The Coffee & Careers Podcast

Career coach Angela Bennett welcomes back recruiting executive and author Chris Fontanella (Tune Up Your Career) for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, risk, who it’s for, and the mindset required. Drawing from Chris’s journey launching his own successful staffing business, this episode explores the mindset shifts that often happen before someone decides to “cut the cord” from corporate life.
 
Angela and Chris unpack the subtle signs that entrepreneurship may already be calling you: feeling disconnected from company culture, craving more freedom to execute your vision, or realizing your individuality no longer fits neatly inside the corporate framework. They discuss the emotional realities behind taking the leap, from fear of failure and financial uncertainty to identity shifts, resilience, and learning how to tolerate risk.
 
Not only for solo founders, entrepreneurial spirit can exist inside corporations, in startups, through partnerships or independent ventures.
 
Is corporate culture starting to feel restrictive? | How much risk can you tolerate? | Can you push through failure and uncertainty? | Entrepreneurship is a mindset | Tune up your career before stagnation sets in.
Tune Up Your Career book on Amazon => https://www.amazon.com/dp/1959099078Chris Fontanella => https://chrisfontanella.com/The Coffee & Careers Substack => https://angelabennett.substack.com/

Career coach Angela Bennett sits down with recruiting executive and author Chris Fontanella (Tune Up Your Career) to unpack one of the most misunderstood aspects of professional life: how to navigate the corporate environment with intention.
Drawing from over 25 years in staffing and corporate leadership, Chris introduces powerful metaphors. Corporations aren’t just workplaces, they’re systems. Whether you see them as a maze, a machine, or even a game, understanding their true nature is the key to making work work for you…instead of the other way around.
Through the lens of Who Moved My Cheese?, Angela and Chris explore why change is inevitable, why comfort can become a trap, and how failing to adapt can quietly stall your career. From shifting company cultures to unexpected layoffs, they break down why “the cheese always moves”.  When you understand the system you’re operating in, you stop playing the game you wish existed, and start navigating the one that actually does.
| Observe the corporate environment | Stay vigilant & ready for change | Adaptability is the new leadership | Define the game on your terms | Always be seeking new cheese.
Tune Up Your Career book on Amazon => https://a.co/d/09b21NCY
Chris Fontanella => https://chrisfontanella.com/
The Coffee & Careers Substack => https://angelabennett.substack.com/

Career coach Angela Bennett sits down with wealth management professional, author, and content creator Urmi Hossain for a conversation that moves far beyond finance.
Urmi shares her journey as a self-described “third culture kid” — born in Italy to Bengali parents and now based in Canada — and how navigating multiple identities shaped both her career path and her voice. From discovering her love of finance in university to earning the prestigious CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), Urmi walks us through what it takes to build a career in portfolio management.
But this episode isn’t just about markets and portfolios, Urmi has an empowering message to share. It’s about breaking through cultural, societal, and self-imposed expectations. It’s about redefining networking as genuine, lifelong human connection. It’s about why imposter syndrome often holds women back, how perfectionism quietly erodes confidence, and why we must stop apologizing.
Beyond her corporate 9-to-5 in wealth management, Urmi shares her “5-to-9” mission: mentoring women, leading within Women in Leadership in Canada, hosting her own podcast Stories Beyond Borders, and encouraging others to invest not only in their careers — but in their voice, passions, and purpose. Treat yourself as your greatest asset — and invest accordingly.
 Urmi’s Stories Without Borders Podcast => https://www.youtube.com/@urmihossain
https://www.instagram.com/storiesbeyondborderspodcast/
Urmi’s Book: Discovering Your Identity => https://a.co/d/042vdTUG
The Coffee & Careers Substack => https://angelabennett.substack.com/

Career coach Angela Bennett is joined by professional coach and assessment expert Stacey Bevill for a conversation that challenges how we think about New Year’s resolutions. What if your goals weren’t just about what you want to accomplish—but who you’re becoming?
Together, Angela and Stacey explore the idea of making this the Year of Becoming—from neuroscience-informed coaching tools like the FEBI Focus Energy Balance Indicator to the power of self-awareness, embodied energy, and intentional growth. They unpack how our default patterns shape how others experience us, and how consciously shifting our energy can change the way we show up in key moments.
This episode is for anyone ready to rethink growth as something deeper than a checklist. Shifting from resolutions to intentional growth goals can help you accelerate on your path toward becoming who you’re meant to be.
Stacey Bevill => https://www.goldencareerstrategies.com/
Mention this podcast for a $50 discount off the FEBI assessment / coaching with Stacey!
Stacey's Mushroom Coffee on Amazon => https://a.co/d/ek5YBlo
The Coffee & Careers Substack => https://angelabennett.substack.com/
 

