coaching and building confidence
Managing your inner critic
Compassionate leadership and emotional intelligence
Leadership in fast-paced startup environments
Balancing ambitious work with family, wellbeing and personal growth

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Sarah Warrington and her current role

01:00 – Leaving accountancy and finding the right career path

02:00 – Moving through higher education roles and discovering marketing

03:15 – Stepping into leadership for the first time

04:10 – The challenge of asking for progression and opportunities

05:40 – Why working hard alone doesn’t guarantee promotion

06:10 – Feeling stuck and discovering coaching

07:20 – Realising something was no longer aligned

08:10 – The fear of losing flexibility and work-life balance

09:10 – How coaching created clarity and self-awareness

10:10 – Managing the inner critic and building confidence

11:15 – Trying new things, networking and exploring possibilities

12:00 – “Rejection is redirection” and navigating the job search

12:45 – Negotiating compressed hours in a new role

13:10 – Discovering compassionate leadership as a strength

14:20 – Leadership in a startup-style environment

15:40 – Balancing leadership, family and wellbeing

16:30 – Why hobbies and volunteering create perspective and energy

17:20 – Sarah’s reflections on the impact of coaching

18:20 – What “unstuck and unstoppable” means to Sarah

Useful Links

Connect with Sarah Warrington on LinkedIn

Flexible Working People FaceBook Group

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: sarah@careertreecoaching.co.uk