How to Recognize Diverse Learning Paths

6 in 10 leaders doubt their ability to inspire confidence in their teams and drive meaningful change. This statistic is startling, but even more so when you consider how much organizational success depends on leadership self-assurance. I recently worked with a client whose journey illustrates this perfectly. Her resume was impressive: years of experience in design, leadership in entrepreneurial ventures, and a reputation for delivering results. Yet, every time she considered applying for senior roles, self-doubt crept in. Her concern wasn’t about her skills, it was her perception of her career’s “nonlinear” nature. To address this, we engaged in what I call career archaeology; a systematic dive into her professional history. Together, we unpacked her roles, dissected her key achievements, and identified recurring patterns of leadership and problem-solving. What we uncovered was nothing short of transformative: She had led teams through complex, high-stakes projects. She had demonstrated resilience by pivoting during challenging times. Her nonlinear career path wasn’t a weakness—it was a portfolio of diverse and valuable experiences. This shift in perspective was pivotal. We rewrote her resume to reflect her unique trajectory, emphasizing her adaptability and depth. In interviews, we reframed her narrative, preparing her to articulate her impact with confidence. For the first time, she stopped seeing her career as fragmented and started recognizing it as distinctive, a story of innovation, resilience, and leadership. Nonlinear careers aren’t a disadvantage, they’re a strength.  They reveal adaptability, breadth, and depth. If you’ve ever felt stuck because your path doesn’t follow a traditional script, take a step back. The story you’re telling yourself might need rewriting—and it could be the key to unlocking your next opportunity. #careergrowth #selfreflection

A friend recently shared her concerns about her career path. Unlike her peers who have specialized deeply in one area, she has explored various roles across different sectors. She felt this might be seen as a lack of focus or commitment. Wait, here is a different perspective I told her:  You are a Leaper! Leapers like her are invaluable. They embrace and learn from the changes they experience. They bring diverse experiences and fresh perspectives to bridge gaps in an organization or team. They see connections others might miss and bring solutions to complex challenges. In my book Leap Out of Your Lane, I highlighted how these varied experiences can be a powerhouse of creativity and agility. The first part of my book discusses Leaper's mindset and what it means to be intentional in your career journey. It provides strategies and examples from my career and those of other executives who have also made successful leaps.  Let’s celebrate the richness of intentionality in creating a diverse career path and demystify the stigma around moving departments, roles, or careers within or outside your organization. How has your unique career journey shaped your contribution to your team and organization? Share your experiences below.

“Pick one thing and stick to it,” they said. But what if they're wrong? I used to feel skeptical - jumping from one interest to another. I even felt a little embarassment wondering what other’s might think. Truth bomb: ↳ Being multi-passionate is not wrong. Is okay to let curiosity guide the way. Is okay to explore new interests. Is okay to be inquisitive. Here’s what nobody mentions: — Steve Jobs fused calligraphy + tech — Oprah bridged journalism + acting + business — Elon Musk combined physics + engineering + entrepreneurship They didn’t force choices, they found crossroads. The secret? ↳ Honor your passions → Combine them with purpose. Here are some signs that point out you are multi-passionate: You're creative. You find innovation appealing. You have (very) diverse interests. You have a resistance to monotony. You're not content with just one career path. You're endlessly curious and love learning new things. 3 steps that transformed my journey: 1. List ALL your interests ↳ Yes, all of them! 2. Find unexpected intersections ↳ Where do they naturally overlap? 3. Create value at these crossroads ↳ This is where magic happens. More specialists? Not mandatory. → Creative minds? Absolutely. Your diverse interests are not distractions → They are your competitive advantage. ✓ Quick Exercise: Name 3 seemingly unrelated skills you have. ↳ How could they solve a unique problem? What unlikely combination makes you unique? I recommend this book by Sigute Zitikyte! What a great read 🧡