Meet Emily: Leaving Corporate to Build a Career Aligned with Her Life

The Crossroads: A Pivotal Career Shift

For over a decade, Emily built her career at the same company—investing time, energy, and ambition into climbing the corporate ladder. But after having her first child and completing maternity leave, something inside her shifted.

"My values no longer aligned with my employer, and I couldn't imagine giving 40+ hours a week to a job I wasn’t fully invested in—especially when the tradeoff was time with my baby and family."

She had spent years excelling in her career, but now, it didn’t feel like the right fit anymore.

So she did something bold.

✔ She took a few months off to reset and re-evaluate.
✔ She gave herself space to explore what she truly wanted.
✔ She started building a new venture that aligned with her passions.

This wasn’t just about leaving a job—it was about creating a career that allowed her to be present for her family in the ways she wanted.

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The Challenges: Identity, Confidence & Feeling "Sharp" Again

• Losing the Structure of a Traditional Job
  "For 15 years, my identity and sense of pride came from my career. Suddenly being unemployed with so much white space was mentally and emotionally challenging."

Going from a high-achieving professional to someone figuring out their next step wasn’t easy. She had to redefine what success looked like—without the corporate validation she had relied on for so long.

• Rebuilding Professional Confidence
  "As I eased back into networking and professional conversations, I struggled to feel ‘sharp.’"

Her brain felt out of practice. She was still sleep-deprived, breastfeeding, physically not feeling like herself—and trying to switch back into work mode took more effort than she expected.

"It felt like I had to re-train my work brain muscle, and it took a while to feel sharp again."

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What Worked: Structure, Support & a Financial Plan

• Creating a Structured Work Routine
  "I blocked off at least four hours a day, left the house, and went to a coffee shop or co-working space. Working at home between naps and feeds just wasn’t working."

She realized that dedicated, uninterrupted time was crucial to rebuilding her momentum.

• Having a Support System to Make It Possible
  She leaned on:
  ✔ A supportive partner
  ✔ Childcare to allow for work time
  ✔ Friends in similar life stages who were also navigating career shifts
• Financial Planning to Reduce Pressure
  "From the time I got pregnant, I knew I would leave my job post-maternity leave, so my partner and I planned our finances accordingly."

Having a financial cushion gave her the ability to explore without stress, which was a privilege she acknowledged.

"It allowed me to take time off and build something new without feeling pressured to jump into another job right away."

The Tools & Resources That Helped

📌 A Strong Support Network – Friends who were navigating similar career transitions provided emotional support and knowledge-sharing.
📌 Therapy – She continued her weekly therapy sessions, which helped her process the identity shift.
📌 Legal Services – She used a trusted legal service to set up her LLC, ensuring her business was structured properly.
📌 Mixing Board – A marketing/comms professional organization that provided access to both consultants and corporate leaders, helping her shape her business.

Each of these played a role in helping her transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship with clarity and confidence.

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Advice for Parents Considering a Career Shift

✔ Be Honest About What You Truly Want
"If you're feeling burnt out and love the idea of more time with your kids, but also want a certain executive-level title and guaranteed comp, starting a consulting business might not be the right move."

✔ There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Solution
"Some people find happiness in stepping away entirely, while others find it in switching to a more flexible corporate role. It’s about knowing what’s right for you."

✔ Forget the Idea of “Perfect” Work-Life Balance
"Balance looks different for everyone. The key is knowing what aspects of work and family bring you the most fulfillment—and structuring your career around those priorities."

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Emily’s Both& Moment

Emily’s story proves that you don’t have to choose between ambition and family—you can build a career that blends both.

✔ She experienced both career success and the freedom to explore new possibilities.
✔ She faced both moments of uncertainty and a newfound sense of alignment.
✔ She built a life where she could both work on something she was passionate about and be present for her family in a way that felt right.

This wasn’t about walking away from work—it was about walking toward something better suited for the life she wanted.

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Why This Story Matters for Both&

• Challenges the Idea That Staying in Corporate Is the Only Path to Success – Shows that leaving can open doors to more fulfilling opportunities.
• Encourages Parents to Take Time for Self-Reflection – Before jumping into the next job, ask yourself what actually aligns with your values.
• Provides a Realistic Approach to Career Pivots – Emily didn’t just quit—she planned, structured, and built something sustainable.‍
• Reinforces That Work & Family Can Coexist in a Way That Works for You – Success doesn’t have to look like climbing the traditional corporate ladder.