I Quit My VP Job. Now What?

On leaving corporate, creating my own path, and feeling like a beginner all over again at 40.

One year ago, I turned 40.

And yeah, it was kind of a mindfuck.

I mean 40 sounds…old. (Sorry! I know I’m not supposed to say that!) I didn’t feel 40 (in fact I feel perpetually 28 for some reason). I didn’t act 40 (I don’t think?). And hopefully I didn’t look 40. It’s just a big number that, for better or worse, made me reflect on where I was in life and whether this is where I “should” be at 40.

And to be honest, at the time, I felt like I was *exactly* where I should be.

At least…on paper.

Married to great husband (we’ve been together since 2008 so it’s been a whiiiile), two healthy, active young daughters, a home I love, and a cool job as VP of Brand & Narrative at a global beauty brand. WITH a nice boss, coworkers I genuinely like, and a wonderful team…what more could I want! This was an executive role I had been working toward for years and years, and FINALLY got. In theory, everything was (dare I say) perfect.

And I lived in that “perfection” for a while. There were no sudden changes. It’s not like I blew out the candles on my 40th birthday cake (carrot cake, always carrot cake) and instantly blew up my career at the same time. But it made me start thinking about my life. The fact that I’m not getting any younger. The fact that we only get one life here on this earth. And the fact that maybe, I wanted more from mine.

My team killed it with the card

I thought about this in the background for about five months. And in that time I realized that I wasn’t as deliriously happy as I would expect someone to be who finally “had it all.”

Here’s what was really going on. I felt like I was constantly RUSHING. Getting up in the dark, packing lunches bleary-eyed, frantically dressing and doing makeup, getting my kids dressed and to school (barely making it in time for the bell), sometimes literally RUNNING back home to make an 8 a.m. call, rushing downtown in between meetings. Being in back-to-back meetings all day, often eating lunch in meetings, rarely going outside. Leaving the office early to rush home, doing pickup, finally getting home feeling like a shell of myself. Too drained to cook dinner, too fried to be 100% present for my kids. Comatose on the couch at 8:30 p.m. Then waking up to do it all again.

Instead of energizing me, my VP role was sapping my energy. And ironically, although I was in a creative field, all my creativity went to my work and none was left for my life. (That’s why I didn’t start Substacking until after I gave my notice…I just didn’t have any creative juices left to flow.) I was doing my job, but it didn’t feel like the exact right fit…like a puzzle piece that was slightly off, and I was trying to jam it in.

I don’t want this to come across as some sort of fist-shaking tirade against corporate America or my former company. I worked with lovely people at a fun brand. And of COURSE executives are in meetings all day. Of COURSE being a VP means early mornings, tough employee situations and conversations, workplace politics, mid-year reviews, HR training. Of COURSE everyone describes a fast-paced, constantly changing corporate environment as “crazy”. None of this was a surprise. The only surprise was how I felt once I was actually living it.

It was a classic case of, “It’s not you, it’s me.” The relationship I had been pursuing for years ended up not feeling right for me anymore. And so, instead of spending more time in a situation that I knew wasn’t “it”, I walked away. I knew I could do better, contribute more, and be happier. I owed it to myself, and to the people around me. I didn’t want to settle for “fine” or “pretty good”. When it comes to my career, I want true love.

At my going-away happy hour, obviously excited about what’s next

Now what?

Friends have told me to rest, take time for myself, and enjoy a much-needed break. But that’s not me. I don’t rest, I don’t nap. I’m almost always in go mode. And I feel like I have all this built-up energy inside me that I want to channel into my future.

So, I’m plunging headfirst into my next adventure: working for myself. I’m starting a brand consultancy business, built on everything I’ve been doing for 18 years (!). Helping brands figure out what they stand for, how to cut through the noise, how to position and name their products, how to have a voice that sounds uniquely like them, and how to talk to their customers. Website coming soon because good things take time (at least, that’s what I tell myself every day).

Do I know what the hell I’m doing? With the work, yes…I’ve been doing this kind of work for brands forever. But when it comes to starting and running my own business? Absolutely not. I’ve been in corporate my entire career! I don’t know life beyond a bi-weekly direct deposit paycheck and open enrollment. I’ve never created an LLC, written up contracts, put together a Master Services Agreement, set up Quickbooks, built a CRM database, or sent invoices. I’m teaching myself as I go.

I’m going to make mistakes (which I don’t love but ya know it’s going to happen). It’s going to be hard…I’m already working harder than I ever have in my life! But I also feel more exhilarated, motivated, and excited than I have in a long time. I want to work. I want to do well. I want to give this new path my all.

What does that look like? Well, I’ve been working hyper-efficiently on building my business from about 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (with some help from AI, of course). I’ll take breaks for a walk or a workout, to give myself the movement and sunlight and fresh air I need to feel my best. I have a networking coffee or catch-up chat at least 1-3 times a week, which feeds my soul (there are so many positive and inspiring women out there, it almost makes me want to cry.) Then I’ll pick my kids up early to be able to get them to soccer and swim class on time. I have the mental space to actually plan out dinners and (wait for it) COOK THEM. What?!?! It feels like a whole new me, a whole new life.

So, with you (my dear Substack reader!) as my witness, I am going to write my verbal vision board for one year from now. In October 2027, I want all of this to be true, and I’m not going to stop until it’s a reality.

Here goes…

October 2027

Over the past year, I…

• Worked with founders and brands that light me up

• Met and formed relationships with warm, interesting, inspiring women

• Did work I am truly proud of

• Learned new skills and platforms

• Replaced my corporate salary

• Chaperoned field trips, volunteered in classrooms, chauffeured to afterschool activities with zero stress

• Posted every week on Substack and built a community that brings me joy

• Worked out 5 times a week

• Increased my steps from 8,500 a day in 2025 to 11,000 a day in 2027

• Read 50 books

• Spent lots of quality time with my husband, family, and friends

• Felt fulfilled and excited about my life

I’ll check back here in one year. Until then, I will be keeping the positive and purposefully delulu vibes going.

Have you made a big transition in your life? Would love any advice or thoughts (or a pep talk) in the comments! And if you think my story could be helpful for your Substack peeps, please share it.