Welcome to ”When I Grow Up,” the podcast dedicated to uncovering and celebrating unique paths to fulfilment and joy in our work lives. Each episode explores how authenticity, intuition, courage, and kindness can transform our careers and redefine our relationship with work. Tune in to hear candid conversations with inspiring women as they share their unfiltered career journeys, hopes for the future, and the valuable lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Everlyn Omondi on Career Change: Deciding to Change, Weighing Your Options, and Making It Happen
In this episode of When I Grow Up, I’m joined by Everlyn Omondi, a fellow Executive Coach, to talk about a topic close to both of our hearts: career change.
Everlyn shares her story of pivoting from a decade-long marketing career in Kenya and Dubai into coaching—a move driven not by a desire to escape, but by a new, intentional vision for her future.
Together, we unpack what career change really is (spoiler: it’s not always quitting your job and starting from scratch), the mindset shifts that make change possible, and how to navigate uncertainty with more clarity and confidence.
We talk burnout, identity, money fears, and how to rethink career “security.” We also share the most practical steps we recommend when you’re considering a change—whether that’s an internal move, a total reinvention, or something in between.
If you’re feeling stuck, questioning your path, or wondering how to make a change that actually works for you, this episode is for you.
Links
Connect with Everlyn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/everlynomondi/
Connect with Nicolette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolette-louw/
Career Change Masterclas: https://www.nicolettelouw.org/career-change-course
19 Mar 2025
Jillian Reilly on The Ten Permissions: A Playbook for Navigating Adulthood in the Chaos of the Twenty-First Century
In this episode of When I Grow Up, I chat with Jillian Reilly about The Ten Permissions: A playbook for navigating adulthood in the chaos of the twenty-first century.
Jillian is a founder, writer, public speaker, and consultant with a 30-year career in social, organizational, and individual change across Africa, Asia, and Central Europe. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Newsweek, and The LA Times, and her TEDx talk, Vain Aid, explores her journey in the international aid industry and the hard lessons she’s learned about changemaking. She also cohosted Courageous Conversations, a podcast that interviewed African activists about what it really takes to create change.
In this conversation, Jillian shares her journey as a change agent, the power of self-permission, and how to navigate adulthood with more intention. She introduces her upcoming book and its key themes, offering a fresh perspective on building a fulfilling life in today’s complex world.
We unpack The Ten Permissions and how they help us cultivate intentionality and agency—embracing portfolio careers and designing lives that truly work for us. We also dive into the challenges women face in leadership and why we need a new leadership paradigm—one where women fully own their authority.
Links
The Ten Permissions website: https://tenpermissions.com/
Connect with Jillian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillianreilly/
Connect with Nicolette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolette-louw/
4 Mar 2025
Jessica Custer on Stepping Into Your Power, Creating Impact, and Owning Your Career Journey
In this episode of When I Grow Up, I chat with Jessica Custer about claiming power in our careers—not just in the big decisions, but in how we shape opportunities along the way.
Jessica is a social impact strategist, project management expert, and founding member of Girls Club Collective.
She shares how growing up in rural poverty in Ohio shaped her early career decisions, leading her from a prestigious but unfulfilling role in international tax to social impact. She also reflects on how her vision for creating impact through the private sector led her to work in fair trade and corporate sustainability across global markets. And most recently, how moving to Australia became the catalyst for her pivot into freelancing and entrepreneurship.
We get into:
The difference between agency and power—and why both are so important in our careers.
Self-knowledge as the foundation of career alignment—and what it really takes to cultivate it
The unexpected challenges of freelancing and being a solopreneur—and how to overcome them)
The role of relationships and community in building a fulfilling career and business—and how to cultivate them
This conversation is packed with insights on being confident in yourself, stepping into your power, and owning your career journey.
18 Feb 2025
Joselle Reyes on Her Journey from Accounting to Art, the Role of Courage and Pragmatism in Change, and the Realities of Building a Passion-Driven Business
In this week’s episode of When I Grow Up, I chat with Joselle Reyes, artist and owner of Your Wedding Artist.
She shares her inspiring journey from a successful career in accounting to pursuing her childhood dream of becoming an artist.
We dive into the key decisions and considerations involved in making a major career change, the role of patience, planning, and support systems, and the realities of turning a passion into a sustainable career and business.
Joselle emphasizes the balance of courage and pragmatism when following your dreams.
If you're thinking about a career change or taking the leap to pursue your passion full-time, this episode is for you.
You can learn more about Joselle and her work on her website https://www.yourweddingart.ist/ or on socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourweddingart.ist/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourweddingart.ist
2 Dec 2024
Beryl Oyier on Authentic Leadership, Creating a Burnout-Free Culture, and the Importance of Empowering People
Beryl Oyier shares her authentic leadership approach, empowering others, and creating a burnout-free culture to help women in business lead with confidence and purpose.
20 Nov 2024
Philli Smit on a Mission-Driven Career, Finding Balance, and Fitting in by Standing Out
Philli Smit, a mission-driven career expert and Manager for CSI Programmes & Partnerships at the MTN Group, shares her inspiring journey to building a purpose-driven career and maximizing social impact.
