{"id":6906,"date":"2026-05-07T13:19:06","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T13:19:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iese.edu\/standout\/?p=6906"},"modified":"2026-05-07T13:53:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T13:53:13","slug":"career-ending-evolving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.iese.edu\/standout\/career-ending-evolving\/","title":{"rendered":"Your career isn\u2019t ending. It\u2019s evolving"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Suddenly you find yourself faced with the challenge of pursuing another role and writing a whole new chapter <\/strong>in your working life. For many professionals, such a transition to second, or even third, career does not arrive according to a convenient timeline.<\/p>\n

It may emerge gradually<\/strong>, as the trajectory that once defined your working life begins to plateau. Or it may be imposed abruptly <\/strong>\u2013 through restructuring, redundancy, or market disruption \u2013 demanding urgent and decisive action.<\/p>\n

In either case, the challenge is the same: you need to take charge of the situation <\/strong>so that you can maintain momentum and keep forging ahead in your career. While some trepidation is natural, it shouldn\u2019t be the defining response. At any stage, a professional pivot can be a powerful opportunity for reinvention and personal growth.<\/p>\n

The question is not whether reinvention is possible \u2013 but how you can shape the change<\/strong> in your circumstances in profitable and fulfilling ways. The truth is that those who approach this moment with clarity and intent can unlock exciting and unexpected avenues for growth and a renewed sense of purpose.<\/p>\n

Reframing your situation<\/h2>\n

According to Manuel Alonso Puig<\/a>, who leads IESE Business School\u2019s New Professional Horizons (NHP)<\/strong><\/a> program for seasoned executives in Spain, the key to navigating a career shift lies in adopting a structured and intentional approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to determine your true professional value at this moment,\u201d he explains, \u201cand craft a value proposition<\/strong> that clearly sets you apart.\u201d<\/p>\n

This requires a shift in mindset. Rather than viewing a career change as a disruption, professionals can reframe it as a strategic transition<\/strong> \u2013 one that aligns their accumulated experience with emerging opportunities.<\/p>\n

A changing world of work<\/h2>\n

Today\u2019s professionals are navigating career decisions against the backdrop of profound shifts<\/strong> in the global labor market.<\/p>\n

Technological advances \u2013 particularly in generative AI<\/strong> \u2013 are expected to drive productivity gains, while simultaneously raising questions about job displacement and evolving skill requirements. At the same time, demographic trends<\/strong> are reshaping the workforce: people are living longer, healthier lives, even as aging populations place new demands on labor markets.<\/p>\n

These changes are extending the length \u2013 and complexity \u2013 of careers. The traditional linear trajectory is giving way to more dynamic, multi-stage professional lives<\/strong>, where reinvention is not the exception but the norm. In this context, the ability to adapt is key.<\/p>\n

The NHP program at IESE encourages senior professionals to reflect on the following key dimensions<\/strong> as they translate years of experience into new opportunities:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. How to align<\/strong> their professional experience and strengths with new career horizons.<\/li>\n
  2. What skills and tools<\/strong> are needed to reshape their working lives in line with evolving values and interests.<\/li>\n
  3. How to refine leadership and management<\/strong> capabilities for new contexts.<\/li>\n
  4. How to leverage networks, mentors, and institutional resources<\/strong> to uncover opportunities.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For many participants, this process leads back into executive roles<\/strong>. For others, it opens doors to consulting, investing, entrepreneurship, or interim management positions \u2013 roles that often capitalize on deep expertise while offering greater flexibility and autonomy.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe time you spend at work is a very large part of your life,\u201d says Yolanda De Gregorio Velazquez<\/a>, who recently transitioned into a debt advisory role at a corporate finance firm in Barcelona after completing the program. \u201cYou have to be brave and seek work that truly fulfils you.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Building a structured path forward<\/h2>\n

    While a late-stage career re-set presents its own challenges, the truth is that people constantly need to<\/strong> review<\/strong> their professional paths to take account of fresh opportunities.<\/p>\n

    As part of its mission to support its former students at different stages of their professional journey, IESE offers tools <\/strong>to help them identify job openings or craft a strategic plan to achieve their long-term career goals.<\/p>\n

    The Professional Transition Program<\/strong><\/a>, for example, helps IESE alumni at any stage of their career to explore new opportunities via a series of \u201cbootcamps\u201d that guide them through the different steps of their exploration of a new role:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Discover your path: <\/strong>Participants begin by identifying their interests, values, motivations, and strengths to define a clear sense of purpose.<\/li>\n
    2. Build your brand:<\/strong> With greater self-awareness, they can then develop a compelling personal narrative with the help of career coaches and mentors.<\/li>\n
    3. Go to market: <\/strong>The final stage focuses on execution: refining the job search strategy, strengthening networking efforts, and preparing to communicate effectively in interviews and professional interactions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \u201cThe people who lead it are really passionate about it, and you really feel that want you to succeed,\u201d Pavel Veselov<\/a>, who holds an Executive MBA from IESE, says of the PTP course, which he recently completed.<\/p>\n

      Courage, clarity, and opportunity<\/h2>\n

      There is no denying that changing career direction can be challenging<\/strong>. It requires courage, careful planning, and often a willingness to step outside one\u2019s comfort zone. Yet the potential rewards<\/strong> are significant: more meaningful work, greater alignment with personal values, and, in many cases, improved work\u2013life balance.<\/p>\n

      Eugeni Brot\u00f3ns<\/a> offers a compelling example. After stepping down as global marketing director at the Spanish beverage firm Gonz\u00e1lez Byass in 2023, he chose to reassess his professional path<\/strong>. Following his participation in IESE\u2019s NHP program, he transitioned into consulting and now advises firms including the Rioja-based winemaker Marqu\u00e9s del Atrio.<\/p>\n

      \u201cThe course really made me look inside myself,\u201d Eugeni reflects, \u201cand ask what, at this stage of my life, I truly wanted to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

      Here are some of his tips for anyone looking to try something new in their career:<\/p>\n