Laura's Story

What do you do now, and what does your current work involve?

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I run Qualia Collective, a neuroinclusion consultancy. I work with organisations to design ways of working where different minds can better reach their potential. That spans coaching (particularly around ADHD and cognitive performance), training, and consulting on people operations and work design.

 

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What do you regard as your first career or the path you originally started out in?

 

HR and people operations. I worked as a generalist People Operations Lead in tech for six years, before joining Oatly in 2019, building their UK people function from scratch.

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Have there been any other careers, roles or industries you’ve worked in along the way, including any detours, pivots or unexpected chapters in your career journey?

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I was pretty consistent for a decade, doing generalist HR Lead roles in SMEs for the duration of that time. It’s not particularly congruent with my personality to have been on one track for so long, but I was very lucky to work in such great places that I was learning so much and enjoying myself, the decade whizzed on by.

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Looking back across your career so far, what prompted some of those changes in direction?

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I always knew I wanted to move into a more psychology-based career, which is why I decided to study an MSc in Organisational Psychology in 2021, hoping it would lead me in that direction. Whilst I was studying, I came to the realisation I had, and was subsequently diagnosed with, ADHD.

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Cue becoming really interested in neurodivergence. I dove into the academic literature and centred the subject in all of my papers and research. It was a period of pretty intense personal and academic discovery.

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Over the years since, a fusion of my academic, professional and lived experience formed into the idea to build a business specialising in neuroinclusion. And… here I am!

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Were there particular moments, opportunities or realisations that encouraged you to try something different?

 

I made the decision to leave Oatly, which I had loved for many years, during a business summit in the head office in Sweden in March 2025. I’d incubated the idea for a while, but something switched whilst I was watching presentations on the business landscape and direction. I wasn’t inspired, excited or engaged anymore. The realisation was quite sudden and concrete, and I made the decision then and there to begin the process of moving to something different.

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What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when changing path?

 

Often people talk about or focus on external factors that create friction when changing path, and that’s totally valid. I’ve come up against logistical, creative and financial challenges, but my learning was how much internally needed to shift to enable me to do something new, scary and unknown.

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My sense of identity, confidence, fears, tolerance to risk and discomfort… all of it needed some work. My sense of self needed to expand and shift to make this change possible.

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What helped you most in navigating those career transitions?

 

I’m really lucky to have Oatly behind me, it’s a known brand with a broad reputation. I’m carving out my own space and reputation now, but having this as a springboard has been truly helpful.

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What has been an unexpected and joyful help has been the dozens of calls I’ve set up with other business owners, founders and solopreneurs. Hearing their stories, their wisdom, their words of encouragement… it’s been a life raft on dark days, and I’ve gained so much from the conversations. I’d recommend to anyone who is making a change to talk to as many people as you can who do the thing you’re wanting to do.

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What has surprised you most about where your career has taken you?

 

Firstly, and slightly repetitively, how much my sense of self has shifted over the last year as I’ve made this transition.

 

Secondly, how much I love networking, talking to people and using LinkedIn! Laura of a year ago would not have believed for a second that this would be the case. I hated networking, which was actually just a story I told myself, and avoided LinkedIn at all costs.

 

What practical advice would you give to someone who is considering a career change but isn’t sure where to begin?

 

Considering making a change lends to focusing on external factors. What you want to do and achieve, and what resources you have or need to do that. These are very important considerations.

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But pay as much attention to YOU. Who do you want to be and how do you want to feel? What excites you? What scares you?

 

Looking back now, what key lessons or reflections would you share with others thinking about changing careers?

 

If I could go back in time and speak to Laura of a few years ago, I’d tell her to bin your weird idea that you hate networking and find the joy in it sooner. Make the time, talk to people who you’re curious to get to know. You don’t need an agenda, just chats and vibes. Most people are kind and happy to talk and share their story.

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Look for collectives or communities, expand your professional conversations outside of the few dozen people you work with day in, day out. It’s so easy to become locked into your corporate reality that you miss out on all the other cool careers, stories, possibilities and opportunities that are out there!

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Connect with Laura on LinkedIn, and explore more about her work at Qualia Collective