Are You Ready for a Career Change?

CareerCast - Life-long Career Development

Is a career change in your near future—or should it be? In this CareerCast, Jane Horan, global executive and founder of the Horan Group, a strategic consulting firm focusing on the acceleration of female leaders, innovation, and cross-cultural leadership, discusses the power of career change. Jane shares her knowledge, insights, and perspective from nearly 20 years of experience working throughout Asia. Together we'll answer the question, “Are you ready for a career change?” and if not, we’ll discuss the steps you need to take in order to be.

Aired February 18, 2010

Jane Horan is the founder of the Horan Group, a strategic consulting firm focusing on the acceleration of women leaders, innovation, and cross-cultural leadership. Previously, she was director of management and organizational development for Kraft Foods Asia in Singapore, where she was responsible for leading the formulation and implementation of Kraft’s employee development, talent management, and innovation workshops. 

Prior to Kraft, Jane was the executive director of organizational development for the Walt Disney Company (Asia Pacific) based in Hong Kong. While at Disney, Jane was accountable for leading all talent management, leadership development, and organization and culture change initiatives across Asia Pacific.  During her tenure with Disney, Jane designed and implemented business-driven action learning programs for high-potential talents driving innovation and entrepreneurship across business segments. Jane facilitated politically savvy workshops and provided executive coaching to women leaders across multiple business segments. 

Jane has an extensive background in cross-cultural leadership and building diverse, global teams. She has published articles and is a frequent speaker on transformational women leaders, organizational politics, employment branding, action learning, and innovation. Of late, Jane has provided workshops and coaching to executive women on positive politics, ethical lobbying, and high-integrity tactics for career and business success. Leveraging her business experience and research on women leaders, Jane now works with multiple Fortune 100 companies, NGOs, and academic institutions in the Asia Pacific Region and across Europe.    

Jane holds a board position as first vice president with PrimeTime, a business and professional women’s network in Singapore. She has published articles on women and gender issues in Businessweek, 20-first, and the Daily Leader.    

Jane is a PhD candidate with Bristol University focusing on transformational Asian women leaders and has a master’s degree in organization design and effectiveness from the Fielding Institute – California. She studied international relations and Chinese language with the Monterey Institute-California and Hunan Technical University in Changsha, China, and has a BA in social ecology and Spanish from the University of California at Irvine. Jane moved to Changsha, China, in 1985 to study and teach and has lived and worked in Asia for over 18 years.

Getting Unstuck: A Guide to Discovering Your Next Career Path by Timothy Butler (2009) 

Strategies for Successful Career Change: Finding Your Very Best Next Work Life by Martha E. Mangelsdorf (2009)

The Career Change Handbook: How to Find Out What You’re Good At and Enjoy—Then Get Someone to Pay You for It by Graham Green (2008) 

Turning Points: Managing Career Transitions with Meaning and Purpose by Lisa Severy, Phoebe Ballard, and Jack Ballard (2008) 

What Color Is Your Parachute? 2009: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard Nelson Bolles (2008) 

Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron (2007)

Planning a Career Change: How to Rethink Your Way to a Better Working Life by Judith Johnstone (2006)

This Time I Dance! Creating the Work You Love by Tama J. Kieves (2006)

Wake Up Inspired: Fuel Healthier Success and Love the Life You’re Meant to Lead by Marian Baker (2006)

Back in Control: How to Stay Sane, Productive, and Inspired in Your Career Transition by Diane G. Wilson (2004)

The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success by Nicholas Lore (1998)