#TCMxTTH - From Career Break to Breakthrough: My Journey of Helping Women Rebuild Their Professional Identity

Have you ever felt a deep loss of identity because you are no longer working or earning?

I have.

Have you ever avoided social gatherings because you feared that one simple question—“What do you do?”—would make you uncomfortable?

I have.

Have you ever felt that the ambitious young girl within you is slowly fading under the weight of responsibilities?

Feeling upset about having to taken a break and now finding it difficult to come back ?  

I have lived that too.

And if you’re nodding along, let me tell you something important—you are not alone.

Every women wants to create her Professional Identity, initially she does so by studying hard and making her name and getting job, then series of natural events in her life like marriage, children , relocations, elderly care and family responsibilities sees her struggling to keep her professional identity intact and going 

Let, me share with you my experience of being in the similar situation several times and coming out victorious every time, sharing bits of my story here, with the hope that it helps you see the LIGHT!

Life has a way of happening when we are busy planning our careers.

I remember one such turning point vividly.

It was December 2006. My husband received a fantastic job offer from a multinational company. It was a big opportunity—one we couldn’t ignore. But it came with an immediate joining date and required us to relocate within a week.

While I was happy for him, a question echoed loudly in my mind:

“What about my career?”

It was a big step forward—for our family. But it required immediate relocation.

And with that, I had to make a choice.

I left my role as a faculty member at a management institute—a position I had just begun to settle into after already leaving a corporate job due to an earlier move.

I remember asking myself:

“Will I have to start all over again… every single time?”

The Struggle No One Talks About

We moved to a new city. I had a toddler, no support system, and a growing sense of uncertainty.

My days were filled with finding a home, searching for daycare, adjusting to a new environment and also finding a job to restart

But internally, I was battling something deeper , self-doubt , fear of becoming irrelevant, what next and so on..

In the new city my first aim was to establish my support system in form of the day care for my daughter , so that I could apply for jobs and restart my career . 

Finally I got one that could take care of my daughter—for just four hours a day.

Four hours.

That was the window I had to rebuild my career.

Around that time, I came across a job opening for an HR Manager in educational institution.

It was a full-time role. I knew I could work for half-day.

But something inside me said—apply anyway.

I did.

I cleared the interview. I was selected. But when I explained my limitation, they declined.

Disappointed—but not defeated—I came home.

The next day, I got a call.

They offered me the role , with certain conditions of course !

That moment taught me a lesson I carry even today:

Chance truly favors the brave.

You see, how things turned in my favour  

You just need the courage to try.

The Reality of “Having It All”

The years that followed were a mix of progress and pressure.

I stepped back into corporate life. I travelled long distances to work. I managed my child, home, and career—often single-handedly while my husband travelled for work extensively

I was enjoying the Challenging work, intellectual discussions, coffee breaks with colleagues, company events and having a sense of satisfaction , becoming independent again . My daughter had adjusted well to the day care and had started going to school. I

There were moments of joy—but also moments of guilt.

I still remember one particular day.

It was my first day in a new leadership role. I was expected to address the entire organization.

Previous  night my daughter had been up and vomiting, running fever. I had expected medicines would help and she would be ok next day, however situation was worse, we called the doctor ,he said we should admit her. I was in tears seeing the condition of my 5-year-old daughter

My first response was to leave everything and be with her, then my husband comforted me, he said he would  take her to hospital while I join the organisation and later come directly to hospital. 

I felt so GUILTY going to office that day …….

For any working woman with kids a supportive spouse can compensate for all the guilt we carry around. 

Do you agree?

Our personal & professional roles requires constant prioritization and crisis management. 

Hence, I learnt  Make your family your Biggest support system 

Success… and Then Another Setback

Over time, my career grew.

I earned promotions. Took on leadership roles. Eventually became a Director in an IT organization.

I had everything I once longed for:

✔ Identity✔ Financial independence✔ Professional recognition

And then—life happened again.

The industry faced a downturn. Layoffs followed.

And I lost my job.

Rebuilding From Within

That phase shook me.

I felt anger, confusion, and self-doubt creeping back in.

But this time, something was different.

Instead of staying stuck, I made a decision:

“No one else gets to define my career—not even circumstances.”

I began investing in myself. I enrolled for a full time university program, studied Law and cleared my exams with distinction & also practiced as an advocate 

I explored consulting, training, freelancing, teaching, and NGO work 

I said yes to opportunities—even when they didn’t look perfect.

I experimented. I learned. I evolved.

And slowly, I rebuilt not just my career—but my confidence.

Finding My True Calling

Through all these experiences, one truth became clear:

My journey wasn’t just about building a career.

It was about reinventing identity.

And I knew there were thousands of women going through the same struggle—silently questioning their worth after a career break.

That’s when I found my purpose.

Today, I am a Life and Career Coach, helping women & professionals regain confidence and restart their careers and rebuild their professional identity after a break / transition.

I founded my organization with one mission: To make a difference.

If You Are On a Career Break Right Now…

If you feel lost…If you feel like your career has ended…Please remember this: Your break is just a transition &  your dreams are still valid

What you need is not just opportunity. You need grit.

Grit helped me to transforms a break into a breakthrough.

My journey has been filled with pauses, pivots, failures, and comebacks.

And if I can rebuild myself—again and again—

So can you.

All it takes is one decision:

To listen to your inner voice… and begin. Because your story -   It’s just getting started.

Curator’s Note

This story captures the resilience behind rebuilding professional identity amidst life’s inevitable pauses. It highlights that true transformation is not about uninterrupted growth, but about the courage to restart, redefine, and reclaim one’s narrative with intention.

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