The Career Shift That Changed Everything After 40+ Years in HR

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Unlock. We're all about those light bulb moments. I'm talking to people who are still trying to figure out what they're meant to do, coaching them life to reach that magical, yes, this is it moment, and we'll also hear from those who've already found their dream careers and figure out exactly how they did it.

Whether you are looking for inspiration or actionable advice on finding a career you love, I've got you covered time to unlock some career clarity. Let's dive in.

ocked. Okay. This episode is [: 00:01:00

And to sit down, face to face for this episode, that was also such a gift.

Now let me introduce you to the absolute powerhouse who's joining me for this conversation. Her name is Ilene Edwards. Ilene is a season CHRO. Yes, chief Human Resource Officer. And if that isn't impressive enough, she's now a full-time executive leadership coach.

kplace challenges or helping [: 00:02:00

In this episode, we talk about her incredible career journey, how her spark archetype as a sage shaped the way she leads and coaches, and the deep passion she brings to her. DEI work. You're going to walk away with powerful insights, a few goosebumps, and maybe even a fire lit under you. Let's dive in.

Welcome, Eileen to Career Clarity Unlocked. So excited to have you on the show.

Aileen: Thank you for having me. Excited to be here.

Theresa: Yes, I'm excited. We are here in Cancun. Yeah, me too. It's

Aileen: beautiful out there.

Theresa: I know.

Aileen: We're so, so beautiful.

Theresa: So beautiful and so grateful to be

Aileen: here. Fortunate to be here. Absolutely.

Yes.

Theresa: Um, so super excited that we get to record this live in person. No, it's great. Yes. Let's start off with your professional journey. Okay. Do you mind sharing your journey in a little bit of a nutshell, as much as that as possible?

re. So I'm a human resources [: 00:03:00

That is, that is the thing. So I'm a generalist. By heart. I did a lot of, um, recruiting and so on, but really my passion is about labor relations, solving problems. Mm. Yeah. So just being able to get people to be, um, figure it out and work well together. I love also, and now I'm starting to get into coaching and mentoring as an official business.

arted my new business, uh, in: 2020

Theresa: Yeah.

Aileen: In the leadership, um, coach space, so the leadership development space for, you know, the mid-level career ladies who are looking for a little bit more.

to share my experiences and [: 00:04:00

And I want to be that. For the next generation of folks.

Theresa: I love that. And so needed, so needed in this world. There's so many people who,

Aileen: yeah.

Theresa: Look up to you and need the exact guidance. That so

Aileen: exciting.

Theresa: Yes. Yeah. I had you take the spark type assessment. I did. And I wanna bring it in because you already described your spark type.

Um, so your primary spark type showed up as the sage. For our audience, a little background, the spark type assessment developed by Jonathan Fields is a quick 10 minute assessment that you can take on spark type.com and it measures what makes us come alive and what empties us out. So it showed up that as the sage as your primary archetype, that it suggests that what makes you come alive is that sharing of knowledge, teaching.

Aileen: That makes sense.

Theresa: Um, passing on the knowledge you have, that makes

Aileen: so [: 00:05:00

Theresa: Is that something that just. Lights you up and fills your cup?

Aileen: It does. It does. Because in the world that I grew up in, I was always taught to not really be, um, show off or do anything, or not really know, show your knowledge.

You know, I'd never wanted to be a, a know-it-all. So I always kind of hid that I was, when I was going up through the ranks of executive, I always used to say to people, I'm just in hr. I'm in hr. I never said, oh, I'm a Chief Human Resources officer. 'cause we weren't really allowed to do that. Mm-hmm. And show that.

I wanna make sure that I want to, um, share the knowledge of that. Mm-hmm. To let the new leaders know that Yeah. Be proud. Like, I worked really hard to get here. Yes. Why shouldn't I be proud to just Yeah. You know, shout it off the rooftops.

Theresa: Yes. Mm-hmm. And you have so much knowledge, why not pass it on to.

Aileen: Exactly. That's when

Theresa: needed.

Aileen: I'm all about paying it forward.

Theresa: Yeah.

forward to me. Yeah. But the [: 00:06:00

Yeah. They don't want to see successful people. Move ahead because it, it's almost like an intimidation factor mm-hmm. In some ways. So, um, I wanna be able to say, don't let that intimidation factor get in your way of being successful and moving forward and sharing your knowledge. So beautiful.

Theresa: What I hear a lot from the sage is that, that when the light bulb moment happens and someone gets it, that that is, that's it.

That's

Aileen: that moment. That's fascinating for me. When I can see, and I'm coaching and I see that aha moment and that spark for people, I'm like.

