Her Next Chapters

67. Career Pivots & Entrepreneurship: Guest Lisa Klein’s Career Reinvention

• Christina Kohl

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Listeners are treated to an authentic conversation with Lisa Klein, who reflects on her diverse career journey following a pause for motherhood. The episode delves into her profession in accounting, unexpected career transitions, and her evolution into health and business coaching as she encourages other moms to embrace their entrepreneurial potential and personal growth.

• Lisa shares her early career in accounting 
• Transitioning from full-time work to stay-at-home mom 
• Starting a health and wellness coaching business 
• Evolution from fitness to business coaching 
• Practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs 
• The importance of being patient and focused in business 

Connect with Lisa Klein on LinkedIn and follow her journey toward empowering other women in business!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisakleinco/
https://lisakleinco.my.canva.site/

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Want to chat about your career goals? Schedule a free call HERE.
Send me an email ---> christina@hernextchapters.com
Connect with me on LinkedIn ---> www.linkedin.com/in/kohlchristina





Christina Kohl:

Hi and welcome to Her Next Chapter's podcast. I'm your host, Christina Kohl. I'm a mom of three and soon to be an empty nester. I'm also a certified HR pro who restarted my career after being a stay-at-home mom for over a decade. I created this podcast to connect with moms who have an empty nest on the horizon and are wanting to redefine their identity outside of motherhood, which might include a job search. On this show, we'll have raw conversations about our ever-changing roles as moms. We'll hear from women who restarted their careers and share tips for a job search after a career break. So if that's you, you're in the right place, friend, let's get started Well.

Christina Kohl:

Hi everyone, and welcome to this week's episode of Her Next Chapters. I'm really excited to share that we have a special guest with us today. Lisa Klein is actually one of my business coaches and mentors and has helped me tremendously, and I realized in talking with Lisa that she herself has had a lot of career pivots and was a stay-at-home mom for a period of time. So I invited her onto the show to tell us about her career journey and pivots and share all of that experience and knowledge with you. So welcome to the show, Lisa, Thank you so much for having me.

Lisa Klein:

It's such an honor and privilege to be here with you.

Christina Kohl:

Oh, thanks. Well, with that, let's just dig right in and tell us about your background.

Lisa Klein:

Like your early career and what kind of where you went from there, the different pivots along the way. As you said, I've made several pivots along the way, so, going back years and years. I went to school for accounting. So when I graduated from college I was in the at the time big five accounting firm and knew quite soon that that wasn't the place for me. So I stuck it out a couple years, had great experience and then went to the corporate accounting side of things. Same type of job, same type of stress, same type of long hours. And it was around that time as well I was getting married and looking forward to starting a family. And that was kind of playing the background, like how will this career fit in with the life that we're kind of envisioning for ourselves?

Lisa Klein:

Several years passed, again staying in that role, getting more into the finance side of things, but again kind of the same. And when I was actually on maternity leave with my daughter around that time the company that I was working for was going through restructuring and they presented me with the opportunity to take a job in Kansas City and here I am living in Northern Virginia or take a package. So it kind of fell into my lap. Was very unexpected that here I was going to be returning from maternity leave but then beyond leave, potentially indefinitely, and looking for a new job when I had a newborn at home. So I did take the package, which was very nice that I had the opportunity to do so, but it was definitely not what I was expecting. Right, I was expecting to be a career working mom and sending my daughter to daycare and going to work, and that was definitely not the case. But it all turned out exactly, you know, right, as it should be, or just a little bit of the unknown, but it was definitely worthwhile.

Christina Kohl:

And she, your daughter's your oldest, if I remember correctly. So this is your, your new mom. You're on maternity leave and this choice is given to you, and you chose to stay in your home, not move across the country, and know that you were starting a career pause, not knowing what was next because you didn't plan for it. And I do want to go back and say, as you were talking about your accounting and finance degree, like, oh my gosh, that makes total sense with the way that you've been coaching me from the business standpoint, because my brain doesn't necessarily function that way, but it makes total sense. The logic and step by step by step of how your brain is helping me learn what I need to learn, so that makes a lot of sense. So what happened next? You're a young mom, new mother, newborn. What was next?

Lisa Klein:

I was in it and just still felt like what's next? Or should I, could I be doing something else? And I my sister was also. I kind of followed in her footsteps. So she was an accounting major, she was in the accounting finance world and we had kids, fairly similar in ages, and she was having baby number two. So I just had baby number one. She was onto baby number two and she had a part time job and she was like I can't do this with baby number two. Would this be something you'd want? So I was like, well, now I don't have to go out and interview, right. It was like they kind of already knew who I was. Okay, you know my resume to them and all that. And so it was kind of an you know easy transition. They hired me on knowing, right as a referral, somebody in the family understood the business.

