Disrupt Your Career

In this episode, we speak with Michael Stanford about his journey from business schools to global leadership consulting, reflecting on the pivotal transitions that shaped his professional identity. Drawing on his doctoral research and his book Leadership Transition: How Leaders Turn Chaos into Growth, he explains why leadership transitions often feel like a “torture of the soul” and why tactical checklists fall short. Michael introduces a compass-based framework grounded in post-traumatic growth, helping leaders navigate chaos, reframe assumptions, and create conditions for sustainable leadership and personal growth.Michael Stanford is a facilitator, researcher, author, and leadership coach specializing in leadership transitions. He has over thirty years of experience in leadership development, including nearly two decades at IMD and five years at Korn Ferry. He works with leaders, teams, and organizations to help them navigate the personal and professional challenges of transition. His work draws on doctoral research into post-traumatic growth and narrative psychology, supporting leaders in turning periods of disruption into meaningful development and sustainable growth.Links from the episode: Michael’s book ‘Leadership Transition: How leaders turn chaos into growth’Michael’s LinkedIn profileThanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast

As we wrap up 2025, it’s the perfect moment to pause, reflect, and draw insights from some of the most inspiring conversations we’ve had this year on the Disrupt Your Career podcast.Throughout the year, we had the privilege of speaking with executives, thought leaders, authors, and coaches who generously shared their experiences of experimentation, resilience, reinvention, and purpose driven career choices: Celeste Warren, Stéphanie Daudier, Navid Nazemian, Bridget Farrands & Ian Hardie, Naeema Pasha, Elizabeth Lotardo, Julia Milner, Neil Courtis, Irina Cozma, Peter Attfield, Sheila Buswell, and Michelle Prince.In this special “Best Of” year end episode, we revisit a powerful quote from each guest, highlighting their most insightful ideas on building careers that are not only successful but also sustainable, meaningful, and aligned with one’s values. These curated moments offer key takeaways and practical advice to help you reflect on your own career journey and consider your next steps with greater clarity.Tune in to hear expert wisdom and discover fresh inspiration to design the career you truly want in 2026 and beyond.Thanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast

In this episode, we speak with Navid Nazemian, executive coach and author of Mastering Executive Transitions. Navid shares insights from his career across seven industries and hundreds of C-suite clients, revealing why nearly 40% of executives fail in their first 18 months. He explains his Double Diamond framework for successful transitions, highlights the critical role of culture, politics, and soft skills, and explores gender gaps in executive support. Navid also discusses emerging trends and his new coaching and eLearning initiatives.Navid Nazemian, PCC, speaks on executive transitions with authority grounded in research and complemented by demonstrated real-world experience. Working with C-level coaching clients worldwide, Navid distills key insights, guidance, and strategies for maximizing leadership impact in his book Mastering Executive Transitions. He has been recognized as HR’s Most Influential Practitioner by HR Magazine, Coach of the Year by CEO Today, and received the Outstanding Leadership Award from Education 2.0 in 2022.Links from the episode: Navid’s executive coaching homepageNavid’s book ‘Mastering Executive Transitions’ Navid’s LinkedIn profileThanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast

Many professionals work hard, deliver strong results, and uphold high standards—yet still feel their career progression slipping further out of reach. Traditional advice like “let your work speak for itself” or “play the game” often traps people between burnout and becoming someone they don’t want to be. But this cycle can be broken, allowing you to advance with clarity, integrity, and confidence.In this edition of Author Chat, Disrupt Your Career speaks with May Busch, Founder of Career Mastery™, speaker, executive coach, and former COO of Morgan Stanley Europe, about her book ‘Visible: How to Advance Your Career Without Playing Politics, Selling Your Soul, or Working Yourself into the Ground’ (Summit Press Publishers, October 2025). In her book, May explores the hidden capabilities senior leaders look for when deciding who progresses and who plateaus, offering practical guidance on navigating office politics without compromising your values, building strategic relationships authentically, and developing the presence to command attention—all while taking ownership of your career at every stage.Order May’s book ‘Visible: How to Advance Your Career Without Playing Politics, Selling Your Soul, or Working Yourself into the Ground’May’s personal websiteMay’s LinkedIn profileThanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast

In a world where many leaders struggle to be seen and heard, Dr. Sheila Gujrathi offers a fresh approach. The Mirror Effect provides a practical roadmap for women and marginalized professionals to reclaim their power, navigate challenging environments, and thrive authentically.In this edition of Author Chat, Disrupt Your Career speaks with Sheila about her debut book, exploring her three-part framework—know yourself, understand your environment, and set yourself up for success—to help leaders build clarity, resilience, and meaningful impact. Order Sheila’s book The Mirror Effect: A Transformative Approach to Growth for the Next Generation of Female LeadersSheila’s TEDx Talk ‘Shattering the glass ceiling by finding the right mirrors’Marianne Williamson’s poem ‘Our Deepest Fear’Sheila’s personal websiteSheila’s LinkedIn profileThanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast

