Making a Career Change? Here’s How to Lead Yourself Through It
Leadership coach Felecia Williams shares how to navigate career change with clarity, courage, and purpose.
Introduction: The Power of Choice
In this episode of The Soul Career Podcast, host Lisandra Rickards sits down with Soul Career’s new leadership coach, Felecia Williams to explore one of the most pivotal and challenging moments in a professional’s life — recognizing when a career no longer aligns with who you are and making the leap into something new.
From growing up in Jamaica to navigating corporate America, Felecia shares how her journey through diverse industries and leadership roles taught her when to hold on, when to pivot, and how to navigate transitions with courage, clarity, and purpose.
Recognizing the Moment of Change
Felecia recalls a key moment in her career when she realized the work that once energized her now felt misaligned. The signs weren’t sudden; they built over time — small feelings of disconnection, questioning whether her daily tasks reflected her values, and noticing a shift in what she wanted from life.
She talks about the importance of listening to those signals rather than ignoring them. “Your body and mind will tell you when something’s off,” she explains.
“It starts as a whisper, but if you don’t pay attention, it gets louder.”
This realization took honesty, reflection, and a willingness to imagine a different future for herself.
She emphasized that careers can evolve, and holding onto a role that no longer fits can stifle growth and fulfillment. The first step toward transition is giving yourself permission to acknowledge that it’s time for something new.
The Role of Preparation and Connections
While the leap into the unknown can feel risky, Felecia credited her preparation and network for making it possible. Years of building authentic connections and delivering results laid the groundwork for her next chapter.
Even without heavily marketing herself, opportunities continued to come her way, training sessions, coaching engagements, and other professional invitations because of the credibility and trust she had built in her previous roles.
The Emotional Side of Career Change
While strategy and planning are important, Felecia emphasizes the emotional reality of leaving a career: the grief of letting go, the fear of the unknown, and the identity shift that comes with stepping out of a long-held role.
She shares candidly about moments of doubt, reminding listeners that these feelings are normal. The key is to acknowledge them without letting them control your decisions.
Leading Yourself Through Transition
One of the most compelling parts of Felecia’s story is how she led herself during the shift. She describes it as a mix of self-coaching, accountability, and leaning on others for support.
She had to consistently remind herself where she wanted to go and what actions it would take to get there.
This meant holding herself to a high standard, maintaining her credibility, and continuing to do the work—even when the results weren’t immediate.
As she put it, leadership isn’t only about guiding a team; it’s about guiding yourself every single day, especially when the path ahead isn’t fully clear.
Embracing the Ongoing Journey
Felecia’s transition didn’t end with leaving her role, it’s an ongoing process. She continues to refine her vision, seize new opportunities, and adapt her leadership skills to new contexts.
Her story is a reminder that leadership in transition isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying grounded in your values, staying open to possibilities, and trusting the work you’ve already invested in yourself.
How to Navigate Leadership Transitions
Drawing from her own experiences, Felecia outlines the emotional and practical steps involved in leaving a career that no longer fits:
- Self-reflection before action – Understand why you want to leave. Is it the work, the culture, the leadership, or something within yourself that has shifted?
- Plan before you leap – While bold moves can work, she stresses having a strategic plan to ensure a smoother landing.
- Leverage your network – Relationships you’ve built over the years often open doors you never considered.
- Be ready for uncertainty – “There’s no perfect time,” she shares. “But if you’ve done the work to prepare, you can trust yourself to handle what comes next.”
Leadership in Transition: A Soul Career® Signature Series
This is the second installment of Soul Career®’s Leadership in Transition podcast series, created for leaders and professionals at the crossroads of change.
These aren’t just job shifts. They are leadership transformations. Moments that call for resilience, clarity, and intentional action. In this episode, we continue exploring how to lead yourself through uncertainty, embrace new possibilities, and step boldly into the next chapter of your career journey.
Listen to the Full Episode
🎧 Spotify: Listen here
📺 YouTube: Watch here
🍎 Apple Podcasts: Listen here
Ready for Your Own Career Transformation?
If Felecia’s insights struck a chord with you, and you’re feeling ready to step away from a career that no longer fits, we invite you to book a free coaching consultation with Soul Career®.
Whether you’re seeking career coaching, executive coaching, or leadership training, our programs are designed to help you navigate change, embrace your next chapter, and lead with clarity, confidence, and soul.
