Beyond the Ladder | Career Coaching, Fulfilment, and Confidence for Corporate Women

Have you ever caught yourself saying “I just can’t stay here” and then gone and hidden in a coffee shop to get your work done? That was me a few weeks ago, and it was a bit of a wake-up call.I’m going through what I’d probably call a career crisis, and in this episode I’m starting my career diaries. I’m not waiting until I’ve got it all figured out and can give you the lovely story at the end. I’m taking you with me while I’m in the middle of it, because sometimes it helps to hear someone say, “I haven’t got a bloody clue either.”Topics:The three things draining me at workA book that changed my perspective and is helping me navigate this period of my careerThe job I nearly dismissed because my ego said it looked like going backwardsWhy you can’t look at your career by itself when making career decisionsThree things that got me through a crap day—Join the waitlist for the Career CompassFollow me on InstagramGet free practical tips to enjoy your job again!Book a FREE Career Reset Breakthrough call—Mentioned in this episode:Nikki Cross and her book clubFish! Tales (the book I was given on a training years ago)This episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.

This is the last episode in my mini series, and I honestly can't believe it's already episode seven. I started it not knowing if I'd manage every week, but I've loved it so much that I'm pretty sure I'll carry on - so keep an eye on my Instagram for what's coming next!In this episode, I'm taking you through my four simple steps to find fulfilment in your career: awareness, reflection, expression, and fulfilment itself. I talk about the career escalator so many high-achieving women are stuck on without realising it, my sliding scale of happiness, my Career Compass method, and why speaking is selling.I also share the three objections that held me back for years - time, energy, and money - and why I think I was wrong about every single one.Topics:Why so many high-achieving women are stuck on the career escalator without realising itThe sliding scale of happiness and why the real danger zone is scoring your job a five or six, not a zeroMy Career Compass method - looking north, south, west and east to find your next stepWhy speaking is selling and how to own your story without sounding like a car salesman—Join the waitlist for the Career CompassFollow me on InstagramGet free practical tips to enjoy your job again!Book a FREE Career Reset Breakthrough callThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.

Studies show that women consistently rate their own performance lower than men performing at exactly the same level. And it's not because we haven't achieved enough but because no one ever taught us how to talk about it.Our brains are wired with a negativity bias that makes us far better at remembering what went wrong than what went brilliantly right.In this episode, I'm sharing five practical ways to build your own achievement album so you're never caught scrambling to describe your awesome self ever again.Remember that talking about your achievements isn't bragging — you're simply telling the truth!Topics:Why women consistently underrate their own performanceThe negativity bias and why your brain is better at remembering criticism than complimentsHow to build your own achievement album so you're never caught blank in an interview againFive practical ways to talk about your wins without feeling like a show-offWhy practice — especially out loud — is the one thing that will actually make the difference—Join the waitlist for the Career CompassFollow me on InstagramGet free practical tips to enjoy your job again!Book a FREE Career Reset Breakthrough callThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.

That word "only" is doing a lot of damage. I've only ever worked in one industry. I've only ever been a teacher. If you catch yourself saying something like that, your brain is quietly convincing you that you can’t do any other job but your current one, and that’s simply not true.Transferable skills is one of the subjects I get the most DMs about on Instagram, and I think it's because so many capable women are sitting on years of experience and quietly talking themselves out of using it.By the end of this episode, you'll have a simple three-step exercise to uncover your own transferable skills. And I'm going to challenge you, because I think you've got around 50. You just don't know it yet!Topics:Why focusing on job titles is the biggest thing holding you back from changing industriesHow to think about your transferable skills like Lego bricksThe real story of how I got rejected twice before landing a completely different roleWhy 75% of employers value skills and experience over formal qualifications (yes, really!)A simple three-step exercise to uncover your transferable skills—Join the waitlist for the Career CompassFollow me on InstagramGet free practical tips to enjoy your job again!Book a FREE Career Reset Breakthrough call—Mentioned in the episode:The Stepstone Group report (2024): 75% of employers value skills and experience over formal qualificationsThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.

