Client Case Studies

We hope these case studies of recent clients give you a sense of how we might be able to help you at whatever stage you are at in your career.

Meet Scott: Satisfaction Seeker

Scott is an Executive who has been on the “fast-track” his whole career. No longer excited about work, he has been wondering for the last 6 years how much longer he can continue. Scott needs a new direction that will satisfy him and meet his needs now and for the rest of his career.

Working with his coach, Scott was able to identify a passion for finely crafted products that are functional. He had never before considered a role in product design but now found this area intriguing as it would leverage his talents and passion, while meeting his practical needs.

We arranged for Scott to spend a day test-driving a career with an experienced product designer for a mid-sized company. After this experience, Scott decided that he wanted to start a company that produced specific, environmental home decor products. He wanted to work with designers but focus on growing the business, a nuance he realized when he was on his test-drive. 

Scott is now receiving transition support services that are tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs as he launches his new company.

Sue was a teacher prior to having her family. Now, 21 years later, her youngest is off to University in the fall and she looks forward to being paid for the work that she does… but WHAT should she do?

Sue met several times with her coach and completed an formal assessment and activities in her workbook to identify her skills and explore possible careers available to her. It was discovered that she has a passion for volunteers and a talent for organization and project management. We set up a test-drive with a professional Volunteer Manager at a large hospital. After spending a day in that environment, Sue enrolled in a college certificate program and began an internship at a health care facility near her home. Within a year of her test-drive, Sue transitioned from being at home to helping others feel at home when in the hospital.

Meet Sam: Career Transitioner

Sam has spent 25 years in IT. He’s had many different jobs in the industry over his career and knows he will retire shortly. He also knows that he is not ready to stop working.

Sam was looking to identify an ideal career path that he could slowly transition into as he retires over the next 8-10 years from his current company. Following up on a lifelong hobby, Sam completed a one day test drive with a woodworker specializing in custom furniture design. He learned how to pursue this career and be profitable. 

Sam is now working towards launching a one-day woodworking workshop as a starting point for his new business. He is receiving support from Challenge Factory as he sets out his plans and builds his materials.

Meet Jen: Potential Mompreneur

Jen is on maternity leave with her first child. She is scheduled to return to work in four months, but is not sure she wants to go back to the same job she left and is considering starting her own business.

With Jen, we focused on helping her assess how her previous job and how being an entrepreneur each align to her unique needs, talents and passions. We then arranged for her to spend two days with two separate entrepreneurs who had each made this transition. One jumped right in while the other went back to work part-time and built her business slowly. 

Jen decided not to go back to work and received entrepreur start-up coaching and support.

Meet Tal: Outplacement Alternative

Tal was shocked when she learned that her position was being eliminated. She was eligible to retire but was not interested in sitting at home without regular work to keep her busy.

Unsure where to turn, she knew she wanted to consider all of her options but suggestions to start with her resume did not feel like the right first step.

Tal's company offered her outplacement services and they allowed her to apply that benefit to a Challenge Factory program where she worked with a coach to regain her confidence and realize that she had a strong interest and talent for operations management. After a test-drive in her local small town she asked us to help her get prepared to apply for jobs in this field. We rewrote her resume and prepared her for interviews. Tal also used our online tools to keep track of where she had applied, who she had met and when she should follow up. Within several weeks, Tal accepted a position that she loves.