Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking on a panel hosted by the Junior League of Pelham, curated by Rhonda Mattana of the Junior League. The topic? Career pivots—and not the polished, LinkedIn-perfect kind. We talked about the real kind—the messy, brave, often uncomfortable shifts that happen when you realize the path you’ve been on no longer fits who you are or how you want to live.
The room was filled with energy, curiosity, and honesty. It wasn’t about sugarcoating change or selling a shiny reinvention story. It was about what it really takes to pivot—whether that means leaning deeper into your current expertise or doing something completely different.
We heard from women who made bold, unexpected moves:
- One left a corporate job to become a psychologist, going back to school while raising kids.
- Another opened a bakery after years in a more traditional profession.
- One started a children’s enrichment program from the ground up.
These weren’t just career moves, they were life shifts. And every story carried its own mix of risk, clarity, fear, fulfillment, and growth.
Here are a few takeaways that stuck with me—and might resonate with anyone thinking about making a change:
- You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin.
Most people don’t pivot with a full five-year plan. They start with a feeling—a pull—and then begin to explore what’s possible from there.
- You’re allowed to evolve.
We outgrow roles, industries, even identities. That doesn’t mean the years you spent in one field were wasted, it means you’re growing. That’s a good thing.
- There’s no “right time,” only your time.
Everyone on the panel had a different timeline. For some, the shift was fast and immediate. For others, it was a long, winding process. Both are valid.
- Surround yourself with people who get it.
A theme that came up again and again: the importance of community. Whether it’s a coach, a peer group, or panels like this one, don’t try to figure it all out alone.
- Pivoting doesn’t always mean starting over.
Sometimes the most powerful changes come from reframing what you already know in a new context. A pivot can be a leap, or a smart sidestep.
I left the event inspired, not just by the panelists, but by the women in the audience who came ready to ask questions, share their own experiences, and think out loud about what might be next.
If you’re at a crossroads, wondering what else is out there, know this: you’re not alone, and you don’t need a perfect plan. You just need the willingness to ask yourself what’s next—and the courage to take a step toward it.
Big thanks again to the Junior League of Pelham for creating such a thoughtful, welcoming space, and to Rhonda Mattana for bringing us all together.
