Candace Thompson-Zachery: How Six Certifications and One Big Pivot Led a Dance Executive to Menopause Coaching at 40

Former Dance/NYC co-executive director Candace Thompson-Zachery shares her journey from 20 years in arts advocacy to launching a menopause and wellness coaching practice at age 40. This episode explores career transitions in midlife, building courage capital through curiosity, and why women's growth mindset peaks in their 40s. Candace discusses her path from founding Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE on a $20K budget to getting six certifications in two years, including menopause coach, wellness coach, and Clifton Strengths coach. Learn how she developed "yearning" for her work, why she views her gray hair as earned badges of honor, and practical strategies for pivoting careers without having all the answers first.What You'll LearnCareer pivot strategies for midlife including how to leverage 20+ years of experience in a new fieldMenopause and perimenopause support for women maintaining high performance during hormonal transitionsBuilding courage capital at 40+ by developing yearning instead of waiting for readinessOvercoming perfectionism and the delayed tactics of collecting endless certificationsStrengths-based leadership approaches for artists, creatives, and organizational leadersNetwork as insurance - how relationships built over decades become your safety netGrowth mindset in midlife - why women's learning capacity peaks in their 40sExecutive wellness strategies encompassing movement, nutrition, mindset, and hormonal healthHow to start before you're ready using beta testers and small experimentsReframing time after 40 - why five years feels manageable instead of dauntingTimestamps00:00 - Introduction & Nutrafol sponsorship message01:00 - Nomination from Charisma J02:00 - Welcome & intro to Candace Thompson-Zachery04:15 - 20 years in NYC's dance and arts ecosystem05:30 - Evolution from dancer to arts advocate06:45 - Founding her own dance collective on $20K08:00 - Navigating doubt vs. curiosity in career evolution10:15 - Motherhood as a catalyst for new confidence11:30 - Reframing time and readiness at 4013:30 - Career coaching and six certifications journey14:15 - Becoming a menopause coach15:00 - Community support during transitions16:30 - Network as insurance and resource inventory18:00 - Starting without all the data19:15 - Developing "yearning" for the work21:30 - Analysis paralysis vs. energizing vision23:30 - Lowering the perfectionist voice through doing24:30 - Hustle as insurance25:30 - Beliefs about aging from first to second half of life27:30 - Gray hair as earned authority29:00 - Feeling groundedness and calm at 4030:15 - Advantages of doing brave things as we age31:45 - Diminished self-consciousness about others' perceptions33:00 - When did you think you'd feel like an adult?34:00 - "It's never too late" - reframing possibilities35:30 - Finding the essence beneath the dream36:30 - What yearning feels like in daily work38:00 - Who inspires you: Sydney Mosley39:00 - How to support Candace's work40:30 - Executive wellness and menopause specialization41:30 - Closing thoughtsKey TakeawaysOn Career Pivots:You don't need all the data before making a change—you've never had all the dataStart with a beta tester or willing friend before launching publiclyYour network from decades of work becomes your insurance policHedge your bets: build the new thing while staying open to full-time workFive years of doing anything will make you... Get full access to The Uplifters at www.theuplifterspodcast.com/subscribe