Adapted Ambitions

In this episode, Ada Offonry demystifies negotiation and explains why it’s a critical skill for reinventing your career. Drawing on two decades of experience negotiating offers in tech and finance, she shares a clear framework for evaluating job offers, negotiating with confidence and recognising when walking away is the smartest move. This episode is a powerful reminder that negotiation is about strategy, self-worth and long term impact. She discusses: When to negotiate (and why you should) How to evaluate the whole offer Clear signals to walk away Data Sources: Negotiation rates (37% negotiate, 85% get something): Salary.com Negotiation Report 2024 Average salary increase (7-12%): Glassdoor, PayScale Negotiation Studies 2024-2025 Money left on table (10-20%): Your proprietary data + LinkedIn Talent Solutions To be reminded of all future episodes, please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE. For more from Ada: https://adaoffonry.com/ Follow Ada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaoffonry/ Find out more about Ada's new venture: https://www.inferencesearch.ai About your Host: Ada Offonry Ada Offonry provides talent and career intelligence for quantitative finance and technology. She spent four years as Global Head of Talent at Quadrature Capital, and over 20 years in executive search partnering with hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and elite investment banks across New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ada now works with firms building high performance technology teams, and with senior quantitative and engineering professionals navigating complex career inflection points, through Inference Talent Advisory. Her work sits at the intersection of market intelligence, talent strategy, and career decision making in an increasingly volatile world of work.

In this episode, Ada Offonry breaks down why most career pivots fail, and what successful pivots actually have in common. Drawing on two decades of experience placing professionals through career changes, she explains why adjacent, strategic moves consistently outperform dramatic leaps. Ada walks through real examples of pivots that work, highlights what truly transfers between roles, and shares a practical framework to help you change direction without burning your credibility, confidence or income. You'll Learn: That adjacent beats dramatic What really transfers (and what doesn’t) A realistic pivot timeline Data Sources: Major pivot success (29%): LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Career Pivot Study 2024 Lateral pivot success (67%): Harvard Business Review, "The Adjacent Possible" 2024 Average pivot timeline (18-24 months): CIPD UK + Payscale Career Transition Report 2025  • • Comp data: Your proprietary placement data + eFinancialCareers 2025 To be reminded of all future episodes, please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE. For more from Ada: https://adaoffonry.com/ Follow Ada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaoffonry/ Find out more about Ada's new venture: https://www.inferencesearch.ai About your Host: Ada Offonry Ada Offonry provides talent and career intelligence for quantitative finance and technology. She spent four years as Global Head of Talent at Quadrature Capital, and over 20 years in executive search partnering with hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and elite investment banks across New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ada now works with firms building high performance technology teams, and with senior quantitative and engineering professionals navigating complex career inflection points, through Inference Talent Advisory. Her work sits at the intersection of market intelligence, talent strategy, and career decision making in an increasingly volatile world of work.

In this episode, Ada Offonry challenges the idea that midlife career change means either staying stuck or starting from scratch. She explores increasingly mainstream career paths such as sabbaticals, fractional roles and consulting, showing how experienced people can gain more flexibility, autonomy and income without blowing up their lives. You'll learn all about: Career paths hiding in plain sight High income without full-time roles Pivoting without quitting outright Ada breaks down who these options are really for, how to test them safely, and how to pivot strategically rather than impulsively. Data Sources: Fractional/portfolio work (47% increase): MBO Partners State of Independence 2025 UK non-traditional income (1 in 4): IPSE (Association of Independent Professionals) 2025 Sabbatical outcomes (38% better roles): Harvard Business Review, "The Sabbatical Effect" 2024   To be reminded of all future episodes, please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE. For more from Ada: https://adaoffonry.com/ Follow Ada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaoffonry/ Find out more about Ada's new venture: https://www.inferencesearch.ai About your Host: Ada Offonry Ada Offonry provides talent and career intelligence for quantitative finance and technology. She spent four years as Global Head of Talent at Quadrature Capital, and over 20 years in executive search partnering with hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and elite investment banks across New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ada now works with firms building high performance technology teams, and with senior quantitative and engineering professionals navigating complex career inflection points, through Inference Talent Advisory. Her work sits at the intersection of market intelligence, talent strategy, and career decision making in an increasingly volatile world of work.

