Career Change Stories
From TV executive to hypnotherapist
Annette Williams spent 38 years building an extraordinary career in television, rising from a childhood dream of working on Saturday morning shows to becoming a senior children’s TV executive at the BBC. When redundancy at 60 unexpectedly closed that chapter, she chose not to step back but to begin again, retraining as a Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist and launching Silverbrook Hypnotherapy.
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From conference producer to financial planner
James Bowater spent nearly a decade building a successful career in B2B events within one of the UK’s fastest-growing private businesses. But a combination of parenthood, shifting priorities and a growing sense that he had outgrown the role led him to make a bold career pivot into financial planning. Today, he helps people use money as a tool to create lives that feel secure, flexible and deeply aligned with what matters most.
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From journalism to marketing
Benjy Potter began his career in entertainment journalism, landing celebrity interviews, red carpet access and national newspaper shifts while still in his teens. After a decade in media, a growing curiosity about the world behind the headlines led him into marketing, first at Instagram and Meta, and now as Comms Lead at GetYourGuide, where he's responsible for building brand awareness across major international markets.
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From serial entrepreneur to AuDHD coach
Ilja Abbattista's career has spanned multiple businesses across education, hospitality and consultancy, but beneath the surface of outward success was a growing mismatch between achievement and sustainability. Understanding her AuDHD, trauma and the impact of lifelong masking became the turning point that reframed everything. She now works as an AuDHD coach, speaker and lived experience consultant.
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From headteacher to award-winning candlemaker
Craig Fraser began his career in education, progressing into senior leadership and working towards headship. After long Covid and personal loss forced him to step back and rethink what work could look like, he channelled his creativity and resilience into building Ignite Candles. What began as a way to rebuild during recovery has since grown into an award-winning brand, proving that unexpected change can lead to entirely new paths.
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From special effects make-up to student support
Ellie Short originally trained in special effects make-up, prosthetics and hair design, building early experience across photography and theatre. When disability meant rethinking what her future career could look like, an unexpected student union opportunity at University of the Arts London opened a new direction centred on improving the experience of disabled students, and she now works as a Specialist Mentor.
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From geography teacher to early careers specialist
Steve Keith's career has moved through teaching, student recruitment, employer branding and entrepreneurship, with each chapter building on his passion for supporting young people to thrive. After early roles in education and nearly eight years leading employer brand and apprenticeship communications at EY, burnout became the catalyst for a bold leap into self-employment and work that feels deeply aligned with his values.
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From HR to fitness coaching
Jake Devline Reed began his career in hospitality, working his way from glass collector at 15 to HR and learning development trainer. Over time, personal growth, self-acceptance and a desire to help people beyond the workplace led him towards a completely different path. He now works as a self-employed fitness coach, supporting people not only with physical goals, but with confidence, mental wellbeing and long-term lifestyle change.
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From PR and events to a career in broadcasting
Rachel Aitken began her career in events before building nearly a decade in PR in London and Manchester. After experiencing burnout, she moved into an in-house marketing role that offered greater balance and the space to rethink her direction. Alongside her corporate career, she is now pursuing her long-held ambition of broadcasting as a TV and radio presenter, podcast host and speaker.
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From banking to the fashion industry
Mark Kiley’s career journey moved through warehouse work, retail and banking before he found a stronger sense of alignment within the fashion industry. Early roles helped him build valuable strengths in customer service, communication and leadership, but it was his move into Harvey Nichols that became the real turning point, with him now working as a Customer Service Manager in children’s fashion.
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From TV to recruitment, PR and coaching
Edwin Buckley’s career has spanned television production, recruitment, communications and entrepreneurship. After working across the private, public and charity sectors, he founded PR consultancy The Prominence Collective and later trained as a career coach. Alongside running his PR agency, he founded Another Path to help others rethink their careers and reposition their professional identity.
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