311: Rachel Spekman on Soul-Aligned Career Change for Gen X Women

Have you been showing up at a job that looks impressive on paper but leaves you feeling hollow inside? You’re not alone. I’ve been hearing this from so many Gen X women lately—the quiet exhaustion that comes from building someone else’s dream while your own sense of purpose slowly fades.

If you’re ready to explore what a soul-aligned business could look like for you, The Lab is where women like us figure it out together.

This conversation with Rachel Spekman hit close to home for me. I’ve watched too many talented women sacrifice their health, their joy, and their relationships for careers that were never designed to fulfill them.

Rachel brings 15 years of marketing experience, a decade helping startup founders, and 5 years as a therapist to this conversation—and she gets it. She understands what it takes to pivot without burning everything down, and why women over 40 have an advantage in making this kind of change.

What This Episode Is About

This episode tackles the career transition that so many Gen X women are wrestling with—how to move from a high-paying but soul-draining job to work that actually aligns with your values and purpose.

Rachel Spekman walks us through practical strategies for making this shift without tanking your finances or your confidence.

Whether you’re considering a complete pivot or just exploring what’s possible, this conversation offers a roadmap for women over 40 who are ready to apply their hard-earned expertise in ways that don’t cost them their health or their joy.

Key Takeaways

Your past experience isn’t baggage—it’s data. Rachel explains how to audit your career history to identify what actually worked versus what drained you, so you can build something new without repeating old patterns.

Imposter syndrome hits differently at 40+. Instead of pushing through it, Rachel suggests using it as information about what needs attention—whether that’s skills, support, or simply permission to do things your own way.

You don’t need a five-year plan to pivot. Small experiments beat big leaps. Rachel walks through how to test new directions without quitting your job or blowing up your income.

Build your advisory board before you need it. Solopreneurs need strategic thinking partners, not just cheerleaders. Rachel shares how to identify and invite the right people into your corner.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Introduction: The career that looks good on paper but feels wrong in your body
02:18 – Why gratitude isn’t just a feel-good practice—it’s a business strategy for soul-aligned work
04:39 – How to know when you’re out of alignment (and why your body tells you before your brain does)
07:13 – The confidence paradox: Why high-achievers struggle most with career transitions
09:37 – Reframing imposter syndrome as data instead of a personal failing
12:23 – Small experiments > big leaps: Testing new directions without burning everything down
14:32 – Authentic marketing for women who hate the bro playbook
16:45 – What VCs taught Rachel about sustainable business models for women over 40
19:37 – Building an advisory board that actually helps you think, not just cheers you on
21:50 – Finding your “green zones”—the work that energizes instead of depletes
24:01 – Why connection matters more than networking when you’re building solo

Meet Rachel Spekman

Rachel Spekman spent 15 years in marketing brands, 10 years helping startup founders scale, and 5 years as a licensed therapist—which means she understands both the business mechanics and the emotional toll of career transitions.

She now coaches high-performing professionals who are ready to leave behind the misery of high-paying jobs that drain them, and instead build careers that align with their values and purpose.

For Gen X women solopreneurs, Rachel offers a rare combination: she knows how venture capitalists think about sustainable business models, and she also gets the internal work required to make a major pivot without falling apart.

“The pivot doesn’t have to be dramatic or reckless. It can be strategic, thoughtful, and aligned with both your values and your need for financial stability.” – Rachel Spekman

Connect with Rachel Spekman

• Website: https://www.rachelspekman.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelspekman/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MadeforMoreCoach

Your Turn

What resonated with you in this conversation? Share your biggest takeaway on Instagram or LinkedIn. Prefer to keep it on the blog? Drop a comment below.

Final Thoughts

What keeps coming back to me from this conversation is Rachel’s reminder that women over 40 aren’t starting over—we’re building on decades of experience, and that actually gives us an edge. The pivot doesn’t have to be dramatic or reckless. It can be strategic, thoughtful, and aligned with both your values and your need for financial stability. If you’ve been feeling that misalignment between what you do for money and who you actually are, this episode is your permission slip to start exploring what else might be possible.

Ready to build a business that actually aligns with who you are? Join The Lab—the community where Gen X women solopreneurs get strategic support, honest feedback, and a place to figure out what comes next. No bro-marketing. No hustle culture. Just smart women building sustainable businesses together. Learn more at kandasrodarte.com/lab

Stay Groovy!

Gratitude Geek Podcast is made possible by:
MacKenzie Circle, Goddess Approach, Marketing Podcast Network, HoneyBook, SendOutCards, The Super Patch Co., Riverside.FM, Podmatch
and listeners like you.