When I Grow Up

Everlyn Omondi on Career Change: Deciding to Change, Weighing Your Options, and Making It Happen

In this episode of When I Grow Up, I’m joined by Everlyn Omondi, a fellow Executive Coach, to talk about a topic close to both of our hearts: career change.
 
Everlyn shares her story of pivoting from a decade-long marketing career in Kenya and Dubai into coaching—a move driven not by a desire to escape, but by a new, intentional vision for her future. 
 
Together, we unpack what career change really is (spoiler: it’s not always quitting your job and starting from scratch), the mindset shifts that make change possible, and how to navigate uncertainty with more clarity and confidence.
 
We talk burnout, identity, money fears, and how to rethink career “security.” We also share the most practical steps we recommend when you’re considering a change—whether that’s an internal move, a total reinvention, or something in between.
 
If you’re feeling stuck, questioning your path, or wondering how to make a change that actually works for you, this episode is for you.
 
Links
Connect with Everlyn on LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/everlynomondi/
Connect with Nicolette on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolette-louw/
Career Change Masterclas: https://www.nicolettelouw.org/career-change-course 

Jillian Reilly on The Ten Permissions: A Playbook for Navigating Adulthood in the Chaos of the Twenty-First Century

In this episode of When I Grow Up, I chat with Jillian Reilly about The Ten Permissions: A playbook for navigating adulthood in the chaos of the twenty-first century.
Jillian is a founder, writer, public speaker, and consultant with a 30-year career in social, organizational, and individual change across Africa, Asia, and Central Europe. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Newsweek, and The LA Times, and her TEDx talk, Vain Aid, explores her journey in the international aid industry and the hard lessons she’s learned about changemaking. She also cohosted Courageous Conversations, a podcast that interviewed African activists about what it really takes to create change.
In this conversation, Jillian shares her journey as a change agent, the power of self-permission, and how to navigate adulthood with more intention. She introduces her upcoming book and its key themes, offering a fresh perspective on building a fulfilling life in today’s complex world.
We unpack The Ten Permissions and how they help us cultivate intentionality and agency—embracing portfolio careers and designing lives that truly work for us. We also dive into the challenges women face in leadership and why we need a new leadership paradigm—one where women fully own their authority.
 
Links
The Ten Permissions website: https://tenpermissions.com/
Connect with Jillian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillianreilly/
Connect with Nicolette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolette-louw/

Jessica Custer on Stepping Into Your Power, Creating Impact, and Owning Your Career Journey

In this episode of When I Grow Up, I chat with Jessica Custer about claiming power in our careers—not just in the big decisions, but in how we shape opportunities along the way.
Jessica is a social impact strategist, project management expert, and founding member of Girls Club Collective.
She shares how growing up in rural poverty in Ohio shaped her early career decisions, leading her from a prestigious but unfulfilling role in international tax to social impact. She also reflects on how her vision for creating impact through the private sector led her to work in fair trade and corporate sustainability across global markets. And most recently, how moving to Australia became the catalyst for her pivot into freelancing and entrepreneurship.
We get into: 
The difference between agency and power—and why both are so important in our careers. 
Self-knowledge as the foundation of career alignment—and what it really takes to cultivate it
The unexpected challenges of freelancing and being a solopreneur—and how to overcome them)
The role of relationships and community in building a fulfilling career and business—and how to cultivate them
This conversation is packed with insights on being confident in yourself, stepping into your power, and owning your career journey.

Joselle Reyes on Her Journey from Accounting to Art, the Role of Courage and Pragmatism in Change, and the Realities of Building a Passion-Driven Business

In this week’s episode of When I Grow Up, I chat with Joselle Reyes, artist and owner of Your Wedding Artist.
She shares her inspiring journey from a successful career in accounting to pursuing her childhood dream of becoming an artist.
We dive into the key decisions and considerations involved in making a major career change, the role of patience, planning, and support systems, and the realities of turning a passion into a sustainable career and business.
Joselle emphasizes the balance of courage and pragmatism when following your dreams.
If you're thinking about a career change or taking the leap to pursue your passion full-time, this episode is for you.
You can learn more about Joselle and her work on her website https://www.yourweddingart.ist/ or on socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourweddingart.ist/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourweddingart.ist

Beryl Oyier on Authentic Leadership, Creating a Burnout-Free Culture, and the Importance of Empowering People

In this week’s episode, I speak with Beryl Oyier about her remarkable journey—from growing up in rural Kenya to studying anthropology, starting a marketing agency, and ultimately leading the East Africa office of a global organization.
 
Beryl is Managing Director East Africa at Bopinc, a Dutch-headquartered organization focused on promoting inclusive business across Africa and Asia. I worked with Beryl at Bopinc for three years, and always admired her leadership style—built on trust, empowerment, and a deep commitment to nurturing her team.
 
In this conversation, Beryl reflects on the invaluable lessons she has learned from leading across different cultures, her approach to maintaining work-life balance and preventing burnout, her strategies for empowering others, and the importance of creating your own definition of success. She also shares her insights on how women can lead authentically and embrace their unique strengths in the workplace.
 