Theresa: Yeah, that's it. That's what you're here to do is to help people. Yeah. Have those moments. Yeah.

Aileen: Yeah.

Theresa: How much, well, let's talk about your shadow first and then, uh, go into more detail there.

uiding, coaching, mentoring, [: 00:07:00

Aileen: totally. I love, um, advising and being that guide, and I've always been known as the content expert in the work that I do.

So when I advised my, uh, my clients now, but with, uh, the folks, the managers at the office, it was always great that knowledge of being able to impart some of that and sharing that. Mm-hmm. So, I, I love advising people. I like showing them how to do things the way that I found out by myself. So it, I really enjoy that, that piece.

Theresa: Yeah. It makes you who you are. It does, it's, it's that's so we, it's like the work you cannot not do.

it comes so naturally and so [: 00:08:00

Yeah. Yeah.

Theresa: When you were in your executive roles in hr, HR consulting, um, chief HR officer, which is amazing, do you feel you got to do that work? Like did your, were you fulfilled in like, I spent, my work revolves around guiding, coaching, teaching, sharing knowledge.

Aileen: Part of it. Um, but when you're at that level, you're so far removed, all you're doing is you're spending a lot of time at board meetings and executive meetings and so on.

I like to be right at the ground level talking to people and getting, like, showing them what I, I can do and. I don't wanna be in the corner office. I don't wanna be hiding out in the corner office. So there was a little bit of that, 'cause I still had an HR team mm-hmm. That I was uh, responsible for. But a lot of it was around sort of that strategic high level stuff, which was great, but I just wanted to be with the people.

kes so much sense. Yeah. And [: 00:09:00

Aileen: It did.

Theresa: Yeah, it

Aileen: did. When I was a manager, it was great. Yeah. When I, as a director, it was great, but the minute I jumped into that VP level, it just was totally different. Yes.

Theresa: Yeah, because you're moving from doing to strategy.

Exactly. Yeah. And

Aileen: while I love the strategy, I kind of missed hanging out with the people.

Theresa: Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That makes so much sense. And I'm so curious to hear about your anti sparco type two. So the anti sparco type is not something we're bad at. Okay. It is something that tends to drain our battery.

Aileen: Okay.

Theresa: Um, we can be really good at it, and we often are, but it's, if we had to do it all day, every day, it would be a heavy lift. It would be an energy drain.

Aileen: Mm-hmm. And for you,

that showed up as the essentialist.

Okay.

Theresa: The essentialist loves to take chaos and create order out of it.

Aileen: Yeah.

Theresa: Um, and I'm curious how that resonates with you.

anti-essentialist, they love [: 00:10:00

Aileen: No, that's not who I am. So, uh, I thrive in chaos. To be honest with you. Yeah. Um, I thrive in chaos. I'm just so better at chaos and, but chaos is exhausting.

So by the time you get it all figured out, I, I'm exhausted. But there's some kind of passion there that really, if, if there's a puzzle and there's a problem that I can help to solve, I think it's great.

Theresa: Yeah.

Aileen: Um, but it is draining. It's draining. Yeah.

Theresa: And what are times when you, when it does energize you because of you solved something?

What is an example that comes to mind for you? It's like, yes, it was draining, but it was also there was also that good to

Aileen: it. Right. So one of the spaces I work in is the diversity, equity inclusion space. Mm-hmm. And anti-racism, anti uh, oppression space. And that is a long journey.

n we're bringing in, um, DEI [: 00:11:00

So yeah, we'll get there. But it, it's going to take a little bit of time and when you introduce those things into this space, there's some people out there that, that are not interested. Yeah, they're not interested in diversity, they're not interested in equity, uh, they're not interested. I, they're seeing that very

Theresa: clearly in these days.

You can

Aileen: see that all the time now, like things are getting wiped off, you know, um, agendas and so on. So, but for me, although it's, it's exhausting, it's. The work that needs to get done. There's some passion about that. It's, it's, it's hard work and you will get resistance. Um, but it really is the work that needs to get done.

lestones, a little along the [: 00:12:00

Theresa: Yeah. And I wonder if you, when you, you thrive in chaos, it's draining, but you thrive in it. But I wonder if it's. Fulfilling when it impacts people. Yes. When it brings out the advisor.

That in you, yes. There is someone who benefits from it. Absolutely. If it's just taking data, let's say a big spreadsheet of data Yeah. No one will benefit from it. Yep. You're just, you talk task is to clean it up for the next two days.

Aileen: Right. That's not me. That's not you. That's not me. I'm not but

Theresa: you. Yeah.

