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CAREER COMPASS

Navigate Your Next Chapter With Clarity and Confidence

Individual + group coaching support for ambitious moms navigating their next career chapter

When you’re stuck between where you are and where you want to be, this is the program that will help you confidently navigate your direction.

You’re not lost.
You’re on the edge of rediscovering yourself.

This is where you start finding your way forward.

Join the Open House-- Jan 15 or Jan 23
Schedule a Free Discovery Call
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Find Your Direction.

Step Into Your Next Chapter.

Career Compass

CLARITY. CONFIDENCE. COMMUNITY.

Individual + group coaching support for ambitious moms navigating their next career chapter

Your roadmap to clarity, confidence, and purposeful change.

Career Compass helps you reconnect with who you are today, define your direction, and take confident, aligned action toward a career that feels like you today.

Whether you’re ready for a complete career pivot or simply want to feel more fulfilled where you are, Career Compass combines a proven framework, a community of like-minded moms who truly get it, and accountability to help you move forward with clarity and purpose.

This is for you if you...

  • Spent years climbing the corporate ladder and that no longer feels aligned

  • Want something more fulfilling and more energizing but don’t know what “more” looks like

  • Realize it’s time to redefine success on your own terms

  • Pour so much into work, home, and motherhood, yet something still feels out of alignment.

  • Feel uncertain about how to re-enter the workforce in a way that reflects who you are today

  • Find yourself in a toxic work environment and know you deserve better

  • Have een laid off (or fear you might be) and want to explore your next chapter

  • Crave direction, a next step in your career that actually fits who you are today

  • Feel afraid to leave your comfort zone, but even more afraid to stay stuck

  • Crave work that energizes you, not just work that pays well

    Career Compass meets you exactly where you are and helps you move forward with clarity and direction.

The Career Compass Framework

Creating Action from Clarity

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    Step 1

    KNOW YOURSELF TODAY

    Rediscover your strengths, values, and priorities

  • Illustration of a human head with a gear inside, connected to three emoticons representing happy, neutral, and sad moods, indicating emotional regulation or mental health.

    Step 2

    QUIET THE INNER CRITIC

    Rebuild confidence and self-trust.

  • A symbol showing an arrow pointing straight up and two arrows branching left and right, indicating options to go forward, left, or right.

    Step 3

    UNCOVER WHAT’S POSSIBLE

    Identify exciting, realistic next steps and paths.

  • An icon of a hand holding a group of people representing community or support.

    Step 4

    LEARN, NETWORK & TEST

    Build momentum through guided experimentation

  • A circular icon with a clock face and arrows indicating a cycle, featuring a large checkmark over the clock.

    Step 5

    CREATE YOUR ALIGNED PLAN

    Turn clarity into confident, sustainable action.

What You’ll Gain

Career Compass is your guide to the next right step.

  • A clear definition of success for this chapter of your life
    So you stop chasing someone else’s version of “enough” and start making grounded, confident decisions.

  • Clarity on your direction
    Including 1–2 aligned career paths that fit your skills, values, and real life, not just what looks good on paper.

  • A clear, realistic plan for what’s next
    A focused action plan with prioritized steps, so you know exactly where to put your energy and attention.

  • Language and confidence to talk about your experience and direction
    So networking, interviews, and conversations feel natural instead of awkward or forced.

  • Momentum and follow-through
    So you stop spinning, move forward with intention, and adjust your course without losing confidence.

  • A coach who’s been there
    Offering honest guidance, perspective, and support as you navigate uncertainty and make decisions.

  • A supportive community and built-in accountability
    So you’re not doing this alone, and you keep moving forward even when self-doubt creeps in.

  • Practical tools you can return to again and again
    Frameworks to quiet the noise, evaluate options, and recalibrate your direction as your life and priorities evolve.

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Success Stories

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“Through the power of the course’s exercises, I was able to effectively navigate, prep and negotiate for opportunities that fit within my desired life plan.   I still have to pinch myself to believe that I landed my dream job at Pinterest AND the opportunity to consult in areas of business and clients I am most passionate about. I truly could not have manifested this reality without the tremendous support from Dara."

-Caitlin Engler, Lead Client Partner, Pinterest (Executive Pivot)

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“Through Dara’s guidance and the amazing group, I gained clarity and confidence. Her support was instrumental in helping me decide to (and feel brave enough to) launch my own business, Project Partner with Ruthie. I’m so grateful for Dara’s leadership and the community she has built.
I truly wouldn’t be here without them.”

-Ruthie Baruch, Project Partner with Ruthie, (Pause to Entrepreneur)

Why It Works

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Most career programs focus on quick fixes: resumes, job boards, and surface-level strategies.

Career Compass goes deeper.

It works because:

  • It helps you understand who you are today, not who you were before kids, before burnout, or before your confidence took a hit.

  • It gives you space to explore your options with clarity instead of pressure.

  • It blends strategy with mindset, because you can’t take action when your inner critic is running the show.

  • It offers support and accountability inside a community of women who get it.

This isn’t about forcing yourself into the next available job. It’s about building a direction that actually fits your life now..

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Success Stories

Woman with brown hair, wearing a white shirt, sitting in a craft or clothing store surrounded by racks of clothes and a wooden table with various items.

