Episode #21 Career Pivot with Stella Kasdagli: From a translator through editor-in-chief to founder of a non- profit organization

Hi everyone, this is episode 21 of the "Change is possible" podcast. Let me introduce you to my guest today – Stella Kasdagli.
She is the former editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine in Greece. And following over ten years of working there, Stella realized she needed to make a career change. During this period, she co-founded Women On Top as a side hustle. Today it is a non-profit organization for the professional development of women and gender equality in the public sphere.
Stella is the author of 8 books, has translated more than 30, and has won multiple awards. Among them is the National Book Award for Young Adult Non-Fiction. Stella has experienced some interesting career changes, which I am excited to delve into and learn from today!
In this episode, we explore:
1. The start of Stella’s career — from studying French literature to becoming a translator for young adult romantic novels.
2.  The lessons she learned and the revelation she came to while working at Cosmopolitan magazine.
3.  What influenced Stella’s decision to quit her job.
4. The unique way Stella overcame her doubts and fears.
5.  What steps she took to support herself financially upon leaving her job.
6. The inspiration for Stella’s books.
7. The inspiration for and development of Stella’s non-profit organization, Women On Top.
8. Catalysts for the growth and success of Women On Top.
9. The surprising challenge Stella faced when running her own business. And the even more surprising way she adapted to this!
Stella provides three pieces of eye-opening advice for anyone planning a career pivot:
- Don’t underestimate the power of self-reflection.
- Never make a career change to prove a point — do it because you are eager to learn something new.
- Invest your time and energy in building relationships BEFORE you need anything from them.
Tune in to hear Stella’s gripping personal story!
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You can find Stella at Women on Top https://womenontop.gr/
Or through LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellakasdagli/