My Career Transition Story

Who am I?​

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Like you, ​I'm at the intersection of multiple identities:

• A worker who aspires to have an impactful portfolio career

• A mum who tends to be busy but tries to "do it all"

• An immigrant who calls two places "home"

• An easy-going "ambivert" who likes staying in, but would prefer going out, especially in sunny weathers

• A Christian who is seeking what God really looks like every day​​

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Finding Purpose and Identity at Work

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Our sense of purpose impacts our everyday work. How we see our identities also comes out in what we do.

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My grandparents were born in Asia (China / Hong Kong) during the time of war. They didn’t get much of a choice on how they worked. My parents have had more of a choice, but they decided their career paths early on. "When you worked hard, then you could gain an income, then you could fuel your interests," my mum used to say. That said, both of my parents worked hard in careers that helped others - and this perhaps has planted a seed in a young mind of what work is really about.

 

When I graduated, I naturally thought that I’d need a job with a good income, so I applied for a consulting role. It’s what everyone in my circle, consisting of Asian high-flyers, did - apply for a job that would get you the most income or status.

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In the first six years of my career as a management consultant at EY, I have been in managerial roles in high-profile strategic technology programmes. In the four years that followed, I have expanded my experience to work across agency and industry environments.

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After my first baby was born, my perspective on work changed. I took up a 4-day role at John Lewis Partnership, and eventually led a product development team as part of a large-scale data platform transformation programme. I thought I'd be content being able to enjoy a long weekend every week. From the outside view, everything seemed right.

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Yet, despite having had the privilege of working with talented people in varied and dynamic environments, there were days that I felt rather lonely and lost. These feelings became stronger with the COVID pandemic. I did not know what was wrong, and where I could jump to. I wanted to see the purpose in what I do more clearly, and spend more time with my family.

 

After some thinking, I concluded that I wasn't sure if my work aligned with who I am and what my purpose is.

 

The truth is, we now spend 80k to 90k hours in our lifetime in work, if we are blessed enough to get to old age.

 

So I knew that I had to do something different.

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The Turning Point

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Through my coaching conversations, I was able to be honest with myself. I have found that having a direct impact on others and empowering them be their best selves are important factors for me. This is the part of my purpose that I felt was missing.

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As the coaching sessions I had were so effective, I began to think about the impact I could have as a coach and started some valuable conversations with successful coaches.

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At around the same time, I started reading a book called “Third Culture Kids” by David and Michael Pollock, and Ruth van Reken. These authors pioneered the term Third Culture Kids (or TCKs), which meant people who were brought to a different country because of their parents’ work. This later extended to include those who live in a different country from birth, called Cross-Culture Kids (CCKs).

 

It made me reflect back to the point I came to this country without my family at the age of 15, and studied in a boarding school. I resonated so much with what this book said. It told me why I felt a sense of “neither here nor there” about my culture, and why I perhaps saw the world differently from my parents and friends who grew up in the UK.

 

The book also made me realise that could be why I was less risk-averse than I thought I was - because I had already made a ‘risky’ choice when I was 15. What would be riskier than leaving my home country to start a fresh start at such a tender age?

 

I took a couple of months to explore what I could do practically. This was the point at which I made the decision to quit my corporate job to focus on training for coaching.

 

Now I have found my calling to serve others to make real, sustainable changes in their careers that carry purpose. I also found a part-time role as a coach to help young people in need, which aligns with my aim to make a direct impact on the marginalised in society.​

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And this is why I want to help you to pivot to a purposeful pursuit too. Click here to find out more about my Coaching Approach.

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More about my coaching experience​

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I have now coached over 250 hours with clients from 3 different continents. I completed my Accredited Diploma in Transformational Coaching with the Animas Centre for Coaching, having spent hundreds of hours coaching clients around the world. I have obtained the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) accreditation from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). To me, accreditation is important because it tells you that a coach adheres to ethics and standards that are universally approved, and it enables me to serve you with my best self.

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I work three days a week at Spear, an organisation that is passionate about coaching young people who are NEET, as a Development Coach. My role delivers the Spear Programme all around the UK to help young people face their fears and get into employment, education or training. It is important that my coaching is not only offered to those who can afford it, but also to those who need it most.

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Aside from my ACC accreditation, I have also obtained the Accredited Certificate on Group Coaching and Facilitation and the Accredited Certificate on Positive Psychology Coaching with the Animas Centre for Coaching to enhance and expand my coaching practice. I am also an Associate Coach with Tala Thrive and The Leadership School, and am a Certified Cultural Orientations Framework (COF) Practitioner accredited in using the COF tool with Rosinski and Company, which helps individuals and organisations leverage their cultural diversity.

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Other facts about me

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Aside from coaching adults, I have volunteered as a coach with Yes Futures on their Rising Futures Programme to support young people (Year 10 students) in high school. I am also a mentor at the Reed Women in Technology mentoring network and a volunteer for ParentGym (previously a MindGym subsidiary).

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I hold a Certificate in Understanding Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace (NCFE Cache Level 2), and a Certificate in Counselling Skills (NCFE Cache Level 2).

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I am also a proud partner of More2Nurseries. More2Nurseries includes More2Childcare and More2Riverside Nurseries in Greenwich. As Ofsted Outstanding settings, they provide high-quality early years education and work closely with the local community. As a partner in their membership scheme, we support their initiatives, which offer discounts and benefits to families.