Nobody’s Coming to Save Your Career
When Rawan Aldobai started her career in finance, she was ambitious, driven, and quickly rising through the ranks. Yet despite being the youngest in the room and working closely with senior leaders, she felt something was missing. “On paper, I looked successful,” she recalls, “but inside I was misaligned, exhausted, and unfulfilled.”
That realization sparked a shift that eventually led Rawan to leave corporate life and launch her own coaching practice. Today, she’s an executive coach and leadership consultant who helps women break through career stagnation, advocate for their worth, and build careers that are powerful and sustainable.
In this episode of Smart Route, Rawan shares how her backstory informs the work she does today and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Here are three key takeaways:
1. Success should feel like home.
Chasing titles and bigger salaries might look impressive, but true career success comes when your path aligns with your values and the kind of life you want to live. “Clarity is power,” Rawan says. Without it, even the biggest promotion can feel empty.
2. Invisible barriers, not skills, often hold people back.
Rawan has coached professionals at every level, from entry-level employees to VPs, and she’s seen a consistent pattern: lack of recognition isn’t usually about missing skills. Instead, it’s about mindset and identity, believing you belong in the room and leading with confidence.
3. Don’t wait for permission.
One of Rawan’s strongest pieces of advice: stop waiting to be invited. Opportunities rarely come knocking on their own. Stepping up, telling your story, and taking initiative are underrated skills that can accelerate growth, no matter how industries evolve.
For Rawan, redefining success is about career strategy and building a life and work path that truly fits.
Tune in to hear her full story and practical advice on how to make that shift for yourself.
Where to Connect with Rawan
About Rawan Aldobai
As the creator of the Career Accelerator System, Rawan leverages over seven years of experience in career success and leadership development. She specializes in helping women overcome career stagnation and build fulfilling careers in today’s evolving professional landscape. With a focus on actionable strategies and proven systems, Rawan has become a recognized expert in transforming careers and lives.
TRANSCRIPT
Andrew (Host): Hey, everyone. This is Andrew Clark, host of the Smart Route Podcast, back again with another episode. Today, I’m joined by Rawan Aldobai. Did I get that right? I’m a little rusty with Arabic, but Rawan and I connected through a coworker of mine who said, “You’ve got to talk to her.”
Rawan (Guest): Yes, that’s right—you got it.
Andrew: Rawan has a really interesting career path and is doing some great work in the coaching world. She created a system called the Career Accelerator, which focuses on helping women who may be feeling stagnant in their professional careers and are searching for what comes next.
She helps bring important things to light. We had a chance to connect before this recording, and I think this conversation will be a great one. Rawan, thank you again for joining us. Could you introduce yourself briefly and share what you’re working on right now?
Rawan: Thank you for having me. I’m an executive coach, leadership consultant, and the creator of the Career Accelerator System. I specialize in helping women break through career stagnation, get promoted, and build careers they truly love.
My own journey began with trying to navigate the corporate world—balancing cultural expectations, burnout, and the pressure to prove myself at a young age. I was successful early in my career, but I always felt something was missing. Strategy helped me grow, but it wasn’t enough. What truly creates career transformation is a mix of clarity, inner alignment, and confidence that’s rooted in self-worth—not just in daily performance.
That’s why I launched my consulting company. Since then, I’ve worked with women at Fortune 500 companies, startups, and mission-driven nonprofits, helping them lead with power, presence, and of course, ensuring they’re paid accordingly—because that’s not always the case for women in the corporate world.
Andrew: For sure. Thank you for sharing that. I’d like to take it back a bit—when you were first starting out professionally, what were you thinking about your career path? Were you drawn to anything early on, or did your passion evolve over time?
Rawan: It was a mix of both. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to do something with impact. I didn’t know exactly what that looked like, but I knew I wanted to lead—not just in a traditional “boss” sense, but in a way that would have a larger impact.
Interestingly enough, I started my career in finance, which had nothing to do with what I’m doing now. Finance is important, of course, but it wasn’t the most natural fit for the type of impact I wanted to make.
Rawan: I started my career in finance. I liked math, numbers, and finance in general, but eventually it stopped making sense to me. I began doing more personal development work—things like seeking out mentors and coaches—just to figure out what the right career path might be.
At the time, I was scaling quickly. I was often the youngest in the room, sitting with senior leadership, sharing my opinions, and working closely with them. That part wasn’t a challenge, but I still felt like I was in the wrong place—even as I kept advancing.
