Remastering Life & Work After a Corporate Career: A New Chapter

Leveraging Your Corporate Experience for Your Executive Encore

Transitioning out of corporate life can be both an exhilarating and daunting prospect, especially for senior women executives and highly skilled professionals. Reflecting on your corporate experience is crucial for personal growth and remastering your life and work in the Executive Encore phase. Whether you're contemplating entrepreneurship, consultancy, or mentoring to generate income or to pay it forward to a new generation, understanding where you've been can illuminate the path ahead.

Reflecting on Your Corporate Journey - Do the Work

Creating Your Professional Timeline

Begin by charting your life and career journey. Create a timeline highlighting key milestones, projects, achievements, and promotions. This visual representation can clarify how far you've come and illuminate the pivotal moments that shaped your personal and professional life. Mind maps or digital platforms can help you succinctly capture this information while having fun. I find mind maps invaluable for making connections that might go unnoticed or unappreciated if I default to journalling or creating a linear list of events.

My experience: My decades-long journey has been influenced by periods of personal, professional, and emotional development (maturity). Social bonds and significant life events have inspired, if not necessitated, transitions and growth. Setbacks, detours, and incredible synchronicities are on my map. I add emotion and humour to my map with notes and comments such as "I didn't see that one coming." or "Done that and won't do it again!" Through mind mapping, I can connect the dots and gain an appreciation for what has mattered most to me at various life stages and how my professional life has evolved. These points of insight and pivots help to inform my future self.

Celebrating Achievements

List your top five achievements and the skills each required. Whether launching a successful project, leading a team through challenging times, or developing an innovative solution, these achievements are the building blocks of your professional identity that will serve you in your Executive Encore phase. Reflect on how these experiences have shaped your personal and professional leadership style and contributed to your success.

Learning from Challenges

Identify the three biggest challenges you faced. What strategies did you employ to overcome these challenges? What lessons did these experiences impart? Perhaps you learned more about resilience, adaptability, or the importance of strategic planning. Recognizing these lessons can provide valuable insights as you transition to your Executive Encore.

Considering Feedback

What feedback was most valuable? Feedback from colleagues, mentors, and supervisors often reveals strengths and growth opportunities. Take a moment to reflect on the diverse feedback and praise you've received throughout your life and career. Consider how this feedback has shaped your personal and professional development as a compass for future endeavours.

My experience: Reflecting on the insights from those I respect has helped me recognize and appreciate the invaluable teachers and mentors who have influenced my character and supported me throughout my journey.

• A compassionate teacher who acknowledged my tenacity and perseverance at the age of 10 when a challenging problem brought me to tears.
• A CEO who recognized my potential and encouraged me to pursue higher education at 40, opening my eyes to new perspectives and possibilities.

Their feedback has played a crucial role in my continued growth. Both gave me a lasting vision of leadership that I was inspired to emulate.

Managing the Emotional and Psychological Transition - Be Self-Aware

Acknowledging Your Feelings

Leaving the corporate world can evoke a mix of emotions—excitement, uncertainty, anxiety, and a sense of loss. Acknowledging these feelings and giving yourself permission to experience them fully is essential. Transitioning is as much about emotional adjustment as it is about practical changes.

Building a Support System

Surround yourself with a support system comprising friends, family, mentors, and professional advisors and coaches. These individuals can provide encouragement, guidance, and a sounding board for your ideas and plans. Consider joining support groups or professional circles where you can share experiences and gain insights from others on a similar path.

Creating a New Routine

Create a daily routine incorporating self-care and activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Establishing a balanced routine can effectively manage stress and cultivate a positive mindset during this transitional period, whether practising yoga, journaling, music, sports, or old and new hobbies. Revive a neglected interest and discover new joy and enthusiasm.

Leveraging Corporate Experience for Future Opportunities - Be Curious

Identifying Transferable Skills

Your corporate experience has armed you with a wealth of transferable skills - some were assimilated as part of the job and others expanded your expertise and enthusiasm to learn. Analyze how these skills can be applied in different sectors or entrepreneurial ventures. Leadership, strategic thinking, project management, and communication are just a few highly valued skills across industries.

My experience: I loved the introduction to typing and business machines in high school. I had no idea that good typing skills and business machines would open doors for me in the ever-expanding technological world. I credit Miss Zalucki, my Grade 9 typing teacher, for teaching proper posture and technique. Six decades later, her instructions still contribute to my life and work.

Exploring Market Opportunities

Research potential opportunities that align with your skills and interests. This exploration could lead you to consultancy roles, board positions, or entrepreneurial pursuits. Stay informed about market trends and emerging industries where your expertise could significantly impact.

Updating Your Professional Profile

Revamp your resume and online profiles to reflect your experiences and skills relevant to your new career goals and aligned with current market opportunities. Highlight achievements that demonstrate your ability to adapt and excel in diverse environments. A well-crafted profile aligned with current market opportunities can set you apart and attract opportunities aligned with your aspirations.

Building and Maintaining a Professional Network - Be Selective

Reconnecting with Contacts

Notify your former colleagues, mentors, and industry contacts about your transition and future plans. These connections can serve as valuable resources for guidance, collaboration, and potential opportunities. Make sure your plans are clearly defined and well-articulated; otherwise, you may inadvertently come across as merely seeking employment. Remember, your experience has earned you the right to present yourself as a qualified and experienced professional.

Engaging in Networking Events

Engage in networking events, seminars, and conferences that resonate with your new pursuits. Connecting with like-minded professionals can provide fresh perspectives and open doors for collaboration and partnerships. However, it's crucial to approach networking thoughtfully; without intention, it can lead to exhaustion, burnout, and disappointment. Strive to elevate your network with purpose and clarity. As my father wisely said, "Surround yourself with those who play better and challenge you; you'll learn and enhance your skills."

Staying Active on Social Media

Cultivate an active presence on professional social media platforms such as LinkedIn. Share your insights, engage in discussions, and keep abreast of trends and innovative thinking. A robust online presence can significantly enhance your visibility and credibility in your new endeavours, potentially opening doors to emerging opportunities just beginning to surface.

My experience: My curious interest in AI and connecting with like-minded individuals have opened up incredible opportunities to apply my skills in my own business while learning from others transitioning into AI consulting. This represents a new frontier for those with decades of business experience, allowing them to channel their expertise into an emerging field. Innovating with AI just welcomed 200 new students into The AI Consultancy Project. Their innovative program trains individuals to establish successful careers as AI consultants.

Your Next Chapter Awaits - Be Proactive & Enthusiastic

Reflecting on your corporate experience is a crucial step in envisioning and shaping your future. By sharing your story, you can inspire others and create a ripple effect of empowerment and growth. If you're ready to take the next step, we encourage you to share your insights in the comments below.

Connect with fellow women on this exciting journey, and let’s support one another as we explore new horizons together.

Your Next Steps
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Listen to the podcast and watch interviews on YouTube with women continuing to contribute their leadership skills in their Executive Encore.

Are you ready to commit to making your Executive Encore the most incredible performance of your life? Contact Maestro to inquire about our Executive Encore programs. Let's remaster your encore phase, create a symphony, and celebrate the rhythm of life!

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