Career shifts rarely come with a roadmap. They arrive disguised as discomfort, uncertainty, or unexpected opportunity. In this #shifthappens episode, Microsoft Communications Lead Angela Chen shows how embracing discomfort, building authentic connections, and blending life and work can help anyone thrive in moments of change.
Her journey from journalism to entertainment to tech demonstrates that intentional choices, even when uncomfortable, can build lasting careers. Her experience mentoring the next generation gives her a front-row seat to the fears, aspirations, and pressures that young professionals carry today.
“When you step outside of your comfort zone, that’s really when you grow,” Angela explains. That belief fuels everything she shares about resilience, reinvention, and navigating your career in an AI-accelerating world.
Navigating Careers in a High-Velocity Era
Angela sees firsthand how today’s workforce is shaped by two simultaneous forces: unprecedented access and unprecedented anxiety.
Young professionals are overwhelmed by comparison, perfectionism, and the fear of falling behind. Many excel academically but struggle with self-discovery. Some have never been encouraged to explore passions outside school or work. In Asia, where cultural expectations can emphasize humility and conformity, advocating for yourself can feel unnatural.
This is why Angela’s guidance always begins with the person, not the résumé. Passion, curiosity, and life outside work aren’t “extras.” They’re career differentiators.
Five Ways to Thrive Through Career Transitions
Angela’s philosophy is simple:
A meaningful career starts with understanding yourself – your joy, your rhythm, your ambitions – not just your qualifications.
Like the intern who got the job because she talked passionately about growing spring onions. The interviewer remembered her — not because of technical skills alone, but because she was a whole human being. That story underscores Angela’s point: The more interesting you are outside of work, the more compelling you become inside of it.
This foundation ties directly into the five ways Angela believes people can thrive when shift happens.
1. Step Into Discomfort
Technological change doesn’t slow down for anyone. Careers are evolving at the speed of AI, and uncertainty has become a normal part of work life. Angela acknowledges that feeling uneasy is natural, even for someone who has navigated multiple pivots.
However, she reframes discomfort as information, not a threat.
As she explains, “Anytime when you are faced with change at the speed that we’re experiencing right now, it could be uncomfortable.”
The key is to see discomfort as a space for learning. Whether you’re switching industries, moving to a new market, or adapting to new tools, the feeling of “I’m not fully ready” is often a sign that you’re growing.
You don’t wait for everything to make sense. You move forward, and clarity follows.
2. Rethink Personal Branding
In many cultures – especially across Asia – making your strengths visible can be challenging. Angela understands that tension, but she’s also firm that relying solely on “letting the work speak for itself” is no longer realistic.
In a distributed and hybrid world, people don’t automatically see the value you bring.
That’s why she emphasizes:
“You have to be an advocate for yourself when it’s necessary, when it’s suitable, when it’s appropriate.”
Personal branding is more than spotlighting yourself. It’s about helping others understand your strengths so they know when and how to work with you.
Effective personal branding comes from three behaviors:
Consistency. Show up steadily with your insights and contributions.
Authenticity. Communicate in a way that reflects who you genuinely are.
Relevance. Share content connected to your expertise and interests.
In a crowded digital world, clarity about your value becomes a strategic advantage.
3. Build Reciprocal Mentorships
Mentorship is often treated as something that “just happens,” but impactful relationships rarely form without intention. Angela’s approach is to build a personal “board of advisors” — people with different strengths and perspectives who help her navigate professional and personal decisions.
She also invests time in mentoring others, especially early-career talent who reach out thoughtfully.
Her practical guidance for finding mentors includes:
Personalizing your outreach
Referencing specific and meaningful work
Keeping your ask manageable; 30 minutes is enough
Showing that you’re acting on the advice you receive
Mentorship works best when both parties contribute. That mutual effort makes the relationship stronger and more valuable over time.
4. Blend, Don’t Balance
The traditional idea of work-life balance assumes both sides should have equal weight. However, real life rarely unfolds that neatly.
Angela favors a more integrated approach: life-work blend.
Your personal life doesn’t disappear when your workday begins, and your work doesn’t stop influencing your energy or decisions once you close your laptop. Blending acknowledges that both parts coexist and sometimes overlap.
For Angela, who manages international moves, raises three children, and navigates career transitions — this mindset is both practical and sustainable.
It also reflects the reality of today’s workforce: People want careers they’re proud of, without sacrificing the rest of who they are.
5. Pivot with Purpose
Angela’s career path spans journalism, entertainment, and tech. None of these shifts were random. Each transition was guided by three anchor questions she consistently asks herself:
What do I want out of life?
What industry excites me?
What do I want to learn next?
These questions helped her choose roles and environments aligned with her values and long-term goals.
She captures this mindset well:
“Living your best life is not meaning like, hey, every day I’m super happy. There are still ups and downs, but overall, I am on the path to where I want to be.”
Purposeful pivots aren’t about dramatic reinventions. They’re about choosing opportunities that match the direction you want to grow. With the right questions, you build a career that evolves with you instead of boxing you in.
Navigating Change on Your Terms
Angela offers a modern, practical definition of resilience: it’s not about pushing through every challenge, and it’s not about pretending constant change is effortless. It’s about making decisions that align with the life you want, the values you hold, and the direction you’re choosing to grow.
In a workplace defined by technological shifts, clarity becomes a powerful anchor. When you understand what matters to you, navigating change feels less like reacting and more like progressing with purpose.
Episode Resources
#shifthappens Research: The State of AI Report
