Dani: [00:00:00] Hi, I'm Dani Tan. And if you're here, you are in the right place. Welcome to the Pivot and Promotion Podcast, where we say, forget the rules because they weren’t written for us. I’m Dani Tan, your host, career and leadership coach, and a proud advocate for redefining what success and leadership look like. Here’s what I know: You can lead at any level, you can pivot at any age, and you can make moves that feel right for you. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, starting something completely new, or just figuring out your next step, I’ve got you covered with strategies, stories, and straight-up inspiration. So, let’s make some moves! Hi, I'm Dani Tan. If you’re here, you're in the right place.

This is the Pivot and Promotion Podcast. Today, we're going to talk to one of my past clients, Bridget. I’m so excited to have her on. But before we jump in, a little background on me in case we haven’t met. I’m Dani Tan, a speaker and leadership coach. I’m first-generation, Asian Latina. I’m Puerto Rican, Filipino, and Chinese, very proudly. I help executives, entrepreneurs, and aspiring leaders who are looking to grow their teams or pivot into something new. If you’re preparing for your next move, whether that’s a promotion or a change in direction, I’m here to help. I’ve personally pivoted careers five times. I’ve worked in PR, sales, merchandising, e-commerce—you name it. I’ve achieved 11 promotions in 11 years.

I started as a sample coordinator and worked my way up to VP at a multi-billion dollar company. Now, I bring all the joy in my life through being a speaker and leadership coach. So that’s enough about me. Now, I’d like to introduce Bridget and have her share a little bit about her background and who she is. Bridget: [00:01:00] Thank you! I’m so excited to be here. I’m Bridget. I’m 26 and live in Hoboken, New Jersey. I grew up in New Jersey but went to school all the way across the country at Santa Clara University in California. I studied communications with a minor in retail marketing and management. I graduated during COVID and started my first job as a merchandising assistant. I later switched over to the buying side and really found my passion for digital and e-commerce.

I reached out to Dani when I was figuring out what I wanted to do next and how to get into that space. Now, I’ve been in my role as an e-commerce data analyst in New York for six months. Dani: [00:02:00] Yay, thank you so much! I love it because I think we started working together in January 2023. I feel like you reached out to me right before the holidays, and then we got started in January. I remember it was a LinkedIn message, and you were ready for your next move. So, can you share, if you don’t mind, what made you decide you needed a coach? A lot of people either try to figure things out on their own, so what was it that made you say, "I need to find a coach"? Bridget: [00:03:00] Yeah, so I think growing up, it was tough because my family didn’t have much knowledge of the retail industry.

My dad went to school for finance and history and worked for a global marketing company doing a lot of finance. My mom was a CFO, and my sister was in accounting, so I was pretty much on my own when it came to the retail world. When I had my first internship, they didn’t really understand what I was doing or what companies I was looking at. My whole career journey has been very independent. I had to figure out what kind of companies I wanted to work for, what roles I should pursue, and what I’d be doing on a day-to-day basis. It was a lot of trial and error, just trying to learn from what I could find online or on LinkedIn. One day, I came across your profile. I saw that you were a coach, and I knew I needed more guidance.

It was hard to find someone who could relate to the industries I worked in or the roles I had. You understood the ins and outs of the industry, which was incredibly insightful. That’s why I reached out to you—I thought working with someone like you would be beneficial and amazing. Dani: [00:04:00] That’s so interesting. I hear that a lot—being the first person in your family or friend group to pursue a certain career path. Even with supportive family and friends, sometimes it’s hard to explain the details of what you do or want to do. They want to cheer you on, but it’s easier when you have someone who truly understands. It’s like we don’t have to start from scratch because they already get it.

It makes a huge difference, right? Bridget: [00:05:00] Yes, exactly. It was such a relief to not have to explain every little detail of what I was doing. I could just focus on the work itself and get right to the part where I needed help. Dani: [00:06:00] Totally. So, when you came to me, you were ready for a pivot. How did you figure out what you wanted that pivot to be while we were working together? Bridget: [00:07:00] One of the first exercises we did was making a list of things I enjoyed about my previous roles and the things I liked about what I’m doing now. I remember that was one of the toughest things for me because I wasn’t sure where I saw myself. But once I started making that list of what I liked about my day-to-day tasks, the meetings I got excited about, and things I wanted to explore in the future, it really helped me narrow things down.

