We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kim McAllister a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kim, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Honestly, it was a question that haunted me for years. After spending over 20 years in Marketing, I hit a point where I no longer felt fulfilled. I realized that while I could continue doing the same work at another company, it didn’t excite me anymore. The birth of my daughter shifted my priorities, and suddenly, I didn’t know what I wanted from my career or even what my purpose was. It was an overwhelming and paralyzing feeling.
That’s when I knew I needed help. I reached out to a former colleague who had become a career coach, and together we worked on understanding who I was now—what motivated me, what I valued, and how I had changed since becoming a mom.
I discovered that my motivators had shifted. I wasn’t energized by growing a business anymore; instead, I felt passionate about building relationships and making a real impact in people’s lives. I also wanted the flexibility to spend more time with my daughter, something my corporate job couldn’t offer.
Through a lot of reflection and exploration, I found that coaching allowed me to fulfill those desires—it gave me the chance to help others while giving me the flexibility I craved.
Now, almost two years into running my own career transition coaching business, I couldn’t be happier. I’m using the lessons I learned from my own journey, combined with my training, to help other women navigate their own career transitions. And I’m making a difference in their lives, which is incredibly rewarding. Plus, I have the time to be present for my daughter—driving her to school, participating in after-school activities, even being a room parent. It’s the balance I didn’t think was possible.
No one should have to settle in their career or life. Investing in yourself to truly understand who you are today and what your purpose is—it’s the best decision you can make.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Nearly two years into running my own career transition coaching business, I couldn’t be happier. I’ve drawn from my own experiences, as well as my training and research, to help working women navigate their career transitions. What I love most about coaching is that each client brings a unique story and set of challenges, which allows me to tailor my guidance specifically to their journey.
There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing that ‘aha’ moment in a session or hearing positive feedback about how my support has made a difference in their life. Helping clients find clarity and direction is incredibly fulfilling.
I have two packages that I offer:
1) 1:1 Coaching Package –
This is focused on working women who have been in their career for 10+ years and are no longer feeling as fulfilled as they once were and are not sure why. They want to make a change and try something different but they don’t know what that change is or how to figure it out. They feel overwhelmed and don’t have the time to figure it all out.
During this time together we will understand better who they are – their priorities, motivators, values, skills – and find a career that is more aligned with who they are today and in the future. We will open their mind to new ways of thinking about the next phase of their career.
2) 1:1 Resume & LinkedIn Optimization Package –
This package is for professionals struggling to stand out in today’s competitive job market. Together, we’ll identify what makes you unique and craft strategies to showcase that effectively in your resume and LinkedIn profile, helping you stand out to employers.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1) Recognizing when to ask for help is a valuable skill. Growing up I was always taught that I should try and figure things out on my own before asking for help. In fact, I believed asking for help was a sign of weakness. I know differently now. I still like to try and first figure things out on my own but I absolutely don’t believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness. In fact, I believe asking for help shows strength! And in this crazy world, who couldn’t use a little help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, it shows the ability to seek out resources, gain new perspectives and listen to others.
2) Taking control of your situation. We often make excuses for why we shouldn’t do something or why things are the way they are. Instead of letting the outside world control our situation, take control. Understand why you are feeling the way you are and determine how you can change your situation. This was pivotal in making my career transition. You have the power to write your own story – OWN IT!
3)Change can be scary but incredibly rewarding. I’m a believer that creating change requires intention, action, and a bit of courage. It’s about opening your mind to the possibilities, actively seeking them out, and being willing to take the first step, even if it’s a small one. This may mean stepping out of your comfort zone, but that is when you will grow the most.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, there are usually two things that I do:
1) Create a list of EVERYTHING that needs to be done/taken care of, no matter how small it seems. I then determine which ones are ‘have to do’s’, ‘nice to do’s’ or things I can delegate. I love lists and sometimes just being able to cross something off lifts a weight off my shoulder.
2)Ask for help. Depending on what it is that I need help with, I find the courage to ask for help from people at work, friends or family. And if I’m double guessing myself on whether I should ask for help, I ask myself ‘What’s the worst thing that can happen?’ – it makes me realize, there really is no harm in asking for help.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://knmcoaching.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/knmcallister
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