Lisa Klein:

Um, so I started, uh, a part-time accounting again, accounting and finance. It was more of like a CFO role for a small, small company, uh, where I was only going into the office one day a week.

Christina Kohl:

Perfect and talk about networking your big sister. Perfect and talk about networking. You're a big sister. Exactly that's awesome.

Lisa Klein:

So I did that for a while and then I was pregnant again, had baby number two and the same thing. In a role like that, with high demands, timeline, deadlines, it probably needed more than just one day in the office. Now, I mean, everything is remote, so it's a lot easier, but back then it wasn't as easy and so it was working a lot of hours. Even though I was part-time. It was as soon as the kids went to bed at night it was pulling out the laptop and working all hours to get the work done because realistically I didn't have that capacity, even though I hired, had help but that would take care of the kids at certain times and whatnot.

Lisa Klein:

But it became so much that it was like is this stress worth it in my life, when it's not really a job that I love? It wasn't bringing me joy, it was just work. And so I had that discussion with my husband like what would it look like if I were to give this up? So we made that decision together that it was best that I kind of part ways. And that felt good. That felt really good to kind of put an end to that chapter and while my kids were so young, so I could be there for them end to that chapter and while my kids were so young, so I could be there for them.

Christina Kohl:

And that was kind of that chapter of my career. And I will say for myself and others that I talked to so many people that the tipping point comes when baby number two comes along, just all the things that we have to manage in the household, the family and not to mention daycare expense. But when I went back to work right after my second was born, I went looking for her name was Chris. I went looking for Chris to find out like how are you doing it? Because she's the only person I knew who had two babies, two, you know, two under two. And I was told, oh, she quit while you were on maternity leave. I'm like, okay, so I had no role models that were doing it with two young kids.

Christina Kohl:

And this is back, you know, 20 years ago, when we didn't work remotely and there wasn't Zoom and all of that. It was in the office eight to 10 hours a day, every day, and work at home after night, after the kids are in bed. So yeah, it's a tipping point for sure. So, even working part time, it's a tipping point for sure. So, even working part-time, you felt that tipping point, just like your sister did. So how long did you stay in that full-time parent, full-time stay-at-home mom phase? I don't know.

Lisa Klein:

I would say a good two and a half years, if I do the math correctly in my head, maybe a little bit longer. And then what happened was in the end of 2013,. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and it was that kind of wake-up call for me that I need to start taking care of myself. Right, the priority was on the kids then and everything we did revolved around them take care of them and they were my priority. And it was that aha moment where, okay, I need to start doing something for me.

Lisa Klein:

I was not into exercise or health in any form, which is crazy to say now but in January of 2014, my husband challenged me to a 90-day at-home fitness program. Again, we both knew we needed something. We didn't know how we were going to get there right with the two young kids and getting to a gym or anything. So we focused in on an at-home fitness program and about day 60 was when things really started to click and I had created this routine and I started feeling better and I was losing weight and had more energy and just all those natural things that come with taking care of yourself. So I completed all 90 days and then it was like, okay, what's next?

Lisa Klein:

Of course started the next program, and then it was okay. I can do this as a stay-at-home mom with two young kids. I want to be sharing this with my friends, my family, my neighbors, and it was. I just needed some support. So when I started, I luckily had my husband, who was very supportive, and we kind of had our checklist of going through it, and so I was able to be in a place where I could start that, and so that was a little unconventional, but that was my next step on my journey as I started a health and wellness accountability coaching business.

Christina Kohl:

Great In 2014, and we weren't necessarily online like we are now. So how did you start that business? Was it just word of mouth? In person?

Lisa Klein:

So, yep, I did a lot on Facebook and I created groups within Facebook and communities on Facebook, mostly for that. But yeah, emailing all my friends and family like who wants to start? I have an easy way that you can take care of yourself from home and let's join and I will help hold you accountable, right. So it's how many days a week do you want to work out? Let's get check off the boxes and help.

Christina Kohl:

How can I help best support you hitting those goals and reaching those milestones and did you get certified at all, or you just kind of took what you learned from your own experience and applied that to coaching?

Lisa Klein:

I've done a little bit of both. So back then so I'm not a personal trainer, but back then I aligned myself with a company called Beachbody. They're known for their fitness programs and that sort of thing, so I got with them for their at-home fitness program. So I used that to leverage my coaching business and then from that turned into nutrition and getting certified in some nutrition aspects of it to kind of create more of what I could offer to my customers. And in doing so, I recognize too that everybody is different and there isn't a one size fits all, especially with your health. And now we know, especially with businesses and running your own business everybody's different and needs different things.

