What is the neatest thing you could have ever done and the way did it affect your financial future? For international women’s day 2025, I interviewed 27 women and 27 men with different backgrounds to uncover the decisive decisions that shaped their profession, finance and private growth. Regardless of whether it’s a company job, made a courageous investment or moving to a brand new country, a subject arose: big changes often result in great rewards.
In this text, inspiring stories of ladies are emphasized who’ve taken calculated risks, redesigned their lives and redefined success on their very own conditions.
Olga Blasco, M&A Principal Partner, growth and exit strategy solutions, Lion People Global, Dublin:
Blasco worked in the company world for 20 years and towards the top she didn’t like how things went. “I used to be an SVP for an amazing American organization and had no time to do the opposite things I loved. The smartest thing I’ve ever done is to go away the large company world and take the time to take into consideration how I can change my life and find my Ikigai. The word Ikigai means to make use of my skills to support things that I’m captivated with that the world needs and that may maintain my living. “
Ten years ago, Blasco began a consulting business and moved to Turkey to dedicate a part of her life for non -profit work. Today she rotates between Dublin, Istanbul and Barcelona. She compensates for her role as M&A important partner at Lion People Global (Dublin) with personal activities reminiscent of the support of entrepreneurship of ladies as a co-founder of Jana (Istanbul). She is a board member of Clear Tech (Ireland) and girls in localization (USA) and creator of the book.
Jette Bilberg Lauritsen, executive secretary, constructing agency, Copenhagen:
“I had an older cousin that I believed was super exciting. It was in astrology, reflex zone massage and Buddhist teachings. In 1988 I went to a Buddhist lecture together with her. This was an amazing experience and a turning point for me. I believed: “I don’t know what I’m going to do with the rest of my life, but it will definitely be part of it.”
According to Bilberg, what she ever did was to work with the tools of old Buddhist methods with their minds. “This led me to do voluntary work within the Buddhist community in Copenhagen, which gave me deep satisfaction. I then decided that I desired to work full -time during my volunteer work for some time. To live this dream, I needed to fix my financial situation and needed to be debt -free. “
No more taxis for Bilberg. “I all the time ran by bike. I ordered far less to take food away, cooked for myself and acquired no clothes for a very long time. I paid my mortgage for my apartment and commenced saving in order that I had money to live while watching my dream and dealing as a full -time volunteer. I’m so pleased that I finally made this dream. “
Barbara Ortiz, electronics engineer, MSA Safety Incorporated, Galway:
In 2018, Ortiz left South America for the primary time to work as head of a multidisciplinary research laboratory within the United States. “For about 12 months I lived in an extreme and isolated environment in which less than 10% of employees were women.” She worked on quite a lot of scientific projects that relate to the examination of the ozone layer, solar modules, UV radiation, geodesy, glaciology, seismology and cosmic rays.
There were no negative financial effects with one other intelligent Move location within the Antarctic. “Apart from the incontrovertible fact that they pay me, they covered the prices for my clothes, my food and my accommodation. This experience was so great that I now wish to drink my financial resources within the direction to see all continents. I lived and worked in Ireland and the French Alps. The next thing I might do is to work as an engineer within the Arctic. “
Katia Moskvitch, Head of Communication, IBM Research Europe and Author of, Z.Üwealthy:
“The smartest thing I ever did was to write my book as I wanted to write it. From the point of view of career development as well as in terms of personal satisfaction, this was very wise, ”says Moskvitch. After making her master’s degree in journalism (University of Western Ontario) and Mphil in theoretical physics (King’s College London), she worked as a journalist of physics and astronomy. It was contacted by an editor at Harvard University Press on LinkedIn, which suggested writing a book.
