Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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Erika sits down with career strategist and author Cynthia Pong to break down why change feels so hard at work even when we want it. They get into burnout, career pivots, ego, emotional labor, why women of color face a different set of barriers, and how to actually move from talking about change to doing something about it. Cynthia shares her framework for navigating career transitions, the phases of change, and why clarity, action, and community matter more than confidence. A sharp, honest conversation about the real work behind growth.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Meeting Cynthia and the LinkedIn connection
02:40 Public defender burnout and the therapy question
06:50 Building Embrace Change and coaching women of color
14:05 Why we fear change and how to move through it
20:40 Ego, emotions, and navigating conflict at work
31:40 Career coaching, AI, and embracing multiple paths

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