The Biggest Shift in My Career Didn’t Come From a Promotion

When we think about career growth, it’s easy to picture milestones like promotions, new roles, or big projects. But for me, the most transformative shift didn’t come from any of those things.

It came from stepping away.

After my third child was born, I took a year and a half off. At the time, it felt like a pause in my career. In reality, it was the reset I didn’t know I needed. That space gave me clarity about who I was and how I wanted to show up — not just as a professional, but as a whole person.

When I returned to work, I came back more grounded, more balanced, and far more comfortable in my own skin. That shift changed how I led and how I navigated everyday situations.

With Development Leaders

Before, if another leader raised complaints about my team, I took it personally. I assumed it reflected badly on me. After my break, I approached those conversations differently. I still gave feedback to my direct reports, but I also used those moments to open bigger conversations: How could we, as leaders, create an environment where issues could be addressed directly? What once discouraged me became an opportunity to build trust and collaboration.

With Executives

I used to second-guess myself, holding back ideas until I had every detail figured out. Coming back, I chose to speak with confidence, focusing on why I believed in the idea and the impact it could have. One of those conversations with an EVP didn’t just validate my approach — it opened the door to a new product area, a pivot into a larger market, and ultimately, a much better experience for my team.

The Bottom Line

When you shift the way you’re being — how you perceive a situation and how you show up — you naturally shift the outcomes. The ripple effect of that is often much greater than you expect.