Tired of feeling like a passenger in your own career? Join us as we chat with Christa Stelzmuller, a seasoned tech pro who traded the hustle of e-commerce for world-changing work. Christa made a bold leap into the not-for-profit world, landing the coveted role of Chief Technology Officer at charity:water.

Learn how she navigated the transition, filled in knowledge gaps, and found a mission and culture that truly resonated.

Whether you're considering a similar switch or simply want to take more control of your professional path, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration.

Listen in and take some pointers from her process:

• Take control: Don't let your career happen to you. Own your path and make intentional decisions.

• Take the time: A major career change may be several months in the making, start today.

• Skill up: Identify your knowledge and skills gaps and actively seek out opportunities to learn.

• Find your fit: Use the interview process to discover if the organization's mission and culture align with your values.

• Go with who you are: Make a clear statement in your application about the skills you have to offer and how you plan to use these transferable skills in the role.

Christa digs into tech in the not-for-profit sector. Two essential transferable skills for moving from the for-profit to not-for-profit sector are change management and database/CRM management. She shares examples of transferable skills from sales funnels to fundraising and using data for storytelling. She shares that success comes when you can drive data through to the human experience.

A year into her sector-switching role, she’s very happy she made the shift. She encourages you to go for the career switch of your dreams.

A common thread throughout Christa Stelzmuller’s career has been a multidisciplinary approach to leveraging data and technology for better decisions, better products, and better delivery. She is focused on building innovative and useful digital experiences and is deeply motivated by mission. She has a demonstrated ability to translate a vision to a strategy and then connect that strategy to execution. Key to that are her strengths in communication and team leadership. She easily pivots between conversations with investors and board members, fellow leadership team members, and more junior team members and fosters high levels of productivity through a service-oriented, participative approach to leading her teams.

Dreaming of a career change with purpose? You're not alone! In this episode, career development coach Emily Lamia shares practical advice on how to design your ideal not-for-profit job and make it a reality. Discover how to:

• Identify your ideal role: Learn to pinpoint what you truly want in your next career move and how to start making small changes today.
• Plan ahead: Learn why starting to think about your next move 6 months in advance is key, even when your current job is great.
• Take small steps: Find out how to build skills and gain experience without quitting your day job.
• Assess potential employers: Uncover hidden insights about organizations through behavioral interviews and IRS Form 990.
• Start exploring: Get inspired to take low-stakes actions like following industry leaders and joining professional associations.

Emily's expert advice will inspire you to take control of your career and create a fulfilling path in the nonprofit world. Don't wait any longer – start planning your pivot today!

Ready to turn your passion into a fulfilling career? Hit play and start your journey towards a more meaningful job!

About the guest:

Emily Lamia founded Pivot Journeys in 2016 to provide professionals with the strategies and support they need to find meaningful work and to empower them to be inspired, engaged, and effective on the job.

As a career development coach, she has been helping people grow and develop in their careers for over a decade. She has supported countless people to network more effectively, interview more confidently, and think more strategically about how to get where they want to go. But, before that, she had to navigate my own career journey.

She knows what it’s like to feel stuck and be unsure of how to find the right kind of work for you, and how to land the job you want. She also knows what it’s like to work on a dysfunctional team with bad management. And I know a bad manager can be the reason you leave your job.

Her goal is to make it less painful for you to identify what you love doing and for you to get the opportunity to do it.

As a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach, certified Designing Your Life Coach, and certified administrator of an Enneagram assessment, Emily has completed 100+ hours of training and regularly participate in ongoing education to become the best coach she can be for her clients.

Dr. Lisa Orbe-Austin, a licensed psychologist and career coach, joins us to discuss how Imposter Syndrome can hold people back in their careers and how to overcome it specifically in the context of a non-profit job search.

You’ll learn:

• Why 70% of people experience Imposter Syndrome, and it’s not just women
• How to identify the two cycles of Imposter Syndrome that lead to burnout and self sabotage (and how self-care can help you break free from them)
• How to recognize a toxic work environment during the interview process (and what to do if you’re already in one)
• Techniques to manage Imposter Syndrome throughout your job search, including:

Imposter Syndrome is a common issue, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. This episode will equip you with the tools you need to launch your non-profit career with confidence.

Resources Referenced:

Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life

Your Unstoppable Greatness: Break Free of Impostor Syndrome, Cultivate Your Agency, and Achieve Your Ultimate Career Goals

Dr. Lisa Orbe-Austin provides career advice on NBC LX

Career Transitions

Instagram

Pomodoro Technique

The Impostor Phenomenon: Psychological Research, Theory, and Interventions

Dr. Valerie Young