“Wisdom Comes With Wrinkles” is a career-focused podcast hosted by 57-year-old Deborah Brown-Volkman, Career & Executive Coach who has 20+ years experience empowering clients to find new jobs, new careers, and new ways of overcoming workplace challenges. Deborah talks with guests who share their workplace experiences and lessons learned so they can pay it forward to the next generation.
Recent Content
Alicia died at childbirth and was brought back to life. At the time, she thought the ordeal was over with you. Little did she know, it was about to change her entire life. Alicia has endured a multitu…
Alicia died at child…
Alicia died at childbirth and was brought back to life. At the time, she thought the ordeal was over with you. Little did she know, it was about to change her entire life. Alicia has endured a multitude of chronic illnesses since. Alicia and I talked about how she had to slow down and take care of herself. She knew if she did not, someone else would have to take care of her. This is not what she wanted. Alicia learned a vital question to ask her body, “What do you want to say to me?” The body is incapable of lying. Alicia went from a life of being on autopilot, to one of being her true aut…
Sybil Stershic is a believer in employee engagement “The way your employees feel is the way your customers will feel. And if your employees don’t feel valued, neither will your customers.” She h…
Sybil Stershic is a …
Sybil Stershic is a believer in employee engagement “The way your employees feel is the way your customers will feel. And if your employees don’t feel valued, neither will your customers.” She has a point. During our conversation, Sybil spoke to me about the earlier years of her career when she watched her employer wait until the last moment to let co-workers know about new initiatives. It never made sense to her why the people who needed to know the most were told the least. She considers this neglect. This led Sybil to start Quality Service Marketing, an internal marketing company she …
“I can’t do this job.” Adrian was a mom with 2 young children who needed flexibility at a time when there was no work from home. So, she started a business. She knew she was good at sales. 34 ye…
“I can’t do this…
“I can’t do this job.” Adrian was a mom with 2 young children who needed flexibility at a time when there was no work from home. So, she started a business. She knew she was good at sales. 34 years later, the rest is history. Adrian is a believer in building Relationships. In the beginning of her career, she had people call her to “check-in.” She didn’t know what they meant. Thus, she didn’t know what to say. Those conversations were awkward. She said to herself: there has to be a better way to interact with people. Thus, a formula was born: The 3 I’s. The first I: Introduction…
Andrea Pass is a PI for PR. (Private Investigator for Public Relations). She built her career around communications and is extremely passionate about her work and the work she does for her clients. Bu…
Andrea Pass is a PI …
Andrea Pass is a PI for PR. (Private Investigator for Public Relations). She built her career around communications and is extremely passionate about her work and the work she does for her clients. But, it was not always like this. After working for a bully boss, Andrea found the courage to switch companies. But deep inside, she felt that she was meant to be her own boss. She listened to her gut a took a leap of faith to start her own company. Andrea took that leap at age 56. A testament that you are not too old to make a career pivot. Andrea talked to me about how it’s OK to move on. Bu…
At age 40, Lynnaire had an epiphany, “I am going to be unemployable in the years ahead. I need to do something about it now.” After years of toxic work environments, she’d had enough. “I’ve …
At age 40, Lynnaire …
At age 40, Lynnaire had an epiphany, “I am going to be unemployable in the years ahead. I need to do something about it now.” After years of toxic work environments, she’d had enough. “I’ve got to get out of here. I will do something on my own.” Fast forward 20 years later, Lynnaire has accomplished her goal. She has become:The #1 LinkedIn expert in her home country, New Zealand A top 20 LinkedIn expert worldwide The author of several books, including “Link∙Ability, 4 powerful strategies to maximise your LinkedIn success” AND “LinkedIn, Business Gold – Building Aware…
As a teenager, Nicole realized singing was her passion and it led to a career as an opera singer that spanned over two decades. Although performing made her happy, the Lifestyle of a singer involving …
As a teenager, Nicol…
As a teenager, Nicole realized singing was her passion and it led to a career as an opera singer that spanned over two decades. Although performing made her happy, the lifestyle of a singer involving so-called “survival jobs” led her to be unhappy. There were many sacrifices to that life. Craft came first, self-care second. Ultimately, this led Nicole to ask the question: “Are my needs being met?” The answer was NO. After a journey of self-discovery and being around people who believed in and supported her, Nicole made her leap. She became a True Self Love coach. She teaches her client…
