From Setback to Story: Finding Your Voice Again with Laura Barbante - COMING NOV 14

Episode Fourteen - From Setback to Story: Finding Your Voice Again with Laura Barbante

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What happens when the story you’ve been telling yourself about your career no longer fits?

In this episode, John speaks with Laura Barbante, a marketing professional in Australia whose career path took her from government work to unemployment—and back again with a renewed sense of purpose. Together, they explore what it means to rebuild a professional identity, create authentic personal-brand content, and navigate an industry being transformed by AI.

John opens with a reflection on Taylor Swift—how she turned imperfection into identity and made vulnerability her brand. Later, he shares a story about a client struggling to see the link between the job she wants and the one she feels she has to take, and why the only way to build a brand is to simply start.

Because sometimes, suffering is okay—so long as you’re the one steering the ship.

 

In this episode:

  • Turning career setbacks into storylines worth telling
  • Finding meaning (and marketing value) in imperfection
  • How AI is reshaping the marketing world—and how to adapt
  • Building your personal brand when you’re not sure where to start
  • Why progress begins with giving yourself permission to begin

Guest: Laura Barbante 

intuitive coach Elane Yuen

Your Host: John Fialkowski

John Fialkowski - Host of Career Coaching with John

Music Credits:
Intro:

Afro Beat Pop by HitsLab from Pixabay

Intermission:

Balance 2023 by Vernon Maytone and Brotheration Records from Pixabay – More from Brotheration Reggae

Lo-Fi Midnight Hip Hop  by Grand Project from Pixabay

Outro:

We Dub a long way – Instrumental by Brotheration Records from Pixabay

 

 

Written By: John Fialkowski

Published: November 14th, 2025

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