Kristen Zavo, a former Senior Associate with Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Restructuring & Turnaround practice from 2006-2013, is now a career coach, keynote speaker and an international best-selling author. She has utilized her life experiences, knowledge and skill set to help support her clients in finding lasting fulfillment in their careers.  

In the Q&A below, Ms. Zavo shares her journey to finding gratification in her work, how the pandemic has impacted people’s outlook on their careers, and how she differentiates herself from other career coaches.

You went to work in the banking and consulting industries after you graduated with a master’s degree in business administration. Why did you initially pursue that career path?  

The focus of my master’s program was finance, so starting out, I looked at options that not only included that discipline, but that would also have plenty of variety and keep me challenged. Investment banking and consulting were two avenues that satisfied that desire.

What led you to A&M?  

After spending time in banking, followed by  a couple of years consulting for another firm, I had gotten to know the restructuring industry well. Alvarez &  Marsal was the best in the restructuring niche, so when I got the opportunity to join the New York corporate headquarters, it was an easy yes. 

Looking back at your time with A&M, what did you enjoy the most?  

The frequent flier miles! Seriously, though – that was a great perk, especially given the amount of time I was on the road. Besides that, I enjoyed being in the company of really smart and driven professionals. There was always something to learn, a new challenge to take on.

You’ve spent nearly two decades in traditional corporate jobs. What are some of your biggest takeaways from those roles?  

I’ve learned so much during that time. First, life is too short to not do work you absolutely love. Success is about more than money, title and prestige. You can have all of that, but if you’re in the wrong job, it won’t matter.  You will never be truly fulfilled in the long run. I also learned a lot about leadership – who I wanted to be (and who I didn’t want to be).  

The biggest realization though, is that each of us is in charge of our own career and life – not an employer, not our mentor, not our parents, and not society at large.  We may have an employer, but ultimately we are CEO of ourselves and our career. Only we can decide what success looks like. Only we know (and can even figure out) what we need to feel fulfilled. And only we are responsible for taking action and making it happen. This truth can feel scary at first, but it’s also super liberating. 

In addition to being a career coach and keynote speaker, you’re also the international best-selling author of Job Joy: Your Guide to Success, Meaning, and Happiness in Your Career.  Here, you’ve written that “everyone deserves a career that excites and inspires them – and the feeling of happiness and fulfillment that comes from meaningful work.”  How did you come to write the book? What do you tell people when they ask what aspects of your work provide you with joy and fulfillment?

As with many authors, my own experience is what initially inspired me to write the book. Over the course of my career, I had multiple roles and a few career changes (including time in investment banking, consulting and industry), working for some of the top Fortune 500 companies such as Lehman Brothers, NBC and Luxottica.  

I had success by all outside measures – impressive work, a great paycheck and even a fancy apartment in New York City. But I still wasn’t happy. In my journey to finding lasting career fulfillment, I figured out why I was so unhappy (it wasn’t what I thought), how to figure out what I actually wanted, and ultimately, where I would find the courage to make it happen.  

The purpose of the book, Job Joy, is to distill everything I learned into a clear and digestible process for anyone else seeking more happiness at work. In sharing what I learned and what has worked for both my clients (hundreds a this point) and myself, I hope to shortcut the path to fulfilling work for the reader.

When people ask me about the key to joy and fulfillment in one’s career, I tell them it comes down to one word: alignment. I support clients in getting real about their values, priorities, season of life, and desires for the rest of their non-work lives. It is from that place that we determine the career move that makes the most sense and will provide lasting fulfillment.

Can you share with our audience the benefits of working with a career coach? Why are some people resistant to coaching?

If you’ve got big goals (whether you’re an Olympic athlete or training for your first marathon – or whether you’re president of a non-profit or of the United States), getting support is a crucial part of success. Depending on the person and his or her goals, this support could be a community, a mentor, a therapist, or a coach.  

A few of the many benefits of working with a coach – someone who is an expert in her field and who ideally has done what you want to do (e.g. changed careers, launched a business) include:

• Learning a proven roadmap to reach your goals, personalized for your circumstances
• Increased accountability and progress tracking
• Ongoing support as you work the process (reading a book or attending a class is great, but it’s missing the coaching support to help you with challenges and questions that come up along the way)
• Unbiased feedback and full support for just you and your goals (no hidden or unconscious agendas, as can be the case with those close to us)
• More ease and speed (and fun!) reaching and exceeding your goals!
• Some extra bonus personal development along the way! My clients regularly tell me that our career work serves them in all other areas of life. I’d call that a win/win!

For these reasons, I’m finding that there is less resistance to coaching than even just a few years ago. It’s becoming increasingly common for leaders (and aspiring leaders) to leverage career coaching to gain clarity, perspective, and support to achieve their goals – whether it is landing a new job, changing careers, or managing politics and career trajectory at their current organization.