I had the worst Friday I've had in a long time. Someone intentionally tried to harm my reputation and it knocked me completely sideways. So I went home, I wrote down every emotion I was feeling, and I called my people.And between Friday and Monday, I put together what I'm now calling my Shit Day Survival Kit.That's where this episode starts, with the exact things I did in 48 hours to get myself back. Because before you can think about the big picture stuff, you've got to sort yourself out first.Once you've got a bit of energy back, I take you through four more things you can do to start moving forward, even when leaving your job isn't an option.Topics:My Shit Day Survival Kit: the exact things I did in 48 hours to get from knocked sideways to moving forwardWhy you should never react when your emotions are all over the placeHow to find pockets of time to think, even when you're a busy working mum with zero headspaceWhy learning a new skill can give you a new lease of life when you're feeling totally stuckCoffee chats: what they actually are and how to start even if you hate networkingHow to use LinkedIn as your personal brand without feeling like you're selling yourself—Join the waitlist for the Career CompassFollow me on InstagramGet free practical tips to enjoy your job again!Book a FREE Career Reset Breakthrough call—Mentioned in this episode:The Let Them Theory by Mel RobbinsThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.

Most people know Oprah Winfrey as one of the most successful interviewers in the world. What they don't always know is that she got fired from her first job as a news anchor for being too emotional. And the thing that got her fired became her biggest superpower. I think about that a lot when I look back at my own career mistakes.Today, I'm sharing the six biggest career mistakes I've made, what each one taught me, and the practical tips I wish I'd had along the way.Topics:Why your job title is probably just massaging your ego (and what to focus on instead)How staying on the career escalator kept me on autopilot for yearsWhy saying "it's fine" for too long can cost youWhy cold applications rarely work, and what actually gets you the job—Join the waitlist for the Career CompassFollow me on InstagramGet free practical tips to enjoy your job again!Book a FREE Career Reset Breakthrough callThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.

Have you ever been asked, what did you want to be when you grew up? And do you remember what you said?Mine was a TV presenter, a Blue Peter presenter, to be specific. And my twin brother wanted to be a burglar (he was obsessed with Burglar Bill). I'm happy to report he went on to become a talented musician instead. He actually wrote all the music on this podcast, so if you're ever looking for one, DM me!Why do I bring this up you may be asking? Because the things we're drawn to as kids can actually tell us something really important about who we're meant to be.In this episode, I walk you through four simple questions to help you start dreaming again, whether you're a natural daydreamer or someone who lives very much in the practical day-to-day.Topics:What you loved as a kid can still tell you something important about what you're meant to doFour questions to help you start dreaming againHow my biggest coaching blunder of the week accidentally unlocked a client's dreamWhy so many capable women never give themselves permission to think bigHow to go from dreaming to one concrete next step—Join the waitlist for the Career CompassFollow me on InstagramGet free practical tips to enjoy your job again!Book a FREE Career Reset Breakthrough call—Mentioned in the episode:Adrienne's podcast trainingThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.

Have you ever had a defining moment at work where you thought, I just cannot carry on like this anymore? You know, when something in your head says something has to change?In this first ever episode of Beyond the Ladder, I'm sharing the exact moment I had that feeling. It was a cold, wet November day, my son was throwing pasta at me, my daughter was asking a million questions, and my husband cut me off mid-rant to tell me I'd become so negative. And he was right. I had become someone I just didn't recognise anymore.I then walk you through the Circle of Life exercise, something I did when I was feeling really stuck. I'd thought it was just my job making me miserable, but actually there were three other areas of my life I'd scored really lowly too.If you're feeling stuck right now, this is a practical exercise you can do today, and it might just show you something you hadn't seen before.Topics:The moment the pain of staying stuck became greater than the fear of changingYour job is only one part of the pictureHow to use the Circle of Life exercise to take a bird's eye view of where you are right nowHow to rate six areas of your life and spot what's really dragging you downWhat one simple thing you can do tomorrow to start moving your scores upwards—Join the waitlist for the Career CompassFollow me on InstagramGet free practical tips to enjoy your job again!Book a FREE Career Reset Breakthrough call—Mentioned in the episode:Circle of Life templateThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.

Have you worked hard, built a successful career, and still find yourself wondering, is this it?Maybe your LinkedIn profile looks great, but life just feels a bit beige. Maybe you've lost your spark, or you simply don't know what you want next.I'm Alex Dubois, a corporate leader and career coach who’s been there too. I've loved my job, and I've hated my job, and I've spent years figuring out what really matters and what makes work feel meaningful.So if you're craving more fulfilment but don't want to blow up your life, you are in the right place, my friend.Beyond the Ladder launches on the 13th of July with a special seven-part series, a new episode dropping every single Monday. Together, we'll explore the questions so many ambitious women are asking but rarely say out loud, and each week I'll bring you honest stories, practical tools, and thought-provoking questions to help you get off autopilot, reconnect with what matters, and build a career that feels as good on the inside as it looks on LinkedIn.All in less time than your commute. Grab a coffee, put me on during your walk or drive, and join me on the other side of the ladder.