In this episode, we talk with Celeste Warren, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion leader about her unconventional path from journalism to HR leadership and her impact as Merck’s Chief Diversity Officer. She shares candid insights on challenges faced, lessons learned from allies, and why equity is essential for thriving organizations. We also explore her new book, The Truth About Equity, her thoughts on the future of DEI, and her vision for workplaces where inclusivity and equity drive collective success.Celeste R. Warren is the author of “The Truth About Equity” and a Global HR and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader with nearly 40 years of experience in major global corporations. Throughout her career, she has championed DEI, elevating the importance of understanding diverse cultures, perspectives, and beliefs within corporate strategies. Her visionary approach reshaped Merck's culture and influenced the broader business landscape, empowering organizations worldwide to embrace inclusivity as a cornerstone of success.Links from the episode: Celeste’s Website: https://crwdiversity.com/Celeste’s book The Truth About EquityCeleste’s LinkedIn profileThanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast

In this episode, Bridget Farrands and Ian Hardie open up about the twists and turns of their career and leadership transitions. Bridget reflects on stepping out of the corporate fast lane into a portfolio of advisory and board roles, while Ian shares lessons from moving across industries, countries, and cultures into top executive positions. Bridget also talks about her book Lost in Transition, which introduces a three-phase framework—Arriving, Surviving, and Thriving—to help leaders navigate new roles. Together, they discuss earning trust in unfamiliar territory, balancing humility with decisiveness, staying resilient through uncertainty, and shaping a meaningful “next chapter.”Bridget Farrands is a consultant, coach and author specializing in transition and identity. She works internationally with leaders and teams to create thriving workplaces, drawing on over 20 years’ consulting experience across sectors. Co-author of Leadership Transitions, she helps executives navigate the personal and organizational challenges of new roles. Ian Hardie is an advisor, consultant and executive coach who helps leaders and organizations create impactful learning and growth experiences. Formerly with Sephora, LVMH and London Business School, he now works internationally, drawing on decades of experience in talent development. He also chairs Wave for Change, a social inclusion charity.Links from the episode: Bridget’s book ‘Lost in Transition’Bridget’s coaching and consulting homepageBridget’s LinkedIn profileIan’s LinkedIn profileThanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast

In this episode, we talk with Elizabeth Lotardo about her journey from advertising and marketing to writing and online teaching, and how she helps individuals and organizations create purpose-driven work. She shares insights on emotional engagement, finding meaning even in imperfect jobs, and the role of purpose in leadership and performance. Elizabeth reflects on the power of small shifts in mindset, how to lead yourself with clarity and joy, and why authenticity is central to career growth. She also offers practical advice for early-career professionals and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the ideas fueling her creative work in 2025.Elizabeth Lotardo is a consultant, writer, and course creator who helps organizations build more purpose-driven and emotionally engaging workplaces. She works with companies like Hilton, DraftKings, and Thyssenkrupp, and her LinkedIn Learning courses have reached over 2 million learners. Elizabeth is the co-author of Selling with Noble Purpose and Leading Yourself, and writes regularly for Harvard Business Review. She holds a Master’s in Industrial & Organizational Psychology and is a fellow at the Institute of Coaching.Links from the episode: Elizabeth’s articles in HBRElizabeth’s book Leading YourselfElizabeth’s courses on LinkedIn LearningElizabeth’s LinkedIn profileThanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast

In this episode, we talk with Julia Milner about her global journey from consulting to academia and how she bridges research with real-world leadership. She shares insights on empathy, coaching, and reframing failure, and reflects on embracing curiosity over control. Julia discusses how transitions build resilience, why small habits matter, and the value of self-kindness. She also offers grounded advice for early-career professionals and shares a glimpse of the creative projects energizing her in 2025.Julia Milner is a professor of leadership at EDHEC Business School in Nice, France and has been named in the World’s Top 40 Business Professors under 40. She has extensive experience as a management consultant and coach working internationally with executives and organizations on how to create empowering leadership and organizational cultures. Julia is host of a YouTube channel on leadership and careers, and has given two Tedxtalks on how to be a great leader and how to turn regrets into change. Links from the episode: Prof. Julia Milner YouTube ChannelJulia’s article in HBR ‘Is Your Career Heading in the Right Direction?’Julia’s TEDxEDHECNice ‘How to turn Regrets into Change’Julia’s TEDxLiège: ‘The surprising truth in how to be a great leader’Julia’s LinkedIn profileThanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast

In this episode, we talk with Neil Courtis about his unconventional career journey from political research and financial journalism to founding a leading e-learning company. He reflects on moments of struggle and discovery, shares key insights from working with top thinkers on careers and business education, and champions the value of experimentation and relative skills in career change. Neil also offers advice for early-career professionals, comments on career support in business schools, and explains why great content—and great networking—begin with genuine curiosity.Neil Courtis is the founder of Sensible Media, a London-based e-learning company focused on career advice for professionals. As Managing Director and Head of E-learning, he produces a high volume of high-quality webinars and online courses. An INSEAD MBA graduate, former parliamentary researcher and financial journalist covering central banks and regulation, Neil brings deep experience in translating complex ideas into accessible content. He also writes occasionally for the Financial Times about careers and business education.Links from the episode: Sensible Media’s website Article ‘How to be a Leader in your Field’ by Philip AgreNeil’s LinkedIn profileThanks for listening!Visit our homepage at https://disrupt-your-career.comIf you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate it and leave a review in Apple Podcast