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December 14th, 2025

136. Jake Kennington – Personal Development Coach for Mid-Career Professionals

  1. 136. Jake Kennington - Personal Development Coach for Mid-Career Professionals Bob Gerst 31:51

Ever look at your life and think, “How did I end up here… and why doesn’t this feel the way success should?”
If that question feels uncomfortably familiar, this episode of “People in Transition” is one you’ll want to hear.

My guest, Jake Kennington, knows what it’s like to build a career that looks enviable on paper while feeling disconnected on the inside. As a licensed Structural Engineer, he spent more than a decade designing $100M buildings, leading high-pressure projects, and stacking up the achievements people associate with success. But privately, his Health was slipping, his Relationships were stretched thin, and he began questioning whether the life he was building was actually the life he wanted.

Becoming a husband and father of four brought that reality into sharper focus—and ultimately pushed him to redefine success, rebuild his habits, and realign his life around what matters most. Today, through his work at Actively Human, Jake helps mid-career professionals do the same: reconnect with who they really are, create space for what they care about, and build lives that feel as fulfilling on the inside as they look on the outside.

In our conversation, Jake and I explore:

• The moment he asked himself, “Is this it?”—and why that question is worth paying attention to
• How identifying who you are not can open the door to who you truly are
• Why defining your own meaning of success becomes a powerful compass
• Subtle early signs of misalignment—especially in your health and relationships
• The value of owning your morning for yourself, not your inbox
• Why slowing down (and sometimes even disrupting what you’ve built) can be the path to Clarity and joy

If you want to learn more about Jake and Actively Human, visit his profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakekennington/

Or visit his website at activelyhuman.com

 Listen to Jake’s recording here—and take the first step toward a life that finally feels aligned.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to go deeper on these topics, grab a free resource called The Own Your Life Playbook here: activelyhuman.com/#playbook

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Bob Gerst Mr. Transition Expert

I have had a terrific work life; I started as an auditor and then joined a property management company. I was the first professional HR executive with them. I had the opportunity to create and mature a sophisticated HR service delivery model. Then, I joined Jones Lang LaSalle, a global R/E firm. I was asked to move to Singapore to head up the Asia Pacific Region and helped build an HR team again. I then moved to Las Vegas, first with The Venetian and then with Boyd Gaming. I am now President of my own Company, HR Transitions, and the VP of HR at John I. Haas. I also have taught undergraduate and graduate level programs, including courses at Benedictine University, Heritage University, and the College of Southern Nevada.