The Silent Questions
“How dare she change careers after thirty years in corporate HR?”
“How dare she walk away from the safety of a steady paycheck, respected title, and reputation?”
“How dare she start over at fifty and some?”
Those were the silent questions that entered my thoughts when I found myself staring out the perfectly framed office window or daydreaming in yet another leadership meeting.
The questions became louder each morning as I placed my feet upon the floor to start yet another lackluster day. The same day as before. Even though the day’s contents changed, it was still the same day. I craved more, I needed more, and I wanted more. But what?
The Push
The push came in the form of blatant disrespect for my contributions, my value, and, quite frankly, my being. It wasn’t an isolated incident. It was death by a thousand cuts. My ideas were ignored or, worse, dismissed. I was spoken to as if I were fresh out of college and not a 30-year-experienced professional.
The rejection drove me to the point of isolation and, dare I admit, tears. And then that day came. I was sitting in my office, and I began to type my resignation letter. With each letter strike, I felt the weight that I had held for years fall from me. I felt lighter and walked with a spring in my step. After three decades of serving as an HR Business Partner to C-suite executives, guiding teams through transformation, and helping others build their careers, I made a bold decision to say goodbye to that world.
I took one week to do absolutely nothing. The next week, I went through countless legal pads of what my next chapter would look like and sound like, and the journey of those days led me to build my own small business. I decided to join the approximately 12 million women-owned businesses in the US. It is an honor to now be counted in that number.
The Reinvention
Pinnacle Coaching & HR Consultants is a firm built to help leaders and organizations grow with strategy, empathy, and purpose. As a Certified Maxwell Leadership Coach and DISC Behavioral Consultant, I now empower women to navigate their own transitions with confidence and clarity. And that is where I found my best self as The Transition Coach.
The Transformation
Transitioning from the corporate world to entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. It’s a mix of excitement and uncertainty. I cannot count the many times I second-guessed myself. There were days I yearned for the comfort of the corporate resources and paycheck. But then, I remembered the constant pull to put the company’s priorities in front of my own. The calls to my family and friends on weekends, because I was just too exhausted to participate in planned events. Vacations where the work phone was smuggled in the carry-on for just in case moments. Now, I have the freedom to balance building and being present with those I love and cherish.
The Dare
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anaïs Nin. I came across this quote, and it says so eloquently (my interpretation) that holding in your destiny will not only hurt you but also others you could have helped along the way.
Time waits for no one. If you find that you are standing at a crossroads, it means that the seed has been planted. We all know the phrase about perfect timing to start something – there is never a perfect time. Nurture that seed with faith, action, courage, and beautiful boldness.
Now when someone asks, “How dare she?” – I smile. Because I decided to act and listen to the thoughts that once kept me staring out that corporate office window. Today, I look out my own company’s window – dreaming of what’s next. I sit in client meetings filled with purpose, guiding others through their own seasons of change, knowing I dared – and it made all the difference.
What will they say if you dare?
Name: Angela Harris Haynes
Professional Title: Founder & Ceo
Bio: Angela Harris Haynes is the CEO of Pinnacle Coaching & HR Consultants. She is a Transition Coach who helps women navigate change with clarity and confidence. Through her signature framework—Dream it, Plan it, Connect with Support, and Execute with Resilience—she empowers women to turn transitions into growth.
