Debbie Groves

I've reinvented myself many times throughout my career. I've moved from classical music to nonprofit fundraising, from e-learning to enterprise technology, from leading large sales organizations to management consulting, and now entrepreneurship. I've generally welcomed change, believing that each new experience brings an opportunity to learn, grow, and become better at what I do.

But the past twelve months have challenged that optimism in ways I never expected.

Like many experienced professionals, I've found myself navigating a job market that feels increasingly difficult to understand. Economic uncertainty, the rapid disruption of artificial intelligence, and the realities of seeking a new opportunity in your 50s have created a challenging environment. Add the financial responsibilities of having two daughters in college and navigating challenges in a family business, and the pressure can become overwhelming.

I've been automatically rejected from positions where I felt exceptionally qualified. I've been ghosted by recruiters and organizations. I've gone into conversations convinced that my experience was exactly what an employer needed, only to hear nothing afterward.

When you've spent decades building a successful career, these experiences can shake your confidence more than you might expect.

I've always considered myself a naturally optimistic person, but this past year has tested that optimism. Some days, staying positive takes far more effort than it used to. And I've had to remind myself that a difficult job market doesn't erase the experience, capabilities, or relationships I've built over a lifetime.

When a Step Backward Becomes a Step Forward

A few years ago, I made a conscious decision to move from an executive position leading North American sales into an individual contributor role in management consulting.

It wasn't an easy decision. I had spent years building and leading teams, driving growth, and carrying significant organizational responsibility. I was proud of those accomplishments.

But I also recognized an opportunity to expand my experience beyond the areas where I'd already established expertise.

That move exposed me to an extraordinary range of business challenges, from technology modernization and AI strategy to human-centered design, ESG, customer experience, and organizational transformation. I worked alongside talented colleagues with different areas of expertise and gained a broader understanding of how organizations operate and how complex business problems are solved.

I wouldn't trade that experience.

What I hadn't fully anticipated was the impact of stepping away from an executive title. I found myself repeatedly explaining why I'd made the move, sometimes feeling as though I needed to defend a decision that had been intentional. I also began to recognize just how much authority and credibility people automatically associate with a title.

It was an important lesson about ego, identity, and how we define professional progress.

Looking back, I know the experience made me a more capable, versatile business leader. It expanded my perspective and gave me skills that will be valuable wherever my career takes me next.

Sometimes growth requires making a move that doesn't look like advancement on paper.

Lessons From a Music Stand

Long before I entered the business world, music taught me lessons that I continue to rely on today.

I studied classical music, performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Youth Symphony, and attended a conservatory. Music required an enormous amount of discipline. There were countless hours of practice, difficult passages that seemed impossible to master, auditions that didn't go as hoped, and performances where the pressure to get everything right was intense.

You learn quickly that progress rarely comes in a straight line.

You practice. You struggle. You make mistakes. You try again. And eventually, something that once seemed beyond your ability becomes possible.

It's one of the reasons I believe so strongly in encouraging children to study music. They don't need to become professional musicians or pursue it beyond their school years. The simple act of committing to practice, working through frustration, and experiencing the satisfaction of improvement builds skills that stay with you for life.

I didn't fully appreciate it at the time, but that experience gave me a foundation of resilience that has carried me through every stage of my career.

And I'm drawing on it now, perhaps more than ever.

Learning to Be a Beginner Again

One of the more humbling aspects of this chapter has been recognizing how much I still have to learn.

After decades of working in enterprise sales and leadership, I'm now developing new skills in online marketing, social media, website development, and entrepreneurship. I'm exploring different business models, building relationships, and discovering what it takes to create and grow a consulting practice.

Some of it is exciting. Some of it is frustrating. And some days, I wonder whether I'm making progress at all.

But there's something valuable about being a beginner again.

The pace of change in business, particularly with AI, means that none of us can afford to rely exclusively on what we've accomplished in the past. We have to remain curious and willing to challenge what we think we know.

I find it interesting that the very disruption creating so much uncertainty is also opening doors to new possibilities.

My career has given me an unusual combination of experiences across talent development, analytics, enterprise technology, sales leadership, and management consulting. I'm beginning to recognize that the value of those experiences lies in how I can bring them together to solve new problems.

The Relationships That Remind Us Who We Are

One of the more meaningful surprises of this past year has been the support I've received from people I've worked with over the years.

Two former clients reached out independently, simply wanting to reconnect and spend time together. There was no business opportunity to discuss, no particular reason for the meeting. They just wanted to catch up.

That meant more to me than they probably realized.

I've also had former colleagues recommend me for opportunities and advocate for me within their organizations. I'm incredibly grateful for that support, especially during a time when so much of the job search process can feel impersonal.

It's reminded me that the relationships we build throughout our careers matter long after a project ends or we move on to another company.

Early in my career, I received handwritten thank-you notes from clients describing how our work had helped them achieve recognition within their industries or advance in their own careers. Those notes meant a great deal to me then, and the outreach I've received this year has brought back that same feeling.

At a time when it's easy to measure yourself by the opportunities you haven't received, these relationships have been a powerful reminder of the contributions I've already made.

Building the Next Chapter

I don't have a perfectly defined picture of what comes next, and I'm learning to be comfortable with that.

Through MintRidge Group and its SalesWave consulting practice, I'm building a business that draws on the experiences and relationships I've developed throughout my career. I'm working with organizations on growth strategies, complex sales opportunities, technology adoption, and the challenges of building sustainable commercial success.

It's rewarding to bring together so many different aspects of my experience, and I'm energized by the possibilities for where this business can go.

At the same time, I remain curious about the opportunities that lie ahead. One of the things I've learned throughout my career is that some of the most rewarding experiences come from directions you didn't originally anticipate. I'm approaching this next chapter with that same openness, along with a stronger appreciation for the value of everything I've learned along the way.

I may not know exactly what the future will look like, but I'm taking steps to shape it rather than waiting for it to happen.

The Courage to Keep Going

I've been thinking a lot about what resilience really means.

For much of my life, I associated it with optimism, determination, and the ability to push through obstacles. I still believe those qualities matter.

But I'm learning that resilience also means acknowledging when things are difficult. It means accepting that you won't always have the answers, that rejection can hurt, and that even confident, accomplished people can struggle with uncertainty.

It also means recognizing that our value isn't defined by our current title, our employment status, or someone else's decision about whether we're the right fit.

My music background taught me that you don't master a difficult piece by playing it perfectly the first time. You break it down, practice the parts that challenge you, and keep working until you begin to hear the music come together.

I'm trying to approach this chapter of my life in much the same way.

I don't know exactly what comes next. But I know that the decades I've spent learning, leading, building relationships, and overcoming challenges have given me skills and perspectives that I can continue to put to good use.

And while I may be starting something new, I'm certainly not starting from scratch.