How To Turn Rejection Into Redirection with Tianay Amat
What if the rejection that feels like the end is actually redirecting you toward what you’re meant to do next?
After more than 25 years in public education—and rising all the way to interim superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools—Tianay Amat thought she knew what the next chapter of her career would look like.
Then she didn’t get the job she thought she wanted.
That rejection forced her to pause and ask herself a bigger question: What is my purpose really?
The answer led Tianay away from the career she had spent decades building and into an entirely new chapter as President and CEO of Cincinnati Works, where she now helps people move toward economic stability, meaningful careers, and lives built around their strengths and potential.
In this episode, Betsy and Tianay talk about how rejection can become an unexpected redirection—and why changing direction doesn’t mean everything you’ve built was for nothing.
Tianay shares how she uncovered the deeper purpose connecting every chapter of her career, how knowing who you are changes the way you experience failure, and why some of the biggest turning points in our lives begin with a door closing.
They also dive into authentic leadership, building community as an adult, creating workplaces where people feel seen and valued, and why the best leaders aren’t afraid to admit when they’re wrong.
In this episode:
Why rejection can become an unexpected redirection
How to uncover the purpose underneath your career
Making a major career pivot without starting from scratch
Why failure is something you experience—not who you are
How to stop looking outside yourself for validation
Tianay’s approach to authentic, people-first leadership
Why great leaders create space for their teams to challenge them
Building community by getting uncomfortable and taking initiative
Moving from a deficit mindset to seeing people for their strengths and potential
Why investing in people creates stronger teams and better retention
Dreaming big, starting small, and giving yourself permission to change direction
If you’ve been feeling pulled toward something new but are afraid that changing direction means walking away from everything you’ve worked so hard to build, this conversation is your reminder: you’re not starting over. You’re starting with everything you’ve learned.
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