What happens when you leave Big Tech to build a startup… and end up coming back?

For a while I wanted to interview someone who went on to start their own business - but then came back to employment with a fresh new perspective… and finally I was lucky to meet Anna Buldakova:

🚀 Ex-Big Tech product leader

📈 Forbes Technology Council member

🌍 Founder of a 40,000+ Product Management community

Anna did what many dream of - left a stable product role, raised $2.5M in VC funding, launched her own startup - and embarked on a journey which had it all:

✔️The thrill of finding product-market fit

✔️The need to pivot

✔️The burnout, weekend work, pressure to scale - and the stress of shutting down the business due to factors no one could control

✔️The decision to return to Big Tech - having considered starting a new venture and becoming a Chief Product Officer at a startup

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Shameless Careers episode if we didn’t deep dive into some practicalities like:

✔️ How to prepare a Plan B before taking the leap into entrepreneurship

✔️ What not to do when picking a business idea

✔️ Why taking VC money is not always the way to go

Enjoy!

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ YouTube version of Shameless Careers:

https://www.youtube.com/@ShamelessCareers

✅ Stay Connected With Me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varia-pechurina/

🔔If you are a mid career professional in a high pressure industry - like finance, consulting, law, tech - who feels unfulfilled with what they do, and is wondering what's next - subscribe for interviews with people who have been in your shoes, took charge, and made career changes to become fulfilled again (within their existing career tracks or through career pivots). You will also hear from career coaches and other experts on the best practices of making those changes

=================================

#CareerChange #LeavingBigTech #StartupLessons #VCStartup #FounderJourney #CareerReinvention #ProductManagement #ShamelessCareers #WorkLifeBalance #EntrepreneurBurnout #ZeroToOne #CareerDecisions #HighAchievers

⚠️Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening to any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research.

Copyright Notice: This episode and my podcast channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Shameless Careers. You are authorised to share the episode link and channel and embed this episode in your website or others as long as a link back to my podcast channel is provided.

© Shameless Careers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Portfolio careers are exploding - and they’re not just a trend, they’re the future.

By 2030, nearly half the workforce will be part of the gig economy - and portfolio careers are the white collar version of this trend. There are structural reasons for this shift - many companies want flexibility with talent (which will be exacerbated by AI), while many professionals want more autonomy and more earnings potential.

In this episode, we break it all down with Ben Legg - ex-Google exec and CEO of the Portfolio Collective.

Tune in to the episode to learn:

- The 4 types of portfolio careers - and which one might fit you best

- What you can realistically earn (plus the most lucrative paths to aim for)

- How to start building a portfolio career - even if have no clue where to begin

✅ Stay Connected:

👉 With Ben Legg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benlegg/

👉With me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varia-pechurina/

👉Check out The Portfolio Collective: https://portfolio-collective.com/

🔔If you are a mid-career professional in a high pressure industry who feels unfulfilled with what they do, and is wondering what's next - subscribe for interviews with people who have been in your shoes, took charge, and made career changes to become fulfilled again (within their existing career tracks or through career pivots). You will also hear from experts on the best practices of making those changes.

=================================

#PortfolioCareer #GigEconomy #FreelanceLife #SideHustle #CareerFlexibility #RemoteWork #DigitalNomad #FutureOfWork #WorkLifeBalance #AIandWork #FlexJobs

⚠️Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening to any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research.

Copyright Notice: This episode and my podcast channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Shameless Careers. You are authorised to share the episode link and channel and embed this episode in your website or others as long as a link back to my podcast channel is provided.

© Shameless Careers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes someone shift from a stable corporate career to a completely different path?

In this deeply personal episode of Shameless Careers, Angela Senese reflects on how a combination of personal experiences - motherhood, health issues, and the loss of a loved one - led her to reassess her career and life in general.

These life events have led Angela to leave the financial services industry, where she spent 17 years, to retrain as a nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner - turning a personal need for healing into a career helping others.

In this conversation, we are talking about:

- How big life changes can lead to revaluation of life and career priorities

- How resting - and carefully listening to your body and emotions - can be a great source of insight

- How major changes can happen without a grand plan - but as a result of following "breadcrumbs" - small signs and interests that you may have

I hope you like it - and I (genuinely) would love to hear your reflections on these deep and important topics, let me know in comments!

And of course, subscribe if you want to hear more stories about how people build careers they love.

✅ Stay Connected:

With Angela Senese: https://nutrimente.co.uk/

With Shameless Careers: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shameless-careers/

#CareerChange #LifeAfterBurnout #WorkingMoms #CareerPivot #ReinventYourCareer #PurposeAtWork #FromFinanceToWellness #WomenInTransition #WellnessCareer #IntentionalLiving

=============================

✅ About Shameless Careers

Welcome to Shameless Careers, your go-to podcast for inspiring stories about building a career you love. Listen to interviews with individuals who found their true calling. Learn how they made it happen - how they discovered what they truly wanted to do and the practical steps they took to get there.

