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Unstuck & Unstoppable

Unstuck & Unstoppable

By: Sarah Archer
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Unstuck & Unstoppable is the go-to podcast for ambitious female leaders ready to amplify their impact, boost their income, and achieve career success on their own terms—without burning out or compromising their values. Hosted by Sarah Archer, a leadership coach and career strategist dedicated to empowering women in leadership, this show provides the tools, strategies, and inspiration you need to thrive in your career. Whether you’re looking to overcome imposter syndrome, enhance your leadership skills, or create a sustainable path to success, each episode will offer actionable insights, expert interviews, and real-life stories to help you take your career to the next level. It’s time to stop playing small, unlock your full potential, and create the impact you’re destined for. Tune in weekly to discover how you can lead boldly, live fully, and succeed with confidence and integrity.Copyright 2026 Sarah Archer Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Leading your Way: Sarah Holey on Confidence, Influence & Authentic Leadership

    Leading your Way: Sarah Holey on Confidence, Influence & Authentic Leadership
    Jul 10 2026
    Have you ever felt like you needed to become a different person to succeed as a leader?In this episode Sarah is joined by senior HR leader Sarah Holey, who shares her inspiring journey from retail shop floor assistant to leading international people functions across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and APAC.Together, we explore what it really takes to grow into senior leadership without losing yourself along the way. Sarah speaks openly about navigating self-doubt, moving from being the expert to becoming a beginner again, building credibility in a new organisation, and discovering that her collaborative leadership style wasn't something to change - it was one of her greatest strengths.If you're stepping into a bigger leadership role, managing challenging stakeholders, or wondering whether your leadership style is "enough", this conversation will leave you feeling reassured, empowered and inspired.In this episode we discuss:Sarah's unexpected journey from studying textiles to becoming an international HR leaderWhy working on the shop floor shaped her leadership philosophyThe confidence challenges that came with moving from one market to leading across 16 countriesLearning to stop expecting yourself to know everythingWhy senior leadership can feel surprisingly lonelyThe value of proactive coaching before starting a new roleBuilding trust and credibility with new stakeholdersWhy you don't need to copy louder leadership styles to earn respectThe power of leading with your valuesWhat authentic leadership really looks like in practiceSarah's advice for women stepping into leadership for the first timeTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Sarah Holey and today's topic02:00 From textiles graduate to international HR leader06:00 Career turning points and moving into global leadership07:00 From expert to beginner: rebuilding confidence in a bigger role09:20 Why Sarah invested in coaching before starting a new job11:00 The hidden loneliness of senior leadership12:00 Leaving a successful role and overcoming imposter syndrome14:10 Leading senior stakeholders with confidence15:30 Why authentic leadership is more powerful than trying to fit in16:30 Speaking up without being the loudest voice in the room17:15 Leadership values and avoiding burnout18:45 Why coaching isn't just for people in crisis19:45 What it was like to work with Sarah Archer20:45 Defining authentic leadership21:30 What 'Unstuck & Unstoppable' means to SarahMemorable Quotes"Curiosity will take you much further than being the expert.""I don't need to match someone else's leadership style to earn their respect.""There is such power in being the last person to speak in the room.""What gets you here won't necessarily get you there."Useful LinksConnect with Sarah Holey on LinkedInSign up for Weekly Career InspirationLearn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching ProgrammesBook a Free 121 Clarity CallJoin The Love What You Do Facebook GroupConnect with Sarah on LinkedInRate & Review the PodcastIf you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: sarah@careertreecoaching.co.uk
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    24 mins
  • Episode 86 A Career Crossroads: What does it look like, feel like and what to do next

    Episode 86 A Career Crossroads: What does it look like, feel like and what to do next
    Jul 3 2026

    You're successful on paper. Capable, still showing up, still the person colleagues message when something needs sorting. And yet - something's shifted, and you can't quite name what.

    In this episode, Sarah unpacks the career crossroads: that disorienting in-between space where what used to fit no longer does, and what's next hasn't taken shape yet. Whether it's shown up through redundancy, burnout recovery, hitting a milestone, or being offered a promotion that should feel exciting but doesn't - the internal experience underneath is strikingly similar.

    Sarah breaks down the six patterns that keep ambitious women stuck at the crossroads longer than they need to be (hint: it's rarely about effort), and walks through the first, most important step forward - one that has nothing to do with having a plan.

    If you've ever felt quietly unsettled despite "having it all," or caught yourself hesitating at an opportunity you'd have said yes to in a heartbeat five years ago, this episode will help you understand exactly what's going on - and what to do about it.