But if you know that is really gonna impact someone. Mm-hmm. It's probably still not the funnest task for you. Mm-hmm. I'll do it, but it changes.

Aileen: Oh, I'll do it. Yeah. But that's not where I'd like to spend the majority of my day. Right. Yeah. Not at all. And I'd like to have that data so that I can, you know, use it to compliment what we're doing and see how Yeah.

It is working and we're moving the needle. Yeah. I don't wanna spend the time doing all the data correcting. Right. That's not who I am. Yeah.

Theresa: Yeah. And it's [: 00:13:00

Aileen: not me.

Theresa: And it's amazing that these people, I'm an essentialist, so Uhhuh okay. I've met other people who loves it.

Um, and then we can give the tools to you Yeah. To make the impact.

Aileen: Yeah.

Theresa: Yes.

Aileen: Absolutely. And I, that's amazing. I think that that's great and it, I, if there's people out there to do better than I am, have at her. Yeah,

Theresa: I agree. I'm like, if you have everyone in the roles that. Are aligned, fulfilled, they do their best work.

Aileen: Right?

Theresa: And there is someone for

Aileen: every role, right? And, and it goes back to me being an extrovert. And I just wanna party and I wanna have to do a lot of things with a lot of people. And if there's a lot of us in the room and the same way we'd get nothing done, right? Mm-hmm. So I need to surround myself with people that are different than me.

Yes. That bring different strengths in me so that we can be. Yeah. Uh, you know, we can be a complete package.

is, I know I'm very process [: 00:14:00

Um, and that's, that's how we make How is that get the, the sum of the parts is more than

Aileen: the whole, the whole, yeah. Something like that.

Theresa: The whole of the parts is more than there's some, it's something like.

ight? What's your take on it?: 2025

Right? Is that something, is there still a future? Is there still hope or there has

oopty do now. It should be a [: 00:15:00

So even though you've got some folks out of the south of the border that are trying to, to stifle things, I think we just need to continue to speak. Speak that language and speak because there have been some individuals that have been disadvantaged all their lives, the ones that are racially, uh, and marginalized and racialized over the years.

And we've got, you know, the indigenous people that really, they started this land like this is their land and we're kind of like poaching on it. So, you know, we need to give that acknowledgement and that recognition to those individuals. Yeah. And to try and wipe them off or away or whatever. Hide them, it's not gonna happen.

Yeah, that's, so I think they're, the movement needs to continue and the people who are in that space need to continue to do that fabulous work. Yeah.

at with what we're seeing in [: 00:16:00

The silver lining for me is now we're seeing who actually believed in it. Embraced it. Yeah. Embraced it. Yeah. And who only did it for to have beautiful words on their website. Just

Aileen: box that tick box, right? That tick box. Yes.

Theresa: So now at least we know. Mm-hmm. Who actually believes in it. Mm-hmm. And walks the talk.

Mm-hmm. And who never did. It's true. Because the ones who cut it, they never really did.

Aileen: Yeah, absolutely. It was performative. Absolutely. It was purely

Theresa: performative. Mm-hmm. So I'm like, okay. At least we are very clear now. Um, and somehow it's like the good people are gonna win. Yeah.

Aileen: I think so. Yeah. And you know, when I, I, I used to say, I'm not saying this because I'm a black woman, but I am saying this because I'm a black woman.

strategy. We need to have a [: 00:17:00

Theresa: Yes.

Aileen: And that's absolutely, that's what I'm continuing to do.

Theresa: Yes. And I believe that again, I hope mm-hmm. That. Because of all the negative impacts that we are seeing. Mm-hmm. That that forces more people to speak up. Yeah. 'cause being quiet is no longer an option. No. You, it's not long an option.

Aileen: Absolute, yes. Not at all.

Theresa: And also at the same time, I know that not everyone has the privilege to speak up.

There are a lot of people who cannot.

Aileen: Yeah. And

Theresa: I have the privilege that, so they meet people

Aileen: with the voices to help them. Yeah. Yeah.

Theresa: Yeah. And I know that there's a lot of privilege that comes with being a white woman. Mm-hmm. In the us. Mm-hmm. I feel like I have that obligation to not be quiet. Good for you to bring that awareness.

Good for

Aileen: you.

Theresa: Even for my children, right?

Yeah. I don't care if you're [: 00:18:00

Yeah.

Theresa: And I might not get it right all the time, every day. No, I won't either. Yeah. We all don't. Right. But then we learn and grow. Yeah. And it's, for me, it's about being open-minded. Yeah. I, if there is something that I say that is not correct mm-hmm. Then please tell me I want to learn. Mm-hmm. I want to hear it, but I don't wanna be quiet.