“I desired to live the experience fully. I spent a yr to travel the world and sometimes had the chance to cover my trip and accommodation, since I also worked on WIRED UK, certainly one of Condé Nast, published magazine for science, technology and business. I actually have all the time tried to mix opportunities to go to places where I could interview scientists. Some people plan their work and travel destinations to align themselves on beaches or restaurants which have been awarded Michelin. I actually have to be certainly one of the few who do the whole lot about radio observatories. “
Sarah Hempel, head of sustainability, Axcel, Copenhagen:
“When I was in the high school, my Danish cousin came to stay with us and I thought she was pretty cool. I wanted to be like you, ”says Hempel. Her father’s family is Danish and he or she had a Danish passport. “The smartest thing I actually have ever done was to maneuver to Denmark alone for my Bachelor. Students of the EU/EEA and constant residents of a university in tuition fees-I used to be capable of complete my entire university degree without debt. “
Hempel doesn’t regret regret. “Suspects with high incomes pay about 56% taxes plus capital gains taxes. However, take a take a look at what you get. We have free education, free health care, low crime rates and a big public transport system. I ran my bike in all places for 20 years. I recently bought a automotive. If I do not have to own a automotive on a regular basis, I made it possible for myself to take a position more of my money. All of those little things help make a big difference. “
Yolanda Beattie, founder, Yo & Co Pty Ltd, Sydney:
“The smartest thing I actually have ever done was to start out my very own business. In 2018 I had problems implementing my company job with Dei Consulting Services. It was difficult to get enough income. After I used to be faced with a series of obstacles, a growth strategy that I had worked apart fell apart, and at that moment I believed: ‘Get out of here.’ “
Starting her own consulting business has given her creative and business freedom to do work that she loves with individuals with whom she likes to work with. “I still do not know what the financial effects will likely be because I’m still within the works, but I hope that I’m not feeling worse. With regard to the cash within the bank, it will not be good, however the project to be “humans” is my biggest reward, and it pays off day by day with the nice and cozy things, reminiscent of love, creativity, joy and wisdom. “
Shweta Roongta, Business Analyst, Uti International Limited, Singapore:
The smartest thing that Roongta has ever done was to take a position on the age of 18. Her first investment was in Bajaj Finance. “My father had suggested that each one of my savings (600 US dollars) put one stock into them. I desired to explore myself and hire my very own research, so I made a decision to place a 3rd of my money into this share, one other third in DCB Bank and the last third in Andhra Bank. I made money with two of the three stocks. This early investment experience gave me a powerful feeling of monetary security: I feel very comfortable to take risks. “
Sandra Krueger, sales consultant, Active Training, LLC, Chicago:
Krueger’s smartest profession step left Chicago to work in Australia. “I’m removed from my family and friends and gave myself a world perspective. I learned communicate, how the Australians prefer to speak. “
Krueger began sales, but had no contacts. “My boss told me that I should contact the TOP 10 top supernuation funds with which they were unable to do business. One of the fund managers told me the first time, no, but I called him again and again. On the fourth call, he said: “Look, it makes no sense that you continue to call. We had a bad experience with your company. ‘I said, “Well, if you could have had a foul experience with our company, I would really like to get our CEO to apologize.” Two months later we did a big deal with them. “
Your top feature is endurance, and above all, she will be able to handle uncertainty. “I learned that the client has 20% of the time, I waste my time. But it isn’t a waste to construct relationships they usually could refer me to other business. This happens about 80% of cases. “
Alice Tang, Chief Operating Officer, Asset Management, MA Financial Group, Sydney:
The smartest thing that Tang has ever done might be said: “Yes” when there was a chance to work on her first technology project on the Macquarie Group in 2016. For a period of two years, I led the worldwide implementation of Salesforce for 1,200 investment bankers in 30 different markets. I worked with many alternative cultures and industry lines and I taught me a lot. “
The compensation of Tang didn’t change on this project in her two years, but because it set her directly for a job within the C-Suite, the financial impact of doing this “intelligent thing” was essential.
Key to remove
The most intelligent financial and skilled decisions often come from the implementation of changes. With success, it isn’t all the time a matter of following a standard way. It is about making deliberate, courageous decisions that correspond to non-public values and long -term goals. Regardless of whether it’s a profession to take a brave financial step or to take a position in self -growth, a very powerful snack is obvious: calculated risks result in meaningful rewards. What is the neatest decision you could have ever made?
