As most people know, I started my career in Financial Services as a management consultant and was involved in some amazing projects that changed the face of Banking here in the UK.

But 6 years ago, I took voluntary redundancy from my high flying job and decided to make a complete career change and launch and grow a creative, handmade jewellery business. The transition wasn’t easy, but it is by far the best thing I ever did for me and my family.

And with everything going on in the world, and lots of people taking time to re-evaluate what they want out of life and potentially facing a career change unexpectedly. With that in mind, I was delighted to be asked onto the brand new Jewellers Academy Podcast to talk about my career change, what I have learned and advice for people deciding to take the leap into a creative career. The episode is out this week!

On the podcast I talk about how I made the transition from a successful corporate career in Financial Services to a handmade business from home and really followed my dreams and my passion for making and creating. And now I have two thriving creative businesses and a life that I love where I can do the school run, attend the school plays and trips and have a career I am passionate about!

You can listen to the Episode below:

EPISODE RECAP

Welcome (2:14)

Tell us a bit about being in a corporate career and transitioning to being a jewellery designer? (3:11)

We often have a lot going on - do you think the first step is to stop and realize it’s a lot? (6:36)

Did you feel any guilt about leaving your job? What kind of feelings came up for you? (7:44)

How did the idea of being a jewellery designer come about? (10:22)

How did you train to grow a business while you were working? (13:52)

Sometimes people who come from a corporate job think they don’t have skills to run a business. But you have so many skills! (17:15)

Were you concerned about how your friends and family would judge your decision to leave your corporate career to start a business? (18:41)

When I first said I wanted to start a jewellery business, people thought it was a hobby. Did you experience any of that? (22:05)

What lessons did you learn in the first year of your business? (24:45)

Take the time to look how far you’ve come (29:07)

What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking about starting a handmade business? (31:00)

You have two businesses - can you tell us a little bit about them and what’s next for you? (33:39)

Any final advice? (39:41)

Thanks so much for listening!

CAN I ASK A FAVOUR!?

The Jewellers Academy Podcast is a new Podcast and it would be great to give your support to help it grow! If you enjoyed the episode then I would be so grateful if you would take a moment to give it a lovely 5-star review on the podcast app you use. It helps get the word out and reviews in the first few weeks really help. It would mean such a lot. And don’t forget to subscribe to it on your favourite podcast app so that you don’t miss an episode and they are always a great listen!

Thank you so much!

Karenx