When you sense a life change is needed, you are rarely handed a clear map for how to make it. Instead, for many mid-career professionals, it begins as a quiet realization that their work no longer fits who they’ve become. Amy Krymkowski ’90 knows this well. A former HR specialist, Krymkowski is now an executive and career coach and the owner of Better Path Coaching. She helps experienced professionals and leaders find what she calls alignment, supporting them in shaping work that reflect who they are now, rather than who they were a decade or two ago. For Krymkowski, coaching is not about quick fixes or staying involved forever. It is a partnership that builds skills, provides fresh perspectives, and instills confidence so people can handle whatever change comes next.
What does feeling “stuck” in your career really look like?
I support individuals who feel stuck in their careers — unhappy, disillusioned, and unsure of what’s next. They’re looking for a thought partner and guide, someone who can help them navigate what’s happening and introduce a process or framework to get on a better path. This is especially common for people in midlife. Despite career successes, they often start reevaluating what brings them joy and where they want to spend the next 10 years. Some think about creating a second stage of their career. It can mean pivoting to something new, stepping into a different role, or using their talents in a way that feels exciting and rejuvenating. That idea of reevaluation and reinvention is at the heart of my work.
Is there a difference between coaching someone through change they chose versus change that was forced on them?
Yes, there can be. It depends on the client’s perspective and readiness. When change is forced — like a layoff — the stages of change often start with emotions like shock, disbelief, and anger. In that headspace, you’re not ready to strategize about getting a job. You need time to process what happened and why before moving into action. With chosen change, the energy is different, but readiness still matters. Some clients say they’re ready, and then we discover they’re not. Coaching meets people where they are, whether that means moving forward or pausing to address what’s holding them back.
How do you help people figure out whether they actually need a major career change?
I created a Career Alignment Assessment for leaders and experienced professionals. It looks at key areas of a person’s work experience — such as meaning and purpose, learning and growth, workplace culture, visibility, balance, and relationships — to understand where alignment is strong and where it’s breaking down. Clients rate their level of satisfaction to see how aligned they are with their current work.
If they find a notable amount of dissatisfaction, that can mean several things: maybe they’re on the wrong path, or maybe they’ve known this for a while and the assessment forces them to face it. For others, it affirms they like what they’re doing but are ready to grow. It gives people data and clarity so they can decide what action to take next.
Have you seen people change their lives without changing their jobs?
Absolutely. One client thought she needed to leave her job because she felt unhappy and pressured to make a big change. Through coaching, she realized she could stay and still pursue her passion — forest therapy. She invested in training and became a certified forest therapy guide while keeping her job. She’s now building a side hustle and an alternative career she can pivot to later. That’s the power of coaching: sometimes transformation doesn’t mean leaving your job. It means creating space for growth and fulfillment in new ways.
You emphasize reflection and pausing in your work. Why is that so important during times of change?
We live in a world of constant distraction and split attention. Many people have never experienced full attention — just sitting still and listening. Pausing creates space for awareness, and that alone can be transformational.
When we slow down, new possibilities emerge. We notice patterns, connect dots, and see things we couldn’t before. Reflection and pausing aren’t about doing nothing — they’re about creating clarity so you can move forward with intention.
Is there one question you find especially powerful for people navigating uncertainty?
I like to ask, “What is becoming more apparent to you?” It tells me what’s in their awareness — whether they’re having new insights or connecting dots. It’s not a flashy question, but it’s power-packed because it can go in almost any direction, depending on what the client says. Sometimes just reflecting on that question alone opens up possibilities they hadn’t considered.