After committing to Dara’s program I was able to take an honest look at who I am and pursue doing exactly what I wanted to do. We began working together in February and by the following September I signed a lease to open my own retail store, The Stand, in Rye, NY. Now, I’m beginning an incredible new chapter and I don't think I could have arrived here without her. I would tell anyone who is looking for clarity, guidance, and happiness that this program is worth its weight in gold. It is a GAME CHANGER.”

-Betsie Carroll, Owner The Stand, Rye, NY (Pause to Entrepreneur)

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As I prepare to start my next chapter, a huge thanks to Dara who played the combined role of coach and confidence booster. Her framework helped me clarify what I really wanted, what I needed, and how to make decisions that aligned with both. I was able to really hone in on what is important to me in my career and figure out where I should focus my next step on.

-Jill Hittman, CMO, Axcel Learning (Executive/Pause Pivot)

Two Paths, One Clear Destination

CORE

✔ Ten group coaching calls across 5 months

✔ Office hours for additional accountability and individual check-ins

✔ A private What’s App group for group connection between sessions

✔ Guided modules and reflection tools

✔ A community of like-minded women on the same path.

V.I.P.

  • ✔ Ten group coaching calls across 5 months

    ✔ Office hours for additional accountability and individual check-ins

    ✔ A private What’s App group for group connection between sessions.

    ✔ Guided modules and reflection tools

    ✔ A community of like-minded women on the same path.

PLUS:

✔ Four private coaching sessions

✔ “Coach in your pocket” support from Dara whenever you need it most.

Success Stories

  • "I want to HIGHLY recommend Dara Astmann as a career coach. She has been so skilled at helping me cut through my nonsense, figure out what was holding me back, and giving me clear and actionable steps to take to move forward and achieve my goals. She understands the challenges of being a working mom, and her thoughtful guidance and perspective are truly on point. TOTALLY WORTH IT!"

    Amy M (Executive Pivot)

  • "Working with Dara has been amazing! The group turned out to be extremely helpful! It was reinforcing to hear group members' feedback and ideas and they were a great group of cheerleaders. My mentality surrounding my career has totally shifted to one of many infinite possibilities. I'm so excited what the future holds for me professionally! A huge thank you to Dara for helping me get to where I am now."

    Lauren C (Pause to Pivot)

  • “This program was transformational and an investment in my well-being. It was the approach that finally moved me to action, that shifted my thinking and gave me the confidence to make true and meaningful changes. I gained the clarity and the confidence I needed to move forward. I would highly recommend this program to anyone that feeling stuck, unaligned, dissatisfied. It is absolutely worth it."

    Jessica T. (Executive Pivot)

  • "I started working with Dara after leaving a tough job that left me burned out. She helped me get clarity on what I wanted through thoughtful questions, helpful resources, and a framework that guided my next steps. I always left our sessions feeling clearer, more confident, and like I’d made progress. I’m grateful to have found Dara and worked with her during a challenging period in my career."

    Nadine (Executive/ Pause to Consultant)

  • Honestly, I could not have imagined being where I am 3 months ago. I am working on something I am passionate about, I am building something for my community with like-minded women. I am learning so much, on so many fronts. The group is a safe place to explore your ideas and desires. It is all just moving ahead. If I wasn't accountable to Dara, I would not be in the position I am in right now.

    Lisa Nadler (Pause to Volunteer Leader)

  • My biggest milestone has been achieving clarity around my career priorities, and in doing so helped me shift my perspective. I realized how unique my current work situation is and that I can think about adding other opportunities rather than turning away from it completely. This group helped me break free from negative thought cycles and learn things about myself that will forever change how I approach work.

    Abby (Part-Time Freelance)

Next Cohort Launching Feb 3, 2026!

Let's do this!

JOIN TODAY TO STOP SPINNING AND START MOVING TOWARD A PATH THAT FEELS RIGHT.

Join the Open House on 1/15 or 1/23
Schedule a free discovery call
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Hi, I’m Dara

For a long time, I believed success meant following a clear, linear path - doing the right things, checking the boxes, and pushing forward, even when something felt off.

After nearly 20 years in media and ad sales, and navigating my own career evolution as a mom, I realized something important: the path that once made sense doesn’t always fit forever and that doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re changing.

My work is rooted in helping women redefine success on their terms, rather than blindly following a version of success they chose years ago. I believe careers are made up of chapters, not straight lines, and that pivots, pauses, and moments of uncertainty are not setbacks, but invitations to realign.

Career Compass was born from this belief. I created it for ambitious women who have done “everything right” but feel stuck between where they are and where they want to be. To help them slow down, get clear, and confidently choose what’s next based on who they are today.

Want to see if this is right for you?

Schedule a free discovery call to learn more about Career Compass and see how it can specifically support you in reaching your goals.

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Let's Chat

Any Questions?

  • The next co-hort will launch February 2026.

  • Tuesday 12p-130p ET. Office hours will vary.

  • We will set up a call and make sure it’s a mutual fit and that you will be able to reach your specific goals in this program.

  • There is a VIP option which includes individual sessions as well as “coach in your pocket” support.

    For individual-only I have limited packages available. Reach out to discuss.

  • Pricing for Career Compass Core starts at $2,997, VIP starts at $4997 with monthly payment plans available.

Next Cohort Launching Feb 3, 2026!

Take the next right step.

YOU’RE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. LET’S FIND YOUR DIRECTION.

Join the Open House on 1/15 or 1/23
Schedule a free discovery call