#72 | Why Career Setbacks Hit Your Identity Not Just Your Career & the Leadership Move That Starts the Rebuild Your Confidence.

Why does a career knockback make you question who you are, not just what you do next?When redundancy, restructure, rejection, or a toxic role knocks you off course, the impact is not just practical. It can disrupt your identity, interrupt your confidence, and make even simple next steps feel strangely difficult. In this second episode of the career comeback trilogy, Caroline explains the psychology behind why setbacks hit so hard, and why rebuilding is not about waiting to feel ready. It starts with creating small pieces of evidence that remind you what you still bring.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why losing or leaving a role can feel like a threat to your identity, not just a change in your circumstancesHow the confidence-competence loop gets broken after a knockback, and how to begin restarting itWhy your transferable skills may hold more options, confidence and direction than your old job title ever didPress play now to understand what is really happening after a career setback, and take the first small step towards rebuilding your confidence, clarity and next chapter.And to help you craft your career story on your terms grab your Career Prompt Pack right here.New episodes are released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at [email protected] - I read them all.And here is the Spotify Playlist to accompany UnShakeable Her.Unshakeable Her is the podcast for women in leadership who are ready to build real influence, earn the promotion they deserve, and lead with confidence in systems that weren't built for them. Each episode tackles the challenges that shape leadership from the inside out, including imposter syndrome, resilience, credibility, boundaries, conflict, and feedback, while unpacking how pressure, workplace politics, strategic thinking, decision-making, and visibility affect the way ambitious women grow, lead, and get promoted without losing themselves in the process.