Claire Campion has spent more than two decades navigating the fast-moving worlds of technology and HR, leading teams and guiding leaders at companies like Google, Grammarly, and MTV. Her career has been shaped by high-pressure environments, constant change, and the kind of challenges that test not just skills but resilience.
But after years of operating at that pace, Claire reached a turning point. A mix of professional turbulence, personal loss, and deep reflection led her to step away from the corporate ladder and build something of her own: a coaching practice dedicated to helping women navigate transitions, rediscover their confidence, and step into what’s next with clarity and courage.
Through her VITAL framework (Values, Identity, Trust, Abilities, and Legacy), Claire works with women who are often standing at a crossroads, feeling burned out or stuck, yet sensing there’s something better on the other side. Her approach blends strategic insight with compassion, challenging the myths and mindset traps that hold so many back.
In this conversation with Exeleon Magazine, Claire Campion shares the pivotal moments that shaped her path, the lessons she’s learned about leadership and self-belief, and the tools she uses to help women not just survive change but thrive because of it.
Claire, you’ve spent over 20 years in tech and HR at industry giants like Google, Grammarly, and MTV. What was the pivotal moment that led you to transition from corporate leadership to coaching women through change?
Over the past several years, I found myself increasingly involved in fast-paced, high-stakes roles that were constantly evolving. Being a People Business Partner in tech is a bit like being an ER doctor; there’s rarely a calm day. You’re juggling restructures, layoffs, cultural shifts, and supporting leaders and teams, each facing their own urgent challenges.
After two decades at that pace, I hit a point where it no longer felt sustainable or energizing. The turbulence in tech and AI made me reflect: Is this the kind of work I want to keep doing? Around that time, I also took leave following a family bereavement. It gave me space and perspective. Seeing the fragility of life up close reminded me that we don’t have endless time to do the things we really want to do.
That experience helped solidify my decision to finally build the coaching business I’d been dreaming about, something that directly supports women through transitions. In early 2025, following changes in leadership and an acquisition at my company, I had an opportunity. I had some savings, and I asked myself: If not now, when? You never feel fully ready to walk away from the credibility and stability of a well-known path. But I believe growth happens in the messy middle, not in the waiting room. Having supported hundreds of leaders through complex transitions, I knew I could bring that same strategic lens to coaching women.
Working at these giant companies must have come with both opportunity and pressure. What did those years teach you about leadership—and about yourself?
Absolutely – working in fast-paced, innovative companies meant learning from incredibly smart, driven people. It also meant minimal downtime. The best leaders I worked with shared a few common traits: they genuinely cared, showed up with integrity and humility, and knew how to balance sharp thinking with deep compassion. Success didn’t always look loud. Some of the strongest engineering leaders I worked with were the quietest in the room, yet the most trusted.
As an HR leader, I sometimes encountered executives who didn’t value the role of a strategic People Partner. Early on, I spent a lot of energy trying to prove our worth. Over time, I learned to pick my battles. If someone wasn’t open to partnership, I either found alternative ways to work or moved on to collaborate with leaders who were.
What I’ve learned about myself:
- Relationships are everything.
- Listening is more powerful than speaking.
- EQ is just as critical as IQ. The ability to read a room is gold.
- Always advocate for yourself.
- I’m more resilient and capable than I ever gave myself credit for.
You often say, “You’re not stuck—you’re just on the edge of something better.” What does that mean to you personally, and how do you help women see that edge more clearly?
Feeling stuck is usually a signal from life that something needs to shift. Often, we’re not truly stuck; we’re just out of alignment or trying to force a path that no longer fits. When we take a step back, we realize there are other roads, ones we might not have seen while deep in the forest.
Years ago, I was laid off after just three months in a role that wasn’t the right fit. It felt like failure at the time. But being suddenly available led me to apply for a role at Google, something I might not have had the nerve to do otherwise. That “break” opened a whole new chapter of my career. That’s what I mean by the edge of something better.
When I coach women through career transitions, I meet them where they are. Everyone’s timeline and process are different. I focus on building trust, asking the right questions, creating space to think clearly, and gently nudging them beyond their comfort zone. Sometimes, that means mapping out scenarios side by side. Other times, it’s about noticing the quiet truth hiding in their words. Most of the time, they already know the answer. They just need support to see it, and a gentle push to act on it.
Many of the women you work with are navigating burnout or identity shifts. What tools or practices do you use to help them rebuild energy, vision, and trust in themselves?
