We recently connected with Jackie Carroll and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jackie, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience has been forged in the seasons of life when everything I thought was certain was suddenly gone. There was a point when, in a very short space of time, I lost my mother, my business, my health, and the sense of identity I had built my life around. I gained 80 pounds, my marriage was hanging by a thread, and my career no longer felt like mine.
In those moments, the instinct is to retreat and try to “fix it” in silence. But I learned that real resilience is not about pushing through alone, it’s about asking for help, speaking your truth, and letting go of the shame that can come with struggle.
I have rebuilt my life by shifting my mindset from “I have to survive this” to “I can grow through this.” That shift came from embracing vulnerability, investing in my personal development, and surrounding myself with people who could see the version of me I couldn’t yet see for myself. That’s the mindset I now help my clients cultivate, because resilience isn’t a trait you’re born with, it’s a muscle you build.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Career and Mindset Coach, and my work is all about helping people break free from feeling stuck and step into careers, and lives, they truly love.
My clients come to me when they feel undervalued, disconnected from their work, or uncertain about their next step. Together, we uncover their strengths, reframe the limiting beliefs holding them back, and create a clear, confident plan forward.
What’s most exciting about my work is watching that moment when someone realises they’ve been underestimating themselves for years and suddenly, the version of their career or life they thought was impossible starts to feel inevitable.
My approach blends professional strategy with mindset transformation, because career and mindset change isn’t just about polishing your CV or acing an interview, it’s about believing, deep down, that you deserve the opportunities you are going after.
This year, I’ve been expanding the reach of my work through my digital courses such as the 7 Day Career Clarity Sprint, speaking engagements, and my YouTube channel, Coaching Corners with Jackie Carroll, where I share weekly insights on career growth and mindset shifts. I’ve also been contributing regularly to Brainz Magazine and speaking on platforms about authentic leadership and navigating career transitions, continuing to deepen the conversation about purpose, resilience, and confidence.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been:
1. Self-awareness – The ability to be honest about where you are, what’s working, and what isn’t. I developed this through journaling, feedback from mentors, and being willing to have uncomfortable conversations with myself. For those starting out, make self-reflection a non-negotiable habit, it’s your best compass.
2. Adaptability – I’ve transitioned from film production to running a 5-star spa, building a commodities business, launching a VR startup, returning to the corporate world when my startup crashed and finally finding my true calling in coaching. Each chapter demanded I learn fast and embrace change, even when it was scary. Adaptability grows when you see change not as a loss, but as an opening.
3. Empathy – My own challenges have taught me that people need to be seen and heard before they can be inspired to grow. Whether you’re leading a team or building a business, empathy is the bridge between connection and impact. You can strengthen it by truly listening to others without rushing to fix or judge.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When overwhelm hits, my first step is to pause. It sounds simple, but most of us don’t, we try to “push through” while our brain is already in overdrive. I take a few deep breaths, step away from the noise, and ask myself: What is actually urgent, and what’s just loud?
I also use a practice I teach my clients called “Catch It, Check It, Change It”:
Catch the thought or feeling that’s spiralling in your mind.
Check whether it’s fact or assumption and question if that particular thought is serving you?.
Change it to a perspective that helps you move forward.
Overwhelm is often a sign you’re carrying too much alone. Reach out. Delegate. Or simply say “no” when it’s not a priority. The truth is, balance doesn’t come from doing it all, it comes from knowing what not to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jackiecarrollcoaching.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiecarrollcoaching?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558322460000
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jackie-carroll-coaching/?viewAsMember=true
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachingCorners
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
