What if the thing you’re trying to hide is actually your greatest asset? In this powerful episode, Erris Klapper shares how leaving law—and the identity it gave her—unlocked a life rooted in purpose, voice, and true impact.

🎧 Episode Summary:

“That gap is really the time you take for yourself to figure out who you are, what your identity should be, what you value, what you care about. That’s the place where we can dare to dream.” — Erris Klapper

Erris Klapper’s career pivot wasn’t clean, linear, or approved by others—and that’s exactly why it worked. This episode is a bold reframe of the resume gap, imposter syndrome, and the invisible grief of walking away from who you were supposed to be.

Follow Jessica on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicacumming/

Connect with Erris → ErrisKlapperCoachingAndConsulting.com

LinkedIn → Erris Langer Klapper, MS, Esq.

⏱ Timestamped Chapters:

• [0:00] — Welcome + Meet Erris

• [1:20] — From Law to Purpose: The Courage to Walk Away

• [5:01] — “Law school was pushed on me”: Owning Your Path

• [9:01] — The Resume Gap is Not a Problem—It’s a Portal

• [11:26] — Don't Be Afraid to Dream. Be Afraid to Stagnate.

• [17:17] — The Trench is Where Transformation Happens

• [24:01] — From Writer to Coach: The Power of Transferable Skills

• [31:18] — What Imposter Syndrome Actually Is

• [35:03] — High Achievers Are Not Immune

• [36:53] — Burnout, Boundaries & Building a Support System

• [43:58] — The Conversation Everyone Needs to Have

✨ Key Takeaways:

• The resume gap isn’t a weakness—it’s evidence of reinvention.
  

• Imposter syndrome isn’t solved by slogans—it requires strategy.
  

• You don’t have to explain your pivot to anyone who isn’t living your life.
  

• Purpose doesn’t always start with a plan—it starts with a pause.
  

• The most transformative seasons rarely look impressive on paper.
  

🔥 Power Move of the Week:

Stop explaining the “gap.” Start naming what it gave you. (And if you don’t know yet—get curious. That’s where reinvention begins.)

Books Recommended by Erris (Writing Resources):

• The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
  

• Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
  

• Still Writing by Dani Shapiro
  

• Thrill Me: Essays on Fiction by Benjamin Percy
  

• What About the Baby? by Alice McDermott
  

• On Writing by Stephen King
  

📥 Download the Official Transcript here

🔥 Ready to reframe your “what’s next”? Grab the Shift Happens Power Pivot Toolkit — built for bold women in the in-between. →Download here

Executive coach and former HR powerhouse Lauren Leftkowitz shares how chasing a Roomba (yes, really) became the metaphor—and the moment—that changed her life. After breaking both shoulders in a freak accident, Lauren was forced to stop doing what she’d always done: over-function, over-give, and overachieve.

What followed was a journey of rehab, recovery, and radical honesty. In this candid conversation, Lauren opens up about what it really takes to shift from high-performing burnout to a life that doesn’t require recovery. If you've ever been the “fixer,” the “go-to,” or the woman holding it all together—this one’s for you.

Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn

Chapters and Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:56 Lauren's Journey: From Burnout to Breakthrough

02:37 The Turning Point: Breaking Both Shoulders

05:25 Realizations and Changes: Embracing Coaching

09:23 Balancing Work and Personal Life

13:07 The Importance of Asking for Help

23:02 Defining What You Don't Want29:12 Understanding What You Truly Want

30:13 Exploring Career Transitions

33:28 The Importance of Transferable Skills

38:52 Navigating Workplace Boundaries

54:00 Building a Support System

56:44 Final Thoughts and Advice

📈 Key Takeaways:

• Burnout doesn’t always look like collapse—it often looks like high achievement.

• Boundaries aren’t selfish. They’re sacred.

• You don’t need a perfect plan—you need a clear “no.”

• Over-functioning is not leadership.

• You’re allowed to change without knowing every step first.

• Recovery starts when you stop pretending “fine” is good enough.

Download the full transcript here:

Lauren Leftkowitz is the founder of Fine is a Trap Coaching, a leadership development firm helping high-achieving women break cycles of burnout and build careers rooted in clarity and courage. After two decades in corporate HR, Lauren now empowers women to own their “no” and reclaim their leadership on their own terms.

🌐 Connect with Lauren

💖 Ready for Your Pivot?

You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Download the toolkit. Start journaling. Or book a free strategy session today.

🎯 Shift Happens Toolkit – Just $27
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In this powerful episode of We Are Women, Unapologetically, host Jessica Cumming sits down with Alison Young, aka The Blissful Hiker, to explore the raw truth behind forced reinvention, invisible loss, and the courage it takes to keep walking — literally and figuratively.A classically trained flutist who lost her ability to play due to a rare neurological disorder, Alison didn’t just survive cancer and job loss — she hiked 5,000 miles solo to reclaim her identity. From the New Zealand Te Araroa to the Pacific Crest Trail, Alison’s story is a testament to choosing curiosity over certainty, growth over comfort, and thriving over simply surviving.If you’re navigating transition, grief, or a loss of identity — this conversation will walk right beside you.

