STRATEGIC REINVENTION: DR CLAIRE KAYE ON TURNING CAREER ENDS INTO NEW BEGINNINGS

When a career ends, the loss is often felt as deeply personal as it is professional. For many accomplished women, the transition brings not only uncertainty about what comes next, but also a profound reassessment of identity, purpose and self-worth.

Television presenter Sarah Cawood’s candid reflections about feeling “lost” and “redundant” after her broadcasting career ended have struck a chord with many. For career and confidence coach Dr Claire Kaye, such admissions are far from unusual.

“I see this all the time in my practice,” says Dr Kaye. “Women in their late forties and fifties suddenly stopping and thinking, hang on, how did I get here? The career that once defined you might no longer fit, or you’ve taken a break for caring responsibilities and now your children are growing up and you’re wondering who you are beyond that role.”

An award-winning GP before retraining as a coach, Kaye has built her practice around supporting high-achieving women at this exact inflection point. She describes it not as an ending, but as “an elegant intersection” — an opportunity to reclaim confidence, rediscover authenticity, and design a future aligned with the woman you are now.

Cawood’s sense of redundancy as she watches former colleagues thrive mirrors a wider trend. Professional women at midlife often face a confluence of pressures: perimenopause, years of self-sacrifice, the comparison trap of social media, and the natural dip in confidence that comes with change. Against that backdrop, it is little surprise many are left asking, is this it?

Yet Kaye argues that the moment can be reframed as a catalyst for reinvention rather than a crisis. She advocates five practical steps to navigate this transition:

• Pause deliberately. Taking time to reflect, rather than rushing into reinvention, creates the mental space to make thoughtful decisions.

• Reconnect with your essence. Instead of focusing solely on achievements, explore your core values, strengths and passions to rediscover what energises you.

• Challenge limiting beliefs. Narratives such as “I’m too old to pivot” or “I must always be productive” are often inherited constructs that no longer serve.

• Experiment with curiosity. Low-pressure exploration — whether through courses, volunteering or passion projects — helps build clarity and confidence.

• Curate your support network. From professional coaches to trusted peers, surrounding yourself with constructive voices can provide both perspective and momentum.

“This stage of life isn’t the conclusion of your story,” says Kaye. “It’s the opening chapter of your most authentic era, an opportunity to prioritise yourself, rebuild unshakeable confidence and create a future that genuinely excites you.”

For business leaders and professionals alike, Kaye’s message is clear: when one career chapter ends, it is not redundancy but renewal that lies ahead.