Adam was no stranger to adversity. At 52, he was the head of operations at a prominent consumer packaged goods company in the Midwest. On the surface, his career had been a steady upward trajectory — a testament to his hard work, leadership, and strategic acumen. Yet beneath that surface, Adam had suffered tremendous personal loss.
Eight years ago, his wife, Ann, succumbed to leukemia, leaving Adam alone to raise their two daughters, Lily and Elise, who were just seven and nine at the time.
Rather than letting grief define him, Adam took a sabbatical from work to care for his girls. For eight months, he focused on healing, being present for his daughters, and rebuilding their family. When he returned to his job, he balanced his demanding role with the challenges of single fatherhood, doing his best to remain the loving, attentive dad his girls needed.
But tragedy struck again. Elise, now 17, was in a catastrophic car crash coming home from school. She was severely injured and spent weeks in the hospital. Adam’s world turned upside down once more, and once again, he prioritized his family. He took a six-month leave of absence to nurse his daughter back to health, putting his career on pause in order to care for her.
During this time, his company was undergoing significant changes. The market was evolving, and the company was forced to merge with another firm in its sector. In the aftermath of the merger, Adam found himself not only facing the challenge of recovering from another personal loss but also confronting an uncertain professional future. After decades in leadership, he was now suddenly unemployed for the first time in 20 years. The very thing he had worked so hard for — his career — had been stripped away by a combination of personal tragedy and the shifting tides of business.
The Path to ExecuNet
Despite his extensive experience, Adam was deeply concerned. He knew that his time away from work, while necessary for his family, had left noticeable gaps in his resume. Would prospective employers view these absences as a liability? Worse still, Adam feared that he might never find a role that would allow him to continue providing for his daughters while also honoring the lessons of resilience he had learned from his own life.
Adam’s former colleague, who had also worked with ExecuNet, recommended that he reach out to the organization. ExecuNet had helped many professionals navigate career transitions — particularly those dealing with complex personal situations.
At first, Adam was skeptical. Would it really help someone like him, someone whose career had been so interrupted by the unpredictability of life? But his colleague assured him that ExecuNet’s tailored approach was exactly what Adam needed.
Building a Strategy for a Fresh Start
Adam was introduced to his career strategist, Stacie, who immediately set to work understanding his unique situation. She began by asking thoughtful, probing questions, not just about his career trajectory but about his personal journey as well. Stacie’s approach was not to focus solely on Adam’s professional achievements but to weave together his personal story, leadership experience, and deep commitment to his family into a cohesive narrative.
“Adam, your story is compelling,” Stacie told him. “You’ve overcome loss, and that’s shaped who you are as a leader. Your ability to care for your daughters while leading a large organization through change speaks volumes about your resilience and emotional intelligence. We’re going to use that to your advantage.”
Stacie and the ExecuNet team worked closely with Adam to help him build his value story. They emphasized the leadership qualities he had demonstrated during his sabbaticals — resilience, emotional intelligence, and adaptability. They also highlighted his experience in leading through difficult transitions and managing crisis situations, an experience that was particularly relevant given the current corporate environment.
The next step was to create a go-to-market strategy. The team focused on positioning him as not just an executive but as someone who had lived through both personal and professional crises and emerged stronger. They worked on Adam’s resume, ensuring that it reflected his leadership experience, emphasizing his strategic contributions to the organization, and addressing any gaps with honesty and authenticity.
“Don’t shy away from the gaps,” Stacie advised. “We’ll frame them as a natural part of your journey, showing that you’ve always prioritized what matters most — family. That’s something employers will respect.”
After refining his resume, the ExecuNet team began working with Adam on his executive presence and interview techniques. They practiced framing his story in a way that would resonate with hiring managers. Adam needed to own his narrative — both the triumphs and the challenges — so that it would be seen as a testament to his strength, perseverance, and leadership abilities.
Adam was also paired with Harriette, an ExecuNet coach who specialized in guiding executives like Adam through the job search process. Harriette helped Adam fine-tune his approach to networking, ensuring that he connected with the right people and positioned himself effectively in conversations with potential employers.
“Your story is powerful, Adam,” Harriette said during one of their coaching sessions. “You’re not just another executive looking for a job — you’re a leader who’s faced some of life’s toughest challenges, and you’ve come through them with your values intact. Let’s make sure you communicate that confidence when you’re talking to hiring managers.”
Harriette helped Adam develop a target list of companies where he could make the most impact, given his leadership experience and vision for the future. They also explored the rapidly changing market landscape, identifying roles that were a good fit not just for Adam’s skillset but also for his personal values.
Success
After several months of hard work, coaching, and refinement, Adam felt ready to re-enter the workforce. Armed with a compelling narrative, a clear value proposition, and a revamped professional profile, Adam began his job search in earnest. It wasn’t long before his efforts paid off.
Adam was offered a leadership role at a forward-thinking, innovative consumer goods company in need of a seasoned executive to guide them through a similar transition. The new company was impressed not only by Adam’s expertise but by his story — his ability to lead in times of crisis, his commitment to his family, and his unwavering determination to overcome personal and professional challenges.
On the day he received the offer, Adam reflected on the journey he’d been through — from tragedy to triumph, from uncertainty to opportunity. As he sat down to share the good news with his daughters, Elise, still recovering from her injuries, smiled and hugged him tightly. “Dad, you’re amazing,” she said.
For Adam, it was a reminder that despite the hard times, he had emerged stronger, and now he was ready to take on the next chapter with the same resilience that had carried him through so much.
Conclusion
Adam’s story is one of transformation — not just professionally, but personally. By working with ExecuNet and embracing a strategy that blended his career history with his personal journey, Adam was able to navigate the complexities of his situation and land a role that allowed him to continue his career while also providing the stability and care his daughters needed. With the right guidance, he was able to move forward, not just as an executive but as a father who had persevered through unimaginable challenges.
As Stacie, his career strategist, said, “Sometimes, the path forward isn’t linear, but with the right support, you can shape your own story and find the opportunity that’s right for you. Adam did just that.”
