Stepping away from corporate success to build something of your own takes more than strategy, it takes courage. We sit down with Jennifer Smith, Career + HR Consultant of Flourish Careers LLC and Gig Talent, to unpack what it takes to leave a successful corporate career and build a fulfilling independent practice. With a background in HR across Fortune 50 companies, Jennifer shares how she traded predictability for purpose and leaned into her intuition to build a values-driven business. From graveyard shifts to consulting, she reflects on what it means to take courageous steps, trust your gut and redefine success on your own terms.

Key Takeaways:

(01:21 ) Career success doesn’t have to come at the expense of well-being.

(03:41 ) HR wasn’t an obvious path. Jennifer carved her own by volunteering and showing up.

(06:50 ) “Five minutes to flourish” helped her build momentum while still in her day job.

(13:37 ) The pandemic shifted her focus fully to coaching.

(16:26 ) A “portfolio career” allows Jennifer to flex different muscles and manage risk.

(19:06 ) Prioritizing three things per week keeps her focused and energized.

(20:51 ) Redefining success based on alignment and fulfillment, not promotions.

(25:40 ) Trust the glimpse — it may lead to more than you imagine.

Resources Mentioned:

Jennifer Smith

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferlsmith9200/

Gig Talent

https://www.linkedin.com/company/gig-talent/

Flourish Careers LLC | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-careers/

Flourish Careers LLC | Website

https://www.flourish.careers/

The Muse

https://www.themuse.com/

Frito-Lay

https://www.fritolay.com/

PepsiCo

https://www.pepsico.com/

Thanks for listening to “The Courageous Choice.” Be sure to leave us a review and subscribe so you don’t miss any conversations. 

For more information, visit gigtalentagency.com or email us at podcast@gigtalentagency.com if you have any questions. 

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