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Let’s Get Real: Why This Matters

Making a career pivot as an executive isn’t just about updating your job title or adding a shiny new certification to LinkedIn. It’s about rewriting your narrative from the inside out.

Whether you’re stepping out of the C-suite, moving from nonprofit to corporate, or leaving government service for consulting, here’s what too many professionals forget when making a career pivot:

“Your LinkedIn profile isn’t just your past on display. It’s your future in motion.”

The market isn’t just hiring who you were. They’re investing in who you’re becoming. And your bio needs to reflect that.

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Three Mistakes Executives Make During a Career Pivot (and How Coaching Helps Fix Them)

🚫 Mistake #1: Over-identifying with past roles

My client P., a VP in healthcare operations, wanted to do a career pivot and become a consultant. But her LinkedIn read like she was still job-hunting in healthcare. Together, we refocused her profile around operational transformation, cross-functional leadership, and growth strategy, skills that work in any industry.

Outcome: Now P. consults across multiple industries with a compelling, future-facing bio.

🚫 Mistake #2: Using language that doesn’t translate

And my client R., a tech leader, was career pivoting to nonprofit work, but her profile was filled with startup jargon. In coaching, we translated her experience into language aligned with mission, impact, and strategic planning.

Outcome: R. now sits on two nonprofit boards and leads innovation across mission driven organizations.

🚫 Mistake #3: Failing to mention the future during career pivot

My client S., a director transitioning out of DEI work and into corporate strategy, had a profile that still reflected her past focus on diversity programming. We worked together to reframe her narrative to highlight her strengths in enterprise strategy, cross-functional leadership, and business transformation. This made her career pivot successfull

Outcome: Liana now drives corporate strategy and advises senior leaders on growth. 

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What an Executive Career Pivot Bio Needs to Do

✔ Lead with accomplishments that transfer across industries
✔ Highlight leadership themes like strategy, transformation, and growth
✔ Focus on the value you offer, not just job titles
✔ Clearly communicate what you’re available for next

Your bio should say: “Here’s what I’ve done. Here’s what I bring. And here’s where I’m headed.”

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Final Thoughts: Reframe to Rise

Your pivot isn’t a detour. It’s a power move. But no one will know unless you tell the right story.

This is where I come in.

If your LinkedIn profile isn’t reflecting the leader you’re becoming, and you’re not landing the roles you deserve. Let’s change that.

👉🏾 Book your V.I.P. Roadmap Session: https://twannacarter.com/vip-roadmap-session

Let’s position your brilliance for the next chapter.

You’re not starting over. You’re leveling up.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What if I’m not 100% sure what I want next? Should I still update my profile?
Yes! Uncertainty is common during a pivot. Your profile doesn’t need to lock you into one path—it should reflect your core strengths and the problems you’re passionate about solving. Through coaching, I help clients clarify their direction and craft a profile that signals openness to aligned opportunities without looking vague.

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2. I’ve been in one industry my entire career—how do I prove I can succeed in a new one?
That’s where transferable skills come in. Most executives overlook just how much value they carry across sectors: strategic thinking, operational leadership, stakeholder management, revenue growth, etc. In our work together, we’ll pull out those themes and reframe them in a way that resonates with decision-makers in your new target industry.

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3. Do I need to change my headline and About section, or just my job descriptions?
Great question. Your headline and About section are the most important areas to update first because they’re what recruiters and partners see before clicking further. The job descriptions can be simplified or summarized to avoid overwhelming readers with industry-specific details from your past.

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4. How can I show up as a leader when I’m starting over in a new field?
You’re not starting over—you’re leveraging up. The goal isn’t to appear like a beginner, but to position yourself as a high-value leader with a fresh perspective. With the right narrative strategy, your pivot becomes a strength, not a setback.

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5. Will updating my LinkedIn really make that big of a difference?
Yes—especially at the executive level. A well-crafted, future-focused profile builds trust, opens doors, and attracts aligned opportunities. Clients I’ve worked with have been approached for board seats, fractional roles, and strategic projects simply because their profiles reflected where they were headed—not just where they’d been.

I’m a certified executive coach and an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC)   for Twanna Carter Professional & Personal Coaching, LLC. I flubbed my first career transition from the military so badly, it took me the next 10+ years to build my confidence and  recover. I know what it feels like to struggle with imposter syndrome and uncertainty about my leadership skills in the workplace. It’s why I am dedicated to empowering Black women. Helping them navigate career challenges and uncertainty by providing them with the tools and strategies they need to be successful. Schedule a V.I.P. Roadmap session today.

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