In this solo episode, Rhonda Coleman shares her deeply personal journey through two major career pivots — first from teaching to law, and now from a coveted legal role at Google to launching her own consulting firm. Rhonda Coleman opens up about navigating fear, redefining success, and embracing personal growth. She also breaks down how coaching, community, and intentional planning helped her make empowered transitions in her professional life.

Key Takeaways:

• Why major career transitions rarely happen fearlessly — and how to move forward anyway.
• The power of redefining success based on your own values rather than external expectations.
• How working with coaches can accelerate clarity, confidence, and strategic decision-making.
• The importance of building and leaning into your network when pursuing reinvention.
• Why taking personal responsibility for your career trajectory is essential for long-term fulfillment.

Meet Rhonda Coleman Wandel

Rhonda Coleman Wandel is an accomplished attorney, former Google legal professional, and the founder of a growing legal and business strategy consulting firm. With over a decade of experience supporting leaders and organizations, she now helps women executives, general counsels, and business owners navigate growth with confidence and clarity.

Visit her website | Follow her on Instagram

How She Pivoted

Rhonda’s first major pivot began over a decade ago when she transitioned from a 10-year teaching career into law school as a newly single mother of two. Despite uncertainty, she followed a calling to create a different future for herself and her family — ultimately building a thriving legal career and earning a role at Google, a milestone many consider the height of professional success.

“Sometimes you look behind you and know you can’t stay there, and you look at where you’re standing and realize you can’t stay there either — the only way to go is forward.”

Her second pivot emerged from a growing sense that she had reached a ceiling and needed more room to grow. Through deep self-work and strategic guidance, she recognized that entrepreneurship held the freedom, purpose, and impact she craved — even if it meant stepping away from the security of corporate life.

Insights for Ambitious Women

One of Rhonda’s biggest lessons is the importance of tuning into your own definition of success. Instead of chasing titles or external validation, she encourages women to ask why they want what they want — and to honour what truly aligns with their happiness, health, and wellbeing. This shift became foundational in her transition from corporate to entrepreneurship.

“I stopped looking at what I didn’t have and started looking at what I wanted and how I could get it.”

Rhonda also highlights how coaching, community, and planning can transform your trajectory. By building a support network, leaning into professional relationships, and taking responsibility for your growth, you create a powerful roadmap for reinvention — one that is grounded, strategic, and deeply empowering.

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