Pivoting can feel like failure.
It can feel like quitting, like starting over, like admitting you got it wrong.
In this solo episode, Kelly unpacks what it really means to pivot and why it’s often the most aligned and courageous move you can make in your career.
From changing majors at University of Notre Dame, to earning her MBA, to shifting from advertising into brand marketing at Frito-Lay, to founding Career Slay, Kelly shares the defining pivots that shaped her professional path.
If you’re standing at a crossroads wondering whether you’re quitting or evolving, this episode is your reminder:
Pivoting is not failure. It’s getting back into alignment.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
00:23 – Why pivoting feels uncomfortable
01:15 – My first pivot: Leaving architecture
02:45 – Recognizing misalignment
03:30 – Gathering data points
04:40 – Switching majors and entering marketing
05:04 – Stretching beyond your comfort zone
06:10 – MBA challenges and confidence growth
06:45 – Pivot into brand marketing at Frito-Lay
07:20 – The biggest pivot: Founding Career Slay
08:15 – You’re not starting from zero
09:20 – Micro-experiments and testing your pivot
09:53 – The regret minimization framework
10:45 – Final encouragement
Quotes Worth Repeating
Resources Mentioned
Topics Discussed
career pivots, professional growth, leadership development, entrepreneurship, transferable skills, self-limiting beliefs, MBA journey, brand marketing, alignment, personal reinvention, minimizing regret, Career Slay Podcast
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