Career pivots are on the rise as women swap familiar paths for daring new ventures.
FW’s award-winning podcast Too Much explores exactly that in its third season, subtitled The Switch.
This time, host Briana Blackett speaks to eight high-achieving women, including Google’s Melanie Silva, Lune’s Kate Reid, and Teal Independent Allegra Spender, about how they overcame their doubts to take the ultimate leap of faith from one profession to another.
“I started out as a journalist covering breaking news,s then co-founded an international news organisation. And then I became a parent and started a solo career for my two kids. My career hasn’t just changed once – it’s evolved over and over again,” said Blackett.
“I know I’m not alone. I also know I would have loved to have someone tell me exactly how they pulled it off. That’s what we’re offering listeners this season – a tapestry of personal stories that are the perfect roadmap for people who are ready to consider something different, but don’t know where to start.”
Making the switch
Fixer and Future CEO Vanessa Hunt is one of those who walked away from an elusive media career to start her own business.
“I built my career inside large, fast-moving media organisations, mostly in senior commercial, strategy and transformation roles,” she told Mediaweek.
“For a long time, I thought I was building toward a final destination. Bigger remits, more influence, greater responsibility. I thought that’s what success required of me.
“What I didn’t realise at the time was that I was also slowly editing myself to fit structures that no longer fit the world we were operating in.”
Although Hunt said nothing was ‘wrong’ enough to leave, she no longer believed the systems she was in supported long-term health, creativity or honesty.
“Some people were supportive straight away, others were confused, and a few were quietly sceptical,” she admitted.
“Leaving something stable and senior doesn’t always make sense from the outside. I had to get comfortable with the fact that not everyone would understand the move, and that their uncertainty didn’t mean I was wrong.”
Hunt said she stopped waiting for permission.
“Especially as a single mum to a two-year-old, I realised that backing myself wasn’t reckless. It was responsible. If you’re not willing to back yourself, it’s very hard to expect anyone else to,” she said.
“I’ve gone out on my own as a founder and CEO. Not as a reaction to redundancy, but as the most deliberate move of my career. All my experience led here.”
Hunt said she realised that it would never feel like a “good time” to start over.
“There’s only honest timing. And for me, this was the moment where experience, conviction and courage finally lined up,” she said.
“I trust that alignment more than any job title I’ve ever had.”
From financial services to media performance
Bench Media senior performance manager Orna Flanagan said working across industries and countries helped her build the skills she still uses today.
“Beginning in financial services, I developed strong analytical thinking and attention to detail,” she said.
“Recruitment sharpened my communication and prioritisation skills, while a summer working as a server in Chicago built resilience, adaptability and the ability to think on my feet.”
Flanagan added that living and working in Ireland, Luxembourg, the US and Australia gave her the confidence to adapt to different ways of working.
“Moving into media wasn’t about starting over, but about reframing those existing skills for a faster, more data-driven environment,” she said.
“Every role contributed to that journey, reinforcing the belief that all experience has value when you’re willing to learn from it.”