Redirecting.work
Christy Marble
From Executive Leadership to Embracing Life's Second Act
Christy was among my absolute favorite bosses. I wish I’d had a female leader like her when I started working 50+ years ago. As the chief marketing officer, overseeing research among all her other responsibilities, she was supportive and complimentary, making me feel like I was a valuable contributor while also guiding me to be better at all I did. She also let me guide my own work - very much appreciated. I’ve enjoyed that as a most senior executive, she was approachable on a personal level, something not all executives do.
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The Catalyst for Change
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Christy's decision to pivot from her executive role arose at a period when both company
and life events were signaling it was time for change. At work, there was a shift in corporate values and direction, which prompted her to create and present a plan that re-directed funding to technology investment and wrote herself out of the company.
Personally, her children were entering their last year of high school. As an executive who only took 60-days of maternity leave for their birth, she recognized that she would never regret taking the rest of that maternity leave to spend with them now when they’re 17.
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Unlike previous transitions where she quickly jumped into the next role, this time Christy decided to prove to herself that she could relax, set boundaries, and spend more time with her family. She recognized that their time together was limited before they would head off to college and their own lives. As they transition to college, she plans to redirect her focus and energy back to her career.
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A New Direction
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Christy’s new direction is multifaceted. Financial stability was crucial in her decision-making process, ensuring that she could manage her children’s private school expenses and prioritize her needs, including maximizing her earnings for future social security benefits. Despite her love for working, she took recruiter calls to help her leadership team find new opportunities and spent time daily sharing opportunities and referring people to her network on LinkedIn, remaining reactive about her own prospects.
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She focused on personal growth and learning, completed an MIT AI course, and formed a small business with close friends. Christy’s immediate plan includes spending quality time with her family, especially her children, and ensuring her relationship with her husband remains strong as they transition to an empty nest. Even as she re-enters her career, they aspire to travel extensively, ideally "going somewhere without a return ticket." She also made health and fitness a priority which had impacted her confidence as she aged, even causing social anxiety at times. Her time away from work enabled her husband to finally prioritize some long-delayed procedures as well.
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Advice for Others
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Christy’s journey offers valuable advice for those considering a career pivot or life redirection:
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1. Prioritize Personal and Financial Stability: Ensure you have the financial means to support your decisions. This includes planning for children's education and maximizing social security benefits. Christy reconciled her finances to support her desired lifestyle changes.
2. Embrace Flexibility: Sometimes, life plans do not go as defined. Women, in particular, need to navigate career and life plans fluidly. Christy’s experience shows the importance of adapting and finding new directions.
3. Delegate and Build Support Systems: Secure help for tasks you do not want to do or cannot do. Christy relied on an au pair and her husband for support, emphasizing the need for a strong relationship with your spouse to share responsibilities effectively.
4. Focus on Personal Growth and Learning: Continuously seek new knowledge and skills. Christy took an MIT AI course and remains engaged in personal development to stay current and prepared for future opportunities.
5. Deal with Health Issues Proactively: Address health concerns, including the impacts of menopause. Find a great doctor, explore different remedies like adaptogenic coffee, and take steps to keep your mojo.
6. Be Ready for Psychological Challenges: Understand that changes can impact your confidence and mental well-being. Christy experienced social anxiety and dealt with it by staying active and engaged in new pursuits.
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Conclusion
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Christy's transition from a high-powered executive role to focusing on personal and family life reflects her ability to adapt and prioritize what truly matters. Her story underscores the importance of financial planning, personal growth, and building a support system. By addressing health issues and maintaining flexibility, Christy demonstrates how to navigate life's challenges and transitions successfully. Her advice to others highlights the value of proactive health management, continuous learning, and the power of strong personal relationships in achieving a fulfilling and balanced life.
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