Ada Offonry guides us through the Clarity Audit,  her practical framework for deciding whether to stay in your current role or take the leap into something new. She helps you uncover what’s truly behind your career dissatisfaction and build a plan for your next chapter with purpose and poise. You’ll discover: The 7 root causes of career unhappiness The 3 questions that reveal if your situation is fixable How to create a “stay” or “go” plan that puts you back in control Whether you’re craving growth, alignment, or simply more joy in your work, this episode will help you take the next step, clearly and confidently. Data sources: Job dissatisfaction (64%): Gallup State of the Global Workplace 2024 Thought about leaving (51% UK, 23% did): CIPD Employee Outlook 2025 Similar situation within 18 months (40%): LinkedIn Talent Solutions 2024   To be reminded of all future episodes, please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE. For more from Ada: https://adaoffonry.com/ Follow Ada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaoffonry/ Find out more about Ada's new venture: https://www.inferencesearch.ai About your Host: Ada Offonry Ada Offonry provides talent and career intelligence for quantitative finance and technology. She spent four years as Global Head of Talent at Quadrature Capital, and over 20 years in executive search partnering with hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and elite investment banks across New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ada now works with firms building high performance technology teams, and with senior quantitative and engineering professionals navigating complex career inflection points, through Inference Talent Advisory. Her work sits at the intersection of market intelligence, talent strategy, and career decision making in an increasingly volatile world of work.

Ada Offonry explores why highly capable, intelligent people still make career decisions they later regret. She breaks down the hidden psychological traps that keep us over optimising for salary, security or titles, staying too long in roles that no longer fit, or leaping into new ones for the wrong reasons. Today, you'll learn about: Optimising for the wrong thing Fear disguised as “safety” A smarter way to choose what’s next Data Sources: Job regret (72%): Joblist U.S. Job Seeker Survey 2024 Staying too long out of fear (58%): CIPD UK Employee Outlook 2025 High earners + comp-only decisions: Harvard Business Review, "The High Earner's Dilemma" 2024   To be reminded of all future episodes, please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE. For more from Ada: https://adaoffonry.com/ Follow Ada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaoffonry/ Find out more about Ada's new venture: https://www.inferencesearch.ai About your Host: Ada Offonry Ada Offonry provides talent and career intelligence for quantitative finance and technology. She spent four years as Global Head of Talent at Quadrature Capital, and over 20 years in executive search partnering with hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and elite investment banks across New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ada now works with firms building high performance technology teams, and with senior quantitative and engineering professionals navigating complex career inflection points, through Inference Talent Advisory. Her work sits at the intersection of market intelligence, talent strategy, and career decision making in an increasingly volatile world of work.

In this episode, Ada challenges the myth that reinvention requires quitting your job and starting again. Instead, she breaks down how you can strategically reshape your career within your current organisation, often with more stability, influence and financial upside. From gaining clarity on what you really want, to navigating internal power structures and negotiating pay with confidence, this episode offers a practical, low-risk path to meaningful career change. Highlights: Reinventing without quitting. Power mapping your organisation. Negotiating scope and pay confidently. To be reminded of all future episodes, please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE. Follow Ada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaoffonry/   About your Host: Ada Offonry Ada Offonry provides talent and career intelligence for quantitative finance and technology. She spent four years as Global Head of Talent at Quadrature Capital, and over 20 years in executive search partnering with hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and elite investment banks across New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ada now works with firms building high performance technology teams, and with senior quantitative and engineering professionals navigating complex career inflection points, through Inference Talent Advisory. Her work sits at the intersection of market intelligence, talent strategy, and career decision making in an increasingly volatile world of work.

