What happens when your dream job stops loving you back? Alexandra Dolea, archeologist, career mentor, and creator of the Career Excavation Framework, walks us through how she spent nearly two decades in field archaeology across Europe and the Mediterranean, only for everything to unravel during the pandemic: work disappeared, burnout set in, and the story she told herself about success no longer fit. That breaking point became a blueprint for change.
We also get personal about health, rest, and the myth of balance. Alexandra shares how severe illness reordered her priorities and why movement (hiking, lifting, martial arts) became a daily anchor. She makes a case for doing nothing on purpose, noticing invisible work, and asking for help without shame.
If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own resume or worried your best chapters are behind you, this conversation opens a door. Hit play, rethink your next step, and if it resonates, share it with someone who needs permission to pivot.
To discover more about Alexandra's work please visit alexandradolea.com or get in touch with her on LinkedIn.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Alexandra!