Then we met together and put our heads together. With your experience, you were able to point me in the right direction, suggesting fields or roles I might not have considered. That was really helpful in clarifying things for me. Dani: [00:08:00] Yeah, I love that exercise. When I tell people to make the list of what they like and don’t like, they’re often surprised. They think I’ll just tell them what role they should pursue, but it’s so important that they are excited about it. After all, they’ll be the one doing the work. So, what do you think was the hardest part when you were reflecting on your career path and figuring things out? Bridget: [00:09:00] The hardest part was respecting the process.

I was really excited about making a change, but I also had to remind myself that it would take time. Sometimes I’d get so burned out at my current job that I just wanted to quit and dive headfirst into job hunting. And when I did get interviews, it was tough when I didn’t hear back or got rejected. You just feel defeated, and it’s hard to know whether to keep going or just give up. A lot of my friends and I have been through similar struggles. We get to the point where we’re just so miserable, and it’s easy to feel stuck. But that’s where you came in—you helped me break things down and set more attainable goals, which kept me motivated and moving forward. Having someone in your corner, someone who’s been through it and understands, is invaluable.

Dani: [00:09:30] I’m so glad to hear that. It’s tough when you feel like you're in limbo and don’t know whether to keep going or take a step back. Having someone who can help you stay on track and reframe things can make all the difference. Dani: Yeah. " But in reality, a lot of folks are juggling two things: their current job and exploring for a new one, interviewing for a new job, both at the same time. It’s interesting because, like you were saying, there were times that you were like, "I'm burnt out at my current job," and we know when it comes to getting a new job, you're not landing it on the first try. There's a lot of experimentation when it comes to prepping for interviews and stuff.

So it can take a hit to your confidence and your energy. So, is there anything that kind of stands out when we were talking about how to manage your day job while managing the job search? Because I know there were times where we were thinking about your commitment to your schedule or how you're creating space for those things. Anything stand out for you there? " And that was what was really hard. ” But, like, I have to stay in because I need a job. I need to pay my rent. I just felt like I was trying so hard to like fit in, trying not to make them feel like I was already out the door when I was. And that was exhausting. That was really hard. So I had to like, try my best and find things that really excited me about that past job and then also use that energy to be excited about new jobs and new opportunities.

So, it was definitely hard to balance being really sad or not loving waking up and having to go to the job that I knew I wasn’t meant for. But then, I really wanted to be [00:10:00] somewhere else. And I think it got to a point where you and I were on the same page. " And it's just about getting those next steps and those interviews. Sometimes you don’t hear back from places, because half the jobs you apply to, you don’t even hear back, so at that point, it's out of your control. It's okay to just keep moving forward. Dani: Yeah, exactly! And it’s hard to not get discouraged in those moments, but you stuck with it. Bridget: Yeah. I think everything works out for a reason. But, it’s hard to feel like, "Is this worth it?

" And then I had to stick with it, because otherwise, nothing would change. I would still be burnt out at my job, and I’d still feel like I could be doing more. " Or even like being flexible with our schedules. " And you’d be like, “It’s okay. ” That helped me feel like I was making the right steps, and it made it achievable for me. Dani: Yeah, that's a good reminder. So, for folks who don’t know, when Bridget and I started working together, I used to offer coaching for three months at a time. So, we worked together for the first three months, and then Bridget actually continued to renew, and we ended up working together for a year. And so, what she’s sharing is that when we started, there were these two main things: one, Bridget had digital experience at one point, but in her current role, she wasn’t working in a digital capacity.

So, the next role she was applying for was something she’d be learning new skills for. ” Then, of course, balancing her current job and the job search was a huge piece of this. We had to adjust the plan based on what was feasible. That balance was huge. Bridget: It was hard to manage that back and forth. But I think even when I took a step back, I knew I had put in the groundwork. So, even if I wasn’t actively applying all the time, I still had a solid resume, proposals, presentation decks for interviews, and I was doing an interview audit where we went through past questions and refined them. Having all that prep helped keep the momentum going. Dani: Exactly! When you look back at all the work you've already done, you can always return to that as your foundation, which makes it easier to get back on track.

Bridget: Yeah, it gave me something to fall back on. So when I was in the process of applying, it didn’t feel like I was starting from scratch. Dani: And I think, too, what you mentioned earlier about adjusting the timeline and the intensity of the job search is super important. You don’t have to keep the pedal to the metal all the time. You can take a breather, reflect, and then come back recharged. Bridget: Exactly. And when I did, I felt revitalized. Dani: And then we came back stronger! ” You just needed that little boost of confidence. Bridget: Definitely. Dani: So, I think we’ve covered a lot of ground here. But is there a standout achievement or something you’re most proud of during this journey?

