Mary Olson-Menzel is a nationally recognized expert on career and workplace success. She has 30+ years of global leadership experience across various industries including media, tech, healthcare, and sports. As Founder and CEO of MVP Executive Development, she works with both companies and individuals to unlock their potential, improve business performance and catalyze growth. Her methods bring a fresh perspective to business, nurturing teamwork and driving results and success. Her thought leadership has been featured by national media outlets including NBC News Daily, Forbes, Fast Company, Business Insider, and FOX.

A member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches community and frequent guest lecturer at NYU and Northwestern University, Mary blends real-world insight with empathy and vision to inspire leaders at every level. Before founding MVP, she held senior positions in executive search and talent management, including National Managing Director of Talent for Tribune Company. Her National Bestseller, What Lights You Up? Illuminate Your Path and Take the Next Big Step in Your Career, empowers readers to align their passions with their professional purpose and achieve lasting fulfillment. This one-on-one interview shares Mary Olson-Menzel’s background and experience writing the book.

Tell us about What Lights You Up?

What Lights You Up? Illuminate Your Path and Take the Next Big Step in Your Career takes readers on a journey to find their next meaningful and fulfilling job―no matter where they are right now.

Whether you're an industry veteran pivoting between fields, a stay-at-home parent just rejoining the workforce, or a college student trying to find their footing, this heartfelt, actionable, and authentic book covers everything you need to know about getting results in the modern world of work.

Based on my proven MVP 360 Coaching method, which has already helped thousands of professionals gain clarity, confidence, and purpose, the book delivers insights on topics like:

• Developing and telling your own highly individualistic story to get noticed and hired

• Getting results from LinkedIn, social media, and personal branding

• Rocking the interview, negotiating the offer, and landing the job

• Staying on a path to vibrant success in your first three months at a new job―and the rest of your life

Filled with highly effective tips, tricks, and strategies, it is an essential guide and roadmap for everyone and anyone seeking direction in their career and beyond.

What inspired you to write What Lights You Up?

After more than 30 years working in leadership, recruiting, and executive coaching, I noticed a troubling pattern: brilliant, capable people showing up to work every day feeling disconnected from their purpose. Recent studies show that more than 50% of the workforce is burned out and that an estimated 70% of professionals aren’t truly “lit up” by what they do, and that’s a tremendous loss of creativity, energy, and human potential.

What Lights You Up? was born out of my deep desire to help people and my lifelong curiosity about what truly makes people thrive. It follows my 10-step program to help readers tap into what lights them up and find a fulfilling job. There are actionable worksheets and steps to help guide the reader towards success at any age and any stage, from a college grad to a parent returning to work, to a seasoned executive. It then takes you beyond the offer stage and first day, into a journey of leadership, empathy, and grace to create meaningful, lasting success.

At its core, this book is about alignment: bringing who you are into harmony with what you do, so your inner light doesn’t just power your own career, it helps you inspire and ignite others too.

How did your background and experience influence your writing?

My career has given me a front-row seat to how people grow, adapt, and lead when they’re truly aligned with their purpose. Before founding MVP Executive Development, I spent years in executive search and leadership roles, helping organizations build teams that not only perform but thrive. Earlier, as a television reporter, I discovered the power of curiosity and authentic connection, skills that now shape the way I coach and write.

With more than three decades of experience guiding professionals toward clarity, confidence, and fulfillment, I’ve seen firsthand the transformation that happens when people reconnect with what lights them up. That experience became the foundation and the heartbeat of the book.

What is one message you would like readers to remember?

I want readers to remember that their career is not something that happens to them, it’s something they have the power to design. What Lights You Up? is about giving people the tools, clarity, and confidence to take control of what’s next, no matter their age, title, or industry.

When you reconnect with what truly energizes you, “your light”, you can chart a path that’s not just successful, but deeply fulfilling. My message is simple: you already have everything you need to create your own success. This book is your roadmap to turning that inner spark into lasting purpose, progress, and joy in your career and beyond.

Purchasing the Book

What Lights You Up? Illuminate Your Path and Take the Next Big Step in Your Career has received positive reviews from well-known literary organizations, authors, and reviewers around the world. Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author, Marshall Goldsmith writes, “Mary Olson-Menzel masterfully transforms the concept of career building into an inspiring journey of self-discovery…this book is a must-read for any professional looking to achieve fulfillment and find lasting passion in their work.” In addition, Chris Farrell, Former Chief Strategy Officer of Mattel, Inc. writes, “Anyone looking to be more fulfilled and engaged at work should do themselves a favor and read this book immediately.”

The book is available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online bookstores. Readers are encouraged to purchase their copy today: https://www.amazon.com/What-Lights-You-Up-Illuminate/dp/1394267029

To connect with Mary and learn more about her work, visit: https://www.maryolsonmenzel.com. You can also find her on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

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