289: Unlocking Potential at Every Stage of Life with Addie Swartz

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Written By Tammy Gooler Loeb

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289: Unlocking Potential at Every Stage of Life with Addie Swartz

Careers rarely follow a straight line, and Addie Swartz’s journey is a vivid example of how meaningful work often emerges from life’s twists and turns. In Episode 289 of Work From the Inside Out, Addie joins Tammy Gooler Loeb to explore how confidence, curiosity, and a willingness to see untapped potential can shape not only a career, but entire organizations.

Addie’s entrepreneurial spark ignited early, beginning with an apple-pie business she launched at age 12 to fund a school trip. That instinct to solve a problem creatively and courageously continued through her roles at Bain & Company, Disney, Reebok, and Lotus Development. Even within large organizations, Addie gravitated toward building something new, often at the edges where innovation and uncertainty meet.

As her life evolved, so did the problems she felt compelled to solve. Becoming a parent revealed how much professional talent was sidelined due to rigid work structures, inspiring her first company, Bright Ideas. Later, noticing the steep decline in confidence many girls experience during adolescence led her to create The Beacon Street Girls, a storytelling brand designed to build resilience, self-belief, and strength through positive role models.

After stepping away from work to support her daughter following a serious accident, Addie encountered another familiar challenge: how difficult it is for capable, experienced professionals, especially women, to return to meaningful work after a break. That realization became the foundation for reacHIRE, an organization dedicated not just to helping people re-enter the workforce, but to supporting them with coaching, training, and confidence as they grow.

Today, reacHIRE and its leadership platform, Aurora, focus on unlocking potential at every level, from professionals returning after a pause to those already inside organizations who want to lead, grow, and stay engaged. Addie’s message is clear: transitions are uncomfortable, but they’re also rich with opportunity. When we learn to recognize our strengths and help others do the same, we open the door to careers built truly from the inside out.

In this week’s Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about:

  • How early entrepreneurial experiences can shape lifelong leadership instincts

  • Why confidence, and not capability, is often the biggest barrier during career transitions

  • The hidden cost of sidelining experienced talent after career breaks

  • How strengths-based leadership development drives engagement, growth, and retention

  • Why meaningful careers are built through curiosity, courage, and support at every stage of life

Learn more about Addie:

Interested in individual or group coaching with Tammy?  Learn more about her coaching service.

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Affiliate Links: Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links above are “affiliate links”. This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products and services I use personally and believe will add value to my listeners. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

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About Tammy, host of
Work from the inside out

Before launching my coaching practice, I worked in mental health, higher education, public policy, and fundraising. Those experiences showed me how deeply our work shapes our sense of purpose—and now I help clients navigate change and growth so they can feel more fulfilled and aligned in what they do

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