Elizabeth McCollum's Relaunch Success Story

Relauncher of the Month

May 2024

Starting her career in marketing, Elizabeth McCollum was driven to master the intricacies of running a successful business. This ambition led her to further her education at Wharton, where she gained invaluable insights into finance and operations. After relocating to Florida, Elizabeth deepened her expertise in finance and business, taking on roles in finance and operations at Darden Restaurants, followed by a position in operations at Bloomin' Brands. Her extensive experience in corporate finance and passion for personal finance ultimately culminated in her becoming the CEO and president of four companies for a private equity firm.

We caught up with Elizabeth to learn more about her relaunch story. Read on....

A lot of times, people think they have to master the job before they even apply. Don't self-select out. Throw your hat in the ring and find a good mentor. Other people believed in me, and that made all the difference.

Elizabeth McCollum

Facing Unexpected Challenges:

➡️ In January 2020, Elizabeth found herself at a crossroads. With years of experience in the
restaurant business and retail cuisine, she faced an unexpected challenge when the pandemic
hit.

➡️ The ready-made food sections at the retailers where her company’s products were sold
were shut down due to safety concerns, leading to a significant decline in sales.

➡️ After navigating the companies successfully through that rough time, Elizabeth decided to retire from the food business and pivot to a new career path.

Exploring New Horizons:

📍During her break, Elizabeth focused on personal finance, a field she had always been passionate about.

📍She had previously pursued and completed her CFP® education, passing the exam on her first attempt.

📍To complete her journey for the new certification, Elizabeth began exploring opportunities where she could combine her love for finance with her desire to make a meaningful impact.

Joining Vanguard’s RTW program:

↪️ Elizabeth's journey took a significant turn when she joined Vanguard, a company known for its mission-oriented approach and commitment to giving investors a fair chance.

↪️ When Elizabeth applied to Vanguard, she saw it as a unique opportunity to merge her extensive business experience with her financial expertise as a financial advisor. She did her research and recognized the vast learning opportunities Vanguard offered.

↪️ Elizabeth's hard work and dedication paid off when she was recently promoted to Chief of Staff for the Principal of Advice at Vanguard.

↪️ In this role, she supports the Head of Advice, by helping to run meetings, develop strategies, set agendas, and provide the voice of the advisor at the leadership table.

At Vanguard, I found a community with similar experiences and a supportive cohort that made my transition smoother. The Return to Work (RTW) program broadened my understanding of available opportunities and helped me navigate a new industry with confidence.

Elizabeth McCollum

Finding Community and Support:

At Vanguard, Elizabeth found a community with similar experiences and a supportive cohort that made the transition smoother. The Return to Work (RTW) program not only broadened her understanding of the opportunities available but also helped her navigate a new industry with confidence.

Advice for Relaunchers:

📍 Elizabeth's success is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of seizing new opportunities.

📍 Her advice for relaunchers is simple yet profound: "A lot of times, people think they have to master the job before they even apply. Don't self-select out. Throw your hat in the ring and find a good mentor. Other people believed in me, and that made all the difference."

Did this story motivate you or inspire you!?

Do you have a relauncher success story of your own to share with us and the rest of the relauncher community?

Sharing your inevitable success is a great way to give back as your story will inspire and motivate other relaunchers, especially if your story is not the typical story that is told.

It is our hope that all relaunchers are able to see themselves reflected in relauncher success stories as we all know how important representation is. We respectfully ask you to share only the details of your relaunch you are comfortable sharing, but to indeed share your story with us so we can be sure to document and feature a more diverse population of relauncher experiences, background and identities.