Embracing the Career Pivot: Real Stories of Career Change in Aotearoa

Sometimes a career pivot doesn’t begin with a bold leap. It begins quietly with curiosity, a moment of reflection, or the sense that something needs to shift. Many people who go on to reshape their working lives don’t start with certainty. They start with experimentation.

Across Aotearoa, more people are rethinking what their working lives might look like. Not because they’re lost, but because they’re ready for something that feels more aligned, more meaningful, or simply different from what came before. And in many of these stories, the turning point wasn’t dramatic. It was small. It was a step.

A common thread appears again and again:

the path forward becomes clearer once you begin moving.

Real Career Pivot Stories from Aotearoa

New directions rarely arrive fully formed. They take shape through low-risk experiments - a summer job, a short course, a side project, a conversation, or following an interest simply because it feels right.

What happens when people back their strengths, trust their transferable skills, and take that first step? The stories below offer three very real examples from Aotearoa.

From University Study to Award-Winning Viticulture

Take the story of Tahryn Mason, whose journey into viticulture began with a vineyard summer job while studying at university. What started as temporary work revealed a genuine passion, and he made the decision to pursue it further. Bringing curiosity, discipline, and problem-solving strengths with him, Tahryn has since been recognised as a national award-winning viticulturist.

His story is proof that sometimes the most meaningful opportunities begin with trying something new — not with a full plan, but with openness to possibility.

From Parliament to Wellness Entrepreneurship

After serving as a Member of Parliament, Anna Lorck stepped away from politics and into a completely different landscape: the wellness sector. Using the leadership, communication, and community-building skills developed over her career, she is now building a wellbeing-focused business that reflects her values and priorities.

For Anna, the pivot didn’t start with certainty. It started with exploring what felt purposeful and seeing where that path could lead.

From News Reporting to Meditation and Retreat Leadership

For Claire Robbie, the shift from journalism and broadcast media into meditation teaching and running wellbeing retreats was driven by personal transformation. Beginning with her own practice and teaching small classes, she gradually built a community-focused wellbeing organisation centred on balance, connection, and growth.

Like so many career changes, it began with one small step — and evolved into an entirely new chapter.

The Power of Transferable Skills in a Career Pivot

What these stories share is not a reinvention from scratch, but the ability to carry existing strengths into new environments. Transferable skills such as:

• Communication and storytelling

• Leadership and relationship building

• Strategic thinking and planning

• Project and operational management

• Problem-solving and adaptability remain valuable no matter the industry. The context shifts — the capability doesn’t.

Finding Your Own Transferable Strengths

If you’re exploring what might come next, start small. Ask yourself:

• When have I felt most energised at work?

• What strengths do people consistently acknowledge in me?

• What kind of work do I lose track of time doing?

• What could I experiment with — even for an hour a week?

  
  

Clarity often comes through motion, not reflection alone. The world of work is changing fast, and the most powerful strategy is not staying in one lane, but learning how to shift lanes confidently when the time is right. Your next career doesn’t require a leap - it starts with a step. Progress isn’t built on certainty - it’s built on momentum.

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Sources Referenced

Primary ITO – story of Tahryn MasonNZ Herald – profile featuring Anna LorckFashion Quarterly / Ensemble – coverage of Claire Robbie

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Thanks for reading. Our hope with each edition is to create space to pause, reflect and rethink how we work. If this sparked something for you, we would love if you shared it with someone who might need to hear it. You can always connect with us at info@pickapath.co.nz or find more at pickapath.co.nz.