Across Oceans and Industries
Meagan Maginot’s Journey from Advertising to Alignment
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How would you describe your career before you made a pivot? I was your typical, mid-senior level manager at a large corporation. I was successful, well-liked with clients and coworkers alike, and very comfortable. I was promoted at regular intervals, moved in and out of different groups, and had access to leadership.
What sparked the change, and how did you first feel about leaving your old life behind? Although I was happy in my position—I was overseeing a large team with a coworker I greatly respected and trusted—I had changed roles a lot in the previous 24 months and was finally starting to feel some emotional burnout. I had no plans of changing jobs or resigning, but when my husband got an offer to progress his career by moving abroad, it felt like a no-brainer. I was extremely excited to leave my old life behind, because I could do so without the burden of financial worry or burning any bridges. It was a nice clean exit. The absolute blessing of being able to try on a new life this way does not escape me. I did, however, take a few months (about 5) to do my research on training programs, certifications, meet with people in both the Pilates and advertising industry, and also just explore my new home before making a decision.
How did your relocation influence your decision to pursue something new like Pilates? I am kind-of an all-in type of person for better or for worse. So when we moved, I thought here was my one chance to try on a new career and persona. I didn’t know anyone professionally where we were going, no one had any pre-formed notions of who or what I was or supposed to be, and I was in this adventure mindset. When I was in college and struggling with all the things that come with that first major life-decision that can seem like such a fork in the road, my mother taught me that you can always change your mind; nothing is permanent. I kept coming back to that. In the back of my mind I also knew that this move was likely not forever and we would be returning to the U.S. in a few years, so I figured I could always go back to “NYC Advertising Meagan” when the time came. It felt like a bit of a safety net.
What cultural or lifestyle shifts surprised you the most when starting over in a new country? I think the lifestyle and cultural shifts we experienced were unique to where we were: Sydney, Australia. Australians embrace enjoying life as much as you can—it’s not hard to do when you live somewhere as beautiful as that! Sometimes for us New Yorkers, it felt like that came at the expense of work(ing), but they still get it done. There is a lot less pressure! We also found so much more community there. That was extremely evident during the Covid-19 pandemic (which of course we never anticipated). Rather than a self-centric focus on personal drive and uniqueness or independence, there is this notion of “mateship.” Yes, for us expats that made us feel excluded at times but for someone starting over from scratch, it was a relief to feel like people were there to help and not compete with you all the time. Taking my NYC work-ethic with me, however, helped me stand out to teachers and future employers. Everyone works out in some way or another and most people have experience with Pilates. A lot of it is even covered by health insurance! A certified Pilates instructor is much more respected there as a career and people seem to understand how much work goes into it rather than the “step down” it seems like here.
You’ve mentioned your partner’s support played a role in this transition. What did it feel like to give yourself permission to follow a different path because of that support? I give my husband so much credit for not batting an eye when I told him that I wanted to completely shift gears career-wise. He acted like it was a totally normal thing to do for someone in their 30s with an established track-record and clear career progression. That allowed me to convince myself it was totally normal as well: no need to be nervous, or let any self-doubt creep in. I was able to redefine the terms of what the current best and happiest version of myself was.
How did you reconcile feelings of privilege or guilt with the excitement of starting something new? I talked to a lot of acquaintances who had made similar changes. I also changed up what newsletters I subscribed to and podcasts I listened to. I really tried to make it who I was in every aspect of my day and made sure that the narrative I was receiving was coming from other confident strong individuals (mostly women) who I wanted to feel like. All of those things normalized the transition for me. With regards to a fully comprehensive Pilates training, it’s at least 450 hours of training before you sit your exam. That’s a lot of hard work. So, yes, even though I had a lot of privilege to get to this point, I was also working really hard towards my final goal.
What transferable skills from your advertising background helped you as you jumped into Pilates? To be a really good Pilates instructor, you have to be organized. As a former project manager, I have organizational skills in spades. My brain easily organizes exercises, injuries, clients and categories thereof. You also have to be able to prioritize. You only have an hour with this person or this class, so based on the body/ies in front of you, what will provide them maximum benefit?
Pilates addresses the body holistically. Programming sessions is also inherently creative; it should tell a story—one with a beginning, middle, and end. A good instructor can construct that story each and every time so that the client leaves feeling satisfied.
How do you think about success differently now than you did in your former career? I’m honestly still redefining my definition of success. My career change came with a lot of other changes: where I live, lifestyle, the opportunity to grow my family. I can’t really separate them. And maybe that’s the takeaway: “success” doesn’t need to have just one definition, nor does my career need to have a single linear path. It can morph and pivot based on other factors in my life at that time.
What would you say to someone craving a big pivot but unsure they can justify the risk? You definitely have to be able to justify the risk. Can you afford it? Are you willing to put in the time? Are you willing to really start over from zero? For someone mid-career, it’s hard to start at a “junior” level again. Do you have the support of a person or community you can lean on? If the answer is yes, then by all means, go ahead. Otherwise, you will know what you need to adjust/change first.
Looking back, what part of this transition has surprised you most (either about the work, yourself, or the way others responded)? I was surprised how natural it felt.
What advice would you give to someone in your shoes 5 years ago? Don’t fight the universe. If you’re given an opportunity and life is realigning itself to make this easy, just go with it. You can always change your mind!
Want to follow Meagan’s next chapter? Find her on LinkedIn
