Get inspired by career change stories.

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Join host Jacqui Ooi as she speaks with women across Australia about their inspiring career change stories and their best career advice for other women. Whether you want to redesign your career in some way or completely change industries, these stories are for you.

Top 5 career podcasts

Best 50 Australian Women Podcasts

Top 5 career podcasts • Best 50 Australian Women Podcasts •

Career advice and inspiration from women who’ve made meaningful career changes.

Jacqui having a tea

“I love hearing these interviews with strong, intelligent and motivated women. Women who have been brave and taken a leap to do what inspires them. After listening you feel so good about the world!”

– Dani, via Apple Podcasts

Some of your favourite guest episodes.

Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Evie’s story: Creating a life and career of travel

Find out how Evie Farrell stepped away from her corporate PR job to create a life of travel with her daughter. Evie is the founder of Mumpack Travel and Mumpack Trips, providing fun and thoughtful travel experiences for women, and for mums and kids.

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Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Mel’s story: Building an inspiring tea business

Find out how Melissa di Marco built an award-winning, ethical (and delicious!) tea brand, after starting her career in hairdressing. Melissa is a certified tea master and tea blender, and the founder of TeaEsk.

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Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Kris’s story: Fulfilling her creative dreams

Find out how Kris McKee unravelled herself from a 20-year career in nursing to explore her creative talents. Kris now runs her own floristry business, creating beautiful and sustainable floral designs for weddings and events.

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Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Tamara’s story: Retraining to help the planet

Find out how Tamara Pitelen retrained as a sustainability consultant, after a 25-year media career. Tamara co-founded Greener Matters and now works with Grow Good, helping businesses navigate the journey to becoming B Corp certified.

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Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Jane’s story: Swapping the ABC for autonomy

Find out how Jane Hutcheon is treading a new freelance path, after 25 years at the ABC. Now ‘creator-in-chief’ of her own projects, Jane has written and performed a one-woman stage show and released a book on the art of conversation.

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Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Jen’s story: Leaving corporates for charities

Find out how Jen Webster made the move from corporates to charities, after a 30-year career in the IT industry. Jen works at Odyssey House NSW, where she started as the marketing manager and is now on the frontlines as a social worker.

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Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Mel’s story: Crafting a multi-passionate career

Find out how Melissa Chan has crafted a multi-passionate career, doing everything from teaching yoga to advising a Prime Minister. She’s the ultimate ‘slashie’, following her curiosity to explore different interests and enjoying the journey of self-discovery along the way.

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Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Solai’s story: Stepping into start-ups

Find out how Solai Valliappan transitioned to the world of start-ups, after starting her career as an actuary in the insurance industry. Solai is now a clean-tech investor and champion of female founders, in an industry dominated by men.

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Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Lidia’s story: Making the leap into politics

Find out how Senator Lidia Thorpe became the first Aboriginal Senator for Victoria in Federal Parliament, after years fighting the system from the outside. Prior to entering politics, she had a varied career in Aboriginal services and running her own businesses.

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Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Hetty’s story: Finding joy in food stories

Find out how Hetty McKinnon became a best-selling cookbook author and food writer, after starting her career in public relations. Hetty is now the author of five cookbooks, including Community, Family and To Asia, With Love.

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Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Licia’s story: Inspiring women to get elected

Find out how Licia Heath became the CEO of Women for Election, and ran for office as an Independent herself, after nearly 20 years in financial services. Now she spends her days inspiring and training women from all walks of life to get elected.

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Darby Lyndon Darby Lyndon

Kellie’s story: Starting a social enterprise

Find out how Kellie Stanbury took time out from a high-flying travel career to move to Fiji with her family, and started a social enterprise supporting local farmers and communities. Kellie is the founding director of Three Hundred Islands.

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Keen to hear more? Find all of our episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

We love receiving your kind reviews!

“Love these inspirational stories of women stepping outside their comfort zones to make a change. Such a diverse range of stories.”

“Jacqui has given a voice to a wonderful range of inspiring people – all with a different story to tell. A perfect reminder, everyone can create their next chapter whatever it may be!”

“Loving the podcast. Really interesting life stories and experiences told by women, with a passionate, intelligent and thoughtful host in Jacqui. It’s empowering and fun to listen, can’t wait for more!”

Read on for more inspo and career advice.

  • Tania’s story: How I went from part-time physio to full-time author

    Tania’s story: How I went from part-time physio to full-time author

  • Claire’s story: How I found myself in music

    Claire’s story: How I found myself in music

  • Kate’s story: How I built a brand of fun coworking spaces

    Kate’s story: How I built a brand of fun coworking spaces

  • Marisa’s story: How I’m combining floristry with helping women

    Marisa’s story: How I’m combining floristry with helping women

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