Triggers in the workplace. They get all of us at some time in our careers. But imagine not being triggered even when faced with a toxic boss? My guest Marnie Vincolisi shows people how to adapt and ha…
Triggers in the work…
Triggers in the workplace. They get all of us at some time in our careers. But imagine not being triggered even when faced with a toxic boss? My guest Marnie Vincolisi shows people how to adapt and has made it her life work to teach you how to re-wire your response, so you no longer react. This doesn’t mean you don’t feel the pain of what’s happening. It’s that you have a way to neutralize the negativity so it does not define you or limit your ability to do your best work. “Compassion is key; for both you and your boss,” says Marnie. “Keep in mind that you are looking at their wo…
After working and being available to her clients 24/7 for years, Shelly drew a line in the sand. “I’ve had enough. Working all the time has to stop.” She put boundaries in place. At first, s…
After working and be…
After working and being available to her clients 24/7 for years, Shelly drew a line in the sand. “I’ve had enough. Working all the time has to stop.” She put boundaries in place. At first, she was afraid she would lose clients. But, the opposite occurred. They respected her more. Strong boundaries helped Shelly give guilt-free time to both her kids and clients. Making clear boundaries allowed Shelly to be present with her kids when it was time to be a mom and present with her clients when it was time to get work done. “Stand strong when you set your boundaries,” Shelly say…
As the mother of triplets, a divorcee after 15 years of marriage, a Cancer survivor and a survivor of intimate partner abuse, Kelley’s life has been anything but simple. She has learned that making …
As the mother of tri…
As the mother of triplets, a divorcee after 15 years of marriage, a cancer survivor and a survivor of intimate partner abuse, Kelley’s life has been anything but simple. She has learned that making it through the bad stuff, and getting to the other side, gives you a life you could have never imagined possible. During an 11-year bout with breast cancer, and during treatment, Kelley decided she would go back to school and learn how to help cancer patients. But life had different plans, and instead led Kelley into the world of Mental Health. Unknown to Kelley at the time, she was pivoting into …
Dr. Robert A. Saul has been in pediatrics for over 44 years. He has devoted his life to the profession. He passionately believes in raising children to be good citizens, improving communities, and adv…
Dr. Robert A. Saul h…
Dr. Robert A. Saul has been in pediatrics for over 44 years. He has devoted his life to the profession. He passionately believes in raising children to be good citizens, improving communities, and advocating for children. They are our future. Dr. Saul has developed a Parental Awareness Threshold, a simple framework that guides parents and guardians to actively parent with self-awareness, empathy, and compassion. Parents who use this framework create a healthy environment where children learn to build safe, stable, and nurturing relationships as well as exhibit love and respect for others in th…
The more aware you are, the more engaged you are. If you are going through the motions in your job, you will miss out on career fulfillment. Opportunities for expansion and Growth come from being awar…
The more aware you a…
The more aware you are, the more engaged you are. If you are going through the motions in your job, you will miss out on career fulfillment. Opportunities for expansion and growth come from being aware. Problem-solving, creativity, and making an impact is the result. Companies need to pay attention to where they are headed as well. Business continuity and disaster recovery planning are key. There are risks to watch out for and opportunities to capitalize on. Jeffry Queen is a retired law enforcement officer with nearly thirty years of law enforcement, Security, investigative, and logistical ma…
30% of grandparents are remote from their grandkids. Gramps Jeffrey is on a mission to change that and have grandparents spend more time with their grandkids. These kids will be entering the workplace…
30% of grandparents …
30% of grandparents are remote from their grandkids. Gramps Jeffrey is on a mission to change that and have grandparents spend more time with their grandkids. These kids will be entering the workplace one day and they will be lacking the listening, language development, and collaboration skills that are needed to be successful. Gramps has 6 grandkids and he spent quite a bit of time with them during lockdown. He read numerous books to them and realized when you read a book to a child, you build connection. They are sitting on your lap and you are bonding. You can stop and ask questions, “Wha…