You gave an interview in May 2020 where you listed five reasons to be hopeful during the pandemic. They were a rise in community, reverence for mother nature, more flexibility at work, authentic leadership and life purpose. Are you seeing peers and clients thriving in these areas?

Yes, I’m so grateful and proud to share that my clients are still landing jobs, changing careers and negotiating promotions – even with everything that has happened in the past year. That said, while much of what I predicted in the article is already happening, I expect the longer-term effects to be even greater.

How has the pandemic affected people’s outlook on their careers? And what’s the best piece of advice you would give to someone struggling with their professional choices?

This past year has reminded us of the fragility of life, that we truly don’t know how long we have. The silver lining here is that it’s caused many of us to re-evaluate how we are living our lives – of which career is a huge part. We are craving more purpose, more impact, and more alignment in our work. We are no longer content to just settle and survive for “good enough.” 

What I’d say to anyone struggling with their professional choices:

Don’t give up. 

It’s never too late to find work you love. 

You deserve to be happy and fulfilled at work - and in the rest of your life. 

Start small by giving yourself the space and time to explore other careers and interests. 

Trust that if you are true to yourself and follow your curiosities (career breadcrumbs, if you will!), you can’t help but gain more clarity about your next move. 

And one more thing: Surround yourself with others who are also going through a similar change, and who also want more from work and life.  

Really want to supercharge your efforts? Work with a career coach ;)

How do you differentiate yourself from other career coaches?  

I’ve got a very holistic approach to career, meaning that my work with clients goes well beyond resumes and interview tips. We cover those essentials, of course. But we also do the deeper work of finding meaning and purpose - not just at work, but in life.  

I don’t just want my clients to land a job. It’s important to me that they land the right job for them, one they’re going to love in the long-term, and that supports everything else they want from life… a job where they feel seen, valued, and appreciated (and are paid well too!).  

“Job Joy” isn’t just a fun, catchy book title. It’s an entire approach and way of working – and honestly just the beginning in building a career and life that brings ultimate joy and fulfillment.

How do you define success? And to what do you credit your success?  

Success looks different to all of us, and changes as we grow. The problem is that most of us start our careers by taking on someone else’s definition of success (e.g.  graduate from a good school, land an impressive job, climb the ladder for more money and title) without questioning what’s true for us. That’s why so many of us end up unhappy even when we’re “successful” by all outside measures.  

For me, success means doing work I love, with people I love, and making a real impact. If I can be even a small part of someone’s journey to more self-love, confidence, and freedom to live life on their own terms, I’ve done my job. 

Success also means practicing what I preach – continuing to do the work myself, and to integrate that into my teachings so that the body of work is ever-evolving for both me and my clients. It also means having the flexibility and freedom to do so in a way that feels most fulfilling, supportive and inspiring for all involved (myself included!).  

I’ve got a lot to credit for my success, too much to list out here. But it I had to narrow it down to just a few things, they would be:

• Amazing + consistent support - both from loved ones and professional mentors (yep, I’ve got a coach too!) 
• An attitude of continual learning and improving on what’s working, plus a willingness to try new things and pivot when needed (that last one being especially important in the last year!) 
• A love and dedication to my work, my clients and myself

You like reading, cooking and being creative. Tell us something you’ve read, cooked and created recently.

I’ve always got a few books going at a time. A few on my coffee table right now are: 

• Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho 
• Patriarchy Stress Disorder by Valerie Rein 
• The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer (re-reading this classic) 
• A Brief History of Everything by Ken Wilbur 

Most recently I made a homemade fettucine alfredo dish with bacon and brussels sprouts – delicious and totally doable, no matter one’s cooking skills. HERE is the recipe (I recommend adding a little extra bacon!) 

Without the ability to travel, 2020 has opened me up to some new creative endeavors, like pottery, lettering, and most recently, watercolor. I highly recommend Let’s Make Art as a great way to get started.

What’s your favorite book? And why?

I’m a big fan of Wayne Dyer’s classic, Pulling Your Own Strings. I was actually introduced to it early on in my personal development journey, and coincidentally by a client when I was working at Alvarez & Marsal. The book is about boundaries and learning to live life on your own terms. It’s a great read for people-pleasers and high-achievers who fear that making their own decisions and standing up for themselves will inconvenience and anger others. 

What is the best piece of advice you have received from a mentor?

All the answers you seek are within you. You can (and should!) surround yourself with supportive people who are doing – or have done – what you want to do. And at the end of the day, only you know what is best for you. Learning to tune into that inner wisdom is worth the effort. Allowing it to guide you is the key to lasting happiness, and the best gift you can give yourself.

What is the best way for our readers to follow you online?

Connect with me on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram – and most recently, Tik Tok! – for all things career happiness! Stay tuned for my YouTube channel, launching in early 2021.