From CEO to Chief Explorer: My Year of Career Adventure

2025 has been a year of adventure, but not the kind you find in a travel brochure. It’s been the kind where I've navigated a career change, discovered new opportunities, and life itself has been a mix of curiosity, excitement, and… a little bit of chaos.

After years of running one of Canada’s most respected e-commerce horticultural businesses full-time, I took the leap to focus entirely on myself, figuring out what’s next, exploring new possibilities. Throughout it all, I've discovered that career pivots can feel a lot like being dropped in the middle of a city with a GPS that has a sense of humour.

You have arrived at your destination. Or have you, really?

Case in point: a trip to Europe a few years ago that still makes me laugh. I was taking a friend to the Basel airport using a borrowed car and a GPS. Everything seemed straightforward until we ended up in the middle of a bridge  and the GPS cheerfully announced, “You have arrived at your destination.” 

Clearly, we had not.

Somehow, the bridge then led us straight to the French border, at which point we had to turn around, retrace our steps, and finally, after a few exasperated laughs, navigate our way back to Switzerland. We ended up following the planes in the sky just to be sure we were heading in the right direction.

Sometimes you have to trust your instincts, follow the signs that feel right, and embrace the unexpected detours.

Time was ticking. My friend had a flight to catch, and we couldn't afford to be late. It was chaotic, slightly terrifying, but also hilarious...and a perfect metaphor for what pivoting your career can feel like.

This year has been full of moments of “how did I get here?” mixed with bursts of discovery, laughter, and growth. It's been a year of career adventure. I’ve been developing coaching opportunities, both with TEDx Surrey and private clients, while also diving into speaking opportunities. I spent a significant amount of time creating my speaker kit and speaker reel, thinking about the story I want to share, the audiences I hope to reach, and the impact I can make.

It hasn’t all been linear, and that’s exactly the point. Like navigating without a reliable GPS in the middle of one of Switzerland's largest cities, sometimes you have to trust your instincts, follow the signs that feel right, and embrace the unexpected detours. Those detours often lead to the most interesting places, both literally, like that accidental trip into France, and metaphorically, in the journey of career reinvention.

This year has taught me that pivoting isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about curiosity, courage, and the willingness to explore. It’s about celebrating the small victories, laughing at the chaos, and keeping your eyes on the planes in the sky. Or in real life, the possibilities that guide you forward.

So here’s to 2025: a year of adventure, exploration, and finding joy in the unexpected. And here’s to 2026: the next chapter of navigating new opportunities, coaching, speaking, and continuing the journey as Chief Explorer of My Own Life.