Sometimes a pause in work is needed to regain or rebuild strength and agility physically and mentally. Burn out is real, not only with women but men also. Regaining control of a family/work balance is needed and sometimes require a break, or a pause in the day-today to restructure and get the confidence of knowing how to move forward.is required.

I stayed calm, and trusted that all the work I had already put in would pay off.

Allow yourself some grace to ease back in! Remember to lean on your support network for encouragement and feedback and always keep in mind your strengths and accomplishments. Be willing to accept help when it is offered and remain calm, determined and focused and don't forget to smile!

I returned to work on two occasions, five years apart, for maternity leaves. I kept up contacts with the agency leaders while honoring my opportunity to pull away to focus on our family. I made good on my intention to return to my management role by keeping up to date with the business and making sure my re-entry was planned in advance, so I didn't just re-appear; rather, my role was affirmed, my goals established, and the resources available. No surprises. After a six-month sabbatical from my consulting practice to complete my doctoral dissertation and defense, I worked the plan I put in place when arranging the time away. Writing time was balanced with time to discern what I wanted to change in my practice and myself, to reach for a higher level of contribution to my clients successes. I was able to re-enter full time consulting with newfound purpose and energy, staying relevant and able to sustain my practice with relevant and sustainable engagements.

I rebuilt confidence by asking myself if I had really accomplished everything that I knew I was capable of accomplishing, and would I be happy if I didn't pursue my goals? The only choice was to pursue my goals.

Pregnancy complications led to bed rest and imposed limitations that turned childbirth into a near death-experience then a re-birth began...

I stand not only for myself, but for every woman who's been underestimated, overlooked, or silenced. We rise, we lead, we make our mark, and nothing can stop us.

I didn't lose confidence during my pause. I just wasn't in rooms that demanded it. The moment I went back to work and started making decisions again, confidence followed… like it remembered who it was dealing with. Similar to riding a bike, once in motion it just followed.

I lost my youngest daughter and wasn't for sure I could ever heal enough to return or rebuilt whom I was prior. It took almost 3-4 years, I made a choice for my daughter, I'm going to rebuild myself for her and myself and be a voice to help others. By helping others you heal yourself.

I was blessed to have maintained my professional network before and during my break from my job. It was these relationships that ultimately helped me to get back into the daily grind. Having a strong network and maintaining that network is the key to success throughout your career.

After 15 years in event planning and hospitality, I never imagined my career would pause the way it did. Hospitality had shaped me. It was fast-paced, people-centered, operationally complex, and deeply personal. It was where I grew up both personally and professionally. When I was laid off, it felt like more than a job ending. It felt like losing an identity. At first, confidence did not come naturally. It had to be rebuilt intentionally. The Power of Support One of the most valuable actions I took was working with a career coach. At a time when self-doubt was loud, having someone reflect back my strengths objectively was transformative and empowering. She helped me separate my job title from my actual value. She also helped me identify all of the transferable skills I had amassed along the way and how to apply them in new ways. I was more than a hospitality leader. I was: • An operations strategist • A revenue driver • A team builder • A client experience expert • A detail-oriented executor Seeing my experience through the lens of transferable skills changed everything and allowed me to feel excited about the future ahead. Identifying What Truly Transfers Hospitality is one of the most dynamic training grounds for business. You learn to manage people, processes, budgets, timelines, and high expectations, often all at once. Balancing internal and external stakeholders becomes second nature. When I stepped back, I realized the core of what I did was not tied to a hotel or an event. It was tied to systems, service, and strategy. • I built processes that improved efficiency. • I led teams through high-pressure environments. • I ensured customer experience remained the top priority at all times. • I managed logistics with precision. • I turned chaos into clarity. Those skills were not industry specific. They were business skills. That realization became the bridge to consulting and Online Business Management. Applying My Strengths in a New Arena Starting my own consulting business required courage, but more importantly, it required clarity. I leaned heavily into what I already knew: • Details matter. • Systems create freedom and time. • Customer service is not optional. • Operations are the backbone of growth. • Leadership is about communication and accountability. In hospitality, a missed detail impacts a guest experience immediately and has a ripple effect on operations. I carried that same standard into my business. Whether it is refining workflows, managing launches, or supporting CEOs behind the scenes, I operate with the same commitment to excellence. Client experience remains number one. That grounding gave me confidence, not because I had all the answers, but because I trusted my foundation. Confidence Is Earned What I have learned is that confidence after a setback does not appear overnight. It builds through action: • Taking the next step even when it feels uncertain • Investing in support • Naming your transferable skills • Reframing loss as redirection • Delivering excellence consistently Being laid off did not diminish my experience. It refined it. Today, as a consultant and Online Business Manager, I help business owners bring structure to growth, clarity to complexity, and calm to operations, the same way I did in hospitality, just in a different environment. My confidence now is not tied to a title. It is tied to my capability. And that is something no layoff can take away.

