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.