# 305. How to go from Founder back to Employee (Without the Shame), with Laurie MacPherson

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/truth-lies-and-work-5599780/305-how-to-go-from-founder-back-to-employee-without-the-shame-with-laurie-macpherson
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/truth-lies-and-work-5599780/305-how-to-go-from-founder-back-to-employee-without-the-shame-with-laurie-macpherson.md
Podcast: [Truth, Lies and Work](https://stenobird.com/podcast/truth-lies-and-work-5599780)
Published: 2026-05-28T18:31:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/HS5507124721.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/HS5507124721.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/truth-lies-and-work-5599780/episodes/305-how-to-go-from-founder-back-to-employee-without-the-shame-with-laurie-macpherson
Duration seconds: 2525

## Resource

Welcome back to Truth, Lies & Work, the award-winning workplace podcast where behavioural science meets workplace culture . This week, we are tackling a massive, silent trend affecting thousands of professionals: The Great Reentry . During the pandemic, thousands of people left their corporate jobs to seek purpose and flexibility in self-employment . But now, six years on, a quiet crisis is happening . Thousands of founders are realizing that business ownership is lonely, financially straining, and exhausting—and they are trying to return to the traditional workforce . The problem? They are drowning in shame, hiding their businesses, and navigating the job market completely wrong . To help us simplify the science of this messy transition, we are joined by Laurie MacPherson, a brilliant career and LinkedIn mentor who specializes in helping mid-to-senior-level women find their next roles . Laurie delivers a masterclass on how to overcome the internal struggle of "going back," why the modern job market punishes founders who apply blindly, and how to de-risk yourself to recruiters . 🔥 What We Cover in This Episode: What is 'The Great Reentry'? Laurie breaks down the stark reality behind the post-COVID freelance boom, the isolation of working from home, and the silent shame that keeps former founders from admitting they need a job . The 437-Applicant Trap: Why firing off cold CVs to job boards is a losing battle for former business owners, and why your next role is sitting directly inside your network . How to Handle the "Why Are You Leaving?" Question: Laurie shares her exact, bulletproof interview scripts to reframe your business history as a badge of courage rather than a failure . The BOLD & REAL Frameworks: A deep dive into Laurie's signature acronyms designed to help…

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