Lisa Klein:

And so I started my own Lisa Klein Wellness Company in 2018, 2019, that focused on individual, one-on-one coaching that included fitness, nutrition as well as mindset. So, as kind of my priorities changed and my life's changed and evolved with my kids, I was also kind of evolving as the type of coach and the type of clients that I was bringing on, not necessarily just focused on weight loss or just focused on fitness. It was more of the holistic approach and creating healthy, sustainable habits and, of course, that starts with mindset, even though I had a lot of people that came to me and said, no, I just want to start, especially in January right January, the new year and they have these new year's resolutions that they want to start a health routine, they want to work out and they want to get to the gym more. And I'm like, okay, that's great, but we have to work on our mindset first.

Christina Kohl:

Right, right and that sounds. People come to me and they want their resume done and written. I'm like, well, we need to work on clarity first, what your goals are, and mindset throughout that whole process too. So, whatever our goals are, we have to be mindful of our mindset. I'm sorry that was that sounds silly, but it's important work. Otherwise we're not going to necessarily reach those goals, because it's too easy when, when roadblocks come up in our way, right Obstacles, is too easy to give in if we don't have that mindset work done, and it's not one and done right, regardless of the topic, it's continuous. Yeah, so how old were your kids when you started that, that coaching business?

Christina Kohl:

so three and six, okay, so you had one in maybe first grade, maybe one in preschool or home, exactly, business, yes, and you done. You did that for what? 10 years staying in the health and wellness space, okay, so I know that. So that's a really big pivot. First of all, let's just acknowledge the pivots that have happened. You followed your sister into her career path of accounting because why not? It makes sense, she's doing well. So you went into accounting, made a pivot there because you weren't quite sure that you know the big firm was the right place. You went into corporate and then life happened and a decision was made for you. So you became a stay-at-home, full-time caregiver. And then you created this business health and wellness coaching completely separate and like could you be any more opposite than an accountant? And then tell us about the more recent pivot, because I know that you've made another big change. How did that come about?

Lisa Klein:

As I mentioned, when I started in the coaching space, I utilized Facebook a lot, creating groups and that sort of thing, and then I got into Instagram.

Lisa Klein:

So social media played a big role in being able to be visible, to create a network outside of my you know my, the people that I know and to meet people from all over within you know the US, canada, elsewhere and I started growing on Instagram.

Lisa Klein:

And so, after my time being on Instagram and social media, I was learning so much about running my own coaching business and I started noticing me helping my friends in my community who were other entrepreneurs in the small business space whether they were social media managers or Pinterest managers or career coaches or life coaches and I was always in the DMs because they were my friends and helping give them advice and recommendations of things that I was noticing them doing, whether it was just a social media post that I said, oh, have you thought about doing it this way, or you should repurpose it this way, create a carousel, do this, do that, or that was so good.

Lisa Klein:

That is a whole masterclass in and of itself. And so it was more of my business side of things and my brain working in that respect of being able to see what they were doing and putting out there on social media, but how to leverage that and make it work better for them. And then and many of them being working moms so they had, you know, maybe this was a side business or a side, you know, as they call side hustle, while their kids were young, in preschool, and so their time was very limited. So it's like, okay, how do you get the most of the time that you have to help grow your business and, you know, still be there and be present for your family?

Christina Kohl:

So you learned it by doing. And then you saw your friends doing and you're like, hey give this a try, hey give this a try. And that just kind of grew to where maybe you recognize that you had as much talent on the behind the scenes of business building as actually having your business. So that's kind of what the pivot was, it sounds like. So have you left wellness coaching completely behind as you shifted into the business coaching?

Lisa Klein:

For a period of time I was doing both because I didn't know if it was the right fit.

Lisa Klein:

I it was kind of the same thing where I felt like I was called for something more.

Lisa Klein:

So before I started my health coaching, it is the same thing. I was home with the kids and I just felt like there was something more and so I kind of followed that intuition. I was in that same place of there's something else, but I'm not sure what it is yet and so I've just it was seeing the signs and how, as I was helping more people and I had other mentors in the health and wellness space, I offered my services to them more so the behind the scenes, helping them with email sequencing and social media content and some of those the other things to help them in their business, to see if this is really the right space for me, and just I would leave the calls with them, I would leave you know doing work for them and just be like this. Is it Like getting so excited, like this is what really feels good. I mean love working with my one-on-one clients. But I also knew that there was something else and China just took the leap of faith again to make that pivot.