That’s when I realized maybe I didn’t want to stay in a traditional corporate role. I saw so many women struggling to grow in their careers, and I thought, maybe I could help with that. At the same time, I wanted to carve out a new path for myself—one with more impact and more people-focused work—while still using the skills and experience I had built in corporate.
So, long story short: I left the corporate world, started my consulting company, and the rest is history.
Andrew (Host): What was it like at the beginning? Did you ever have moments of doubt—wondering if you’d made the right decision—or were you always confident this would succeed?
Rawan: Honestly, it was a roller coaster—and it still is. I remember those first few months after I quit my job. I had no real plan. I just knew I didn’t want to keep showing up in corporate anymore. So I gave three weeks’ notice and left, fueled by big ambition and faith that I’d figure it out.
But the first two months were rough. When you leave a steady job, you lose that sense of consistency. In corporate, even on bad days, you know who to go to, what’s expected, and at the end of the day, you still get your paycheck. Starting your own company is completely different.
During those early months, I’d go back and forth emotionally. Some hours I felt confident, and the next I’d feel like I was in a dark place, questioning everything.
Rawan: One hour I’d feel like I was in a dark place, and the next I’d be on cloud nine after a great conversation where I helped someone figure something out. During that time, I really questioned myself—was I doing the right thing?
I even got a really good job offer from a big company. It felt like the universe was testing me: “Is this really what you want?” I thought about it seriously. At that point, I had no clients, no business pipeline, and no income. I was just 10 days away from rent being due, with no money and no steady job.
I remember sitting there thinking, “Should I take this offer?” But ultimately, I knew I didn’t want it. I replied, thanking them for the opportunity, but declined. I’ll never forget that moment—I was literally shaking as I typed the email. My head was saying, “What are you doing?” but my heart knew: I couldn’t go back.
And funny enough, within a week I signed a couple of clients and had one of my biggest months right at the start of my business—about $10,000 in revenue. That gave me the space to breathe and the confidence that maybe I could make this work.
Those defining moments—when you choose a path despite uncertainty—shape what your career and life will look like.
I wish I could say that was the only time I doubted myself or thought about quitting, but it wasn’t. Entrepreneurship is full of moments of doubt. Not because I don’t see the impact of my work, but because of the uncertainty. At first, it was hard to navigate. Now I know it’s just part of the journey.
You have to decide what matters most: do you want the certainty of a steady job and paycheck, or do you want the bigger reward of building something meaningful? For me, the greater reward is seeing the impact I’ve made—even years later—through a conversation, a post, or the transformation of someone I’ve coached.
That always brings me back to my “why.” My purpose is the reason I started this work in the first place.
Andrew: So much of what you’re saying really resonates with me. I love how you framed it—almost as if life pushed you in this direction and you saw a door you could walk through. You knew that if you stepped through, you’d have to stay on that path and maybe give up a safer route.
That can be so scary, so I really applaud you for taking that leap of faith. I’m curious—when you were first starting, how did you find your clients? Like you said, you didn’t have a boss or a team to lean on. If money wasn’t coming in, it was on you. How did you go about building that first client base as a new coach?
Rawan: Honestly, it came down to putting myself out there—which was the scariest part. Leaving my job was hard, but telling people what I do was even harder. The fear of rejection came up, all the insecurities and self-doubt.
I started by talking to people, sharing my story, and posting online. At first, it felt so uncomfortable. I kept thinking: What if people don’t agree with me? What if I’m not good enough to help others? What if I’m just dreaming?
Social media, especially LinkedIn, became my main platform. At the beginning, I didn’t think anyone would care about what I had to say, but I showed up every day anyway. It’s been almost four years now, and I’ve posted consistently on LinkedIn five days a week since I launched my business.
I share content about my story, advice on navigating career challenges, and tools for leadership. I was surprised by the response—messages from people saying, “What you’re doing is inspiring,” or asking to hear more about my journey. Some women reached out because they wanted to leave corporate life themselves but were scared to make that leap.
LinkedIn really became the place where people could see me consistently show up, and that’s how I started attracting clients. Some days were great, with lots of engagement and people reaching out directly. Other days were quieter, but over time, the consistency built trust and opened doors.
Rawan: Of course, not every day brought results. Some days it felt like crickets—no feedback, no engagement. But I reminded myself I was in it for the long run.
One of my mentors told me something I still hold onto: If there’s even one person out there who needs to hear what you have to say, you need to show up for that person. You don’t know who they are, but they’re out there.
