My Career Transition Story: From Corporate Executive to Midlife Career Whisperer!
Ladies, I've been thinking about sharing something close to my heart with you. I've worked with hundreds of midlife women through their own career transitions, but today I want to pull back the curtain on my career transition story – the ups, downs, and everything in between!
The Safe Path That Wasn't Serving Me
For over two decades, I built what looked like a "successful" career on paper. You see, I grew up in a small Iowa town with modest means and was the first in my family to even consider college. With this, I had two priorities in identifying my career. First was a career that would pay well and second was making my family proud. At my father’s urging and the fact that I was decent at math, I became a CPA in a large CPA firm. I worked as a CPA/Audit Leader for various companies for 22 years. From the outside, it was the perfect trajectory! My career was stable, my position was respected, and I was financially secure.
But here's what people didn't see…
The growing disconnect between who I truly was and the work I was doing. That subtle but persistent feeling that while I was good at my job, it wasn't fully aligned with my truest and most natural strengths, values, and passions.
And I hear this same EXACT story from midlife women almost daily!
The truth is, I had followed a "safe" career path into something I was admittedly "good at" in school. I checked all the right boxes and built a respectable career. But somewhere along the way… I started changing myself to fit my environment rather than finding an environment that fit me.
It finally took a MAJOR wake-up call in my family – my daughter's cancer diagnosis at age 10 – to shake me out of autopilot.
The Pivotal Moment in My Career Transition
After my daughter finished her cancer treatment, something shifted in me. I had this deep yearning to make a more meaningful difference in the world. Being an auditor just didn't seem to fulfill that calling anymore.
I remember sitting with my first coach, expressing this burning desire for something more aligned with my purpose. He helped me see that I didn't need to have steps 1-10 perfectly laid out – I just needed to take step 1, then step 2, and trust the process.
At 40 years old, I took that first step by going back to school for my Master's degree, which eventually led to my role as Director of Patient Experience at a large healthcare institution in the midwest. This was my first major career transition, and while it was closer to my purpose… I still felt somewhere deep down there was something more out there for me.
The Final Leap: When Corporate No Longer Felt Like Home
Fast forward to my mid-50s. I found myself at another crossroads. The healthcare organization I had fallen in love with for its values and mission was changing in ways that no longer aligned with my core beliefs. I was growing tired of the person I was being asked to be – because she wasn't me.
During this time, I also felt a pull towards a career where I would have a direct impact in the lives of women just like me! Midlife women searching for a career with purpose and meaning, one that would feel like home to them.
My inner critic (who I’ve fondly named Francis!) had a field day with this:
"It does NOT make financial sense to start a coaching business at this point in your life."
"You are good at the job you have now, and it pays the bills."
“People respect you for the career you currently have, what would they think of you if you change at this age?
"Why can't you just be happy where you are for the next 8 years and then retire?"
Ladies, do these thoughts sound familiar? Our inner critics are masters at keeping us small and "safe."
But somewhere deep inside, I knew that if I didn't make this career transition, I would regret it forever. I had spent years helping our organization maximize the healthcare journeys of our patients – now it was time to help midlife women maximize their career journeys.
Taking the Leap into My Dream Career
And finally, at 54, I made the decision that was equally exhilarating AND terrifying…
I left my safe and predictable corporate position to launch my coaching business focused exclusively on midlife women.
Was it scary? Absolutely. Did I have moments of doubt? More than I can count!
But here's what I discovered, ladies! The wisdom, experience, and resilience I'd built over decades made this career transition possible in ways it wouldn't have been in my 20s or 30s. I had clarity about my values, confidence in my natural strengths, and courage that only comes from living through life's challenges.
Most importantly, I finally felt aligned with my true nature – that sense of coming home to yourself that I now get to help my clients find.
What I've Learned About Midlife Career Transitions
Looking back on my own journey, here are the most important lessons I've learned about career transitions, especially at midlife:
Your career transition doesn't have to be dramatic or all-at-once. Mine happened in stages over years. The most important step is the first one because it all cascades from there!
The skills you've built are more transferable than you think. My leadership experience, empathy, visionary skills, and optimism served me well in both healthcare and coaching.
Your life experiences are your greatest assets. My daughter's cancer journey gave me perspective that makes me a more insightful coach.
Self-doubt is normal, not a sign to stop. Even now, my inner critic tries to pipe up – I've just learned to acknowledge her and move forward anyway. Hello and Good-bye, Francis!
It's NEVER too late! At 54, I wasn't "too old" to start something new. (Hint: There’s no such thing. It’s NEVER too late!) I was exactly the right age, with the perfect combination of wisdom and energy!
Your Career Transition Story Is Waiting to Be Written
Ladies, I share my story not because it's extraordinary, but because it's so common. So many midlife women feel that pull toward something more aligned, more fulfilling, more them.
The question isn't whether you have what it takes to make a career transition at midlife. You absolutely do! The question is whether you'll give yourself permission to try.
Remember this, ladies… Your decades of experience haven't just prepared you for where you are now; they've prepared you for where you're meant to go next.
If you're feeling that stirring within you for a career that truly feels like home, I want you to know you're not alone. And more importantly, it's not too late to make your move.
Your career transition story is waiting to be written. And let me tell you from experience, the best chapters may be the ones you haven't written yet!
Ready to explore what your own career transition might look like? Take my FREE Career Alignment Assessment to get clarity on your next steps!
I’m Dawn LaRae, and I help mid-life professional women gain clarity and confidence in their next career chapter so they can experience passion and purpose in their work.
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