Manny is a man on a mission. Today, he is an entrepreneur who operates a small business making vegan energy bars that taste great and are good for you. That’s not where he started. Manny was a top-o…
Manny is a man on a …
Manny is a man on a mission. Today, he is an entrepreneur who operates a small business making vegan energy bars that taste great and are good for you. That’s not where he started. Manny was a top-of-his-class CPA as well as a Crypto news business owner with 20 interns working for him. He walked away from both. Manny was meant to do something else. Manny is the co-owner of Heaven’s Pantry, part of a team of three guys that started a food company from nothing. The company was started with the premise that you don’t need years of executive experience, or an MBA, or billions of dollars in v…
Ralph started traveling when he was in high school. He liked to take pictures during his trips. He found out he was really good at it. Fast forward to today, Ralph runs several Travel brands whe…
Ralph started trav…
Ralph started traveling when he was in high school. He liked to take pictures during his trips. He found out he was really good at it. Fast forward to today, Ralph runs several travel brands where he's organized and led more than 200 truly incredible travel/photography experiences for clients with one-of-a-kind itineraries. “The right place at the right time.” Ralph takes people to beautiful places with less crowds; mostly to places he has visited himself. They're off the beaten path so you can get out of your comfort zone, but also stay in comfortable accommodations with…
Josh got his first BMX bike from his father when he was a kid and it almost immediately consumed his life. At 17 years, he became a Pro BMX Athlete and was riding Dew Tours, X-Games and competing inte…
Josh got his first B…
Josh got his first BMX bike from his father when he was a kid and it almost immediately consumed his life. At 17 years, he became a Pro BMX Athlete and was riding Dew Tours, X-Games and competing internationally at the highest possible level. At that point, he was 21 years old and felt like he had everything. But, after a nasty crash, his life was threatened. Josh hit his head and went to a local urgent care to make sure something more serious wasn't happening. He had no damage from the crash, but there was a brain tumor taking up the left half of his brain. Immediate surgical removal was nece…
Grief came knocking on Vicki’s door. On Thanksgiving Day (2020), she lost her brother to COVID. 10 months later, her second brother passed away. “Life changing experiences” she calls it. “What…
Grief came knocking …
Grief came knocking on Vicki’s door. On Thanksgiving Day (2020), she lost her brother to COVID. 10 months later, her second brother passed away. “Life changing experiences” she calls it. “What will I do with what happened to me?” Vicki Ellner was in her 70’s and easily could have stopped working. She had already spent 30+ years in Nursing along with years in Patient Health Care and Senior Citizen advocacy. But, Vicki was not done yet. She still had that spark and quest for purpose and meaning. Sometime you choose a career, and other times, your career chooses you. Vicki went in the…
David Gardner transitioned from Education into financial services. How did he do it? Confidence in himself combined with a really good plan. Originally, David wanted to go into sports, but life had di…
David Gardner transi…
David Gardner transitioned from education into financial services. How did he do it? Confidence in himself combined with a really good plan. Originally, David wanted to go into sports, but life had different plans. He ventured into Education and stayed there for 16 years. But then life took David into a different direction once again. He veered into financial services. A profession he truly loves. David is a strong, compassionate, and community-minded individual with a passionate spirit. He does not believe in failure, only opportunities to learn and grow. David encourages the people around hi…
Want to get the younger generations’ attention? Talk to them and not at them. Corbie Mitlied, a former recruiter turned Reverend and Intuitive Consultant, thinks we can do a better job communicating…
Want to get the youn…
Want to get the younger generations’ attention? Talk to them and not at them. Corbie Mitlied, a former recruiter turned Reverend and Intuitive Consultant, thinks we can do a better job communicating with the younger generation in the workplace. We all want the same thing; to do great work that makes an impact. Her advice to Boomers: think first before responding and listen without judgement. Move away from the stage and let the next generation take it. Push them out of their comfort zone; let them lead projects. They have tremendous potential. And, they will surprise you. Corbie Mitleid is a…