This Kaleidoscope Career - by Helen Jonsen (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A kaleidoscope is a made of pieces of colored glass that are shifted and changed to form infinite patterns and amazing images. The same can be said for the career of many women. The author defines a kaleidoscope career as one where a woman moves from opportunity to opportunity based on her fundamental skills, talents and passions, informed by her learned experience and life demands. In her nonlinear resume, as an employee, professional or entrepreneur, she has or will cross industries or sectors including from public to private four or more times. She may even have gaps caused by external forces where she retools and refocuses.

While others have used the term kaleidoscope career to understand fluctuations in the workforce, this book explores its elements, stages, outcomes and key transitions, as well as overcoming challenges like layoffs and other disruptions. Most importantly, this book is written for the individual. It will help them build unique throughlines and signature remarks for their success and help them forge their path or illustrate for others how it can be done. It will also position the success of kaleidoscope careers for hiring managers and others to understand their is great value in the experience gained through nonlinear careers.

In each chapter, the book provides kaleidoscope career stories of remarkable women (including Cherie Blaire, Paula Dean, etc.) and dives into the stories of others who will inspire anyone at any career stage.

About the Author

Helen Jonsen's kaleidoscope career includes journalist, public servant, entrepreneur, and executive at the confluence of digital media and business disruption. Helen is the host and producer of This Kaleidoscope Career, a multiplatform production of helen Jonsen media including a podcast series and other content. As a broadcast and digital journalist, Helen has been an on-air correspondent and senior producer covering local, national and international news for American and Australian networks and in senior management at premier publishers.

As a senior editor and executive producer at Forbes Media, Helen created, edited and hosted The Balancing Act plus CEO Spotlight and other series while overseeing all video news production. Steve Forbes referred to her as "our video guru." There she interviewed and told the stories of bold-faced names in business, government and philanthropy. For Working Mother Media, Helen created and edited The Most Powerful Moms vertical and expanded online blogs and service journalism for working women with families.

Helen has contributed to two books for women's audiences: The Seven Pearls of Financial Wisdom: A Guide to Enjoying Wealth and Power and Love Her, Love Her Not: The Hillary Paradox, an anthology. Her chapter, "Six Degrees of Hillary Clinton" is part memoir part observation. Helen is the author of four trade books on Australian travel and language for Americans for Hippocrene Books, NY. In addition, she has published two recently released children's books in her "Magic of the Holidays" picture book series.

Helen has worked with and advised start-ups and early-stage media firms and, more recently, she held senior public affairs roles in New York City and neighboring Westchester County. She and her Aussie husband now make their home in New York's Upper Hudson Valley. She is on the Board of the Hudson (NY) Children's Book Festival, serves on the development committee for CureSearch Children's Cancer Foundation and is a lifelong Girl Scout.