Second Act Success: Business Tips & Career Change Advice for Women
Shannon Russell | Business Coach for Women and Author of Start Your Second Act
Welcome to the Second Act Success Podcast, a top 2% globally ranked show designed to help ambitious women like you who are ready to change careers, start a business, and create a fulfilled life you deserve. Hosted by Shannon Russell, business coach for women, author, and entrepreneur, this podcast helps you transition from employee to entrepreneur with clarity, confidence, and a strategic action plan.Listen and Learn:- How to quit your job and start a business that lights you up- Strategies for career change after 40 and designing your second act- Business planning, marketing, and personal branding tips for women- How to validate your business idea and find your ideal clients- How to use your career experience in your role as a female entrepreneur- Success stories from women who’ve turned their side hustles into thriving businessesWhether you’re planning an exit strategy, exploring midlife career pivots, or ready to become your own boss, you’ll find actionable steps, real-life inspiration, and expert guidance here on the show, so you can start your second act. Is this podcast for you? - Are you dreaming of quitting your corporate job to start your own business?- Do you want advice on launching a business, marketing your offers, designing your personal brand, and putting your business strategies in place?- Are you ready to overcome fear and turn your skills and experience from the corporate world into your second act business where you are the boss?- Do you crave a flexible lifestyle that allows you to focus on your family and your creative passions while still bringing income into your household?- Are you ready to become your own boss and build a business that is all yours?- Is it time to turn your side hustle into a full-time business?If you answered YES, then you’re in the right place and this podcast will teach you everything you need to know. 🎧 Listen to new episodes every week to help you build your second act.🔗 Book a free Second Act Strategy Call with host Shannon Russell and download free resources at https://secondactsuccess.co.Subscribe now and embark on a journey towards your second act!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 14, 2026 • 22min
3 Lessons My TEDx Talk Taught Me About Fear, Self-Doubt & Going After Big Goals | #269
After six months of preparation, stepping onto the TEDx stage became a lesson in more than public speaking. Explore the surprising universality of imposter syndrome, how action can build confidence before fear fades, and why big goals often begin with one small, brave step.
Sep 7, 2026 • 15min
Fall Reset: How to See Your Potential and Turn Your Strengths Into a Business | #268
👉 Start Your Second Act Strategy Call with Shannon here.Are you underestimating your skills, experience, and potential? You may be able to see the possibilities for everyone around you, but when it comes to your own career change or business idea, self-doubt can quickly take over.In this episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, business coach Shannon Russell shares how to recognize your strengths, listen to what others see in you, and uncover the skills that could lead to your next career move or business idea.With fall bringing fresh-start energy, now is the perfect time to reflect on what you're good at, what others ask you for help with, and what you'd love to do more of. Shannon walks you through her Fall Potential List exercise to help you connect your career experience with what you might want to build next.If you're considering a career change, starting a business, or simply wondering what's next, this episode will help you stop downplaying your potential and start asking a much more powerful question: What's possible?🔗 Get the full show notes here!--------*Join the Start Your Business Now Workshop Book a free Strategy Call with ShannonDownload Free Resources➡️ Let's Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn
Aug 24, 2026 • 27min
How to Build Your Second Act While Working Full-Time with Jesikah Wells | #267
Jesikah Wells, creator of the faith-based Broken to Beautiful brand and a nonprofit project manager, shares her winding path from legal work to wealth management and beyond. She discusses building a podcast and creative platform while working full-time, navigating motherhood and mom guilt, protecting small pockets of creativity, and turning fear and imposter syndrome into forward motion.
Aug 17, 2026 • 38min
You Don’t Have to Start Over: Turn Your Corporate Career Into a Business with Allison Lane | #266
Allison Lane, a PR and marketing veteran who now helps leaders become visible authors and speakers. She talks about turning corporate experience into a business. Conversation covers recognizing transferable skills, building your personal brand before leaving, and using podcasts and communities to grow visibility.
Aug 10, 2026 • 53min
How to Discover Your Second Act: Career Change, Reinvention & Finding What’s Next | #265
A reading that guides listeners through career reinvention, from spotting what no longer fits to identifying transferable skills. It uses the bamboo parable to show growth takes time and normalizes fear during change. Practical steps cover learning, networking, financial prep, and shaping your career story like a production. Personal stories from a TV-to-entrepreneur transition add real-world color.
Jul 27, 2026 • 15min
When to Hire Your First Employee: What to Outsource First to Grow Your Small Business | #264
👉 Start Your Second Act Strategy Call with Shannon here.Are you trying to do everything in your business yourself?One of the biggest mistakes new entrepreneurs make is waiting too long to hire help. While wearing every hat might seem like the most affordable option, it can actually slow your business growth and lead to burnout.In this episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, business coach Shannon Russell shares how to know when it's time to hire your first employee, what tasks to outsource first, and how bringing in the right support can help you scale your business faster.Whether you're just starting a business, growing your small business, or navigating your second act career, this episode will help you confidently build a team without feeling overwhelmed.In this episode, you'll learn: How to know when it's time to hire help The difference between hiring employees and outsourcing freelancers What business tasks to outsource first How virtual assistants can save you time When to hire a bookkeeper, web designer, or marketing expert Where to find freelancers and contractors Tips for interviewing, onboarding, and managing your first hire How outsourcing can help you avoid burnout and grow your business If you're ready to stop doing everything yourself and start leading your business like a CEO, this episode is for you.--------*Join the Start Your Business Now Workshop Book a free Strategy Call with ShannonDownload Free Resources➡️ Let's Connect: Instagram | LinkedIn
Jul 20, 2026 • 13min
How to Choose the Right Business to Start | #263
Practical guidance on picking the right business by asking five key questions. A warning about shiny object syndrome and why copying others leads to burnout. Tips on matching a business to your skills, energy, lifestyle, and long-term goals. Advice on finding paid problems worth solving and avoiding comparison while building intentionally.
Jul 13, 2026 • 27min
From Engineer to Leadership Coach: Career Growth, Confidence, & Entrepreneurship with Sairan Aqrawi | #262
Sairan Aqrawi, an engineering leadership strategist and coach who helps technical women build confidence and start side businesses. She discusses transitioning from engineering to coaching, preparing meticulously to lead, the three pillars for launching a side business (clarity, action, consistency), treating a side venture as a joyful side haven, and why midlife is a powerful moment to reinvent your career.
Jul 7, 2026 • 29min
Preschool Owner turned Author. How to Reinvent Your Career at Any Age with Kay Paschal | #261
Kay Paschal, entrepreneur and author who co-built and sold a thriving preschool and later self-published Insert Giggle Giggle. She talks about leaving corporate life to start a family business, the realities of building and selling a school, discovering a new purpose after retirement, and the challenges of self-publishing and marketing a book.
Jun 23, 2026 • 29min
It's Never Too Late to Pivot: Finding Purpose and Creating a Career You Love with Siena Dean | #260
Siena Dean, a purpose-driven leader and career strategist who helps professionals align purpose with work. She talks about intentionally designing a purpose-led career, pivoting without starting over, connecting varied experiences into a cohesive story, building confidence from personal power, and using quiet self-reflection and small steps to test new directions.