Ada Offonry reveals how hedge funds, AI labs and deep tech startups really hire. She breaks down the traits these fast moving companies value most, why traditional job hunting approaches no longer work, and how to position your experience so you stand out, even without a conventional pedigree. Highlights: Depth over breadth Show, don’t tell Specificity signals seriousness To be reminded of all future episodes, please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE. Follow Ada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaoffonry/ Find out more about Ada's new venture: https://www.inferencesearch.ai About your Host: Ada Offonry Ada Offonry provides talent and career intelligence for quantitative finance and technology. She spent four years as Global Head of Talent at Quadrature Capital, and over 20 years in executive search partnering with hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and elite investment banks across New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ada now works with firms building high performance technology teams, and with senior quantitative and engineering professionals navigating complex career inflection points, through Inference Talent Advisory. Her work sits at the intersection of market intelligence, talent strategy, and career decision making in an increasingly volatile world of work.

Ada Offonry reframes redundancy after 40 as an opportunity for strategic reinvention rather than defeat. Drawing on her experience supporting professionals through career transitions, she shares practical steps to regain control, clarity and confidence. Learn how to: Negotiate your exit : maximise your redundancy package and leave on the best possible terms. Write your “never again” list :  identify what you’ll no longer tolerate in your next role or workplace. Build your next chapter strategically:  focus on career design, nurturing your network, and embracing new forms of work like consulting or fractional roles. To be reminded of all future episodes, please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE. Follow Ada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaoffonry/ Find out more about Ada's new venture: https://www.inferencesearch.ai About your Host: Ada Offonry Ada Offonry provides talent and career intelligence for quantitative finance and technology. She spent four years as Global Head of Talent at Quadrature Capital, and over 20 years in executive search partnering with hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and elite investment banks across New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ada now works with firms building high performance technology teams, and with senior quantitative and engineering professionals navigating complex career inflection points, through Inference Talent Advisory. Her work sits at the intersection of market intelligence, talent strategy, and career decision making in an increasingly volatile world of work.

Ada Offonry explores how the world of work is evolving, and why we must evolve with it. From the rise of AI to shifting definitions of success, she shares how to stay secure, relevant, and fulfilled in an unpredictable market. Highlights: AI makes mediocre work faster,  but great thinkers unstoppable Success now means freedom, not just titles or tenure Job security comes from adaptability, not loyalty To be reminded of all future episodes, please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE. Follow Ada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaoffonry/ Find out more about Ada's new venture: https://www.inferencesearch.ai About your Host: Ada Offonry Ada Offonry provides talent and career intelligence for quantitative finance and technology. She spent four years as Global Head of Talent at Quadrature Capital, and over 20 years in executive search partnering with hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and elite investment banks across New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ada now works with firms building high performance technology teams, and with senior quantitative and engineering professionals navigating complex career inflection points, through Inference Talent Advisory. Her work sits at the intersection of market intelligence, talent strategy, and career decision making in an increasingly volatile world of work.

In this season opening episode of The Adapted Ambitions Podcast, Ada Offonry sets the stage for a new era of career reinvention. Drawing on her 20+ years in top tier finance and tech, Ada shares how the world of work has transformed and why confidence and strategy now matter more than ever. Listen for: Insider hiring secrets from hedge funds and AI firms Tactical frameworks for bold mid career moves Confidence over 40 as your ultimate advantage   To be reminded of all future episodes, please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE. Follow Ada: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaoffonry/ Find out more about Ada's new venture: https://www.inferencesearch.ai About your Host: Ada Offonry Ada Offonry provides talent and career intelligence for quantitative finance and technology. She spent four years as Global Head of Talent at Quadrature Capital, and over 20 years in executive search partnering with hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and elite investment banks across New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Ada now works with firms building high performance technology teams, and with senior quantitative and engineering professionals navigating complex career inflection points, through Inference Talent Advisory. Her work sits at the intersection of market intelligence, talent strategy, and career decision making in an increasingly volatile world of work.