Burnout and identity shifts often go hand in hand. When women come to coaching, they’re not just tired, they’re questioning who they are without the job title, the pressure, or the responsibility of always being the strong one.
The first step is to quieten the noise. We slow things down so they can actually hear themselves again, beyond the obligations, the fear, or what looks good on paper.
I developed the VITAL framework to guide this process. (VITAL stands for Values, Identity, Trust, Abilities, and Legacy, the five pillars I’ve found to be essential when navigating deep professional and personal transitions.) It combines reflection and practical tools to help women reconnect with what matters most. We strip back the layers to uncover values, identity shifts, blind spots, and hidden strengths. The work isn’t always comfortable, but it’s deeply clarifying.
Depending on where they are in their journey, we might use:
- Energy audits to spot what’s draining vs. energizing them
- Career mapping to trace patterns or shifts
- Decision frameworks to separate instinct from fear
- Or simply give them space to name the things they’ve been avoiding
We also challenge limiting beliefs, such as tying self-worth to productivity or needing to “earn” rest. Trust starts to rebuild when they begin honoring what they need, not just who they think they should be.
My role is to help them hear their inner voice again and trust that it’s guiding them somewhere better.
What are some common myths or mindset traps you see women fall into during career pivots, and how do you help them move past those blocks?
One of the most common myths is: “I should be happy with my current job.” On paper, everything looks great: the salary, the benefits, the title. But inside, they feel flat or quietly burning out. Because nothing is “wrong,” they feel guilty for wanting more.
Another trap is the fear that a change might make things worse. “What if I lose the flexibility I’ve fought so hard for?” This is especially true for caregivers, or for women who’ve found a way to make a demanding role work within the constraints of their lives. So even if they’re unhappy, they stay.
Then there’s the sunk cost mindset: “I’ve invested so much to get here, I can’t just walk away.” But staying in something that no longer fits just because of past effort only compounds the cost. We work to shift the question from “What will I lose?” to “What do I stand to gain?”
Another common trap is thinking that you need total clarity before making a move. But clarity rarely comes first; it emerges through action, reflection, and iteration. The goal isn’t a perfect plan, there’s no such thing!. It’s forward momentum and a deeper trust in yourself along the way. If you don’t like the future, you can always pivot again.
Much of my work involves helping women untangle their internal narratives, rebuild trust in themselves, and realize they’re not starting over; they’re starting from their experiences.
What’s one transformation you’ve witnessed in a client that really stayed with you? What made it powerful—for her and for you?
One woman I worked with had been in the same role for over a decade. On paper, she was successful, respected, and reliable—a “safe pair of hands.” But underneath, she felt completely disconnected from her work. Her confidence had eroded over time, and she’d come to believe she didn’t have much to offer outside of that specific company or role.
What made the transformation so powerful wasn’t just the outcome, though she did land a new role that lit her up. It was watching her reclaim her voice. Once we started peeling back the layers, her original ambition and creativity came flooding back. She began speaking up more, setting boundaries, and exploring new paths not out of panic, but from a place of curiosity and self-belief.
For me, it was a reminder that confidence isn’t about being loud or fearless. It’s about remembering who you are, before the burnout, before the self-doubt crept in, and before you lost yourself to the corporate world. That kind of shift doesn’t just change someone’s career, it changes how they show up in life.
What does the future look like for Claire Campion? Any new programs, group experiences, or ideas you’re excited to bring into the world?
Currently, I’m focused on continuing to grow my one-on-one coaching practice and deepening the impact of my VITAL framework, which has resonated strongly with women navigating career crossroads.
But I’m also listening closely to what’s needed. I’m exploring a small-group experience where women can move through the framework together, with space for reflection, peer support, and accountability. I’ve seen how powerful it is when women realize they’re not alone in their doubts or ambitions.
Further down the line, I’d love to create workshops or retreats that blend career coaching with rest, reflection, and real connection. Many of the women I work with are craving space to think, breathe, and reset.
At its core, my mission is simple: to help women take up space and let their light shine – on their own terms. To step onto the big stage (terrified or not). Baby steps count. Every step is a step.
Too many of us spend our lives thinking about making a change. But while we wait for life, life happens. (As Seneca said.) And while you’re busy doubting yourself, others are out there doing it and succeeding.
Step forward. Take your proper place. You 100% deserve it.
The format of my work may evolve, but that purpose will always stay at the heart of everything I do.
To learn more about Claire’s coaching work or to book a complimentary 30-minute clarity call, visit https://clairecampion.carrd.co/ or connect with her on LinkedIn.