On this channel, you’ll also find interviews with career coaches and mindfulness professionals, offering insights on how to build a career you love.

=============================

⚠️Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening to any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research.

Copyright Notice: This episode and my podcast channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Shameless Careers. You are authorised to share the episode link and channel and embed this episode in your website or others as long as a link back to my podcast channel is provided.

© Shameless Careers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feeling stuck in your career?

In this episode of Shameless Careers, we dive deep into the confusing - but, I promise you, exciting - world of career transitions. If you’re feeling unfulfilled, if you feel like something is missing in your career, or if you are unsure what you really want to do next, this conversation will help you gain clarity and direction.

My guest is Maria, an international career consultant who’s helped executives, entrepreneurs, and senior leaders make career pivots towards something that they would find more meaningful - and build powerful personal brands on LinkedIn.

In this conversation we explore:

- Why so many people feel lost in their careers (and what to do about that)

- How to uncover your true strengths, passions, and hidden talents

- What “learned behaviours” are - and how they secretly shape your career path

- How to use your past experience as a springboard for a new chapter

- Practical tips to build visibility and attract opportunities on LinkedIn

Plus: the surprising power of doing that one crazy thing you’ve always dreamt of (and how it can help you with your career transition).

Enjoy!

#CareerChange #CareerTransition #FindYourPurpose #FeelingStuck #CareerClarity #DiscoverYourPassion #ReinventYourCareer #CareerAdvice #CareerCoach #SelfAwareness #StrengthsFinder #PersonalGrowth

=============================

✅ About Shameless Careers

Welcome to Shameless Careers, your go-to podcast for inspiring stories about building a career you love. Listen to interviews with individuals who found their true calling. Learn how they made it happen - how they discovered what they truly wanted to do and the practical steps they took to get there.

On this channel, you’ll also find interviews with career coaches and mindfulness professionals, offering insights on how to build a career you love.

=============================

⚠️Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening to any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research.

Copyright Notice: This episode and my podcast channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Shameless Careers. You are authorised to share the episode link and channel and embed this episode in your website or others as long as a link back to my podcast channel is provided.

© Shameless Careers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Shameless Careers, Violetta returns one year after leaving her legal career to build a macramé fashion brand. In our first episode, we explored her bold career change from law to craft - and now, she shares what happened next: scaling, burnout, pregnancy, and letting go of the pressure to constantly “succeed.”

Listen in for a raw, honest conversation about the joys and the struggles of scaling a business:

- Why "the best-known beats the best" — i.e. why visibility matters more these days than perfection in what you are doing

- Why selling products isn't scalable (and why online assets - like books or courses - can be a much more scalable approach)

- Why hustling harder can lead you to burnout - and why letting go of control and pressure to succeed can, paradoxically, create space for unexpected opportunities

Enjoy - and subscribe to the channel to hear more stories about how people build careers (and businesses) they love! https://www.youtube.com/@ShamelessCareers/?sub_confirmation=1

✅ Relevant links:

- The first episode with Violetta (where she is talking about her career switch from law into macramé business): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwhLc7n6S4w&feature=youtu.be

- Link to Dan Lok's YouTube channel mentioned in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/@danlok?si=V81NxBoBr2fkw_Qp

- Link to Mindvalley mentioned in the episode: https://www.mindvalley.com/

- Violetta's website: https://www.viittahouse.com

- Violetta's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viitta.fashion

✅ Stay connected with me:

👉Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shameless_careers/

👉LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shameless-careers/

=============================

✅ About Shameless Careers

Welcome to Shameless Careers, your go-to podcast for inspiring stories about building a career you love. Watch interviews with individuals who found their true calling. Learn how they made it happen - how they discovered what they truly wanted to do and the practical steps they took to make this happen.

On this channel, you’ll also find interviews with career coaches and mindfulness professionals, offering insights on how to build a career you love.

=================================

#craftbusiness #careerchange #entrepreneurship #handmadebusiness #shamelesscareers #smallbusiness #businesstips #businessadvice #behindthebusiness #smallbizjourney #entrepreneurialmindset #creativebusiness #craftbusiness

⚠️Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening to any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research.

Copyright Notice: This episode and my podcast channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Shameless Careers. You are authorised to share the episode link and channel and embed this episode in your website or others as long as a link back to my podcast channel is provided.

© Shameless Careers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever dreamt of building your own business without quitting your 9-to-5? In this episode of Shameless Careers, we sit down with Elston Baretto, founder of Tiiny Host, to unpack exactly how he built a thriving SaaS company - which he had started as a side gig.

Tune in to the interview to find out:

• Why, if its your first business, its better to start with an existing idea - and simply pivot it to a different market (vs creating something brand new)
• Why, in this era of noise and difficulty of getting people's attention, it is more important to focus on Marketing than ever before
• How to design your Marketing strategy - and how SEO can unlock the success of your product
• ...and of course how to balance starting a new business with a full time job

Enjoy!