Aileen: Yeah.

Theresa: I like, I feel like that is, I'm curious to hear your opinion on it, but I think for. White people, they are afraid to say the wrong thing. Yep. And then they're quiet. Yeah. And that was me for a long time. Yeah. I've actually never said that to anyone. Yeah. Um, and there was a moment where I was like, okay, what's the worst thing that I can happen?

What is the

Aileen: worst

Theresa: thing that could happen?

Aileen: Say

Theresa: the wrong thing. Maybe I'll offend someone, but, and maybe the Yeah. Who I'm helping by being quiet.

rson, but they might also be [: 00:19:00

Theresa: That's what I'm

Aileen: hoping for. And to give you that education.

Theresa: Yes.

Aileen: Right. So, you know, there's a lots of people out there who are, are, are happy to teach you what the correct is. Yes. So there's all these terms now that I don't even know. And one of the things I was thinking about or talking about is, um. Just 'cause I'm the black woman doesn't mean that I know how to solve the racism problems,

Theresa: and I don't think you should.

Aileen: I don't think I should either. No, that's not your job. But a lot of people think it's my job. But then when you start talking about it, then you become the loud black woman voice. Like you're just the angry black woman or something. Yeah. But no, that's not what it's about at all. What we're trying to do is we're trying to educate.

So that you can understand where we're where we came from. Yes. And walk in our shoes so we can see how it is to continue to move forward past this. Yeah. It's a long time coming and it's gonna be a long time getting there, but as long as we keep moving forward and not back then I think we're doing right.

[: 00:20:00

Theresa: I hope that this is, right now, if you think about the stem of like, okay, it's blocking the water right now.

Aileen: Right.

Theresa: But at some point the dam is gonna break.

Aileen: Yep. Absolutely. And I actually think this might be the push that some American Black Americans need.

Theresa: Yeah.

Aileen: Right. I think that this might be, we need to stand up.

Yeah. We need to do what we need to do. Yes. Uh, and this might might be the push that they needed.

Theresa: Yeah. And I feel like it's so important to you. Keep talking about that this is not the job of black people to, it's not my to solve the problem. It's not their job. No. It, that responsibility is on all of us.

Mm-hmm. But the more privilege you have mm-hmm. The more that is your job.

Aileen: Yeah, absolutely.

Theresa: Looking at all the white men sitting in corner offices.

Aileen: Yeah.

Theresa: Yes.

Aileen: Yeah.

Theresa: It's there. It's, it's,

Aileen: we all need to be part of that.

Theresa: We all need to be part of, we all need to be part of the conversation.

Aileen: Yes, agree.

Theresa: No matter where you come

o matter where you come from.[: 00:21:00

And you know what, um, you know, somebody that I, I worked with and when I went to college or university, got my master's degree, one of the professors used to say, just start anywhere and go everywhere. Yes. So it doesn't matter what, you know, where you come in, which part of it just start somewhere. Mm-hmm.

And then just keep going. Yes. Yes. And I love that. Yeah. That is so true. Yeah.

Theresa: You just gotta start. That's really, start that starting is the hardest step. Yeah,

Aileen: it is the hardest step. You know, like I'm a runner, so sometimes I'm like, oh, I don't really wanna run. I'm not, today I am just not in the mood. But if I start by putting on my running shoes, then everything else follows after that.

It's just, it's, it's a mindset and you just have to start somewhere. Yeah. And then there you go. Next thing you know, I'm coming back and I've run 10 k. Wow. But at the beginning I'm like, oh, please don't make me right.

it. I, I try to be a runner. [: 00:22:00

So you're starting a whole new journey. I'm a whole new chapter. I'm, I'm, so what is that looking for you? What are you starting?

adership coaching business in: 2020

And then I, uh, went back to work. So I went back to corporate and I said, okay, for two years that'll be max. Well, it's been four and a half years, so in the four and a half years I haven't been able to build that business. And now I'm, I'm exhausted, I'm finished, I'm ready to move forward and do what I, what I really am loving to do.

na learn how to market and I [: 00:23:00

Yeah. So I'm really, really excited to jump into that so I can. Scale that business and because that energizes me working with people and talking to people. Yes. Um, and although I get to do some of that at work, it's more of a draining side mm-hmm. Where people are just looking for me to solve their problems, uh, what coaching is.

I'm not solving your problems, but I'll show you how you can solve your own problems, and I will give you the script and you can figure it out. And those are the things that by asking all these deep questions, you can discover your own answers. Let them do the work.