Or maybe something that had the biggest impact? Bridget: I think it was helpful not just for getting a new job but also navigating my current role. I had been promoted twice in my last job, but I still had struggles with my new manager and wanted guidance on navigating my development plans or when I had to present feedback. You helped me with a lot of those things—like my annual reviews and figuring out how to communicate my needs with my manager. I could lean on you for advice during those challenging times. Dani: That’s such a good point. We were able to address challenges in your current role while you were still figuring out your future role. And it’s a testament to how coaching is helpful even when you’re not immediately thinking about leaving your job.

You were still actively managing your role and your career growth, which was really important. Bridget: And I think it’s so helpful when you have someone to lean on, especially with things like reviews, development plans, or if you’re struggling with communication in your role. You have a coach who’s been there and can help you break things down. Dani: Yes! And it’s great that you felt comfortable enough to reach out about these things, whether it was something with your manager or just figuring out how to manage your workload. Having that ongoing support really made a difference. Bridget: Exactly. Once I realized, "Okay, I can reach out," it became so much easier to communicate with you.

I didn’t have to hold anything back, and that helped me feel more confident. It wasn’t just about job searching—it was about having a resource to help me grow and overcome hurdles in my current role as well. Dani: I love that. Communication and transparency are key in coaching. Bridget: Yeah, exactly. And just having that reassurance that I wasn’t alone in it. Dani: So, as we wrap up, do you have any advice for someone who's thinking about coaching or going through a similar journey? Bridget: I would say, definitely book an intro call. You’ll know right away if you can vibe with someone. I think that’s really important, especially with coaching—it’s such a personal relationship. You want someone who’s professional but also kind, and someone you can talk to about both your job and personal life.

And don’t be afraid to take the plunge, even if you’re nervous. At the end of the day, it’s all about finding what’s best for you, and having someone like Dani in your corner makes a huge difference. Dani: Aww, thank you! That means so much to me. I really, really appreciate one working with you has always been a blast and two for you taking the time to hop on and share your experience. And yes, if you're thinking about it, I'm, I'm just here to be your cheerleader and support folks. Like that's truly what makes me happy. I love it so much. and [00:28:00] kind of like how Bridget said. It ends up not just being career ends up being like your life as well as career because it's all it's all correlated Like it all is attached in some way shape or form of your happiness and what it is You want to do and what does we want to pursue?

And so i'm here for you to do that. So if you are listening to this episode and you're like Hmm. I wonder what it's like to work together. Well, you've already taken the first step by listening to this episode. So you want to find out more? You can go to my website at dannytan. com and then you can always explore there, learn more about me or book a call to work together. Thank you again for tuning in to today's podcast. I hope this episode gave you some strategies and insights to shake up on how you lead in life and business. If this inspired you to take action and you're wondering, what is it like to work together? There are three different ways we can work together. The first one is private coaching.

If you're looking to build something from the ground up, whether it is breaking into a new industry, really own your [00:29:00] leadership on a deeper level and lead teams. If you're looking to build your business, then private coaching is definitely for you. It's that one, one hands on support that custom personalization of being able to make that happen. Typically within private coaching, we are developing and having you own your expertise. We're really growing your ability to do strategic decision making, build that confidence within yourself and make sure that you're going after what you really want and not settling for what you think you deserve, which I love. The second one is my group coaching program, which is the pivot and promotion community.

This is a 12 month program. So for a full year, it is for career development, for growth, for accountability, for shared learning. So if you're someone who likes the community space, a group setting for that extra support to make sure that you're achieving your goals, then this is definitely for you. This is for the person who is the aspiring leader. Who is either just stepping into leadership or is moving from individual contributor to leader, and you want to be able to practice being able to have direct or difficult conversations, speak up, be [00:30:00] visible, network, and be seen as a leader you already are, then this is the space for you. Last but not least is speaking engagement. So if you are somebody who wants somebody to come in for your organization, for your team, for your conference and deliver a talk or a workshop that's really going to challenge the status quo and help motivate and inspire, then I'm for you.

com And you can book a call for any of these three options. We'll get on the call. We'll talk about what it's like to work together and then we'll take it from there. So hopefully this was more than enough to get you started to take bold and badass action, and I will see you next week.