Natalie's Success Story: Moving from a Large Corporate to a Smaller Local Business

At Brave Starts, we love celebrating the real-life stories of our members — professionals who have built successful careers and are now finding new ways to work that fit their changing priorities and values.

This is Natalie’s story — how she moved from a large corporate role into a more flexible, fulfilling position at a smaller, local business.

🎥 Watch Natalie’s story on YouTube

Discovering What Really Matters

Hi, I’m Natalie. I currently work in marketing as a Customer Retention Manager for an e-commerce retail business. Before that, I worked for a company that acquired groups of children’s nursery schools, where I led the marketing integration. And before that, I spent several years working in retail for a food retailer.

Through my career — and particularly over the past few years — I’ve realised that my attitude and priorities have changed. More than anything, I’ve discovered that knowing what you don’t want is just as important as knowing what you do.

I knew I wanted a role that was close to home, with a hybrid working option — somewhere I could be around people but also have time for my family and myself. As a mum, I needed flexibility to manage practical things before and after work, but I also wanted that mental headspace to focus and do my best work.

Finding Brave Starts

When I began thinking about changing direction, I’d been in marketing for over 20 years — and I wasn’t sure if I still wanted to stay in the same field. I’d done a lot of generalist roles, but many of the jobs I was seeing were highly specific, and I just didn’t know how to move forward.

A friend mentioned Brave Starts and sent me the link. At first, I saved it and didn’t do anything with it — but eventually, I decided to reach out. I got a reply straight away, had a chat, and things moved from there.

I honestly didn’t realise how beneficial it was going to be until I started. Meeting other people who were in a similar position — exploring, questioning, and figuring things out — was such a comfort. It’s so easy to feel isolated when you’re unsure what’s next, but Brave Starts showed me I wasn’t the only one.

The Power of Community and Reflection

I’d had support in the past with things like job applications, but this was completely different. Brave Starts wasn’t just about finding a job — it was about figuring out what I really wanted as a person at this stage in my life.

Being part of a community of people from all kinds of professional backgrounds — all at different points in their journeys — was incredibly valuable. Talking things through out loud helped me get clarity. It gave me space to reflect:
Do I still enjoy what I’m doing?
Do I want to make a change?
If so, how do I get there — and when is the right time?

That process helped me realise I do still love marketing, but I wanted it to look different — to feel more meaningful, more connected to my community, and more balanced with the rest of my life.

A Career That Fits My Life

Today, I’m doing work I genuinely enjoy, in a business that feels like the right size and culture for me. I’m closer to home, with the flexibility I wanted, and still doing what I’m good at — just in a more balanced way.

Looking back, Brave Starts gave me the clarity and confidence to make that change. I learned that it’s okay not to have all the answers at once — sometimes you just need a little space, support, and the right people to help you figure it out.

About Brave Starts

At Brave Starts, we’re a non-profit membership organisation supporting midlife professionals to make meaningful career changes and move forward with confidence.

Our coaching workshops, masterclasses, and online and in-person events are designed to help you find clarity, take control, and build an inspiring network of peers.

As a non-profit, we design everything based on evidence of what really works — and we put our members first.

Our members are professionals in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who are curious, open-minded, and ambitious for themselves.

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