11 Nov 2024
Kristal Duncan-Williams on Career Pivots, the Power of Networks, and How Motherhood Changed Her Relationship with Work
In this week’s episode of When I Grow Up, I speak with Kristal Duncan-Williams about her unconventional - and truly inspiring - career path.
We met about 12 years ago through a mutual friend, and since then, Kristal has pivoted from molecular biology to public health, to making a meaningful impact on youth unemployment.
In this conversation, we unpack her journey from a curious child with dreams of curing cancer to becoming a first-generation university graduate. We discuss her early career experiences and the pivotal moments that led her to explore different career paths. We also delve into how the Mandela Rhodes scholarship boosted her confidence and influenced her career trajectory, and we explore the profound impact that motherhood has had on her career aspirations and her relationship with work.
Kristal’s story highlights the importance of building strong networks, embracing a non-linear approach to our careers, and being kinder and more honest with ourselves about what we truly want from our careers.
5 Nov 2024
Meri McCoy-Thompson on a Career in Nonprofit, the Power of Resilience, and Becoming the Best Possible Version of Ourselves
In this episode I’m joined by Meri McCoy-Thompson, for a super insightful conversation about her career in nonprofit leadership, and a true masterclass on building resilience.
Meri is the Executive Director of Dovetail Learning and the co-author of the We Are Resilient Approach and the book The Heart of Resilience - Nurturing Your Inner Strength for a Joyful Life.
I met Meri in 2013 when we collaborated on the Human Needs Project in Kenya. The project brought the Kibera Town Centre, a facility that provides the essential infrastructure and social services to empower people to break out of poverty, to life.
In our conversation, we discuss how Meri’s childhood experiences shaped her career choices. She shares insights from her journey across nonprofit roles, the realities of making career pivots, and the challenges and opportunities of staying authentic across cultures. We also explore the vital role of resilience in personal and social change and delve into practical approaches for growing our resilience.
Links
Follow Nicolette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolette-louw/
Connect with Meri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meri-mccoy-thompson-0000a3a/
Dovetail Learning: https://dovetaillearning.org/
Purchase the Heart of Resilience Book: https://dovetaillearning.org/product/the-heart-of-resilience/
30 Oct 2024
Katia Kolomyitseva on Undoing Cultural Expectations, the Journey to Healing and Resilience, and Building a Purpose-Driven Life
In this episode I speak to Katia Kolomyitseva about her journey: from a childhood in Turkmenistan to a global career in corporate sustainability, and her pivot to coaching with a focus on human well-being.
Katia lives in Ireland and works an Executive Coach specializing in human development and is also a dedicated Qigong instructor.
In this conversation she shares her beliefs on healing, purpose, and the role of self-discovery in both personal and professional growth. We reflect on the influences that shaped her early life, her immigration to the UK, and her experiences in the corporate world. Katia opens up about the highs and lows of working in the sustainability field, including the challenges of burnout. We also discuss how cultural and family expectations have impacted her career choices, and how undoing those has been the key to get closer to understanding herself and her purpose.
Her perspective on the connection between our psychological and physical health offers a powerful reminder of the importance of inner resilience.
22 Oct 2024
Heather Orton on Being Authentically Successful, Reframing Imposter Syndrome, and the Value of Downtime
In this episode, I chat to Heather Orton to unpack her personal and professional growth journey, towards being authentically successful.
Heather leads Strategy for EY-Parthenon across Africa. We first met in 2016 when we worked together at Accenture in Europe, and I’ve always been very inspired by her approach to leadership.
We reflect on how kindness, authenticity, and self-reflection have shaped her as a leader. She shares more about her upbringing, the pivotal career choices she’s made, and why building strong relationships and mentorship matter so much. We also dive into the reality of work-life balance, the power of taking time off, and the importance of defining success on your own terms.
14 Oct 2024
Jasmijn Kok on Entrepreneurship, Trusting Your Intuition, and Bold Career Transitions
In this episode I chat with Jasmijn Kok about her entrepreneurial journey.
Jasmijn is the CEO & COO of Nina.care, a company she co-founded with her twin sister, Lyla. Their goal is to help families find the perfect match with au pairs and nannies.
We dive deep into all the pivotal moments that shaped her journey, from how her upbringing fostered her business mindset, to the courage it took to leave a promising architecture career to build her own venture. We also talk about the power of trusting your intuition, knowing and leaning into your strengths, the challenges of starting and scaling a company, and how she’s maturing as a leader as her company grows.
If you’re considering a career shift or looking for insights on launching your own business, you’ll love this episode – it’s full of practical advice and inspiration!
6 Oct 2024
Evie Naufal on Authentic Leadership, Building a Business with Family, and Following Your Curiousity
In this episode, I sit down with Evie Naufal to unpack her career journey: from a childhood dream of becoming a journalist to now owning and managing a successful business.
Evie is Managing Director of DSC, Australia's leading NDIS educators, and also happens to be my best friend and one of my biggest cheerleaders.
We reflect on her early aspirations, business school experience, and pivotal internship at Procter & Gamble. Our conversation touches on the challenges and growth that come with running a family business, her transition to Managing Director, and building a company culture that prioritizes respect and autonomy. We also delve into what fulfillment in work truly means and the importance of following one’s curiosity instead of chasing prestige.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
34,804
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
23
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
32
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