Reflections on New Beginnings during Covid

Just over a year ago, on Valentine’s Day 2020 to be exact, I made the decision to resign from Burberry. A company, as well as its leaders within, which has defined my career for more than a decade and allowed me the opportunity to rise through the ranks.

Leaving a well paid and prestigious job, was not for the faint hearted, let along doing it in a Global Pandemic, but I felt a strong urge to move on, take a break and support my husband’s career, who was headhunted to Sydney. My children were young and I had a fierce instinct I would regret not taking this opportunity of a new life down under.

In the months after I finished at Burberry, life continued to be heavily impacted by Covid, in the end separating our family unit for a few months and challenging the very plans we had spent months creating.

As I sit here, in my last few weeks of freedom before starting a new role, I wanted to record my own reflections on these new beginnings this last year, so that if I ever live through something similar, I can remind myself of my own advice! Maybe in doing so, my honesty might just help others going through something similar. An incredibly successful friend of mine in the U.S. wrote of her own experiences starting a new business a couple of months back, having resigned from a CEO role during Covid and they were like a lightbulb moment for me to just keep plugging away! So here are my own thoughts on my experience over the last year. 

Self Doubt is totally natural, but don’t let it consume you! Find something to focus on....

Leaving a job you’ve worked at for nearly 15 years is daunting. At first I felt brave, then I felt completely reckless. It was like ripping off huge plaster casts that had protected me. Work and my incredible team and colleagues had consumed so much of my life that once I’d settled my kids in school here in Australia, life felt empty. There was just a big hole that incessant house cleaning couldn’t fill! To top it off, with a smaller network in Australia, those times I needed a pep talk, I found it was 3am back home which only fuelled that negative self talk. The more I talked about how I was feeling however, the more people reminded me of the real positive in this career break. Quality time spent with my family and kids. My gorgeous kids that had rarely seen me mid-week before, were ecstatic at the prospect of me being present at both drop offs and pick ups “was I serious!?”. It was a special time, and I devoted as much quality time with them as I could. Every Friday I took them to a new beach and was simply just there for them as they managed their own transition in a new country.

You are stronger and more resilient than you think...

Prior to Covid, if you had told me I would travel with both kids to Australia on my own, and stay in a hotel room for 2 weeks without leaving the room, I would have said, “**** no way!”. However, if quarantine taught me anything, it was that when the going gets tough, there’s an extra gear in the engine room, and I am resilient and strong. I knew if our grandparents could get through prisoner of war camps, I could handle a quarantine, and employ that same mental strength in the coming months when I felt things got tough. Reminding yourself of that strength of character and mindset is key at any moment in your career, but especially when navigating such a significant change, and the inevitable lack of control which you feel.

Physical exercise is a powerful self doubt antidote...

As a keen sportswoman I decided to fill it with just that. I found a tennis ?? club nearby and played as much as I could. It gave me the chance to meet new friends, something to do in the middle of the day and the part I couldn’t have predicted was the connections and introductions made by people I met. Exercise helped put everything into perspective as I navigated a new life out here and honestly kept the bad omens at bay!

Building connections is everything, remain open minded to any introduction...

In Australia, I’ve found it’s definitely very much about who you know, so never turn down a coffee or opportunity to meet with anyone. No matter how small the company, or different the industry, it just amazed me where further connections came from and how powerful those were in my progress to understand the market and where opportunities were. I was fortunate to be introduced to many people and quickly became busy fostering that network. I fortuitously met mums from the local school who worked for the same companies I was prospecting with and learnt everything I could about the culture and leadership. After each meeting I would always follow up, even if there was nothing that came of it. I was definitely thorough and diligent in my approach, keeping a little “black book” of all my meetings, my preparation and my thoughts which will certainly be a momento to look back over.

Your career is a marathon not a sprint...

I read this advice once, around the period of taking time out for my second child Tristan, and it really resonated with me. As a super driven person, I had always felt when I was younger, that any time out would be a shortcoming in my ability to reach the highest levels. I certainly had to employ this wise advice again during this situation, with an enforced break from work as a result of visa restrictions as well as the time it takes to find the right thing. A six month break is not going to ruin what is a career of 40 years. Stop the noise that tries to tell you that you will have forgotten how to ride the horse, and your brain will have turned to mush!

Be your own Champion, no one else will...

Remember only you know what your strengths are and only you can articulate them best, so make sure you have this part of your interview nailed. I learnt so much in this process, that pitching yourself and being able to tell your back story in a way that allows people to see who you are and the value you can add is critical. This was especially true in my situation where in this whole period, I didn’t interview with anyone as part of an advertised role. All of my meetings were circumstantial. I had to convince each individual that I was worthy of a job and that they should create one or re-organise around me.

Surround yourself with your supporters and check in regularly...

Trying to start over a life on the other side of the world is hard enough, so I felt strongly about surrounding myself with people, friends and family that supported me at every turn. I was lucky to meet some incredible new friends who have made me laugh and counselled me through these months. The volume of calls I’ve had with ex colleagues, mentors, best friends and close family has been extreme, especially in these last few weeks! Thank you, you know who you are!

Recruiters do not define you, search till you find one you believe has your best interests at heart 

I cannot emphasise this more highly. Too much detail of my experiences to share on this one, just make sure they are an additional support crew, rather than a detractor. Ensure you have a good rapport with them, as the ones I’ve found great throughout my career, honestly care about the people they place and it isn’t just about the paycheck.

Make choices that align with your values and objectives...

If you left a role because of something specific, then ensure that you are clear on your expectations from any future role, ensuring they align with your values. I always kept at the forefront of my mind the four most important objectives I needed as a prerequisite to taking any future role. I used that list to evaluate not only the role but also the company and the leaders within it.

Lastly when faced with a tough decision, trust your instinct...

At the end of my journey to a new role came some tough decisions on which routes to choose. In the end, I tried to listen to my gut instinct on what would be best for me, but also for our family in this new life. Sometimes I think it is true that your head has not caught up yet with your gut. I remembered the wise words of an incredible CEO at Burberry - Angela Ahrendts who said “At the beginning of every new chapter of my life, I’m insecure. I fear failure even though things have often ended up better than I dreamt. Keep yourself open to what the next thing could be.” I tried to live this mantra through this whole period and looked for signs I was making the right decision. When I kept myself open, my instinct took over and I felt complete peace with the choice I made.

So here I am two weeks away from starting a new role and I couldn’t be more excited to see where this journey takes me!