When you feel pushed out of your career
What happens when the career you built—your expertise, your passion, your dedication—is no longer enough in the eyes of the institution?
What happens when being pushed out shows up as increasingly extractive work systems that want more production, more output, higher workload, all with way less support?
For many, the reality of being pushed out of your career—whether through structural shifts, burnout, or exclusion—is deeply disorienting. It’s a grief that rarely gets named, but it deserves space. These career shocks are unsettling to say the least.
Sadly, it’s become more common that folks feel forced out of the careers they’ve invested so much into. Because this is an increasing reality for many, I want to share some powerful results from a client who went through one of my programs in order to refashion the chapter of her career before retirement.
Our work together gave her the chance to gain clarity on what she wanted from her career as she wraps up academia, how she could redefine success on her terms and to better fit what she wants out of her days, and how to navigate her next steps with greater confidence and alignment.
This participant in my Stay, Go, or Transform Program had dedicated decades to academia and climate work, yet found herself sidelined, undervalued, and questioning whether she even had a place anymore. The pressure to publish, to conform, to stay silent was exhausting. And when she considered leaving, guilt crept in: If I’m not doing research, do I even belong in academia?
Through six sessions of deep work, she uncovered a new truth: she didn’t need permission to define her career on her own terms. She began setting boundaries, starting to step away from draining work, and rejecting the narrative that her worth was tied to a second book. "I can have days of peace without self-flagellation," she realized.
This isn’t just about deciding whether to stay or go. It’s about reclaiming agency in a system designed to make you feel powerless.
If you feel like you’re being forced out, know this:
Your value is not dictated by an institution.
Boundaries are not career-ending. They’re career-saving.
You get to define what meaningful work looks like, even if it no longer fits the mold.
This client’s story is proof that even when the choice isn’t entirely yours, the way you move forward can be.
Are you facing an uncertain career future? I've got some limited space for a few clients in my Stay, Go, or Transform Program. If you’re interested in this, let’s navigate this transition together.
Reach out for a connection call to talk more about this option for you.