So even on the days when I didn’t sign a client or get much interaction, I trusted that at least one person would see my content and find value in it—even if I never heard from them directly.
That mindset kept me consistent. I focused on showing up on social media, connecting with professional women, and having real, casual conversations about how I could help. I truly believe that when you’re out there sharing value, things eventually take care of themselves.
I’d offer free clarity coaching calls, have open conversations, or share free resources just to help people. And honestly, that’s where most of my clients have come from.
Andrew: That’s great to hear. I love that approach. As someone who’s really into organic marketing—not leaning too heavily on the paid side—it resonates a lot with me.
Rawan: Yeah.
Andrew: That’s incredible to hear. What you said about building relationships by delivering value—not even with a sales pitch, just through genuine conversations—is so powerful.
Rawan: Thank you.
Andrew: I’d love to go a little deeper into what you’re doing now with your clients and the system you’ve developed. I’m sure your experiences resonate with a lot of the people you work with. But how does your system stand out from the other resources out there?
Rawan: I’m happy to share. One of the things I’m most passionate about—largely because of my own experiences—is helping women redefine what success looks like for them.
It’s not just about chasing titles or big salaries. It’s about creating a path that aligns with who they are and the kind of life they want to live. Too often, I see brilliant professionals climbing the ladder only to realize they’re on the wrong one.
On paper, they look successful. But inside, they feel misaligned, exhausted, or unfulfilled.
That’s where my work comes in. I help clients reconnect with their values and long-term vision, making sure they’re not just moving fast, but moving in the right direction.
Through my Career Accelerator System, I focus on three things that differentiate it:
- Clarifying vision. Clarity is power. If you want to stand out from the competition and the chaos, you have to start by clarifying where you’re going.
- Elevating presence. Learning how to show up as a leader, not just in what you do, but in how others perceive you.
- Advocating for your worth. Because if you don’t advocate for yourself, no one else will.
Andrew: Absolutely. I couldn’t agree more.
Rawan: Whether someone is aiming for a promotion, pivoting into a different industry, or stepping into leadership, the goal is the same: to grow their career in a powerful, aligned, and sustainable way—without burnout or imbalance.
I don’t believe anyone should have to sacrifice their life for their career, or vice versa. That’s one of the biggest things I focus on.
That’s also why I built my system to be different from so many career coaching programs out there. You often hear, “If you want to succeed, you have to work 12 hours a day.” I don’t believe that’s the only path.
Now, I’m not against hard work. In fact, the only reason I’m here today is because of hard work. But that doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your life in the process. Hard work is most effective when it’s coming from an aligned and balanced place—where you’re not just growing your career, but also your life. You don’t feel like something important is getting lost between the two.
A common pattern I see with professionals, especially women, is that they hit a ceiling. And it’s usually not because of a skills gap or lack of experience. Over the years, I’ve worked with everyone from entry-level employees to VPs, across industries. It’s rarely about qualifications.
Instead, it’s often what I call “invisible barriers.” These are mental or cultural blocks that hold people back. Even when someone is over-delivering, highly skilled, and often overqualified—when their performance is excellent—they’re still not being recognized or acknowledged.
Andrew: Mm-hmm.
Rawan: And those invisible barriers often lead people to start questioning themselves—Am I asking for too much? When in reality, the answer is no, you’re not.
That’s one of the core things I focus on in the Career Accelerator System. It comes back to clarity, alignment, and showing up in the right way so you can truly get the value you deserve from your career and grow in the right direction.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that strategy is powerful—I’m strategic before anything else—but strategy only sticks when it’s grounded in identity.
If you don’t see yourself as a leader, as someone who earns more, who succeeds, and who takes up space confidently, then no promotion or raise will ever feel sustainable. You’ll never feel fully happy in your career.
That’s why my work blends mindset shifts, identity work, and strategic clarity. The goal isn’t just to reach the next level in your life or career—it’s to make sure that next level is actually the right place for you. I often tell my clients: the next level should feel like home.
Andrew: I love that. And I think you’re right—that’s a much more sustainable approach. Now, granted, being a guy, I’ve had a lot of advantages in my life, especially professionally. But even so, what you just said about invisible barriers really resonates. I’ve experienced that same kind of self-doubt myself.
Rawan: Yeah.
Andrew: And it can take years to overcome that self-doubt. I imagine with your clients, it’s something you’re always working on. It’s not like, “Okay, I’ve conquered this—now it’s in the past.”
But I’m curious—you’ve touched on some of the common patterns you see in your clients. What other interesting trends are you noticing when working with professionals today?
