For many high-achieving women, professional success is often measured by titles, prestige, and a high-level paycheck. But what happens when that "prestige" costs more in mental health, family time, and personal energy than it provides in satisfaction? In this episode of Her Wealth: Unscripted, Susan Jones and Sara Gelsheimer sit down with Shanna Weber, founder and CEO of Prima Consulting, to discuss her bold transition from a Managing Director at an $8 trillion firm to a leadership and strategic coach.
We explore the specific pressures facing Gen X women—the "latchkey kids" raised to equate stuff with success—and the deep identity shift required to walk away from a corporate brand. Shanna shares how she navigated the "itchy" brand change of starting over and how she now helps others find a career that energizes rather than drains them. This episode is a roadmap for any woman looking to pivot toward a life of clarity, confidence, and purpose.
You’ll learn:
- The "Decimal Point" Moment: How realizing your work lacks personal impact can lead to a powerful career reckoning.
- The Gen X Success Trap: Why our generation was taught to "sell our souls" for status symbols and how to break that cycle.
- Redefining Your Currency: Shifting the focus from a dollar amount to a "holistic picture" that includes health, sleep, and time with family.
- The Identity Shift: Managing the discomfort of no longer being "the industry expert" and building a new brand from scratch.
- CliftonStrengths for Transitions: Using your natural talents to identify why your current job is "sucking the life" out of you.
- Stairs vs. Cliffs: Why you don’t have to jump off a ledge to make a change—practical ways to take "baby steps" toward a new path.
- Financial Flexibility: Realizing that the "number" needed to step away is often much lower than you think when you adjust your lifestyle.
If you are looking to advance your career or navigate a professional transition, you can connect with Shanna Weber here.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Humble beginnings and the 23-year climb to Managing Director.
04:30 – The financial and personal cost of the "prestigious" paycheck.
05:14 – The week that changed everything: Layoffs and realizing a lack of impact.
07:43 – The Brand Pivot: Moving from an industry expert to "starting over".
14:36 – Gen X Research: The "Latchkey" generation and our unique relationship with work.
17:16 – Status Symbols: Why we chase the Porsche and the second house.
21:57 – Midlife Evaluation: Deciding what the next 40 years of your life should look like.
27:45 – Strengths and Energy: Using CliftonStrengths to find the right alignment.
32:57 – Holistic Wealth: Trading dollar signs for better health and family memories.
36:42 – How to connect with Shanna and Prima Consulting.