

#843 Slingshot Your Career: How to Propel Forward by Pulling Back
Aug 9, 2025
24:59
One of the things I am most proud of is the way in business I have had to reinvent my self over the past 45 years of my career. I think this is a skill that serves entrepreneurs well.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is an author and keynote speaker whose work explores how technology, social class, and cultural change are reshaping the way we live and work. Her upcoming book, "The Slingshot Effect", makes the case that pulling back—professionally, financially, creatively—isn’t failure, but often the smartest way to move forward. Carmen’s career is built on bold reinvention and small business roots.
After starting at Goldman Sachs, she took a surprising step back—becoming an office manager—to create space for her first major pivot into writing. Her blog on race and pop culture, Racialicious, gained national attention and made her a sought-after speaker. From there, she co-founded a karate school in Brooklyn, then launched a family travel brand that grew into a multiple six-figure content business with over a million followers and major brand partnerships.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is an author and keynote speaker whose work explores how technology, social class, and cultural change are reshaping the way we live and work. Her upcoming book, "The Slingshot Effect", makes the case that pulling back—professionally, financially, creatively—isn’t failure, but often the smartest way to move forward. Carmen’s career is built on bold reinvention and small business roots.
After starting at Goldman Sachs, she took a surprising step back—becoming an office manager—to create space for her first major pivot into writing. Her blog on race and pop culture, Racialicious, gained national attention and made her a sought-after speaker. From there, she co-founded a karate school in Brooklyn, then launched a family travel brand that grew into a multiple six-figure content business with over a million followers and major brand partnerships.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-small-business-radio-show--3306444/support.