What do you do when you’re laid off twice, navigating uncertainty, ego, identity, and the grief cycle—all while building cat social-media stardom on the side? Today’s conversation is a blueprint for resilience, reinvention, and redefining your worth beyond your job title.

In this episode, I sit down with my long-time friend and fellow engineer-turned-high-achiever, Laura Hubelbank, who has built a 20-year career in engineering and program management—and survived two major layoffs with clarity, humor, and the most grounded energy you’ve ever met.

We dive into what it’s really like to lose your job, not once but twice, and how Laura navigated the emotional, financial, and identity rollercoaster that comes with career upheaval. From the shock and grief of 2020 to the more recent 2025 layoff, she shares the shifts that helped her stay confident, connected, and strategic rather than spiraling.

Laura opens up about self-reflection, defining your professional brand, leveraging your network without shame, and why being honest about your gaps is one of the most empowering moves you can make. She also explains why she’s taking a career break right now—and how FIRE, financial prep, and pickleball are shaping her next phase.

And yes, we also talk about her two orange cats, Zoey and Ziggy, their 7-million-view video, and why recording cat content might just be the unexpected interview-prep hack you never knew you needed.

What You’ll Hear ✔️What it feels like to be laid off with zero warning—and what it feels like with a year’s notice

✔️How to use self-reflection as the first step in any job search or pivot

✔️Red flags vs. real fit: choosing interviews, companies, and roles that align with your values

✔️Why networking isn’t shameful—and how to do it even if it terrifies you

✔️How practicing for interviews can start with something as unexpected as… cat videos

“You have to be at peace with yourself. Bitterness doesn’t serve you—clarity does.”

If this episode hit something deep, share it with a friend who’s navigating job uncertainty or a big pivot.

Grab your free Heart-Aligned Career Transition Starter at https://www.leadintact.com/freebies/heart-aligned-career or Book 20-min consultation call https://leadintactwithlaura.as.me/free-consultation

You can follow Zoey and Ziggy’s fun antics here:

• https://www.youtube.com/@zoeyzestyclaws

• https://www.instagram.com/zoeyzestyclaws/

If you’re already spiraling about family questions, January reinvention pressure, or worst-case career scenarios that haven’t even happened yet—this episode is for you. Let’s talk about choosing a delusion that actually moves your life forward.

The holidays have a funny way of cracking us open. One minute you’re on a gratitude walk feeling grounded, the next you’re mentally rehearsing how to explain your career choices to your family and panicking about what January is “supposed” to look like.

In this solo episode, Laura gets radically honest about the mental spirals that high-achievers fall into—especially after leaving a “successful” corporate career or standing at the edge of a big pivot. From anxious over-planning to toxic positivity to the seductive “new year, new me” fantasy, she breaks down the most common delusions that keep us stuck.

Using tools from The Adult Chair framework, Laura introduces a playful but powerful concept: choosing your delusion on purpose. If your brain is going to make things up anyway, why not choose a mindset that actually supports courage, movement, and aligned action?

This episode is equal parts validation, mindset shift, and gentle kick in the pants—ending with an invitation to step into the only delusion worth choosing: the Hopeful Hero.

What You’ll Hear

✔️ Why your brain creates stress over scenarios that haven’t happened (and may never happen)

✔️ The four “delulu” mindsets high-achievers fall into during career transitions

✔️ How anxious over-planning creates analysis paralysis

✔️ Why toxic positivity and overnight reinvention don’t lead to real change

✔️ What it actually takes to create sustainable identity-level transformation

✔️ How to “proceed as if success is inevitable” without bypassing reality

“If you’re going to be delusional anyway, you might as well pick a delusion that serves you.”

If this episode hit close to home and you’re ready to stop spinning and start moving, head to https://www.leadintact.com/freebies/heart-aligned-career to download the Heart-Aligned Career Transition Starter or book a free 20-minute clarity call at https://leadintactwithlaura.as.me/free-consultation Support is here when you’re ready.

What happens when two best friends follow a whisper, trust their intuition, and build a business that helps an entire profession shine? This episode is a masterclass in partnership, pivots, and the power of listening to what your life is trying to tell you.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Danielle Avila and Laura Bettencourt—the dynamic duo behind LD Coaching and two women who turned burnout, intuition, and a whole lot of growth into a thriving coaching business for dental professionals and beyond.

Their story began in dental hygiene school, evolved through parallel career paths, and eventually led to a pivotal moment when Danielle heard the quiet whisper of “there has to be more.” What followed was a series of courageous choices, personal development practices, mindset shifts, and a leap into the unknown that changed everything.

Together, we explore what it means to truly listen to yourself, how to create space for intuition when life feels full, and how powerful it can be to build something with someone who believes in your highest potential as much as you do.

From burnout to breakthroughs, from clinical practice to coaching, from individual growth to shared purpose—this conversation is packed with heart, honesty, and actionable wisdom for anyone considering a pivot or partnership.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

✔️How burnout and personal growth intersected to spark a business idea

✔️The evolution of LD Coaching: teams, study clubs, CE, 1:1 coaching, and more

✔️The realities of running a business with your best friend ✔️How to know if a partnership is right for you

“Your intuition already knows. You just have to create enough space to hear what it’s been trying to tell you.”

If this episode inspired you to follow a whisper of your own—or made you rethink what’s possible with the right support—share it with someone who needs it today.

You can connect with Danielle and Laura at @diamondgirlscoaching on Instagram or visit www.ldiamondcoaching.com.

To explore career pivots, clarity work, and aligned leadership, visit me at https://www.leadintact.com/freebies/heart-aligned-career or book a free 20-minute clarity call at https://leadintactwithlaura.as.me/free-consultation