Links mentioned in the episode:

YouTube channel of Alex Hormozi: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexHormozi

Ahrefs: https://ahrefs.com/

Semrush: https://www.semrush.com/

Indie London meet ups: https://www.meetup.com/indie-london/

Ramen Club: https://www.ramenclub.so/

Starter Story: https://www.starterstory.com/

Subscribe to the channel to hear more stories around how people build fulfilling careers and start businesses they love!

#SaaS #SideHustle #Bootstrapped #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #MicroSaaS #FounderJourney #StarterStory

Disclaimer:

I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening to any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research.

Copyright Notice: This episode and my podcast channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Shameless Careers. You are authorised to share the episode link and channel and embed this episode in your website or others as long as a link back to my podcast is provided.

© Shameless Careers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to start a business but are as clueless as I am about how to do it?

There is hope! This episode of Shameless Careers is your practical guide to finding the right business idea and taking it forward based on insider knowledge from someone who has done it multiple times.

Today’s guest, Pascal Pert, is a serial entrepreneur who exited two companies - sports tech and big data - to some of the biggest top tech giants in the space, sold 37 product lines with a reverse engineering factory, and had other ventures in retail, gaming and AI. Pascal is also a board member of Tech and Engineering at Oxford Brooks University - and in this episode we discuss:

✔️ How to come up with a business idea - and why you should always start with a SIMPLE business (that would be - yes, you've heard it right - below your intelligence level)

✔️ Why "unsexy" industries - like food or retail - present great opportunities for healthy margins and lower risk vs your trendy blockchain-with-AI-and-beyond startups

✔️ Why product-based businesses are often easier to scale than service-based ones

✔️ Why the NUMBER ONE skill in entrepreneurship is Sales (that comes before everything - even the product!)

✔️ Why passion is overrated (yes, you don’t need to “love” your business - just the results it brings)

Hope you enjoy it - and drop any entrepreneurship questions you may have in the comments!

Resources mentioned in the episode:

✔️ YouTube channel of Alex Hormozi: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexHormozi

✔️ YouTube channel of Leila Hormozi: https://www.youtube.com/@leilahormozi

Connect with...

✔️ Pascal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascal-pert/

✔️ Me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varia-pechurina/

#HowToStartABusiness #Entrepreneurship #Startups #BusinessSuccess #ShamelessCareers #entrepreneurtips #serialentrepreneur

=============================

⚠️Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening to any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research.

Copyright Notice: This episode and my podcast channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Shameless Careers. You are authorised to share the episode link and channel and embed this episode in your website or others as long as a link back to my podcast channel is provided.

© Shameless Careers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are You Stuck in the Success Trap? 🚀

So many high achievers look successful on the outside - career, money, status - but deep inside, they feel something is missing. Why does achievement often fail to bring real fulfilment? And how do you break free from chasing success that doesn’t truly satisfy?

In this episode of Shameless Careers, I sit down with Dr. Amina Aitsi-Selmi, award-winning transformational career and leadership coach and author of The Success Trap. We dive deep into:

🔹 The symptoms of the success trap - how to know if you're in it

🔹 Why many high achievers feel unfulfilled, despite checking all the boxes

🔹 The illusion of success and the hidden costs of chasing external validation

🔹 How to redefine success on your own terms - without losing ambition

🔹 Why real power is about exercising choice, not following the “shoulds”

🔹 How breaking free from the success trap leads to greater leadership presence

If you’ve ever wondered “Is this all there is?” or felt like you’re living a life based on expectations rather than your true self, this conversation is for you.

👉 Watch now and discover how to create a career and life that truly aligns with you.

📚 Learn more about Dr. Amina’s work:

https://www.doctoramina.com/

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

📖 Get The Success Trap: https://amzn.eu/d/gycvheR

📗Get Near Enemies of the Truth: https://amzn.eu/d/9GXBUCl

🔔 Stay connected with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varia-pechurina-16607159/

=============================

✅ About Shameless Careers

Welcome to Shameless Careers, your go-to podcast for inspiring stories about building a career you love. Watch interviews with individuals who dared to switch careers and found their true calling. Learn how they made it happen—how they discovered what they truly wanted to do and the practical steps they took to make a change.

On this channel, you’ll also find interviews with career coaches and mindfulness professionals, offering insights on how to find a career you love.

=================================

#successtrap #highachievers #shamelesscareers #redefiningsuccess #fulfillment #careergrowth #overachiever #findyourpurpose #findyourpurpose #passion

⚠️Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of listening to any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research.

Copyright Notice: This episode and my podcast channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Shameless Careers. You are authorised to share the episode link and channel and embed this episode in your website or others as long as a link back to my podcast channel is provided.

© Shameless Careers

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.