<p>Sometimes the doors we think are closed are just leading us toward a bigger arena of possibilities we haven&#39;t seen yet. In this thoughtful conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Carlee Wolfe—strategist and coach with 20+ years leading talent and transformation at brands like Under Armour, Hyatt Hotels, and the U.S. Olympic &amp; Paralympic Committee—who helps people navigate career challenges with clarity instead of urgency.</p><p>Carlee shares her journey of falling into work she loves while acknowledging the doors that closed along the way. She reframes networking as &quot;connecting to learn&quot;—expanding your limited options by getting curious about what others are doing. For introverts, she offers gentler entry points: start with a neighbor doing something interesting, or find groups that match where you are.</p><p>She gets practical about AI—not as something to fear, but to get curious about and build skills in, because we&#39;re all using it whether we&#39;ve opted in or not. She explains why staying &quot;at least on pace&quot; matters for long-term career growth and encourages using AI itself to start learning.</p><p>Carlee shares insights from coaching Paralympic athletes, including the powerful advocacy question: &quot;Is it accessible?&quot; She explains how the same principles apply to careers—making the box bigger so more people can play, rather than fighting to fit into small spaces. She introduces the Three C&#39;s (Curiosity, Clarity, Confidence) as both a planning tool and diagnostic when you&#39;re stuck.</p><p>Whether you&#39;re facing career uncertainty, feeling overwhelmed by change, or looking for permission to explore what&#39;s possible, this conversation offers compassion and practical tools for moving forward.</p><p>Bio:</p><p>Carlee Wolfe is a strategist, connector, and coach helping people and organizations thrive through change. With 20+ years of leading talent, culture, and transformation across global brands like Under Armour, Hyatt Hotels, Apollo Education Group, and the U.S. Olympic &amp; Paralympic Committee, she specializes in turning strategy into behavior that sticks.</p><p>Beyond corporate work, she coaches athletes (including Paralympic hopefuls) and serves on nonprofit boards shaping workforce development and recreation. She believes transformation and career growth don’t have to be complicated - she bring stories, strategies, and tools that help people move forward with purpose. Her work is practical, reflective, and focused on forward motion – helping people move with clarity rather than urgency.</p><p>She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC).</p><p>Connect with Carlee:</p><p>Website: https://aceandarrowconsulting.com/</p><p>LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carleeawolfe/</p><p>Books mentioned:</p><p>Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport - <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781455586660"><u>https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781455586660</u></a></p><p>https://amzn.to/3NLfwBT</p><p>Podcasts mentioned:</p><p> 10% Happier with Dan Harris - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/10-happier-with-dan-harris/id1087147821</p><p> Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/id1345682353</p><p>———</p><p>Enjoy this Podcast? If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!</p><p>Questions? Contact me through my website, www.PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!</p><p>———</p><p>This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.</p>