“I risked everything to start over”
Kerry Boland, 34, from Manchester, moved from senior account management to sales operations before leaving to launch her own coaching business

About seven years into my telecoms job I’d hit a career ceiling. I couldn’t progress any further, but I was scared of leaving. I felt I owed my boss my life; she had virtually taught me everything as I’d become a mum at 19 and started working straight out of school. She was so supportive, too. I wore a mask throughout that career, though, because I was suffering with depression and a rocky home life.

Unfortunately, this all became became heightened when I was put on furlough in March 2020. I had dark thoughts and would often tear my hair out in frustration – at my job, at the unhappiness in my relationship. I felt lost in life. Then, I was made redundant. I lost everything, but it was a blessing in disguise.

Aged 31, I took a new role in an IT company and doubled my salary. A year in, the company grew and I built out two new departments. I’d stepped into my power. People were listening to me.

I always wanted the senior title but when I got it, I was like, is that it? I began questioning whether I needed to be working while my three kids were snoring upstairs, and living on takeaways so I could make money for other people. I stuck it out for another 10 months, then I started my own company. My mum echoed my worries about giving up a guaranteed paycheck, calling me stupid. But I hit six figures in the first year. That company turned into The Growth Coaching Collective, which I opened in May 2023 with my business partner.

It wasn’t easy. When I took redundancy I gave up stability and safety. As a single mum, I had bills to pay to keep a roof over our heads. There was a huge amount of fear running through my mind: ‘Who the hell do you think you are Kerry? Are you even good enough for this?’ But behind all that, I knew I was destined for more.

“I risked everything”: what it’s really like to pivot careers in your 30s