Theresa: Yes. Yes. And it's so much more powerful than giving someone the

Aileen: answer.

Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So I'm excited for that.

u have so much knowledge and [: 00:24:00

It's waiting

Aileen: the bust out.

Theresa: Yes. It's like, share it. Let's, let's have all these light bulb moments. Yeah. And I'm like, I know all the very, very fortunate people who are gonna get to work with you, thank and benefit from your leg. Oh my God. And benefit from your experience and your knowledge. Right. They're gonna have.

All the light bulb moments.

Aileen: I'm really excited about that. 'cause all I ever wanted to do was share. Yeah. And I wish people shared with me when I was younger. Um, and I just wanna be that person who can, you could tap into and say, so I have this issue and that issue. Lemme your thoughts around that. So yeah, I'm looking forward to working with women, uh, women of color.

es just passed over. Mm-hmm. [: 00:25:00

How can you, yeah. So all of those things, I don't want them to interrupt people's movement. Mm-hmm. So. Just to try and get them to

Theresa: Yeah.

Aileen: Yeah. Okay. So it's great. You're a mom, that's great. But you know, no one else can do it. Like women, we're mothers, we're sisters, we're, you know, we're daughters, we're, you know, we're teachers, we're cooks, we're, yeah.

Yeah.

Theresa: If you are able to raise children, there's literally no job in the workforce that you cannot do. Absolutely. Absolutely. Like if you can do that job. Yeah, absolutely. There's, you can do anything else. Like everything else is a piece of cake compared to that job. Yeah.

Aileen: Exactly. Yeah. So I think it So hire women opportunity.

Yes,

ike discarding motherhood as [: 00:26:00

Aileen: Absolutely.

Theresa: Yeah. Yeah. But you said something before, you said, I wanna become, I wanna become that person.

Aileen: Mm-hmm.

Theresa: You already are.

Aileen: Thank you.

Theresa: You are already the person sharing the knowledge and you've

Aileen: always been. Yeah. Thank you. I guess it's, it's interesting because, um, I always think that when you're wrapped up in it and you're too busy doing it, you don't really, you just see it as part of Yeah. The job and, and so on.

But now I'm going to pull that piece out and it's, it's not part of the job. It's me. It's part of me. Yes. And I'm taking me out of that and putting it and nurturing it in a different, yeah, different way.

Theresa: So who are you gonna be helping and how are you gonna be helping them in the next chapter?

hip role, or who are already [: 00:27:00

So I'm gonna coach and mentor them to navigate that space. Or people who've outgrown their role, might outgrown lots of roles, but never been given an opportunity. So just helping people to move to their next chapter. So that's what I'd like to do is, is help those women. I.

Theresa: I love that.

And for all the women listening in and be like, yes, that is me. Where can they find you? Where can they connect with you?

Aileen: So they can find me on LinkedIn. Um, so I'm Aileen Edwards. My business is AIM Consulting, so AME consulting. Um, you can email me at Aim Aileen at am Edwards at, uh, aim consulting.ca.

Um, yeah, that's where they can find me. Also have a website.

Theresa: Love that. Make sure to follow Eileen. Yeah. She shares amazing content. . You're like so into getting into content creation, so I can't wait. Yeah, can't wait for all that you have coming. And thank you so much for this beautiful conversation.

I really appreciate our time [: 00:28:00

Wow. What a powerful conversation. E Elaine's wisdom runs deep and her heart for helping others lead with purpose. And clarity is just so inspiring. You can feel how much she lives, what she teaches, and how ready she is to walk alongside the next generation of women leaders, especially those who haven't always seen someone who looks like them in leadership spaces.

If you're a woman navigating leadership leveling up in your career or trying to find your voice in rooms that weren't assigned with you in mind, Alene is the mentor you want in your corner. Her combination of executive experience, grounded empathy and fierce commitment to equity is exactly what this world needs more of her contact information is linked in the show notes.

to career bloom coaching.com [: 00:29:00

Thank you so much for tuning in and I can't wait to see you back here next week.

And that's a wrap for today's episode of Career Clarity Unlocked, if you feeling stuck in that. What's next? Spiral and are ready to finally break free. Let's chat. You can book your free career clarity call where we'll uncover what's really important to you. Tackle any obstacles holding you back and map out your best next step.

Schedule your free 30 minute call today on career bloom coaching.com and before you head out, be sure to follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, so you never miss an episode. If today's conversation gave you new insights and inspiration, please leave a review. It really helps us reach more amazing listeners like you.

And [: 00:30:00