The moment you reflect & realize you have been alive but you have not been living. In 2017 I feared for the reprocussions my chosen career could have on my family and at the peak of my success, I left it all behind. I abruptly closed my social media accounts, cancelled my agency contract and walked away from it all. For 3 years I focused on my other business as an event planner and put more effort into weddings as my niche. Although, I was highly successful as a wedding planner and winning numerous honors and awards, my heart was not in it 100%. I had also been working on my book over this time period. Reflecting on each chapter just made me realize I'm not on the path I am destined for. In 2020 I came to terms with my choice to work in an industry that I believed I could succeed and make a difference for others. I was never one to jump on the same train as everyone else, I had always chose a different path. Knowing this path was a slippery one, I knew I was intelligent, mature & savy and navigating my way to the top was a challenge I was ready to undertake I restarted all my social media accounts, reconnected with my industry contacts and on June 15th 2020 I went public with my life story. I Published my true story in my book, "When the Ice Melts; The Story of Coralyn Jewel" It was during my 3 year break I began writing this book and when I went back and read each chapter, I then realized that although I was alive and going through the motions of life, I was not living my life. I was living the life society makes us believe is the only way. On June 15th, 2020 at 10:12 pm, my publisher called with the news, my book just became an International Best-Seller. It was that moment, that phone call that assured me my purpose and my message needed to be heard; I was back on track. This was my sign to finally live my life the way I want to live, and my advice moving forward to anyone who struggles with acceptance, "YOU only get one chance at life, live for you".

Early in my career, I faced a situation that led me to leave an employer rather suddenly. The work environment had become toxic, and I no longer felt supported or welcome within the company culture. As a young professional, I realized the situation was beyond my ability to fix, and the healthiest choice was to move forward and seek new opportunities. In the immediate aftermath, the decision was difficult to process. I initially felt like a failure, believing that my inability to resolve the situation meant I had failed both professionally and personally. I experienced a range of difficult emotions—grief, anger, loss, and hopelessness. In the days that followed, I felt conflicted about my choice and ashamed that I had not been able to push through the situation. During that time, my support network reminded me that my negative thoughts did not define who I was. They encouraged me to remember my strengths and the person I had always been—a capable, confident, and resilient woman. I allowed myself the space to feel my emotions and process the experience before moving forward. Reflecting on what had happened helped me accept my decision and begin to heal. Once I made peace with the situation, my outlook began to change. I approached the next chapter of my career with a renewed sense of purpose and resilience. My mindset shifted from feeling the need to prove myself to others to focusing on what I needed to succeed for myself. Instead of prioritizing external expectations or public perception, I began to value balance, well-being, and alignment with my personal values. I reflected honestly on what I truly wanted from a career and began seeking opportunities that would complement my life rather than simply chasing the highest salary or title. This shift gave me a new sense of confidence. I approached my job search with optimism, trusting that the right opportunity would come at the right time. During the transition, I treated the period between roles as an opportunity for growth. I pursued additional online courses, focused on my physical, emotional, and mental well-being, and strengthened my professional skills and presentation. Those efforts opened doors to opportunities I might never have considered had I stayed in my previous environment. Ultimately, my career progressed in ways I had never imagined because I had the courage to pursue something better. I found a role that not only matched my skills and qualifications but also complemented my life rather than controlling it. I felt lighter, more confident, and able to fully realize my potential. Instead of feeling like a threat to others, I found myself in an environment where my strengths were appreciated and valued. Looking back, I realize that growth is often uncomfortable. It requires courage, resilience, and the willingness to be honest with yourself. At the time, I felt guilty admitting that the environment I was in was not right for me. Now I see that experience as a blessing—one that ultimately guided me toward a healthier, more fulfilling career path.

Returning to my career after taking time to raise my children required both courage and patience with myself. When my children were younger, I stepped away from school and focused on my family. Years later, when they were already teenagers, I made the decision to return to college part-time. At first, it was challenging. I had to relearn how to balance coursework, work, and family responsibilities, and there were moments when I questioned whether I could truly do it. What helped me rebuild my confidence was remembering why I started. My mother had always reminded me of the sacrifices she made working in the migrant fields so that I could have opportunities she never had. That reminder grounded me and motivated me to keep going, even when the journey felt difficult. Each class I completed and each milestone I reached helped rebuild my confidence. Earning my Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences and later my Master of Social Work reminded me that growth is possible at any stage of life. I also leaned heavily on the encouragement of my husband and children. They understood the long nights of studying and the moments when I had to miss family events because I was pursuing my goals. Reentering my career and continuing my education taught me that confidence is often rebuilt through persistence. It comes from taking small steps forward, trusting your purpose, and surrounding yourself with people who believe in you. Today, I also see the impact on my children, they pursue their own dreams knowing that it is never too late to keep learning and growing.

Hard work, dedication and the mindset that no job was too small or too big for me to conquer. Always keep your head and your goals high!