You may not be stuck, you may simply need more intention.

What if your next career move isn’t a promotion… but a deeper alignment with what actually energizes you?

In this episode 249 of The Pausecast, I sit down with longtime tech leader, and Google Director Monique Sanchez , and longtime x-DoubleClicker colleague of mine for a grounded, honest conversation on navigating career growth in today’s rapidly changing tech landscape.

Monique has spent 18 years at Google (26+ years in digital overall), weathering everything from the dot-com boom and bust to AI disruption, layoffs, reorgs, and shifting market pressures.

Her perspective is refreshingly real: you don’t always need to chase the next title or make a dramatic pivot to grow.

Sometimes the most strategic move is learning how to grow where you’re planted.

We explore: How to stay resilient and grounded amid the noise: reorgs, change, and AI uncertainty Why career growth isn’t always vertical (and why lateral moves matter) How to know when your work is no longer aligned with your strengths The importance of finding your “true north” and making decisions from clarity, not ego How leaders can stay relevant in the age of AI by learning just one hour a week

One of my favorite moments?

Monique shares this gem:

“It’s not AI that will take your job. It’s the person using AI to amplify themselves.”

If you’re a high-achieving leader feeling stuck, uncertain, or wondering what’s next in your career, this episode is a powerful reminder that not every chapter requires reinvention.

Sometimes it requires a pause, a little perspective, and the courage to author your own narrative.