I’m about to walk away from a dream job. And I’ve never been more terrified.

For months now, I’ve been standing at a crossroads, trying to figure out what I really want. After a lot of soul-searching, I’ve decided to walk away from my role at McKinsey as a JEM - a job I genuinely like - for something I love, something that feels bigger but far scarier.

The pay is fantastic. The perks are great. I’ve been rated at the top of my cohort every year, and the career path ahead of me is crystal clear. Consulting has pushed me in ways I never imagined and shaped so much of who I am today. But deep down, I know it’s not where I’m meant to be.

For years, I’ve felt a pull toward the development sector, especially healthcare. Over time, that pull has only gotten stronger. Through McK, I’ve been lucky to work on secondments - partnering with NGOs and tackling public health challenges. Those projects were different. They weren’t just about strategy decks or hitting KPIs - they were about people.

I remember one project where we worked on improving maternal health outcomes in rural areas. I sat with a healthcare worker who told me how our changes had reduced infant mortality. In that moment, I realized: This is the kind of work I want to do every single day.

So, I’ve decided to take the leap.

I’m leaving a job that I like (a lot) for something I know I’ll love more. But I’m not going to lie - it’s terrifying. The pay cut alone is enough to make me question myself. I’ll also be stepping away from a career where I know my strengths, where I’m recognized and comfortable, to start from scratch in a space where I’ll be the newbie again.

There’s also this voice in my head that won’t shut up: What if you’re romanticizing this? What if you give up everything, and it doesn’t work out?

But the alternative - staying in a role that doesn’t light me up anymore - feels like the bigger risk. I’ve spent months asking myself what truly matters to me, and the answer is clear: I want to work on something that feels personal, meaningful, and alive.

I don’t know what the future holds, and that uncertainty terrifies me. But I also feel a strange kind of hope - like I’m finally heading toward something that’s mine.

Hoping to figure things out along the way, but I know one thing for sure - I won’t regret this decision 🙏🏼