| The courage to start over is not a sign of failure; it’s a sign of growth and maturity. Over a decade ago, I moved to Sweden with the intention of building a life – and I did. But what I didn’t expect was how deeply I’d have to prove myself all over again. Despite my decades of experience leading investor relations and strategic communications for public companies, I was still seen as an outsider in many rooms. I had to rebuild my professional credibility from the ground up, often having to be twice as prepared and twice as patient to earn the same level of trust. ~ |
| Becoming a role modelI put in the work I built a consultancy focused on life science and tech companies in the Nordics, advising CEOs and boards on capital markets, investor messaging, and governance strategies and developed a strong network across the EU. I worked really long hours, while managing a messy divorce and raising my daughters mostly on my own. The personal and professional challenges were many, but I was proud of what I had built – something stable, meaningful, and resilient. I was also proud of the role model I was becoming not only for my daughters, but others in my industry. ~ |
| Determined to find my next chapter Then the pandemic hit. And afterward, like for so many others, the world completely changed. Remote work opened up borders, but at the same time, new economic and geopolitical realities created barriers I hadn’t anticipated. I found that my “outsider” status – being American, being a consultant, being woman in finance – made it increasingly difficult to grow in the ways I wanted. Opportunities dried up or shifted. Contracts were harder to secure. I found myself working twice as hard for half the impact and less than half the fees. Eventually, I made the painful decision to return to the U.S. – not as a retreat, but as a reset. I left behind the home I had built and loved, the clients I had nurtured, and the life I had fought for. I moved back alone – my older daughter had already started working in the U.S., and my younger one was traveling and working her way through Spain and Greece. I returned with my dog, a suitcase full of essentials, and a determination to find my next chapter. ~ |
| Experience doesn’t disappear – it compounds Starting over in midlife wasn’t something I had planned. But here’s the truth I’ve come to understand: experience doesn’t disappear – it compounds. Every challenge I’ve faced has sharpened my skills and deepened my empathy. I wasn’t starting from scratch. I was starting from strength. In the months that followed, I earned a Corporate Governance Certification from the Wharton School, refocused my career around strategic board roles, and reconnected with purpose-driven companies and organizations. I began working closely with CEOs again, this time with even more clarity about the kind of impact I want to have – not just in terms of financial growth, but in building resilient, transparent, and human-centered leadership. Part of this new chapter is deeply personal: I’m working to rebuild stability here so I can eventually return to Sweden, my second home and the place that still holds my heart. I want to return not just to live, but to lead – with all the wisdom, perspective, and purpose I’ve gained along the way. ~ |
| The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Reinvention is not erasure. You don’t have to let go of who you were to become who you are. Every part of your story, every pivot, setback, and win, has value. You don’t start over empty-handed. You start over equipped. To other women navigating big change, whether it’s career, health, relocation, or reinvention, know this: your path might not be linear, but it can still be meaningful. The courage to begin again is not a sign of failure; it’s a sign of growth and maturity. Det är aldrig för sent att börja om – särskilt inte när du vet vem du är. – Julie Silber, more equipped |