Managing High-Performance Burnout, Switching Industries, and Fostering Curiosity Over Vision

An Interview with Jack Hagerman, VP of Community Engagement at Pasadena Humane, on high-performer burnout and a career switch from healthcare marketing to animal welfare.

My interview with Jack was a history lesson, a masterclass in switching industries, a story about high achievers and burnout, finding good mentors, and much more!

Animal welfare has been part of Jack’s fabric since he was a child, but it wasn’t until he hit a point in his career where he wasn’t connected with work anymore that he decided he needed to pursue his curiosities in this new industry.

Jack saw success from an early age when he pursued a degree in Journalism and went on to focus on PR and Marketing. Building a strong relationship with a boss and mentor, Jack was able to continue to level-up his career specifically in healthcare marking.

After a stint on the East Coast where the culture of the organization fueled his burnout, he moved to the midwest to start a farm. Yes, a farm. When I tell you this is an episode with twists and turns and 100% worth the 60 min. Investment of your time because Jack has made a few big transitions that we can all learn from in our career.

Jack’s transparency about his burnout, what led to it, and owning where he was in that season of his life will likely have you questioning your own levels of burnout.

Along with all this, Jack shares the strategies he implemented when transitioning from healthcare marketing to Pasadena Humane which was a change in industry and functional area. HINT: It was all about the cover letter. Yes, I said the cover letter - that thing you all hate writing.

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