When burnout forced Gavin to rethink her career, she discovered her skills could open doors beyond the arts. With Maya’s coaching support, she built the clarity and confidence to make a successful pivot.

Meet Gavin: A Chief Learning Officer Experiencing Burnout

After working her way up into an executive position as the chief learning officer at a museum, Gavin was emotionally and physically exhausted. In the highly competitive field of arts and culture, Gavin had always been told that she should be grateful to have her job. So for years, she worked in stressful conditions, feeling underappreciated and overworked.

The burnout began to affect her health. She lost weight from poor eating habits and relied on caffeine to keep going while caring for two toddlers.

A period of illness forced her to pause and acknowledge that something needed to change. She knew she wanted out, but didn’t know what that next step looked like.

Looking for a thought partner to break the cycle of analysis paralysis, Gavin turned to Mia’s career coaching program to help her find a healthier, more fulfilling role.

Identifying Transferable Skillsets and Building Confidence

Mia’s program helped Gavin break down her museum leadership role into distinct functions and skill sets, making it clear how her strengths could translate to other sectors. One of Gavin’s biggest assets — creative problem-solving — was mapped and reframed so she could present it to prospective employers outside the arts.

Through this work and a series of informational interviews, she perfected her elevator pitch and learned to showcase her strongest skills. As she recognized more of her professional assets, her clarity grew, and her confidence in networking conversations increased. One of those interviews led directly to a referral for her current role.

Landing a Role She Loves — and Bringing Her Creativity with Her

With greater clarity and confidence, Gavin began to network effectively. One informational interview led to a referral for her current role as Chief Strategic Program Officer at a Jewish Community Center.

She now oversees programs, services, and marketing, bringing her creative approach into a new environment while working in a healthier setting with a significant pay raise.

She consciously chose to leave the museum world, but still uses her creative skills and design thinking practices to lead her new team and connect people with programs and services that foster belonging and support.

“Initially, I was hesitant about the investment, but it’s the best money I’ve ever spent. Coaching helped me refine my communication, understand my value, and land a role that excites me — with a significant pay raise. Now I know you can aim for meaningful work in a healthy workplace and be compensated accordingly.”

An Investment that Paid Off

Initially, Gavin was hesitant to start coaching with Maya because of the investment, but now calls it the best money she’s ever spent.

The coaching program has not only helped her refine her communication skills and gain a better understanding of who she is in the workplace — but it also helped her find a new job that included a significant pay raise.