This episode is for any woman in business who aspires to lead with greater confidence, authenticity, and purpose.

Philli Smit on a Mission-Driven Career, Finding Balance, and Fitting in by Standing Out

In this inspiring episode, Philli Smit shares her dynamic career journey—from childhood dreams of becoming a doctor to studying fashion design, and eventually pivoting into social work and impact-driven roles.
Philli works with the MTN Group as Manager for CSI Programmes & Partnerships. I first met Philli when she was a guest on a webinar I hosted on financial inclusion. At that time, I was working with Bopinc, and Philli was with Zoona. And I was so inspired by the work that she was doing and her drive for effecting real impact.
In this conversation, we dive deep into what it truly means to build a mission-driven career, the value of pursuing an MBA, and the importance of recognizing and leveraging privilege to maximize social impact. Philli also opens up about the realities of transitioning from full-time employment to contract work and how to lean into your authenticity—embracing the power of standing out to fit in.
This episode is perfect for professional women looking to create more purpose-driven careers and those seeking practical advice on navigating career pivots, fostering social impact, and cultivating a deeper sense of meaning and fulfilment in their work.

Kristal Duncan-Williams on Career Pivots, the Power of Networks, and How Motherhood Changed Her Relationship with Work

In this week’s episode of When I Grow Up, I speak with Kristal Duncan-Williams about her unconventional - and truly inspiring - career path.
We met about 12 years ago through a mutual friend, and since then, Kristal has pivoted from molecular biology to public health, to making a meaningful impact on youth unemployment.
In this conversation, we unpack her journey from a curious child with dreams of curing cancer to becoming a first-generation university graduate. We discuss her early career experiences and the pivotal moments that led her to explore different career paths. We also delve into how the Mandela Rhodes scholarship boosted her confidence and influenced her career trajectory, and we explore the profound impact that motherhood has had on her career aspirations and her relationship with work.
Kristal’s story highlights the importance of building strong networks, embracing a non-linear approach to our careers, and being kinder and more honest with ourselves about what we truly want from our careers.

Meri McCoy-Thompson on a Career in Nonprofit, the Power of Resilience, and Becoming the Best Possible Version of Ourselves

In this episode I’m joined by Meri McCoy-Thompson, for a super insightful conversation about her career in nonprofit leadership, and a true masterclass on building resilience.
Meri is the Executive Director of Dovetail Learning and the co-author of the We Are Resilient Approach and the book The Heart of Resilience - Nurturing Your Inner Strength for a Joyful Life.
I met Meri in 2013 when we collaborated on the Human Needs Project in Kenya. The project brought the Kibera Town Centre, a facility that provides the essential infrastructure and social services to empower people to break out of poverty, to life.
In our conversation, we discuss how Meri’s childhood experiences shaped her career choices. She shares insights from her journey across nonprofit roles, the realities of making career pivots, and the challenges and opportunities of staying authentic across cultures.  We also explore the vital role of resilience in personal and social change and delve into practical approaches for growing our resilience.
 
Links
Follow Nicolette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolette-louw/
Connect with Meri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meri-mccoy-thompson-0000a3a/
Dovetail Learning: https://dovetaillearning.org/
Purchase the Heart of Resilience Book: https://dovetaillearning.org/product/the-heart-of-resilience/

Katia Kolomyitseva on Undoing Cultural Expectations, the Journey to Healing and Resilience, and Building a Purpose-Driven Life

In this episode I speak to Katia Kolomyitseva about her journey: from a childhood in Turkmenistan to a global career in corporate sustainability, and her pivot to coaching with a focus on human well-being.
Katia lives in Ireland and works an Executive Coach specializing in human development and is also a dedicated Qigong instructor.
In this conversation she shares her beliefs on healing, purpose, and the role of self-discovery in both personal and professional growth. We reflect on the influences that shaped her early life, her immigration to the UK, and her experiences in the corporate world. Katia opens up about the highs and lows of working in the sustainability field, including the challenges of burnout. We also discuss how cultural and family expectations have impacted her career choices, and how undoing those has been the key to get closer to understanding herself and her purpose.
Her perspective on the connection between our psychological and physical health offers a powerful reminder of the importance of inner resilience.

Heather Orton on Being Authentically Successful, Reframing Imposter Syndrome, and the Value of Downtime

In this episode, I chat to Heather Orton to unpack her personal and professional growth journey, towards being authentically successful.
Heather leads Strategy for EY-Parthenon across Africa. We first met in 2016 when we worked together at Accenture in Europe, and I’ve always been very inspired by her approach to leadership.
We reflect on how kindness, authenticity, and self-reflection have shaped her as a leader. She shares more about her upbringing, the pivotal career choices she’s made, and why building strong relationships and mentorship matter so much. We also dive into the reality of work-life balance, the power of taking time off, and the importance of defining success on your own terms.