By mid-career, Karen Kelly has reinvented herself more times than most people dare to dream.
From ad agency burnout in New York City, to scrubs and red tape as a speech pathologist, to moonlighting as a photographer, to running a seven-figure media business, to CMO and later President of a tech company, to volunteer community organizer and change-maker, to present day Co-Founder and CEO of Launch by Lunch, she has turned curiosity and resilience into her career compass.
In this conversation, Karen opens up about the roadblocks we create for ourselves, the power of listening to signals, and the surprising ways creativity and community can reshape what’s next. We dig into:
- Why “too many ideas” can be a superpower if you learn how to channel it.
- The moment she realized storytelling mattered more than the photo itself.
- Building a grassroots childcare solution in her hometown during the pandemic.
- Painkiller vs. vitamin thinking when launching new ventures.
- How to give yourself permission to pivot—and crystalize fleeting moments into something lasting.
If you’ve ever felt trapped by sunk costs, uncertain about your next season, or hesitant to put your work into the world before it feels ready, Karen’s story will give you both a framework and the encouragement to move forward.
What is The Afternoon Shift?
The Afternoon Shift is a hub for mid-career marketing, media, and creative professionals navigating what’s next.
Hosted by Brady Sadler, this show explores how to thrive, not just survive, during the most pivotal stretch of our careers.
What started with a few small group conversations quickly became something deeper: research, newsletter, events, a growing community, and now these recorded conversations.
We're sitting down with incredible leaders across a wide range of businesses, to dig into personal stories, practical solutions, and the bigger questions shaping our work and our lives right now.
This isn’t just a show. It’s part of a larger effort to turn ideas into collaborations, and connections into meaningful work.
Because we believe career should be more of a team sport.
If this sounds like your kind of community, please hit the follow button. That's a small way you can help us connect with more people. Thanks for listening.
Join Us: https://theafternoonshift.com/
Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradysadler/