What no one tells you about career changes

An in-between, not quite the old self, not yet fully the new one.

The invisible weight of transitions

We often talk about career transitions as exciting projects. A fresh start o new possibilities.

And yes, sometimes, they are.

But what we talk about less…is what we leave behind.

The identities we once loved and no longer are.

Because even when the decision is fully owned, even when it’s the right one, there’s often a sting. A quiet grief that needs tending.

And more often than not, we carry it silently.

Because people around us say: “You’re so brave!” “You must be so proud!”

And yes, we are. So much. But…

You don’t shed an identity like you change a shirt

For me, that grief didn’t show up all at once. Not dramatically. Not overnight. But in waves.

I left a director role I truly loved. A position where I grew, thrived, and led with heart. Where I supported teams, made important decisions, and felt a deep sense of impact.

But it was also a role that had defined me, for years. In the eyes of others and, without realizing it, in my own.

I left to reconnect with meaning, to create, my way. To stop holding parts of myself back. I’ll say it again: no regrets.

But it took me a while to understand: I hadn’t just changed roles.

I had let go of a version of myself.

And even now, feeling more free, more aligned than ever, there are still moments when my chest tightens.

When I run into a former colleague. When I think back to a team win or when I remember the rush of immediate impact.

The complexity of who we are

We love clear labels; Manager. Entrepreneur. Employee. Mother. Visionary…

But the truth is: we often carry multiple identities at once, and in the midst of change, we sometimes feel like we have to choose. As if we can't be all of it.

Am I still a leader if I no longer have a team?

Am I still credible if I’m starting over?

Am I losing something, even as I gain my freedom?

Those questions don’t always make it onto LinkedIn (although I’ve shared mine there 😉).

But they exist and if you’re asking yourself any of them, you’re not alone.

And you what are you leaving behind?

Maybe you’re in the middle of it. Maybe you’ve already taken the leap or maybe you feel something shifting, but can’t quite name it yet.

Wherever you are, I invite you to hold space for both truths:

Yes, you are evolving. But you also have the right to love who you once were, you have the right to feel a little torn and you have the right to honor what once was, even if you know you’re not going back.

So let me leave you with two questions:

What am I leaving behind?

and

What do I want to carry forward, differently?

There’s no rush to answer. Just… give yourself the space to wonder.

A space to reflect

Changing direction doesn’t always mean starting over.

Sometimes, it simply means redrawing your path, with more clarity and more humanity.

And if you feel like you’re somewhere between two versions of yourself, I offer you a space to make sense of it all, at your own pace, and without pressure.

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