Insights

You know that feeling? It’s like standing barefoot in the middle of a muddy field: you can’t go back to the role, career or identity you’ve outgrown — but you also don’t know where the path ahead actually starts. Welcome to the awkward middle . Working out what you want to do next doesn't need to be too tricky. This is the space many people find themselves in during a career transition: no longer aligned with what they were doing, but unsure how to articulate what comes next

February can feel like a long, grey stretch — especially if you’re in the middle of a career change. Whether you’re navigating redundancy, re-evaluating your professional identity, managing menopause-related shifts, or simply feeling the nudge that something has to change , this time of year can heighten uncertainty and self-doubt. There are many ways to offer an act of kindness.... Against this backdrop sits Random Acts of Kindness Week , anchored by Random Acts of Kindness

This week includes Valentine’s Day , a day that I’m more inclined to call Galentine’s Day  (being a single woman and all). So I thought I’d write an article about women loving themselves  — because honestly, if we can’t turn our own potential into a lifelong love affair, why is anyone else lining up to dance with us? Welcome to the compassionate, slightly irresistible world of loving you  — your career, your choices, and yes, that amazing brain tucked behind your glasses (eye

I’ve just returned from a long weekend in Ireland, where 1 February is celebrated as St Brigid’s Day. While St Brigid herself is fascinating, I found myself more drawn to the older roots of the day: Imbolc, the Celtic festival that marks the very beginning of spring. Imbolc is associated with   Brigid the Goddess – a powerful, pre-Christian figure from Irish mythology. Brigid represents wisdom, protection, creativity and personal growth. She is also known as a guardian of th

We’ve all been there — that awkward stage in life when it feels like the universe nudged (or shoved) us off the treadmill and into the metaphorical ball pit of confusion. One minute you’re on track, the next you’re wondering why your professional life resembles a slightly chaotic rom-com montage. But take heart: rough patches are not derailments . They’re more like… unexpected intermissions with free snacks. Yes, you can get your career back on track — with clarity, confiden

Every January, something curious happens. A “day” known as   Blue Monday  is whispered about in offices, shared in social feeds, and even splashed across news headlines as “the most depressing day of the year”. But before you reach for the duvet or resign yourself to low energy and low morale, let’s take a fresh look at what it is, why it matters, and how you can turn it into a moment of clarity, connection and career confidence . Our bodies are wired to respond to daylight,

Imagine this: you’re a seasoned copywriter who desperately needs help with your bookkeeping. Meanwhile, a brilliant accountant wants help writing punchy website copy. You could pay money  — or you could swap skills  and both walk away happy, smarter, and a little richer in connections. 💡 Welcome to the delightful world of skill swapping — where your talents become currency , collaboration becomes your secret business-growth strategy, and everyone’s a winner. What on earth is

At the start of this year, I saw a very established (US-based) LinkedIn-er share this statement: “HR exists to manage risk for the company, not to help us. Understand this so we know how to proceed… and prepare.” Cue a collective intake of breath from people professionals everywhere as the post gathered global momentum . 😱 (I’ve used the People title for the last 5 or so years, but I do see that HR is still widely used, so am utilising the simple “HR/People” format to cover

Ah, Christmas! The one time of year when mince pies, fairy lights and that urgent  need to finish all the Netflix shows collide into a deliciously chaotic two-week bubble of festivities, family and yes — potential career gold. 🎄✨ But hang on — before you dive head-first into festive oblivion (although please  enjoy that), what if I told you this season could  be your secret weapon for success in the year ahead? Have a Cool Yule, from me and Bob x Here’s how to make your Chri

Earlier this year, I wrote an article about deliberately throwing myself into something that scared me: a brand-new sport. Not because I was naturally athletic, nor because I wanted accolades. I did it because I wanted to feel proud of doing something outside my comfort zone. The goal wasn’t victory — it was courage, effort, and the thrill of confronting uncertainty head-on. First Slalom competition, one spill and four overtakers. First time EVER on a slalom run! Six months l

If someone had told me on 1 January 2025 that by December I’d be writing a retrospective about coaching conversations, corporate talks, Women’s Circles, podcasts, and all the moments that made me pause, I’d probably have given them a side-eye and muttered, “Are you serious?” And yet, here I am. Running Pause and Empower this year has meant embracing both the chaos and the clarity that comes when midlife transitions, menopause, career uncertainty, and life’s bigger questions c

If any of you follow me on Insta or Facebook, you might have spotted my post last Friday. I shared that I’ve started a gratitude diary — and I was feeling super  grateful. I’d just walked into the BBC studios on Oxford Street for a small filming segment on the Morning Live Show about menopause and creatine (yes, that trending nootropic!) — a highlight in itself. That evening I was due to present at the Bedford Women’s Circle on Women’s Rights in the Workplace. And this week,

It’s that time of year: the evenings are drawing in, the heating bill is mocking you, and you’re realising that your only  superpower lately has been turning rants into emails. You, dear reader, might just be teetering on the edge of burnout. But before you hit the wall — or worse, resign yourself to becoming a permanent fixture on the sofa — there’s hope. Let’s talk about how to hit reset, rediscover your spark, and get your work-life mojo back, all before the end of the yea

If you’re reading this, there’s a fair chance you’re navigating midlife, career change and the often-under-acknowledged swirl of menopause. Let’s be clear: this is not  a time to quietly fade into the background . It’s a hot flush-fuelled springboard for reinvention, for flipping the script on what “mid-career” means, and for embracing micro-revolutions — those small, dare-I-say cheeky acts of not giving a toss in the very best sense of the phrase. Having a laugh with clients

As mid-career professional women, we carry rich histories. We’ve led teams, drawn on our experience, navigated transitions and taken our share of learning curves. Yet there comes a moment when we must pause, honour what has passed and consciously open the next chapter. On Remembrance Sunday and beyond, we can draw on the themes of remembrance, reflection and renewal to foster strong leadership in this season of our lives. My Dad and Grandads regimental tankards, along with v

By Amanda Connolly, Career & Wellbeing Coach, Pause & Empower Hello wonderful women transitioning through career, life, and yes — that menopausal chapter too. It’s Amanda here, waving a light-hearted but earnest hello. Right now we’re edging into the week of 3–7 November 2025—yes, you guessed it: International Stress Awareness Week .   isma.org.uk +1  This is a perfect moment for us to pause, reflect, and align our work-lives and menopausal lives in a way that honours both ou

It feels fitting to be writing this during   Diwali  — the Hindu festival of lights — a time when homes across South Asia and Britain glow with candles and colour, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, hope over despair. So, I’m moving a little out of my own comfort zone here, shining my coaching torch into a space I’ve not personally lived but deeply admire: the midlife career transitions of South Asian British women   navigating the crazy (and often chaotic) worl

By an ADHD Career Coach for Menopausal Women! I’ll be honest — menopause was already throwing enough curveballs my way. Hot flushes that could warm a small village. Brain fog that turns simple tasks into advanced cryptography. And now, apparently, a shiny new label to add to the mix: ADHD . Yes, that’s right. At an age when many of us are supposed to be “slowing down”, I was suddenly facing a realisation that I’d been neurodiverse all along. It’s a curious and often misunders

10 October marked World Mental Health Day —a timely reminder that our mental health deserves just as much attention as our physical health. As a Mental Health First Aider , I can’t recommend upskilling in this area highly enough. (Most good courses are at least 2 full days, but it's worth the time and energy.)  For many of us in the more “experienced” generation, mental health was something rarely spoken about at work. We pushed through, kept calm, and carried on. When you kn

October marks World Menopause Month, a time when conversations about midlife health and wellbeing take centre stage. For many of us...