Joan had always been a builder. As the Chief Product Officer of a high-growth tech company, she led teams that brought groundbreaking ideas to life, scaling operations, and driving innovation that transformed her organization. She loved her work, relishing the challenges of creating something meaningful from scratch. Her team admired her sharp strategic mind and the genuine care she showed for their development.
But life has a way of throwing unexpected curves. In June, Joan’s company was acquired by a larger corporation. While the acquisition seemed promising at first, it quickly became evident that Joan’s role would change dramatically. No longer at the forefront of innovation, her position became less about building and more about maintaining. For someone like Joan, this wasn’t enough.
When the final equity payout arrived, Joan decided it was time to move on. She wanted a new challenge—one that allowed her to grow, innovate, and lead with purpose. Yet, stepping into the senior executive job market brought her face-to-face with a sobering reality: finding the right role was harder than she’d imagined.
A New Kind of Challenge
Joan had spent her career being recruited or promoted. Now, for the first time, she was actively searching for her next opportunity. Despite her impressive resume, navigating the senior executive job market was a humbling experience. She struggled to articulate her unique value in a way that would resonate with potential employers, especially as someone without a traditional Bachelor’s degree.
Adding to the complexity, Joan wasn’t looking for just any role. She had a clear vision: a Chief Product Officer or Chief Technology Officer position in a high-growth company, ideally with 200–500 employees and revenues of $50M–$500M. She wanted to work in the smart home industry or a similarly innovative space, aiming for a compensation package with a $250K base and OTE potential of $500K. But how could she stand out in such a competitive market?
Reframing the Narrative
Joan turned to ExecuNet for guidance. Partnering with a career strategist and coach, she began to reframe her story. Together, they unearthed a key differentiator: Joan’s entrepreneurial roots.
At 13, Joan had started her first business—a dog-walking service that grew into a small but thriving operation. Over the years, she’d tackled a variety of ventures, from consulting to managing a vacation rental business in the Smoky Mountains. This entrepreneurial spirit informed her leadership style and problem-solving approach, making her a unique candidate in the senior executive job market.
Her ExecuNet team helped her reposition her experience, highlighting how her entrepreneurial mindset and hands-on expertise made her uniquely suited to lead in dynamic environments. Joan learned how to communicate her story with confidence, focusing on her ability to drive growth, adapt to change, and inspire teams.
Finding the Right Fit
Armed with a fresh perspective and a refined strategy, Joan set out to find her ideal role. She focused on companies undergoing transformation—businesses that needed not just a leader, but a builder.
It wasn’t long before she found it: a Chief Product Officer position at a rapidly growing smart home technology company. The role was everything she’d been looking for—a chance to lead product strategy, scale teams, and drive innovation in a company poised for significant growth.
The hiring team was captivated by Joan’s story. Her entrepreneurial background, paired with her track record of scaling organizations, positioned her as the ideal candidate. They saw in her not just a product leader, but a visionary who could navigate complexity and turn ideas into reality.
The Universal Theme: Reinvention in Times of Change
Joan’s journey is one of reinvention—a theme that resonates deeply in today’s ever-changing professional landscape. Her story highlights a universal truth: moments of uncertainty are also opportunities for growth.
For senior executives, navigating career transitions often means stepping into the unknown, rethinking long-held narratives, and embracing the challenge of adapting to new realities. Joan’s success underscores the power of strategic self-reflection and the importance of aligning personal values with professional goals.
Her journey reminds us that reinvention isn’t just about finding the next job—it’s about rediscovering who you are, reframing your strengths, and building a future that aligns with your vision. Whether you’re at the peak of your career or facing an unexpected crossroads, the ability to adapt, innovate, and lead through change is what sets you apart.
Joan’s story is proof that with the right mindset and support, you can navigate even the most daunting challenges—and come out stronger on the other side.