Rawan: One of the biggest trends I see is the fear of making the wrong choices. I talk to so many professionals, and this comes up again and again.
People will say, “I don’t really enjoy what I’m doing right now.” I work with many people in marketing and creative industries, and they’ll often tell me: “I’m great at what I do, and I know I could do more. But I don’t feel like I’m growing here.”
At the same time, they see how fast the world is changing. There are so many opportunities they haven’t tried or experienced yet. That abundance of choice brings excitement, but it also creates fear—“What if I make the wrong choice?”
We live in a time when industries are evolving so quickly. It’s both a blessing and a challenge. People are overwhelmed by how many options they have, and that can make decision-making even harder.
Andrew: Right, absolutely.
Rawan: So often people worry, “What if I end up choosing the wrong thing?”
That’s why I always start with clarity. Having lots of choices is actually a good thing—but you need to know who you are, what you’re good at, and how you want to grow. That way, whatever choice you make is more likely to be the right one for you.
Based on my own career, I don’t really believe there’s such a thing as a “wrong” option, as long as you’re intentional. I tell my clients all the time: your next job doesn’t always have to be your dream job. Sometimes it’s just a milestone that moves you closer to that bigger goal.
As long as you’re clear on the big picture, the steps in between can shift. You should have a plan, but you also need to stay flexible. The world is changing so fast. What you thought was the “right path” five years ago may no longer apply today—and that’s okay.
It’s okay to make turns and adjustments. As long as you stay committed to your big-picture vision, you’ll eventually get there.
Andrew: Absolutely.
Rawan: So I’d say one of the biggest patterns I see lately is the fear of making the wrong choice. It stops people before they even start.
Andrew: And aside from gaining clarity about yourself and your purpose in the professional world, what are some other practical tips you’d share with listeners? For example, someone like me—I’ve been in marketing for over 10 years, but I start feeling that inner voice saying, “Is this the right path?” How do you guide people through that moment?
Rawan: The first thing I tell clients is: don’t ignore that voice. A lot of people try to shut it down, but if you’re hearing it, it’s coming up for a reason. It means there’s more you want to experience and more you want to grow into. That’s actually a good sign—it’s the start of asking, “What else can I do? What other paths can I explore?”
Of course, I always come back to clarity. But the second thing I emphasize—especially with professionals in marketing or other people-focused industries—is personal branding.
We all know how powerful personal branding is right now. It has a huge impact. And you don’t have to wait until you’re ready to make a career shift to start working on it. The best thing you can do early on is build the skills to:
- Listen deeply.
- Tell compelling stories about who you are and where you’re coming from.
- Trust your unique voice.
We’re living in a time when industries are changing fast, and job markets are evolving constantly. But at the same time, everyone is starting to sound the same. Personal branding is what makes you stand out.
Andrew: Yeah, I see what you mean.
Rawan: I think one of the most underrated things you can do is intentionally shape your personal brand. And that doesn’t mean it has to look like everyone else’s. You don’t have to follow every trend. Trends are fine—you can take inspiration from them—but the real work is getting comfortable with defining who you are.
By personal brand, I don’t just mean having a polished LinkedIn profile or a perfect résumé. Those matter but they can also get boring because everyone looks the same after a while. What really matters is asking yourself: Who am I? What do I stand for? What does success mean to me?
I always tell my clients, when you’re writing your résumé or talking about your experiences, nobody really cares about the list of tasks you completed. Yes, that’s fine to include, but the more important question is: What story are you telling through your experiences and skills?
Because if you’re interviewing for a role, the hiring manager has probably heard the same list of tasks and responsibilities dozens of times. If you’re applying for that job, chances are everyone else has similar skills too. The differentiator is the story you tell about what those experiences mean and how they connect to your vision.
Andrew: Absolutely.
Rawan: The way you stand out is through the story you tell. Whether you’re building your résumé, updating your LinkedIn, or simply having a networking conversation on a random Wednesday, you want to be able to tell your story.
How did you become the person you are in your career today? What experiences shaped you along the way?
Andrew: For sure.
Rawan: It’s about sharing how you started, how you got here, and what that journey looked like. And it doesn’t need to be some fluffy, polished image. In fact, one of the things I love about where we are right now is that people value authenticity more than perfectionism.
Of course, you don’t want to take it so far that you’re not taken seriously. But having a genuine, unique sense of who you are—that’s what opens doors. That’s what makes you stand out from everyone else with similar experiences and skills.