Career coach Angela Bennett sits down with Chris Fontanella, author of Jump-Start Your Career. What does “find your calling” actually mean? Why draw your career map in pencil? Are great careers intentional—or the result of unexpected turns?
This conversation dives into the mindset behind a long-term career—ambition, intuition, and the truth about setbacks: obstacles often mean you’re getting close to something meaningful.  A blueprint for anyone early in their career—or stuck and ready to move. Not a checklist. A mindset.
Jump-Start Your Career book on Amazon => https://a.co/d/aHIUC1K
Chris Fontanella => https://chrisfontanella.com/
The Coffee & Careers Substack => https://angelabennett.substack.com/

In this episode of The Coffee and Careers Podcast, career coach Angela Bennett is joined by interview coach Ramon Santillan to uncover strategies for nailing job interviews. Together, they tackle common challenges like under-promoting, rambling, and interview anxiety, while also exploring the unique needs of neurodivergent candidates.
Ramon shares his personal journey from tax consulting to interview coaching and discusses how preparation, storytelling, and authenticity can transform the interview process. Learn practical tools to prepare for interviews and communicate your value to show up as the solution employers are looking for. Angela and Ramon demonstrate a live mock interview, tips for concise answers, and guidance on authentic self-promotion without feeling arrogant.
https://angelabennett.substack.com/
https://www.persuasiveinterview.com/

In this episode of The Coffee and Careers Podcast, career coach Angela Bennett welcomes back Debbie Johnson, President of Premier Executive Recruiting, to discuss how to reinvent your job search and stay competitive in today’s tough market.
They explore the seismic shifts in hiring—from generalists to specialists, the digitalization of recruiting, and the growing role of private equity in shaping talent needs, especially in the beauty industry. Debbie and Angela offer actionable strategies for resume SEO, the "hamburger" interview framework, building confidence, and leveraging networks to avoid the “digital black hole.” The conversation highlights tips for maintaining resiliency for job seekers navigating longer searches and greater competition.
Download the Modern Job Search Checklist: 7 Steps to Stand Out: https://premier-executive-recruiting.myflodesk.com/modern-job-search-playbook

In this episode, Angela chats with Chris Fontanella, founder of Encore Professionals Group (a professional services / recruiting firm) and author of Against the Grain: Counterintuitive Ideas on Business and Life. Discover Chris's intriguing journey from studying theology to thriving in the recruiting industry. Chris shares his unique perspective on career paths, the role of intuition, and how unplanned events can lead to unexpected opportunities.
Are career paths based on a divine intervention or a product of free will? How can taking a step back sometimes be the best way forward? From coffee as a ritual to swimming your own way “against the grain,” this conversation explores how counterintuitive decisions can lead to fulfilling careers and personal growth. The significance of morning coffee rituals | The power of people in shaping our careers | Navigating non-linear career paths | Making bold choices when nothing seems to be happening | Embracing life’s twists and turns with an open mind.
https://chrisfontanella.com/

Julie Spiech is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Overnight Supervisor at Common Thread, an organization that provides mentoring and advocacy to survivors of human trafficking in Texas. In this podcast we discuss what a day in the life (or rather a night in the life) is like when working to get on-the-spot help to support these survivors. Utilizing strengths in listening, patience, good judgement | Giving yourself grace at work | The role of a support network in your career | The role of upbringing and chance connections in leading you down a path where your career falls into place.

Career Coach Angela Bennett hosts Lizbeth Zuniga, CEO and Founder of Acquire Beauty, a consulting firm that helps beauty and personal care brands effectively develop their supply chain operations to be agile and increase profitability.  Careers in Supply Chain Operations | Driving your career | When life hits rock bottom | The role of mentors and supporters along the way | Building your network with genuine long-term connections | Setting boundaries at work for mental health