56: Stop Falling Into Your Career and Start Designing It | Casey Hasten

Career alignment isn’t just about liking your job—it’s about understanding who you are at your core, what drives you, and how you show up in the world.

In this lively deep-dive on The Learnit Lounge, host Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins welcomes powerhouse recruiter and coach Casey Hasten for a cup of coffee and a candid conversation. Together, they rip apart common myths about career advancement, reveal why high performers so often hide misalignment behind success, and map out the real (sometimes scary) work of realigning your role to your wiring. Casey shares her own hard-won lessons, from her leap out of a CFO career into recruiting, to help listeners spot misalignment, move through fear, and step intentionally into work that feels both profitable and purposeful.

Packed with practical tools, reflection prompts, and hard truths, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who guides others’ careers, or needs to confront their own.

What You'll Learn:

• What “career alignment” really means (it’s not just being good at your job or liking your role) and the four-part framework Casey uses for lasting alignment
• Why so many high performers are actually misaligned—and how success itself hides the warning signs
• The difference between career advancement, development, and authentic alignment—and why the “right” path depends on knowing yourself
• Simple yet powerful practices (like journaling and inner landscaping) that help you clarify true strengths, values, and wiring
• How to realistically navigate risk, overwhelm, and the fear of change (especially if you’re seasoned or established)
• Why authentic leadership development starts with discovering who people really are—not just teaching them what to do

In This Episode:

• 00:00 – Welcome and episode kickoff with Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins
• 01:54 – Casey’s background and story—from CFO to recruiting leader
• 04:40 – The biggest misconceptions about career alignment
• 06:02 – Casey’s own journey of misalignment (and her pivotal “aha” moment)
• 07:20 – The four parts of career alignment: wiring, strengths, values, and environment
• 10:34 – Shifting from advancement to service, and lessons from mid-career pivots
• 11:34 – Casey’s daily alignment practices (including journaling and the Miracle Morning)
• 13:58 – Why high performers are most at risk for burnout and misalignment
• 15:38 – What to do if you feel stuck or directionless at work
• 16:45 – Facing fear, comfort, and resistance to change
• 18:48 – Organizational leadership: building environments that foster alignment, not just advancement
• 21:03 – Courageous support: how Casey’s last employer helped her leap to entrepreneurship
• 22:07 – Naming and overcoming the fears that keep us misaligned
• 24:05 – Future-proofing your next leap and building safety into risk
• 25:12 – Casey’s biggest leadership lesson: the power of active listening
• 26:52 – The uncomfortable truth about leadership development (and what needs to change)
• 28:07 – How to connect with Casey and free assessment offer
• 29:03 – The Learnit Lounge wrap, takeaways, and next steps

About Casey Hasten:

Casey Hasten is a dynamic executive recruiter, professional coach, and founder/CEO of Ascend Talent Partners. Based in Texas, she brings over a decade of experience in talent acquisition, career strategy, and leadership mentoring, blending her expertise in recruiting and accounting to help organizations build exceptional teams and empower individuals to reach their full potential. As CEO of Success North Dallas, a 37-year-old networking organization, and a board advisor for the Young Executives Group, Casey’s mission is unwavering: foster the next generation of leaders through mentorship and authentic networking. Her legacy is defined by helping others grow and “ascend” in their lives and careers.

Resources & Mentions:

• Ascend Talent Partners website
• The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
• StrengthsFinder / CliftonStrengths Assessment
• Ascend Talent Partners’ Free Wiring Assessment
• Casey Hasten’s LinkedIn

Podcast Contact Information:

• Website: www.learnit.com
• Email: podcast@learnit.com
• Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.