What Happens When You Trust the Leap and Let the Path Reveal Itself with Cristina Santoro

Career reinvention, courage, global impact, education leadership, intuition, purpose, becoming.

In this inspiring episode of The Journey of Becoming, Karrie sits down with Cristina Santoro, founder of Teaching Up, to explore what becomes possible when you listen to your inner knowing and take the leap, even when the path is unclear. After spending 12 years in corporate America, Cristina found herself successful on paper but deeply misaligned. What followed was a courageous decision to leave everything familiar behind and say yes to a life of purpose, service, and global impact.

Cristina shares how an unexpected relationship ending opened the door to living and working abroad, ultimately leading her to serve in five countries across six years. From launching schools and working with education startups, to serving with the Peace Corps and supporting inclusive education in under-resourced communities, her journey is a powerful reminder that zigzags often lead us exactly where we are meant to be.

You will hear how trusting intuition, taking action without overthinking, and allowing fear to become a guide rather than a barrier can radically transform both your life and the lives of others.

What you’ll learn

1. How career dissatisfaction can be the first signal of deeper alignment
2. Why action and instinct often matter more than having a perfect plan
3. How fear can become a compass instead of a limitation
4. What living and working across cultures teaches about connection and humanity
5. Why inclusive education is essential for creating lasting change
6. How one brave step can lead to a global ripple effect

Whether you are feeling stuck in your career, standing at a crossroads, or longing for a more meaningful life, this conversation will inspire you to trust yourself, lean into discomfort, and take the next step forward, even if you do not yet know where it leads.

Connect with Cristina

Learn more about her global education consulting work and inclusive training resources at Teaching-Up.com

Connect with Karrie

Learn more about The Journey of Becoming and explore executive and personal transformation at UpLevelYourLifeConsulting.com

If this episode resonates, share it with someone who is standing on the edge of a decision, because one brave step can change everything.