Christina Kohl:

Right, right. And I'm so glad you did, because that's how we met through a fellow coach who I know, who's like hey, have you heard of Lisa? She could help you with that. And we connected a day or two later and here we are, months later. So I'm glad that you made the pivot and it just it reminded me really quickly of how I got into coaching, because I was at I was at Bunko and I was a sub, so I wasn't a regular member. You rotate through different tables three tables and so you're constantly with talking to different speaking partners.

Christina Kohl:

And this woman, jacqueline, was talking about the vacation she just got back from. That was supposed to be an anniversary trip with her husband, but they're getting divorced, so she took the trip by herself. She was like I don't know what I'm going to do. I haven't worked for eight years. I've been a stay-at-home mom. I'm like, jacqueline, let's talk, let's meet for coffee. I was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years. Let's meet for coffee and I can help you. I'm in HR.

Christina Kohl:

And we met at Starbucks for an hour and at the end of that conversation she's like do you have a card? Like can I have your card? I'm like I don't. What do you mean? I don't have a card. She goes I know so many people who could use your help and I'm like, oh interesting, and it was just me wanting to help her because I wish someone could have helped me.

Christina Kohl:

It took me two years to find a job after being out for so long. She did find a job like three months later. So I'd like to think I have something to do with that little bit, anyway. So yeah, that just kind of happens organically sometimes, which is even better than trying to be intellectually figuring it all out. So I love that story about you just kind of started doing it and kept doing it. Well, I'm curious I don't know if there's people in the audience listening if they are like yourself, that maybe they're ready for a change or that maybe they want to start a side hustle. What advice do you have for someone who's just starting out into entrepreneurship?

Lisa Klein:

Great question. I mean, I feel like there's so much advice I could give. So, if anybody's listening, feel free to message me on LinkedIn and I'm happy to share more with you. But one of the things is to be patient. That right, we, whatever we do, we set these high expectations for us and we think that overnight we can start a business, or overnight we're going to get that new job that we want, or whatever it might be. We want to lose 30 pounds. Oh, overnight we're going to get that new job that we want, or whatever it might be. We want to lose 30 pounds. They're going to snap our fingers and it's going to happen, but it takes time.

Lisa Klein:

It takes being strategic about what you do and it takes, you know, blocking that time on your calendar, even if you do have kids at home. If you want to make it a priority to really show up for yourself, show up for whatever it is that you want to do and be consistent, the other thing that I always say and this back from my health coaching days is to just pick one, start small, pick one thing that you want to do, because many people that are probably listening if they know Christina well right, you're in that space where you have all the ideas, you want to do all the things and you probably are juggling a lot and wearing all the hats. So while you're in this space, if you can kind of brainstorm, put all those ideas out on paper, but then start with one thing that's going to move the needle and maybe that's creating a business plan, you know, whatever it is that you might do, and start with one thing and again, give yourself grace and know that it won't happen overnight.

Christina Kohl:

Yeah, I, yeah, I can echo that. It's certainly easy to be like, oh, I want to have the website and the podcast and the, the LinkedIn stuff and the group and the individual and whatever, and it's just, it gets so overwhelming that it's for me, it makes me shut down. But you were one that helped me with that of like, no, just this, just this one, pick one that's the most important. When you do finish that, then you can move on to number two and that's probably, like I said, the accountant brain in you too, the training. I think that's great advice. Well, lisa, how can people get in touch with you if they are curious to learn more? And maybe, you know, follow you and learn from you, because I know you're constantly putting out content yourself that I find so valuable. But where can people find you and learn more and learn more?

Lisa Klein:

Anybody can follow me and find me on LinkedIn. It's Lisa Klein, co. C O, but you can probably just find me just by my name alone. I'm not sure how many are out there, but yes, I don't spend as much time on Instagram, but you can also find me there. It's LisaKlein underscore, co, but I do spend majority of my time, as Christina knows, on LinkedIn. It's where I share a lot of my content and featured section. As anybody is looking for more strategy or sessions on how to build and create a lead magnet or anything business oriented, you can find more information there.

Christina Kohl:

All right, wonderful, and I'll be sure to include your contact information in the show notes as well. Thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today. I appreciate you sharing your story and your wisdom and insights and loved having you as a guest.

Lisa Klein:

Thank you so much, I so appreciate it All right.

Christina Kohl:

well, everyone. That wraps up this week's episode. So we will talk to you and maybe see you next time. Thank you so much for listening today. I hope this episode hit home for you and, if you haven't already, be sure to connect with me on LinkedIn and say hello so I can personally thank you for listening. Until next time, remember, your story is uniquely your own, and your next chapters are ready to begin.