For most of his career, Emilio Umeoka was rarely still. His leadership roles at companies including Microsoft and Apple took him across Brazil, Asia and Silicon Valley, managing global teams and navigating constant change. But long before he stepped away from corporate life, he had already started asking himself a different question: what comes next?

Unlike many career transitions, Emilio's wasn't triggered by burnout, redundancy or crisis. Instead, it was the result of a deliberate process of reflection, planning and experimentation. With support from a transition coach and later through Stanford University's Distinguished Careers Institute, he began exploring what work, contribution and purpose might look like beyond a traditional executive career.

In this conversation, Emilio speaks with Angela about preparing for life after corporate success, the challenge of "losing the logo" and separating your identity from the company you've spent decades representing. They discuss why retirement is becoming an outdated concept, the importance of staying curious, and how longer lives may require us to rethink careers, learning and contribution altogether.

Emilio also shares the practical lessons he learned from his own transition, including the value of community, the role of experimentation in finding a new direction and why he believes purpose is something we continue to discover rather than something we find once and for all.

Connect with Emilio:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eumeoka/

Substack: substack.com/@lifebeyond100

Instagram: instagram.com/lifebeyond100

Podcast

Connect and show support:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk

Substack: changeunfiltered.substack.com

Instagram: instagram.com/iam_angelajoy

Email: angela@joynergi.com

Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott

In her early twenties, Lizzie Davey made a decision that many people only start to question much later. She realised that the traditional path wasn’t for her, and instead of trying to make it fit, she chose something different.

Lizzie began her career in a conventional way, moving from university into a full-time role, but within two years she had stepped away. What followed was not a linear plan, but a gradual build into a freelance career that now gives her both financial security and control over how she works.

In this conversation, she speaks with Angela about the reality of building something from scratch, the pressure to keep doing more even when things are working, and why freedom, not money, has been the consistent driver behind her decisions. They explore what “enough” actually looks like in practice, how early choices shape later options and the difference between designing a life intentionally and trying to reshape one that no longer fits.

Lizzie also shares her approach to money, including her plans for financial independence, the balance between saving and living, and why she’s chosen to be open about her income and finances.

If you’ve built a career that looks successful on the surface but find yourself questioning what it’s all for, this episode offers a different perspective, not on how to start over, but on how to think differently about what comes next.

Connect with Lizzie:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lizzie-davey-4a85b575/

Instagram: instagram.com/freelancemagic.co

Website: lizziedavey.com

Newsletter: copyrevival.co/newsletter

Connect and show support:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/

Instagram: instagram.com/iam_angelajoy

Email: angela@joynergi.com

Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott

In this episode, Angela speaks with Mairead McCarthy, about stepping away from a corporate career without knowing exactly what would come next. What began as a decision to “try something for a year” gradually evolved into an award winning wellbeing business working with organisations across Ireland.

Together they explore what happens when a role no longer fits, how small decisions can lead to bigger change, and why building something sustainable often starts with taking a step rather than making a leap.

• Why leaving corporate is often a “push” rather than a “pull”.

• The impact of leadership and management changes on career decisions.

• The idea of “trying it for a year” instead of committing long-term.

• Turning a side interest into a business over time.

• The difference between wellbeing as a cost vs an investment.

• The reality of running a business and doing everything at the start.

• Creating boundaries and building something that actually fits your life.

Mairead McCarthy is the founder of WellPlace Workplace Wellbeing Services. After more than 16 years working in corporate roles across training, project and programme management, she stepped away to explore a long-standing interest in yoga and wellbeing.

What started as a small step into self-employment has grown into a business supporting organisations with a broader approach to workplace wellbeing, working with a network of specialists to deliver flexible, tailored programmes.

Website: https://wellplace.ie LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mairead-mccarthy Instagram: instagram.com/wellplaceireland

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelajscottuk/

Instagram: instagram.com/iam_angelajoy

Email: angela@joynergi.com

Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/angelajoyscott