Exploring Alternative Career Paths After Corporate Life: What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

As a little girl, I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. Like many of us, I gave answers that made people smile—my career path was simple: mechanic, president, pilot, lawyer, rich, a basketball player, superstar.

Fast forward 30+ years, and I found myself at the top of my game in corporate IT. I had climbed the ladder, managed global teams, transitioned billion-dollar accounts, and lived in boardrooms and budgets.

But when that season came to a close, I found myself asking that same childhood question again—this time with the weight of experience and the gift of perspective:

What do I want to be now?

And the answer wasn’t just one thing.

I wanted to be a business owner. A storyteller. A mentor. A wellness advocate. A voice for women in transition. A reminder that it’s okay to rewrite your dreams.

So that’s exactly what I’m doing. I started my own consulting firm, published my book, created video content, and built wellness and beauty brands—and most of all, I gave myself permission to rediscover me.

If you’re reading this and wondering what’s next after corporate life, I want you to know this: you don’t have to “start over.” You get to start forward.

Let’s keep growing. Let’s keep rising.

– Bonita