Around the Ladder

About Around the Ladder

Welcome to Around the Ladder – the podcast where we explore the twists, turns, and unexpected detours of career journeys. Many of us are familiar with the phrase ”climbing the corporate ladder,” but what happens when your path doesn’t follow a straight line? I became fascinated by the idea of going around the ladder – carving out a different kind of career path. My own journey took this route. After 25 years as an employee, I stepped away for a year and emerged as a consultant and business owner. And along the way, I realized I’m not alone. There are so many people out there whose careers have taken unconventional, surprising, and inspiring directions. In this podcast, you’ll hear conversations with people who have traveled paths of all shapes and sizes. Sometimes you backtrack or move sideways; other times, you need someone to lift you up or simply sit with you right where you are. No matter where you are on your journey, you’re not alone. So, whether you’re rethinking your next step or just curious about the many ways a career can unfold, you’re in the right place. This is Around the Ladder – let’s explore the journey together.

Publisher

Erika Steinberg

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Apr 2025

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

45 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Around The Ladder: What Comes Next? Small Steps and Career Reinvention With Cydney Mar

   Some careers are built around a clear routine, until life asks you to create a new one. In this episode of Around the Ladder, host Erika Steinberg talks with Cydney Mar about the discipline she developed as a competitive skater and how it continued to shape her long after she stepped away from the ice. Growing up with a schedule planned in 15-minute increments taught Cydney how to focus on the next task, break down big goals and keep moving even when the larger path felt uncertain. When Cydney shifted into fashion design, that structure became something different: a way to make a major career change feel more manageable. She shares how writing things down, taking one step at a time and relying on the habits she had already built helped her navigate a path that looked very different from the one she had imagined. Erika and Cydney also explore feedback, including the value of staying open when a correction feels uncomfortable. Cydney reflects on a lesson from her skating coach: try the new approach, pay attention to what happens and remember that learning does not require giving up your own judgment. This is a conversation about carrying what served you into the next chapter, even when you are no longer following the same path. You do not have to figure out the whole mountain today. Sometimes, you just need to know what comes next. Topics covered How competitive skating built Cydney’s discipline and self-trust Using structure and written goals to make a transition feel less overwhelming Moving through a career reinvention in manageable pieces What it means to stay curious about feedback that initially feels wrong Keeping your agency while learning from constructive criticism Finding a new rhythm after a major life or career change Connect with Cydney Mar LinkedIn: Cydney Mar Website: CydneyMar.com Website: CydneyMarWellness Instagram: Cydney Mar No matter where you are on your journey, you’re not alone.

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Around The Ladder: Trusting the Process Through Every Pivot With Viktor Popovic

   What do you do when the career you prepared for disappears before it even begins? In this episode of Around the Ladder, host Erika Steinberg talks with entrepreneur Viktor Popovic about a life shaped by uncertainty, reinvention, and a willingness to keep moving forward even when the next step is unclear. At 17, Viktor left the former Yugoslavia rather than take part in the war. What he expected to be a short stay in Budapest became more than four years, before he and his wife immigrated to the United States with no real network, no clear roadmap, and a shared belief that they had more opportunity ahead of them than behind them. Viktor studied aviation, only to graduate in 2002, shortly after 9/11 reshaped the industry he had planned to enter. When a friend invited him to start an e-commerce business, he said yes before he had all the details. That unexpected decision led to a 21-year business selling pressure washers online, built at a time when online selling and keyword research were still new enough that manufacturers did not know quite what to make of it. But entrepreneurship did not become easier just because the business succeeded. Viktor shares how he navigated a major Google algorithm change, a pivot to Amazon, a dramatic increase in inventory, buying out a business partner, and the constant need to adapt without losing sight of the larger goal. In 2024, he sold the business, expecting to take a step back. Instead, his attorney son brought him a 400-page PCI compliance document, and together they began exploring a new idea in the complex world of payment processing. Viktor’s story is a reminder that a career does not have to follow the original plan to be meaningful or successful. Sometimes the path forward is less about having certainty and more about staying open, making thoughtful adjustments, and trusting yourself enough to keep going. A moment to remember “You know that ladder will, at some point, end. You’ll get to that top where you need to go. It’s just a matter of repetition. Keep working at it.” No matter where you are on your journey, you’re not alone. Connect with Viktor Popovic LinkedIn: Viktor Popovic Website: Avendo

3. 

   27 Aug 2026

   Three Alumni, Three Decades, One Unexpected Throughline with Haley Gray and Isabel Angeli

   What happens when three George Washington University alumni from different generations sit down to compare notes on college, career pivots, and the experiences that shaped them? In this special episode of Around the Ladder, host Erika Steinberg welcomes Haley Gray, financial planner and founder of Valora Wealth, and Isabel Angeli, a legal marketing communications professional, for a conversation about the lasting influence of George Washington University and Washington, DC. All three began with different expectations for their careers. Haley and Isabel arrived at GW drawn to journalism, while Erika imagined a future in academia. But through internships, city living, group projects, early professional exposure, and a few hard-earned lessons in class registration, each discovered that careers rarely follow a straight line. Together, they discuss the value of being proactive, building resilience, taking smart risks, embracing career changes, and leaning into the connections that come from an alumni network. From cold LinkedIn outreach that leads to a job opportunity to taking a step back professionally in order to move forward, this conversation is a reminder that the people, places, and challenges we encounter early on can stay with us for a lifetime. Whether you are a GW alum, a current student, a recent graduate, or someone navigating a career transition of your own, this episode offers encouragement to look through every open door—and trust that you can figure out the next step. In This Episode Why GW’s location in Washington, DC, created an environment where students learned to become professionals early. How internships, jobs, and real-world access can be just as formative as coursework. The unexpected paths from journalism into financial planning, legal marketing, and legal-industry communications. What living in a fast-paced city teaches you about resilience, independence, and paying attention to the world beyond your immediate circle. The importance of asking for help, being proactive, and learning from mistakes—including registering for the wrong class. Why career pivots can require humility, patience, and sometimes taking a step back to build toward the right long-term opportunity. How a cold LinkedIn message to a fellow alum helped Isabel land a pivotal legal marketing role. The enduring power of alumni communities, local events, and professional relationships. What each guest would tell her freshman-year self about stress, opportunity, relationships, and enjoying the journey. Connect With the Guests: Haley Gray: Website- Stellarix Group LinkedIn- Haley Gray Isabel Angeli: LinkedIn- Isabel Angeli

Who has been a guest on Around the Ladder

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Raychel Lean
• Bradley Girard
• Jennifer Gillman
• Sarah Pew
• Laura Green

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

35

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Around the Ladder

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Around the Ladder