From Pharmacist to Boardroom Lessons in Reinvention

Reinvention isn’t just a buzzword it’s the foundation of my career. Starting out as a pharmacist, I never imagined I’d end up co-founding multi-billion-dollar healthcare companies, chairing a national cybersecurity organisation, or sitting on the board of an AFL club. Yet each pivot was born from a willingness to learn, adapt, and back myself.

Too often we cling to the identity we started with. But careers aren’t straight lines anymore. Reinvention requires embracing uncertainty, trusting that the skills you’ve built will serve you in new arenas, and seeking out rooms where you’re not the most experienced person. That’s where the growth happens.

What surprised me most was how transferable leadership is. The same ability to problem-solve under pressure in healthcare translated into navigating complex cybersecurity challenges, and into guiding elite athletes toward performance outcomes. The industries were different, but the principles of resilience, communication, and strategy stayed the same.

If you’re at a career crossroads, ask yourself: what strengths do you take everywhere? Which environments spark your curiosity? And where can your unique mix of experience create the most impact?

Reinvention is not about abandoning your past. It’s about layering on new chapters. You’ll be surprised at how the skills that once felt niche become your superpower in the next arena.