    Timestamps

    [00:00:00] Welcome to Unstuck and Unstoppable

    [00:01:36] What is a career crossroads? The four different triggers

    [00:05:38] The common thread underneath: your relationship to your next step has changed

    [00:06:00] Naming it: why this is a liminal space, not a crisis

    [00:06:30] What it actually feels like day to day - redundancy, burnout, milestones, promotions

    [00:10:13] Why nothing's "wrong" but it still feels hard to move through

    [00:10:30] The six patterns that keep you stuck at the crossroads

    [00:13:46] The real first step: space and perspective, not a perfect plan

    [00:14:00] How to start - naming what's changed, separating urgency from clarity

    [00:14:50] Giving yourself permission not to decide immediately

    [00:16:30] Exploring options without commitment

    [00:17:30] Why an outside perspective (or a coach) can shortcut the stuck phase

    [00:19:00] Wrap up and where to find more resources

    Useful Links

    Episode 84 The Sign There is More for You in Your Career (even if you can't see it yet)

    Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

    Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

    Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

    Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

    Rate & Review the Podcast

    If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

    If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: sarah@careertreecoaching.co.uk
    Show More Show Less
    20 mins
  • Episode 85 How to Get Unstuck In your Career: Kate Dunstone's journey from Marketing Manager to Director

    Episode 85 How to Get Unstuck In your Career: Kate Dunstone's journey from Marketing Manager to Director
    Jun 26 2026
    In this episode, Sarah is joined by former client Kate Dunstone, who shares her inspiring career journey from a long and successful career in higher education marketing to a senior leadership role in a completely new sector.After 17 years at the University of Portsmouth, Kate knew she was ready for something more aligned with her values, interests and long-term ambitions. In this conversation, she shares what it was really like to leave the security of a role and organisation she’d known for years, how she built the confidence to change sector, and how coaching helped her step into a more strategic, senior role with greater flexibility.If you’re wondering whether it’s too late to change direction, whether your skills will transfer to a new sector, or whether you’re really ready for a bigger role, this episode will give you both practical ideas and a confidence boost.In this episode, we cover:Kate’s career journey from course administrator to senior marketing leaderWhat made her realise she’d outgrown higher education after 17 yearsHow she built the confidence to change sector and go for a more senior roleThe role coaching played in clarifying her direction and helping her take actionWhy a trustee role helped strengthen her CV and support her sector moveHow she negotiated a role with more flexibility and better fit for her lifeWhat helped her move from Head of Marketing to DirectorWhy empathy and emotion can be leadership strengths rather than weaknessesWhat being “unstuck and unstoppable” means to KateTimestamps00:00 – Introduction to Kate and her career journey01:50 – Kate’s current role as Director of Membership, Marketing and Digital03:35 – Starting out in higher education and moving into marketing06:20 – Growing into leadership and becoming more strategic08:15 – Confidence, career progression and balancing ambition with motherhood10:45 – Why Kate decided to get coaching support13:00 – How coaching helped with clarity, confidence, CV and LinkedIn15:00 – Taking on a trustee role to support a sector change17:20 – Landing the Head of Marketing and Communications role at the college20:05 – Going for the Director role and backing herself to step up22:40 – What Kate wishes she’d known earlier in her career23:35 – Reframing emotion and empathy as leadership strengths25:10 – Kate’s experience of coaching and what helped most27:10 – What “unstuck and unstoppable” means to Kate28:20 – Why networking, visibility and LinkedIn still matter even when you’re not job searchingKey takeaways from this episodeKate’s story is such a good reminder that getting unstuck isn’t always about making a dramatic leap. Sometimes it’s about paying attention to what no longer fits, getting honest about what you really want, and taking the next step before you feel 100% ready.It’s also a powerful example of how career change doesn’t mean starting again. Kate took years of leadership, marketing and stakeholder experience and repositioned it into a new sector that felt much more meaningful and aligned.And perhaps most importantly, this conversation highlights that qualities many women dismiss in themselves - like emotion, empathy and sensitivity - can become some of their greatest strengths as leaders.Useful LinksConnect with Kate on LinkedInEpisode 61 How to Create a Personal Board for Your Leadership CareerSign up for Weekly Career InspirationLearn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching ProgrammesBook a Free 121 Clarity CallConnect with Sarah on LinkedInRate & Review the PodcastIf you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: sarah@careertreecoaching.co.uk
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
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