A common question children are asked is “What do you want to be when
you grow up?” This question implies that there should be a short and
simple answer. Yet, realistically, the answer is often quite complex.
Many factors impact career journeys: economic fluctuations, family needs
and personal maturation are just a few. Whether stemming from a prior
career or from working as a stay-at-home mom, experiences rich with
growth opportunities accrue continuously throughout one’s lifetime
making the answer to this question far from straightforward.
“Career paths aren’t linear. They shouldn’t be seen as a continuous
assembly line leading directly from graduation to retirement.” says
Mindy Berkower, a former Chappaqua resident and Chief Client Officer and
General Counsel, iRelaunch LLC (irelaunch.com), a pioneering company in
career reentry. “Women may not only off-ramp from and on-ramp back to
their careers over a lifetime–they may also pivot toward a number of
different careers, tapping their extensive transferable skills and
building new skills and developing new interests along the way.”
Growth doesn’t stop at any point throughout life. It is not possible
to predict where life’s twists and turns will lead; there are too many
moving variables. Yet, as exemplified by the stories of five
inspirational local women, unexpected detours can translate into unique
and valuable opportunities.