Redirecting.work
Elizabeth Jurcik
A Journey to Self-Preservation and Purpose
For Liz Jurcik, career has always been about mission and people. She finds motivation in the work itself and in the leaders she reports to, believing that alignment in values was essential for doing her best work. But when leadership at her organization shifted, so did the culture.
A longtime professional in workforce planning impacting all levels of the organization, Liz saw priorities shifting to leadership focusing on development for executives and less for other roles, including frontline workers directly impacting patient care. The shift for her was unsettling. The job she had poured herself into was no longer aligned with her values.
A Health Wake-Up Call
The stress took a toll. Liz had fought and survived pancreatic cancer—a diagnosis that, at 31, had shattered any illusion of a predictable life plan. Her survival had given her a fresh perspective on what mattered most: making an impact, being surrounded by people who inspired her, and ensuring her time was spent in meaningful ways. But the stress at work had started to undo the progress she had made in her personal and physical recovery.
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“My medical team, my friends, even my roommate and my mother—they all told me I was going to drive myself into the ground if I didn’t make a change,” she said.
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So, she did. Liz took a medical leave in October, knowing that her role might be restructured in ways that would leave her without a job. A week before her planned return, she got the call: her position had been eliminated.
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“I wasn’t surprised,” she admitted. “But honestly, I had already made the choice to leave before they made it for me.”
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Building a Future on Her Own Terms
With a severance package that provided her financial stability, Liz had the rare opportunity to step back and decide what she really wanted. Rather than rush into another job, she embraced the uncertainty.
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One clear path emerged: entrepreneurship. Liz and a former colleague are launching a boutique consulting firm at the intersection of data science and workforce strategy, aiming to serve mid-sized businesses struggling to make sense of their workforce data. It’s a space where Liz’s expertise and passion align, and it allows her to choose clients who value strategic workforce planning beyond traditional talent management.
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But that’s not all. Liz is also going back to school to gain a deeper understanding of HR as a whole. Despite her years of experience in workforce strategy, she recognized gaps in her knowledge of employment law and general HR functions. Enrolling in Louisiana State University’s program, she’s committed to becoming a more well-rounded professional.
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And beyond business, Liz is finding her voice in advocacy. As someone with hidden disabilities—including the long-term effects of cancer and diabetes—she wants to normalize conversations around neurodivergence and chronic illness in the workplace.
“I’d love to be more active in speaking on these issues,” she said. “People don’t realize what it takes to navigate professional spaces when you’re tied to medical devices 24/7. I want to help change that.”
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Advice for Those Facing a Career Pivot
Liz’s journey wasn’t just about leaving a job; it was about reclaiming herself. Now, she wants others in transition to approach their pivots with the same level of care and self-compassion.
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1. Listen to Yourself: Pay attention to the values that matter most to you. If something feels off, don’t repress it. “Ignoring those feelings can cause damage in the long run,” she cautions.
2. Give Yourself Grace: Career transitions are hard, and self-doubt is inevitable. “Look at every experience as an opportunity to learn and grow,” she says. “I came out of this process loving myself more because I allowed myself room to fail.”
3. Keep Learning and Exploring: Whether it’s a formal degree, a new skill, or even something fun like improv or salsa dancing, Liz believes in constantly reinvigorating yourself. “Just because you’re pausing your career doesn’t mean you stop developing as a person.”
4. Build a Support Network: One of the best things she did was join BossmakeHer, a program designed to help executive women refine their personal brands and connect with like-minded professionals. “It was the best money I’ve spent,” she said. “I have a team of people cheering me on.”
5. It’s Okay Not to Know What’s Next: Stepping away from stability is terrifying. Liz had to ask herself hard questions: “What job do I want? What if entrepreneurship doesn’t work? How will I afford my medical care?” But she kept coming back to one truth: “I will figure it out.”
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Moving Forward with Purpose
Liz doesn’t have all the answers yet, and that’s okay. Whether she’s running her consulting firm, advocating for medical research, or bringing awareness to hidden disabilities, she is now fully aligned with what she values most—making an impact on her own terms.
“I am more important than any job,” she said. “And I will be fine.”