From Corporate Finance to Entrepreneurship: A Journey of Resilience

My journey in international finance began in 1995 when I joined a prestigious French corporation at the cusp of its global expansion. Over nearly two decades, I advanced through various Finance Director roles, working across diverse locations—France, Mauritius, Comoros Islands, Morocco, and the UK. These years were marked by the excitement of leading multi-cultural teams through complex, strategic projects. The experience of navigating different business cultures and steering transformative initiatives was both challenging and deeply rewarding.

Life has a peculiar way of steering us towards our true calling, even through its most challenging moments. A decade ago, in 2013, I found myself at the helm of an ambitious project in Paris, leading a newly established corporate controlling team of twelve professionals. Our mission? To develop harmonised controlling processes across a vast network of over 2,000 companies, managing a staggering €24bn turnover.

At 48, with years of experience under my belt and the group CFO’s trust, I was living what many would consider a corporate success story. Every weekend, I would return to London to be with my husband, maintaining a delicate work-life balance. My sights were set on advancing further—securing a Finance Director position in the UK seemed the natural next step.

However, I had unknowingly pushed myself beyond my limits. The burnout that followed was a wake-up call, though surprisingly, as my psychologist later noted, I had managed to overcome it independently. This experience planted the first seed of change in my mind.

When summer 2014 arrived, bringing with it the promised promotion and relocation to the UK, I eagerly packed my belongings, ready for the next chapter. Yet, fate had other plans. A month after my move, I learned the role was no longer available. This unexpected turn of events, coupled with my recent burnout, forced me to reassess my path. The realisation dawned that perhaps my interests and corporate objectives were no longer aligned, leading me to negotiate my exit—a decision that would prove transformative.

This apparent setback became the catalyst for an exciting new venture. I immersed myself in full-stack web development, studying full-time at General Office for four months. I also joined the Startup Leadership Programme chapter in London and undertook an eight-month long course to support my project to launch a tech startup.

Together with my sister, in February 2015 we launched Agily3, a goal-setting app and methodology designed to enhance strategy execution for companies. Our innovation caught the attention of industry leaders, with ARUP and Hydrosave among our first pilot customers, and ENGIE.

It was exhilarating to pursue work that resonated deeply with my passions. Though life had more challenges in store—a prostate cancer diagnosis in the second half of 2015, and by 2018, a battle with depression stemming from the trauma and treatment—these experiences, while forcing a pause in the startup project, taught me invaluable lessons.

Throughout this journey, I discovered that with motivation, focus, and the flexibility to adapt to client needs, no goal is truly out of reach. These principles now form the cornerstone of my coaching practice, where I help others navigate their own career changes with resilience and purpose.

Sometimes, the most significant career breakthroughs come disguised as setbacks. My story stands as testament to the power of embracing change, even when it arrives unexpectedly. It’s this experience that enriches my approach to coaching, offering not just guidance, but genuine understanding of the transformation journey.