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From Park Ranger to Salesforce Pro: Navigating Career Pivots with Alex Warneke

✨ How do you go from scuba diving in the Channel Islands to configuring customer data systems in Salesforce?

Alex Warneke did just that—and brought all her storytelling, science, and communication skills along for the ride. In this episode, I chat with Alex, a data storyteller, Salesforce consultant, science communicator, and rock-climbing digital nomad.

Her path is anything but linear—and that’s exactly the point. Together, we explore what it means to cultivate transferable skills, how to manage career pivots (especially when they involve walking away from your “dream job”), and what it looks like to build a life you love—on your own terms.

From her early days with the National Park Service to working for 3 years on the road visiting the US and Europe, Alex reminds us that growth rarely happens without stress and that it’s okay—essential even—to redefine success along the way.

🎙️ What We Talk About:

  • The power of transferable skills in a lifelong career
  • Burnout and disillusionment in climate work
  • What it really takes to pivot into tech from science
  • Traveling the world while working remotely
  • How to separate your identity from your job title
  • Finding intention (and stability) after the dream job fades
  • Advice for early-career professionals (and those ready to leap)

🌊  Key Takeaways:

  • Just because you’re starting something new doesn’t mean your past experience is irrelevant.
  • Burnout can be a catalyst for reinvention.
  • "Choose your hard": staying stuck or pushing through a pivot—both are challenging.
  • Don’t wait until retirement to live your dreams—take the trip, climb the mountain.
  • Career development isn’t linear; it's a mosaic made of lessons, jobs, and people.
  • Build a life around your values, not your job description.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

“Adaptation doesn’t happen without a stressor. Stress is a feature, not a bug.”

“If you don’t tell your story, someone else will—and they might get it wrong.”

“I’m here to say: your experience does count. Learn to connect the dots.”

🎧 Listen to this if you are:

  • Thinking about making a big career change
  • Burned out from your current role and wondering what’s next
  • Curious about digital nomad life or remote work transitions
  • Passionate about science, data, and storytelling
  • A career pivoter who needs a confidence boost

🔗  Links + Resources:

📚 Alex’s Recommended Reads:

  • Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
  • Atomic Habits by James Clear
  • 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

Music by Lidérc.

#careeradvice #careerpivot #sustainabilityjobs #climatejobs #nonlinearcareer #digitalnomad #salesforce #consulting