When I decided to attend Harvard Business School, I wasn’t entirely sure what my next step would be, but I knew it was time for a change. As a financial analyst in investment banking, I realized that, while the job paid well, the hours and lifestyle left little room for joy or personal fulfillment.

Going to business school gave me the chance to rebrand myself, explore new opportunities, and figure out what truly inspired me. It was there that I discovered a passion for marketing, a creative outlet I didn’t even know I needed.

Before HBS, I struggled to figure out what I wanted to do. A conversation with a friend during a post-banking trip helped shift my perspective. When she asked me what I liked most about my finance job, my answer—running ads, planning events, and creating promotional items—had nothing to do with finance. She told me that what I was describing was marketing. That conversation helped me realize it was time to chart a new course.

At HBS, I leaned into marketing, taking courses and building a resume that showcased my strengths. A summer internship in marketing at Procter & Gamble confirmed I was on the right path, and I’ve never looked back.

Making a career leap wasn’t without its struggles. I had to prove myself in a new field and convince recruiters that my analytical background gave me a unique advantage as a marketer. Persistence and self-belief became my greatest allies.

After HBS, I stepped into brand management roles at Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola, where I honed my skills and learned to blend creativity with data-driven decision making. I later joined three tech startups as head of marketing. Their fast-paced environments pushed me to adapt quickly and think on my feet and brought new challenges and growth.

The biggest turning point in my career came when the startup I worked for eliminated its marketing department. With nothing to lose, I decided to start my own business. Classes and previous startup experience had not fully prepared me for entrepreneurship. I needed to find clients, build a team, and establish myself in an entirely new way. Over time, I learned to hire slowly and fire quickly, trust my instincts, and prioritize building a strong, cohesive team. These hard-won lessons shaped the leader I am today.

HBS was the bridge that helped me connect my analytical strengths with my creative passions, setting the foundation for a career filled with both challenges and rewards.

Looking back, my career has been a series of risks and discoveries. I am proud of the times I embraced the detours, even when they felt uncomfortable. The moments that seemed like failures at the time often turned out to be the most valuable. Each step, no matter how uncertain, brought me closer to finding my purpose.