💡 Connect with Jessica→

Follow Jessica on LinkedIn

→ Book Your Complimentary Strategy Session 🔑

📅 Episode Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro
Welcome to We Are Women, Unapologetically. Meet Alison Young, trained flutist turned long-distance solo hiker.

01:33 – Musical Roots & Unexpected Loss
Alison reflects on her early music career, playing with legends and touring the world—until a neurological condition halted everything.

03:34 – Career Pivot to Radio
She transitions into public radio, becoming a music storyteller on-air for 13 years.

04:45 – The Trail Beckons
Alison begins hiking as emotional healing, leading to a leave of absence to hike New Zealand's 3,000 km Te Araroa trail.

06:00 – Lessons from the Sandflies
Symbolism from New Zealand's infamous insects: keep moving, stay present, and embrace impermanence.

11:19 – Demotion & Identity Crisis
Upon return, Alison is demoted at her radio job. She opens up about grief, reinvention, and the power of support systems.

14:47 – Asking for Help & the Gift of Nourishment
Her breast cancer diagnosis and the life-saving simplicity of asking for help—starting with food.

16:21 – Being Pushed, Not Punished
Alison shares the emotional gut-punch of forced transitions and how she reframed it with support and strategy.

24:00 – The Doomsday Clock & Pacific Crest Trail
Her husband builds a spreadsheet. She plans her next 5-month solo hike across the U.S. west coast.

27:41 – Voiceover, Podcasting & Reinvention in Real Time
Post-hike, Alison launches a new creative life as a voice artist, podcaster, and speaker.

34:02 – Lessons from the Trail
From "embrace the suck" to "the trail will provide," Alison shares thru-hiker wisdom and spiritual truths.

38:08 – Final Message

📈 Key Takeaways:
"I choose to thrive." Why Alison prefers "thriver" over "survivor" and her call for others to step out, 52 weeks a year.

• You don’t need to see the end to take the first step. Reinvention starts with presence.

• Loss (career, identity, health) can be a portal to purpose.

• Community is survival gear. You don’t have to hike alone.

• Ask for help—especially when you think you should be fine.

• Thriving means choosing forward motion, even in uncertainty.

  Download the Official Transcript Here

  
  

  Going though your own career pivot- Download my free guide. You don't have to do it alone.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of We Are Women, Unapologetically, Jessica Cumming calls out the quiet epidemic plaguing high-achieving women: invisible burnout. With stats from McKinsey, Deloitte, and the American Psychological Association, she reveals how career pressure, emotional labor, and unspoken grief are silently draining women dry.

Jessica shares her own wake-up call and what it took to stop performing wellness and start reclaiming real energy, joy, and connection. She breaks down the neuroscience of numbness, explains why “pushing through” backfires, and offers practical, science-backed recovery strategies—starting with the Power Pivot Daily Journal.

If you’re exhausted, disconnected, or just feel like you’re going through the motions—this episode is your permission slip to stop pretending everything’s fine and start choosing you.

💡 Connect with Jessica:

→ Follow on LinkedIn

→ Book your Complimentary Strategy Session here🔑

🕐 Chapters + Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to We Are Women, Unapologetically

00:18 – The Exhaustion Epidemic: Understanding Burnout 01:54 – The Silent Struggle: High Achieving Women and Burnout

07:29 – Personal Story: A Wake-Up Call

11:07 – Recognizing Burnout: Subtle Signs and Symptoms 14:30 – Recovery and Rest: Practical Strategies

21:39 – Conclusion: Embrace Change and Choose Yourself

Key Takeaways:

• You’re not lazy—you’re running on empty. Most high-achieving women are managing personal and professional crises simultaneously.

• Numbness is not weakness. It’s your nervous system’s survival response.

• Burnout is not just about stress. It’s about disconnection—from yourself, your joy, your purpose.

• • Recovery isn’t a vacation—it’s a rhythm. Real rest is strategic, consistent, and multifaceted.
  • Small hinges swing big doors. One daily check-in can change everything.

  
  

  Mentioned in This Episode:

  • 2024 McKinsey Women in the Workplace Report

  • Deloitte’s Women at Work Study

  • Harvard Business Review + APA Burnout Data

  • Dr. Emily Nagoski – Author of Burnout

  • Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith – Sacred Rest & 7 Types of Rest

  • Journal of Applied Psychology research on recovery cycles

• Download the Free Power Pivot Daily Journal

  Start with a daily check-in that helps you track your energy, name your season, and reclaim your clarity.

  👉 Download the Journal

  
  Want Deeper Support?

• DM “TOOLKIT” on Instagram to pre-order the Career Pivot Toolkit ($27 Limited Offer)

  
  

• Ready for personalized support? Book a free coaching consult with Jessica
  

  Final Note:You don’t need to hit rock bottom to shift. You don’t need to explain how tired you are. You just need to choose yourself.

