What happens when you step away from a career you worked hard to build? And when you're ready to return, are you truly starting over—or are you bringing years of experience, growth, caregiving, problem-solving, and perspective with you? In this episode of What's the Point?, I sit down with Dr. Ann Marie Peters, executive coach, leadership strategist, and author of the forthcoming book We'll Be Right Back. Ann Marie stepped away from paid work for five years before finding her way back through entrepreneurship and eventually researching the experiences of other women navigating similar career pauses. Her story begins with a successful corporate career and an unusual work arrangement that was decades ahead of its time. When her first daughter was born in 1995, Ann Marie expected she might have to choose between full-time work and staying home. Instead, her manager asked what it would take to keep her—and agreed to let her work part-time and from home, long before remote work became commonplace. For years, that flexibility allowed her to keep growing professionally while spending meaningful time with her family. But eventually, with three children, increasing travel, relocations, and growing responsibilities at home, the balancing act stopped working. Ann Marie made the difficult decision to step away completely—a choice that brought relief, but also an unexpected loss of professional identity. She describes the discomfort of being asked, "What do you do?" and realizing how much of her sense of self had been connected to her career. Without performance reviews, professional feedback, promotions, or even the simple recognition that comes with being valued at work, confidence can begin to erode. And as the years pass, people may begin to question whether their skills are still relevant—or even forget how accomplished they once were. But a career pause is not empty time. Ann Marie explains that caregiving, parenting, community involvement, volunteering, and managing a household can develop significant skills—time management, negotiation, budgeting, mediation, leadership, delegation, event planning, fundraising, and more. One of the most important parts of returning is learning how to recognize those experiences and translate them into language that employers understand. We also discuss what employers need to understand about people returning after a pause. Some barriers are structural, including résumé systems that may automatically filter out applicants with employment gaps. Others are cultural, including assumptions about mothers, caregivers, or candidates whose careers haven't followed a traditional linear path. Ann Marie argues that employers who look beyond the gap may find highly experienced, motivated people with proven track records and valuable new skills. For anyone considering a return, Ann Marie offers practical advice: remember what you accomplished before the pause, identify what you learned during it, get support updating your résumé, reconnect with career resources and your network, identify the real barriers standing in your way, and begin taking small steps. Returning does not have to mean immediately jumping back into a 50-hour workweek. A part-time role, volunteer position, returnship, or entrepreneurial project can become an experiment—and an important first step. The larger lesson extends beyond career pauses. Starting again does not mean erasing everything that came before. It means remembering who you were, recognizing who you became during the pause, and deciding what fits the person you are now. As Ann Marie says at the end of the episode: your story is never over. Connect with Bill: bill@billellis.com www.billellis.comwww.brandingforresults.comIG - @wcellisFacebook - @CoachBillEllisFacebook - @bill.ellis LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/wcellisBook: Women Who Won Links for This Episode: Website: https://www.annmariepeters.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annmariepetersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576489996830TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amp_is_backPre-order We'll Be Right Back: https://www.annmariepeters.com/book-well-be-right-back What's The Point? is a podcast hosted by Bill Ellis featuring real conversations with people who've figured out what matters—their purpose. Each episode explores what motivates them and how they find meaning in what they do. Quick Episode Summary: 00:00 – Are you starting over or picking up where you left off?01:00 – Meet Dr. Ann Marie Peters02:00 – Building a career and professional identity03:00 – Confidence, mentorship, and early career development05:00 – Working remotely and part-time in 199510:00 – The career risk of flexible work before it was normal15:00 – When the balancing act became too much16:00 – Making the scary decision to step away17:00 – Losing part of your professional identity18:00 – What happens when professional feedback disappears?20:00 – Can you love ...
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