Over the past few weeks, I’ve spoken to several women in successful corporate careers who are all planning their exit.
They have great ambitions for their own businesses, exciting ideas and, perhaps most importantly, they’ve made up their mind.
That means they’ve already done the hardest part.
Every single conversation eventually arrived at the same place: fear. The real doubts that creep in the closer you get to making the decision.
Of course, you’d expect there to be worries about the uncertainty, finances and whether the business will work. But that’s not the fear I’m referring to.
It’s the fear of leaving behind the person they’ve become.
Working in corporate shapes our identity. The company name and our expertise become part of how we introduce ourselves. Mine used to be:
“Hi, I’m Aurelia. I’m a corporate event manager currently working for the sponsor UniCredit on the Champions League Final.”
In corporate, we learn how to show up in meetings, how to deal with difficult stakeholders and how to respond to office politics. We build credibility and earn trust. We find our place.
So when someone decides to leave, they’re stepping away from a version of themselves they’ve spent years creating. It’s the only professional identity they’ve ever known.
And they’re walking towards something that doesn’t even exist yet.
That is one of the hardest parts of career change. It can feel deeply uncomfortable. Especially when starting a business, the process often becomes a journey of self-discovery.
What kind of work suits your values and strengths?
What are my values and strengths in the first place?
What does success actually mean to you now?
What impact do you want your work to have?
Those are difficult questions to answer, especially if you’ve never had the time to sit with them.
A transition into self-employment requires you to build a new professional identity. One that’s intentionally designed rather than inherited through corporate achievements, promotions and job titles.
If you’re at that stage, here are 3 things I’d encourage you to remember.
Your identity is evolving, not disappearing.
Everything you’ve built over the last 10 or 20 years comes with you. Your judgement, your leadership, and your skills. Your ability to solve problems. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re simply transferring your abilities into a new environment.
Anchor yourself in the future.
When fear shows up, it’s only natural to focus on everything you’re about to lose. Instead, spend time imagining what you’re moving towards. Think about the flexibility, the meaningful work and the opportunity to build something that genuinely fits who you are today.
Consider your risks from a new perspective.
Think about staying in the same place for another 10 years. The place that no longer lights you up or energises you. The place that keeps recognising you for the same strengths year after year in your performance reviews.
What’s the risk of staying put?
That risk is often a lot greater than leaving your employment to open new doors.
If reading this feels familiar, perhaps it’s time to start exploring what your next professional identity could look like.
You don’t have to hand in your notice tomorrow, promise!
But there might be so much more waiting for you on the other side. You do owe it to yourself to become curious.
If you’re considering a move from corporate into self-employment and would like someone to help you untangle the possibilities, book a Career Strategy Session.
I’d love to hear your story.