In this episode, Sarah is joined by former client Kate Dunstone, who shares her inspiring career journey from a long and successful career in higher education marketing to a senior leadership role in a completely new sector.

After 17 years at the University of Portsmouth, Kate knew she was ready for something more aligned with her values, interests and long-term ambitions. In this conversation, she shares what it was really like to leave the security of a role and organisation she’d known for years, how she built the confidence to change sector, and how coaching helped her step into a more strategic, senior role with greater flexibility.

If you’re wondering whether it’s too late to change direction, whether your skills will transfer to a new sector, or whether you’re really ready for a bigger role, this episode will give you both practical ideas and a confidence boost.

In this episode, we cover:

• Kate’s career journey from course administrator to senior marketing leader
• What made her realise she’d outgrown higher education after 17 years
• How she built the confidence to change sector and go for a more senior role
• The role coaching played in clarifying her direction and helping her take action
• Why a trustee role helped strengthen her CV and support her sector move
• How she negotiated a role with more flexibility and better fit for her life
• What helped her move from Head of Marketing to Director
• Why empathy and emotion can be leadership strengths rather than weaknesses
• What being “unstuck and unstoppable” means to Kate

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Kate and her career journey

01:50 – Kate’s current role as Director of Membership, Marketing and Digital

03:35 – Starting out in higher education and moving into marketing

06:20 – Growing into leadership and becoming more strategic

08:15 – Confidence, career progression and balancing ambition with motherhood

10:45 – Why Kate decided to get coaching support

13:00 – How coaching helped with clarity, confidence, CV and LinkedIn

15:00 – Taking on a trustee role to support a sector change

17:20 – Landing the Head of Marketing and Communications role at the college

20:05 – Going for the Director role and backing herself to step up

22:40 – What Kate wishes she’d known earlier in her career

23:35 – Reframing emotion and empathy as leadership strengths

25:10 – Kate’s experience of coaching and what helped most

27:10 – What “unstuck and unstoppable” means to Kate

28:20 – Why networking, visibility and LinkedIn still matter even when you’re not job searching

Key takeaways from this episode

Kate’s story is such a good reminder that getting unstuck isn’t always about making a dramatic leap. Sometimes it’s about paying attention to what no longer fits, getting honest about what you really want, and taking the next step before you feel 100% ready.

It’s also a powerful example of how career change doesn’t mean starting again. Kate took years of leadership, marketing and stakeholder experience and repositioned it into a new sector that felt much more meaningful and aligned.

And perhaps most importantly, this conversation highlights that qualities many women dismiss in themselves - like emotion, empathy and sensitivity - can become some of their greatest strengths as leaders.

Useful Links

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn

Episode 61 How to Create a Personal Board for Your Leadership Career

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]