Rom-Com Career Gone Wrong | How twenty years in ad agencies led me back to the wild.

How I Found Purpose in Visual Storytelling and Conservation after 20 Years in Ad Agencies

Reflecting back to high school, almost everyone I knew was encouraged to pick a career. At seventeen, with very little life experience, heading straight into school was the expected route. With an interest in fine art and photography, I embarked on a graphic design and communications program.

I daydreamed about working in ad agencies, likely from watching too many rom-coms...

The internet was just being born. I daydreamed about working in ad agencies, likely from watching too many rom-coms and imagining working on campaigns for brands like Nike. I laugh now because the reality of working in those agencies was soul-sucking. As a woman, I didn't expect the dynamics of power struggles I would face or the unsatisfying work of creating content for businesses that lacked the social impact I eventually came to desire.

Spending time in nature is never time wasted.

To feed my soul, I started to photograph wildlife. It gave me space to turn my brain off and connect with nature. It felt good to become a student again. It is gratifying to put in the work and see progress, no matter how slow. My personality is "all or nothing," which means I dive into new ventures with my whole heart. This spark led me to learn more about the natural world, biology, and animal behaviour.

Was going back to school feasible in my late forties?

Was going back to school feasible in my late forties? Could I balance a career with the discipline of remote learning? I figured I didn't have much to lose, so I dove in. It has been incredibly humbling. Just as an ecosystem works together with many moving parts, I see the connections between my courses in Biology and Sociology. I am grateful for the perspective this education brings to my daily life.

Wildlife and the natural world remain my most profound and rewarding teachers.

Today, I feel I have finally found my professional passion. The years spent in a high-pressure industry gave me the skills and tenacity I needed. The heart I have found in the world of conservation and visual storytelling has brought everything full circle.

Capturing In The Wild is a true reflection of this journey. Developing relationships with organizations doing the "good work" is deeply gratifying. I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

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Are you building something meaningful? If you are looking for a design partner who cares as much about your legacy as you do, I would love to connect.