In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Micki Byrnes, Chief Communications Officer and Senior Advisor at Adcom, and former President and General Manager of WKYC, to talk leadership, reinvention, and the surprising career lessons learned from decades in the media. From her early dreams of being a forest ranger to leading one of Cleveland’s most visible organizations, Micki shares how she navigated career pivots, built a resilient workplace culture, and found new purpose after retirement (for exactly two weeks). You’ll hear her take on self-advocacy, the transition from creative to executive leadership, and why she still brings her lunch every day. Timestamps: 00:55 Micki’s surprising original career path and how she found her way into broadcasting 04:15 A winding road to Cleveland (and why it grew on her)07:00 How creative instincts translated to company leadership 10:10 The moment she was named President of WKYC and what she wishes she’d done differently 12:00 What the “Garage Test” says about your company’s culture 14:30 Supporting employees who are struggling with burnout or misalignment 15:50 How WKYC approached its responsibility as a public service 19:00 Untangling identity from work and navigating post-retirement transitions 23:15 What to ask yourself during any major career shift 25:00 The challenges (and urgency) of legacy media reinventing itself 27:15 Transferable skills and why companies need “an adult in the room” 30:00 Staying relevant when the world (and your feed) is changing fast 31:30 Why Micki joined Adcom and what she hopes to bring to the agency 35:00 Encouragement for anyone who feels stuck but isn’t sure what’s next Enjoying What’s Up at Work? Don’t miss an episode—subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and if you found this conversation helpful or inspiring, leave us a quick review. It helps more leaders like you find the show.