It’s All About You
Your career, your future, and what's possible. That’s what we're here to talk about.
But first, let me tell you how I got here.
"Career transitions don't require leaps of faith. They require strategic experiments."
— Janelle Howell
After 20+ years in corporate HR, training, and communications, I knew it was time for a change.
I was ready for something different. I felt like I'd accomplished everything I could in that world.
But it wasn't until I was wrapping up a corporate training session that I got my real answer. A participant lingered behind - aqua glasses, fire engine red hair, and a question I'll never forget:
"How do I figure out if this is even the right career for me anymore?"
I gave her a standard answer about professional development and staying focused. But as she walked away, I felt it in my stomach: I'd just given her a surface answer to a soul-deep question.
She didn't need better skills. She needed to reimagine her entire path.
And I couldn't help her with that (not in my current role, anyway).
That moment changed everything.
It led me to leave corporate training and launch Life Design with Nelle, where I help mid-career professionals test career options before making expensive mistakes, so they don't waste years in the wrong place, or pursuing a path that was no longer satisfying, like I almost did.
Want the full story?
My Story
Now let me tell you more about the people I help.
Who I Work With
I specialize in working with mid-career leaders (typically Managers, Directors, and VPs) who find themselves at a high-stakes professional crossroads.
Which One Are You?
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The Stuck Achiever
You have no shortage of accomplishments: a great salary, team, and loads of respect from your peers. But it just doesn’t do it for you anymore.
You’ve invested years building this career, and the thought of starting over feels terrifying. You're stuck between staying in a role that drains you and risking everything for something unknown.
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The Restless Expert
You've been in your field for 15-25 years. You're good at what you do, maybe even great. You know your job inside out, but you've outgrown your role, your industry, or the constraints of corporate life.
You're curious about what else is out there, but every option feels risky or unclear. You're stuck between the security of what you know and the pull toward something more aligned with who you are now.
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The Burned Out Leader
You've been grinding for 20+ years, delivering results, managing teams, and doing what's expected. But the cost has been too high and you’re just exhausted, putting a strain on your relationships and your health.
Either way, the thought of another year like this feels unbearable, but you don't know what else you'd do. And you can't afford to just walk away without a plan.
You don’t have to stay stuck.
And you don’t have to blow it all up to move forward.
My Approach:
How I Work
I don't believe in "follow your passion" or "just quit and figure it out." Those mantras are outdated and counterproductive to professionals, setting you up to fail in the long run.
I believe in testing before investing, (or designing), not throwing caution to the wind. When you take small, strategic steps you get real data, so you can move forward with confidence, not fear.
That's why my coaching is built around experimentation: you'll test career options while you still have stability, gather real information, and make decisions based on experience (not guesswork).
Background Snapshot
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20+ years in corporate training and HR, and communications
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Master of Science in Organization Development & Leadership
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Facilitated training for government and education sectors
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Specialized in soft skills development and training design
Ready to Write Your Next Chapter?
You've read my story.
Now let's talk about yours.
Book a free discovery call and we'll explore whether this program is the right fit for where you are and where you want to go.
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