Richard had dedicated much of his career to leading a peak body as CEO. He had gained wide-ranging and valuable experience managing complex agricultural and rural sector challenges. However, when he faced a career transition after redundancy, Richard found himself at a crossroads, unsure of what path to pursue next. This pivotal moment is familiar to many senior executives who have spent years in leadership roles – highly skilled, yet uncertain of their next move. In this case, Glide Outplacement’s executive outplacement program, delivered by Principal Consultant Simon Bennett, guided Richard on his CEO career transition journey.
Exploring new corporate opportunities
At the beginning of Richard’s CEO career transition, his focus was on finding exciting opportunities within the corporate world. With the help of his dedicated executive outplacement coach, he identified a variety of corporate roles that aligned with his skill set, leadership experience and industry knowledge. Richard’s coach helped him thoroughly explore these opportunities, analysing the pros and cons of each. The corporate landscape offered promising options… but something about it didn’t quite ignite Richard’s passion.
A new direction: entrepreneurial ambitions
As Richard delved deeper into his career exploration, a conversation with his outplacement consultant sparked a new idea. They discussed the potential of entrepreneurial ventures and how Richard’s vast experience and leadership abilities could serve him well as a business owner. He began to see that entrepreneurship could offer him more flexibility, personal satisfaction and alignment with his rural lifestyle. With the encouragement and insight of his coach, Richard became eager to explore the entrepreneurial path further.
Building a business from the ground up
With his new focus on entrepreneurship, Richard and his outplacement consultant worked together to develop a business concept. Richard had identified gaps in the market based on his knowledge of the agricultural and rural sectors. His coach helped him research areas of client demand and identify potential target markets. This in-depth analysis formed the foundation of what would become his successful consulting business.
From there, Richard and his outplacement consultant refined his business idea, focusing on specific services he could offer to rural businesses and organisations. He worked on creating a clear, compelling value proposition, something that would distinguish his business from others in the market. Richard’s vision for his consulting business began to take shape.
Crafting a strategy for success
Launching a business requires more than just a great idea. Richard’s outplacement consultant assisted him in exploring financing options, ensuring he had the resources to get his consulting firm off the ground. Richard also developed marketing strategies and materials to attract clients and build his brand.
With a solid business plan and marketing strategy in place, Richard launched his consulting business offering tailored solutions to rural businesses. His business began to flourish, drawing in a portfolio of clients who appreciated Richard’s deep expertise and personalised approach.
Thriving in business and lifestyle thanks to CEO career transition
Today, Richard’s consulting business is thriving thanks to the great start he received through executive outplacement. He couldn’t be happier with the path he chose. Not only does he have a respectable portfolio of clients, but he’s also built a team of staff who share his passion for the business. Best of all, Richard’s entrepreneurial venture perfectly complements his rural lifestyle, offering him the flexibility and satisfaction he long desired.
Richard’s story exemplifies the power of executive outplacement. Through personalised coaching and tailored guidance, he was able to undergo a CEO career transition to a thriving entrepreneur. He’s now successfully built a business that aligns with both his professional skills and personal values.