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Posted by Glory Aigbedion
Tags: Career Transition, Leaving Academia, Professional Growth, Data Governance Journey, Life in Finance, Women in Leadership
After years of working in academia, public health, and research, I’ve taken a bold step into a completely different world — the finance sector. It’s been just two weeks in my new role, and already, the experience has stretched me in ways I didn’t expect. This post is part of a series where I reflect honestly on the realities of shifting careers, re-learning a new sector, and building a new professional identity.
Stepping into a finance-sector organisation after years in academia feels a bit like landing in a country where you speak the language — but not quite the dialect.
I’ve moved from environments where I’m fluent — research, teaching, ethical frameworks, community engagement, academia — into a space shaped by data governance, compliance, policy cycles, risk, AI strategies, and organisational scale. Some days, it feels like learning to walk again in unfamiliar terrain.
Yet I’m realising something important: every skill I gained in academia is useful here, even if the application looks different.
♥Critical thinking
♥Systems thinking
♥Writing clearly
♥Navigating ambiguity
♥Leading projects
♥Working with diverse stakeholders
These skills translate — they just wear a different “uniform” in this context.
There have been moments of doubt (“Is this really for me?”), moments of clarity (“I can see where I add value”), and many moments in between where I remind myself that growth often feels uncomfortable. New roles require new learning muscles — and that’s okay.
Two weeks in, here’s what I’ve come to understand:
Starting over requires patience — with the process and with yourself.
Identity, confidence, and clarity all develop gradually.
Learning it is part of the work, not a sign of inadequacy.
The context is different, but the core skills are the same.
It’s a sign that you’re stretching — not failing.
Most importantly, I’m learning to hold both uncertainties and possibilities at the same time — the fear of change and the excitement of what it could become.
I’m sharing this journey not because I have everything figured out, but because transitions deserve honesty, curiosity, and humanity. If you’re navigating your own pivot — into a new industry, identity, or way of working — I hope this reflection offers some encouragement.
We don’t need to know the full map before taking the first step. Sometimes the map reveals itself as we walk.
If this resonated with you or you’re navigating a career transition of your own, feel free to share your experience or reach out.
You can also follow this blog series for more reflections on career change, data governance, equity, and the evolving shape of my work.
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