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5 reasons I have no regrets about leaving the corporate world and becoming a consultant

I recently left the corporate world after nine years. I loved my job as a controller, but my life had become my work. Working 16- to 18-hour days, plus weekends, practically nonstop, left very little room for time with my 15-year-old son and no time for me. I kept thinking things would ease up. Until one day I decided to stop waiting and do something about it.

I had barely started applying for other positions when I heard from Michelle Hickam, our wonderful recruiter at RoseRyan. After my first conversation with Michelle, I knew that I wanted to be with the RoseRyan family. Michelle talked about the sense of camaraderie at the firm, which was something I had yet to truly encounter in my career. Once she gave me the insight regarding the consultant life, I instantly started visualizing myself with RoseRyan.

Months later, I’ve only been here for a short amount of time, and I am so happy that I am with such a great company and great people. Here’s what I picked up about RoseRyan in just my first few weeks:

1. No politics to be found. With RoseRyan folks, newbies are supported as much as the veterans. Everyone I’ve encountered so far has made me feel welcome and part of the family. I was nervous meeting CEO Kathy Ryan for the first time, but she was very welcoming and made me instantly feel like this is where I belong. She gave me the impression that we are all in this together—our individual successes help us as well as our clients.

2. Siloes don’t exist. Over time, some companies build impenetrable walls between departments, leading to an attitude of every team for itself. That’s not an issue here. As consultants, we sometimes work separately, with different clients, but we’re all part of one big team. Everyone has been so helpful by letting me know I can reach out to any one of them if I have any questions or concerns.

3. Work/life balance is possible! I didn’t give “work/life balance” much thought until I joined RoseRyan. But around here, people talk about their activities outside of work. They’re all hard working but they make time for life too. My son and I can reserve Sundays for whatever we want to do—together. Vacations are no longer nonexistent or at risk of getting canceled at the last minute.

4. Morale is a positive one. Uplifting encouragements are a constant at RoseRyan. Other employees have introduced themselves and have offered me tips and assurances. I feel like they’re rooting for me.

5. We’re continuous learners. One of the things I love about RoseRyan is the emphasis on love of learning. RoseRyan offers training that enables consultants to advance their skills, keeping them marketable and competitive. RoseRyan makes sure that we all have the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful.

I’m grateful for my time in the corporate world. It’s where I learned how to deal with tough situations, and where I refined methods for consolidating financials, budgeting and forecasting, managing cash and making currency conversions. But it was time to move on, to try new things, and learn something new. It was time to see what the consulting world had to offer me.

And, most importantly, it was time to reconnect with my son (time with a teenager ticks fast!). Working for RoseRyan has made me realize that I can still work very hard without having to sacrifice my family and the things I love to do.

Anna Cruz joined RoseRyan as a consultant in April 2016. She previously was a controller at Playphone, regional accounting manager at Culligan and an accounting manager at Pepsi Bottling Group.

We’re always on the lookout for top talent—full-time and part-time. So if you like what we’re about—and you have the right stuff—contact Michelle Hickam or call her at 510.456.3056, x134. See our current job openings here.

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Work-life balance: fact or myth?

The subject of juggling a career and personal life is becoming more prevalent with women like Marissa Mayer of Yahoo in the spotlight. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly 71 percent of women with children under 18 years old were in the labor force or looking for work in 2011. Working mothers (and many fathers) encounter a common dilemma—a typical job in Silicon Valley involves long hours, a stressful commute and little flexibility. Parents are faced with daycare challenges, classroom involvement and a multitude of kid-related sports and activities. Multiply this by two or three children, and parenthood becomes a part-time job. Mix it all up in a pot and you’ve got a recipe for gray hair, lack of sleep and a feeling that you are failing your employer, spouse and children all at the same time.

Two years ago, I was laid off from my part-time accounting job during maternity leave with my second child. Panic set in—how could I find a role that would allow me to successfully manage both my professional and personal life as a mother of two small children? I had experienced the Silicon Valley grind for 18 years and knew that hectic lifestyle would no longer work for me and my family.

Little did I know that my situation was actually a blessing in disguise. I landed at RoseRyan and never looked back. The position gave me part-time employment, a flexible schedule and the option to work from home. The job was challenging and fulfilling, and it provided the intellectual stimuli that I longed for as a mother of young children. I soon discovered that consulting is a virtual utopia for parents or anyone who desires that elusive work-life balance.

Working at RoseRyan has given me the best of both worlds—a rewarding career and involved parenting, and my family is happier because of it. I recently decided that it was time for me to recapture a fragment of my life before kids (a very distant memory!), so I signed up for a triathlon and started training. This would never have been possible if it weren’t for the flexibility of my job. We parents tend to focus all of our energy externally, but it is important to take the time to fulfill ourselves as well.

RoseRyan is a woman-owned and managed business that provides a challenging work environment while encouraging a balance between business and family. They have been there and they get it. Sound too good to be true? It’s not—if you are interested, check out our jobs page.

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