What I learned from dozens of career changers — to get ahead, you need to let go

Women and career has been a part of my story since I was little.

My mom was a first-generation college graduate and career achievement became a big part of my identity.

When I entered the corporate world, every choice I made was based on a traditional narrative: put your head down, climb the ladder, and make money as quickly as you can.

The problem? I rarely enjoyed my work. Work should not always be easy, but after more than a decade, I questioned if it was normal to feel so disconnected. No matter what change I made to my career, I still felt ambivalent.

I started talking to other women who made big career pivots. In that process, I discovered that my story — building a career, doing everything “right”, but waking up lost — is not unique.

A few conversations turned into dozens of interviews and valuable research on why, when, and how to pivot.

Becoming a new mom less than a year ago gave me the courage to do something with my research and begin writing.

When I thought about what I want for my daughter, above all else I want her to feel comfortable in her own skin and to be whoever she wants to be.

When I looked in the mirror, and it came to my career, I realized I wasn’t who I wanted to be.

It’s why I went on a journey to learn from other women and want to share that knowledge with others.

I want to start a conversation that helps women unlock the courage required to take risks and do things differently — the courage I wish I had earlier in my career.

Follow Reclaim Your Career as I share the stories of women who made bold career pivots toward a more fulfilling, authentic career — brave women who knew that to get ahead, sometimes you need to let go.