Introduction
In this transformative episode of the Luxury Unplugged Podcast, I, Neeti Keswani—Business Storytelling Coach, Ho’oponopono Practitioner, and host of Luxury Unplugged—sit down with Wendy Alexander, an extraordinary career coach who empowers professionals over 30, especially midlife and menopausal women, to make confident career transitions.
If you’ve ever scrolled through job listings at midnight thinking, “Is it too late to start over?”, or felt invisible on LinkedIn despite years of experience, this episode is your wake-up call. Wendy brings the mindset, tools, and personal power it takes to rewrite your story, relaunch your career, and rise into your next chapter—no matter your age.
Whether you’re considering a career change at 30, switching industries, or repositioning your identity on LinkedIn, this is the complete guide you’ve been waiting for.
1. Is it really possible to change careers after 30?
Let’s bust the myth: Yes, you absolutely can change careers after 30. In fact, it’s often the best time.
Wendy shares how most professionals in their 30s have:
- Clarity from experience
- Stronger emotional intelligence
- A deeper sense of purpose
The challenge? Fear of judgment and fear of starting over.
But as Wendy reminds us, you’re not starting over—you’re starting from experience. Career pivots at 30 are not regressions; they’re recalibrations toward more alignment.
2. How do societal expectations make career change harder after 30?
Society paints a picture: “Have it all figured out by 30.” But for women—especially menopausal or perimenopausal women—those expectations collide with hormonal shifts, caregiving demands, and career dissatisfaction.
Wendy grew up under apartheid in South Africa, where external narratives tried to define her worth. Her story is one of resilience through restriction. That’s why she now helps women reframe societal pressure into personal liberation.
“Who says you can’t pivot at 37, or 47? Your timeline is your own,” she says.
The key is reclaiming your power, and that starts with shifting the narrative inside your head.
3. What mindset shifts are essential for a successful career change?
Wendy walks us through three mindset shifts every professional needs when changing jobs after 30:
- You’re not behind—you’re evolving.
- Your skills are not wasted—they’re portable.
- Imposter syndrome is a signal—not a sentence.
When you release the guilt around wanting more, you start building from desire instead of depletion. That’s when real transformation begins.
4. How can you use LinkedIn to successfully pivot careers?
LinkedIn isn’t just a job board—it’s your personal brand platform. Wendy teaches clients to approach it like storytelling:
- Rewrite your headline to reflect who you’re becoming, not just who you were
- Use your About section to share your why
- Add key accomplishments that align with your next move
- Post content or comments to build visibility and trust
And most importantly: don’t wait until your pivot is “perfect” to update your profile. You attract opportunities by being visible during the transition.
5. What role does storytelling play in making a career change after 30?
This is where our worlds align beautifully—Wendy and I both believe that the stories we tell shape the lives we live.
She encourages career changers to:
- Write a “before-and-after” narrative of their career journey
- Craft a mission statement that reflects their values today
- Share mini-stories in interviews and LinkedIn posts to highlight skills, impact, and personality
Your next employer isn’t just hiring your experience—they’re hiring your energy, clarity, and confidence. Storytelling helps you own that narrative with power.
6. How do you position yourself in a new industry?
Feeling “unqualified” is one of the biggest blockers in a career pivot. Wendy reframes this beautifully:
“Your experience doesn’t have to match job descriptions. It needs to match value delivery.”
She helps clients identify:
- Transferable skills (leadership, communication, problem-solving)
- Industry-adjacent experience
- Results that matter across sectors
You don’t have to pretend you’ve done the exact job before. You just need to show you’re already operating at that level, even if in a different domain.
7. What resume tips work best when switching careers?
Wendy’s resume revamp strategy focuses on relevance, not history:
- Lead with a compelling summary that ties past experience to future goals
- Use achievement-focused bullet points—what changed because of your actions?
- Include keywords from job listings to pass AI filters
- Don’t list every job—curate your experience like a story
And remember: your resume isn’t a record of your past—it’s a proposal for your future.
8. What if you’re afraid of taking a pay cut during your career change?
This fear is valid—and common. Wendy advises clients to assess:
- What value they’re gaining beyond salary (flexibility, fulfillment, autonomy)
- What upskilling could close the gap faster
- How long it might take to bounce back financially
And most importantly—not to rush. A strategic side pivot or contract gig can be a stepping stone that protects your income while building toward your dream.
Financial planning is part of self-care during a career shift.
9. How can career transitions support emotional healing?
Wendy’s work is deeply soulful. She believes that career change is a portal to healing old stories—about worth, capability, and identity.
As a coach who works with many women navigating perimenopause, she emphasizes the connection between emotional shifts and career misalignment. Sometimes, what looks like burnout is actually soul fatigue from pretending too long.
Changing careers becomes not just a strategic move—but a spiritual reset.
10. What is Wendy’s biggest piece of advice for someone changing jobs after 30?
“Start before you feel ready. Confidence comes from clarity—and clarity comes from action.”
Wendy encourages anyone contemplating a pivot to take one brave step: update your LinkedIn bio, reach out to someone in your dream industry, hire a coach, or start journaling your story.
The luxury of a career change isn’t in external validation—it’s in finally aligning your life with who you really are.
Conclusion
Changing your career after 30 is not a crisis—it’s a creative rebirth.
As Wendy Alexander so powerfully reminds us, you don’t need permission to begin again. You just need clarity, courage, and a community that believes in reinvention.
Your LinkedIn can become your launchpad. Your resume can reflect your next chapter. And your story—when told with truth—can open doors no algorithm ever could.
If you’re wondering, “Is it too late?”—this conversation is your answer.
About Neeti Keswani
Neeti Keswani is a Business Storytelling Coach, Ho’oponopono Practitioner, and host of the Luxury Unplugged Podcast. She helps purpose-driven professionals and conscious creators align their personal story with a brand and career path that brings them joy and fulfillment.
✨ For 1-on-1 Coaching Sessions, reach out at:
📩 info@plush-ink.com
🔗 Connect with Neeti:
📘 Buy My Book “Live Your Dreams”
🎧 Listen on Spotify
🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts
🌐 Visit My Website
📺 YouTube Channel
📝 Plush Ink Blog
📷 Instagram
📘 Facebook
🔗 All Links