From Teacher to CEO: Resilience, Risk & Reinvention

From Teacher to Entrepreneur: Sara Riedel's Resilience Journey

What does it take to leave everything you know — and build something entirely your own?

In this episode of Resilient Voices, Jessica Schultz sits down with Sara Riedel, founder of the Kala Leadership Collective, for an honest and deeply inspiring conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the courage it takes to bet on yourself.

Sara's journey is anything but linear. From her roots as a teacher, to a career in pharma, through restructuring, personal loss, and caregiving for aging parents — Sara shares how each challenge became a stepping stone to building a life and business aligned with her values.

💡 IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

How Sara transitioned from teaching to pharma — and eventually to entrepreneurship

What it really feels like to face redundancy and uncertainty — and how to move through it

Why community and relationships are the foundation of resilience

How caring for aging parents shaped her leadership and self-awareness

Practical tools for self-care when life feels overwhelming

How to overcome imposter syndrome and own your impact

Why there is never a perfect time — and why that's actually good news