The Career Playbook - Owning the Messy Chapters
September 22, 2026
The Career Playbook
Episode 3: Owning the Messy Chapters
In this episode of The Career Playbook, host Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg is joined by Ben Conklin for a candid conversation about owning the messy chapters of your career. Ben discusses why career growth is rarely linear, how setbacks and unconventional experiences can become strengths, and the importance of taking risks before you feel fully ready. He also shares lessons on knowing when it is time to move on, leading with vulnerability, learning from failure, and recognizing the skills and experiences that make your career story uniquely yours.
Thank you to our series sponsor, The Schar School for Government and Policy, GMU!
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