• 
  
  
  

🔥 Episode Summary

In this powerhouse Part 2 episode, Jessica Cumming drops the truth about what it actually takes to build your next chapter without blowing up your current one.

If you’re a high-achieving woman navigating a pivot—career, identity, leadership—this one’s your permission slip to stop the burnout spiral and finally leverage the assets you already have. Because you’re not starting from scratch—you’re starting from experience.

Jessica walks you through her proven Pivot Stack™ framework, how to protect your emerging vision, and how to track meaningful progress (even when it feels slow AF). Plus: scripts, boundary language, and her signature Power Pivot Toolkit.

This episode is your reinvention masterclass—with receipts.

💡 Connect with Jessica:
→ Follow on LinkedIn
→ Book your Complimentary Strategy Session here🔑

Executive coach Jessica Cumming breaks down how to pivot with power—not burnout. Learn the 4 hidden assets every woman should leverage to reinvent her career with confidence and clarity.

Chapter Markers

• 00:00 — Introduction to We Are Women Unapologetically

• 00:54 — Leveraging Your Professional Network

• 01:50 — Identifying and Utilizing Transferable Skills

• 02:57 — Building Credibility and the Halo Effect

• 03:58 — The Power of a Unique Perspective

• 05:02 — Protecting Your Emerging Vision

• 06:49 — Communicating Your Pivot Plans

• 08:08 — Maintaining Momentum in Your Pivot

• 09:01 — Tracking Progress Points

• 11:21 — Introducing the Power Pivot Toolkit

• 12:41 — Final Thoughts and Fierce Encouragement

Key Takeaways

• The Pivot Stack™: The 4 most overlooked assets women already have (and how to leverage them)

• Why your dormant network might be your biggest pivot unlock

• The truth about transferable skills (and why most women don’t own theirs)

• How to protect your pivot from energy vampires, people-pleasing, and overcommitting

• The monthly progress points you must track to stay out of the burnout spiral

• Exactly how—and when—to talk to your manager about your pivot

• Scripts for saying no with clarity (and no apology)

• Why “identity shift” is the most underrated part of successful reinvention

  
  

Featured Tools & Resources (DM for Details)

• 🎁 Power Pivot Toolkit for just $27
  Includes:
  ✔️ 2-Hour Power Pivot Planner
  ✔️ Strategic Conversation Guide
  ✔️ Power Pivot Tracker
  ✔️ Boundary Scripts
  ✔️ Identity Bridge Workshop

  
  "The most powerful pivots rarely make headlines. But they always make impact." – Jessica Cumming

  
  

  Free Guide: The Power Pivot

  Want even more structure to build your pivot without the burnout?

  Download your free guide:
  👉 The Power Pivot: 5 Strategic Steps for Professional Women Ready to Show Up, Unapologetically, and Reinvent Their Career

  Related Resources

  Episode 10: Pivot While You Prosper (Part 1)
  

  
  Episode 8: Transferable Skills Masterclass: Unleashing Your Professional Superpowers
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

In this unapologetic episode, Jessica Cumming gets real about one of the hardest (and most misunderstood) parts of reinvention: when your personal growth makes people uncomfortable.

Whether you're shifting careers, stepping into your power, or finally choosing you—this episode will help you stay rooted in your truth, even when the people around you don't get it.

With signature boldness, clarity, and compassion, Jessica walks you through the scripts, strategies, and mindset needed to navigate the messy middle of becoming who you were meant to be.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re standing in the hallway between “what was” and “what’s next”... this one’s for you.

💡 Connect with Jessica:
→ Follow on LinkedIn
→ Book your Complimentary Strategy Session here🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Why your growth feels threatening to people—even if they love you

• The neuroscience of why resistance feels like rejection

• 3 powerful scripts for different relationship types (inner circle, mentors, outer circle)

• How to stop over-explaining and start owning your pivot

• A powerful mindset shift: You are not losing people. You are outgrowing versions of yourself that made them feel safe.

📥 Download the Full Transcript → Click Here
📣 Subscribe, share, and leave a review—it helps more women find the power in their pivot.

⏱ Episode Chapters & Timestamps:🎧 Spotify Chapters – When People In Your Life Don’t Get It

00:00 Welcome to We Are Women Unapologetically

00:20 Growth Will Challenge Your Relationships

01:01 The Hallway Between Who You Were and Who You’re Becoming

02:00 This Is Not a Career Shift — It’s a Power Reclamation

03:00 Why People Resist Your Evolution

04:15 The Science Behind the Resistance

05:45 Walking Through It Anyway

06:10 Jessica’s Personal Pivot Story

08:25 Stop Explaining Your Purpose

10:00 How to Navigate Relationships When People Don’t Get It

10:30 Inner Circle Scripts

11:10 How to Talk to Your Professional Network

11:50 How to Handle the Outer Circle

12:40 Dealing With Negative Opinions & Pessimism

14:15 Protecting Your Peace

15:10The Power of Finding New Community

16:30 Therapist vs. Coach vs. Mentor

18:30 5 Power Moves to Anchor Your Evolution

22:00 Final Word: You Don’t Need Everyone to Understand