Andrew: Right, exactly.
Rawan: When you’re consistent with who you are, you become more memorable to anyone you speak with. That’s why I always encourage people to learn how to build their personal brand and tell their story in a unique way.
Because here’s the truth: lots of people have the same title, the same skills, and the same experiences. But no one else has your story. That’s what makes you stand out.
Andrew: And as a testament to what you’re saying, I actually got feedback from my company and teammates after I was hired that ties into this. They told me that during the interview process, they had been hearing the same kinds of answers over and over again from candidates.
Rawan: Yeah, okay.
Andrew: But in hindsight, they said my personal journey and some of my unique experiences stood out. It showed I was thinking differently, and that’s what they were looking for.
Rawan: Yeah.
Andrew: So it really does work. Does it require stepping outside your comfort zone? Absolutely—especially in a professional setting. In a job interview, for example, it might be the very first time you’re meeting people face-to-face—or maybe over a call like this.
It’s not always easy to share your story authentically in that context. But both of us can attest: it works. And I think working with a professional coach like you can really help people overcome those fears and practice those storytelling “muscles” so that when they’re in a real interview or even launching their own company, they’re prepared.
Rawan: It does, yeah.
Andrew: And it takes that mental fortitude to say, “Yes, I’m confident in myself, and I can do this.”
Rawan: Mm-hmm. True. Absolutely.
Andrew: So, Rawan, as we get ready to wrap up the episode, I want to ask you the question I always like to end with: what are one or two pieces of advice you’d give to someone just starting out in marketing?
You’ve already touched on some great points—like personal branding and storytelling—but what else would you say, maybe even to a younger version of yourself?
Rawan: My final advice would be this—and I wish someone had told me this directly early in my career: Do not wait to be invited. Do not wait for permission.
If you see a seat at the table that you want, learn how to take it. If there’s an opportunity you’re interested in, go after it.
Andrew: Yeah.
Rawan: Have the conversation—start leading. Start doing what you want to do right where you are. Don’t wait for the “perfect” opportunity or for someone to invite you into the room.
Take the initiative to advance your career. I hear people say all the time, “I’m just waiting for something to open up,” or “I’m waiting for my mentor, my boss, or my VP to provide me with the opportunity.”
The truth is—no one is coming to save you. Even the best managers and mentors, and I’ve been fortunate to have amazing ones, won’t rescue you or build your career for you.
So don’t wait for permission to lead, to explore other options, to own your voice, or to be different. No one is going to hand you that permission. You have to take control of your own career. Don’t wait for others to create opportunities for you—you have to start creating them yourself.
When I look back on my career, I realize one of the reasons I was able to grow quickly—even though I was often the youngest person in the room—was because I kept stepping up before I was even asked to.
Andrew: Mm-hmm.
Rawan: And I don’t just mean taking on more job responsibilities—that’s different. It’s about knowing how to step up by putting yourself in the right environments, joining the right conversations, and positioning yourself where the opportunities are.
Think about it this way: if you have a great story to tell, a unique personal brand, and you’re taking initiative, you’re not waiting for someone to call your name. Because truthfully, no one is going to hand it to you.
You have to show leadership—even if you don’t want to be in a traditional leadership role. The world changes because people take initiative. They take the first step instead of waiting for permission.
So if you have a personal brand, a story that’s uniquely yours, and the ambition to take initiative in your career—even though ambition sometimes gets a bad reputation—that combination is what will help you grow.
These are underrated skills, but they’ll serve you no matter how the industry evolves. People are talking about AI replacing jobs, and yes, it will change a lot. But if you know how to take initiative, own your story, and lead in your career, nothing will stop you. No market, no economy, no setback—not even global challenges.
Andrew: I think that’s the perfect note to end on. Before we close, where can listeners follow you and connect with you?
Rawan: You can always follow me on LinkedIn. As I mentioned, I’ve been sharing daily advice, tips, and insights there for almost four years—on leadership, career growth, and personal branding. Just search for Rawan Aldobai.
You can also visit my website at rawanaldobai.com. There’s a link there to schedule a free clarity coaching call. It’s a chance for people to get some guidance if they need help figuring things out.
And honestly, I’m always happy to have casual conversations. So feel free to connect on LinkedIn, send me a message, and I’d love to chat.
Andrew: That’s great. Thank you again, Rawan—and thank you to our listeners. We’ll include all of Rawan’s links in the episode description and blog so you can connect with her directly and even schedule a coaching call.
Thanks again for joining us.