Embracing Career Change: A Journey from Commerce to Environmental Engineering

Have you ever switched careers after being in a field for years? Is it hard? Yes, you do it when the change calls you. This story is about changing careers from a commerce and accountancy background to environmental engineering, a journey that was challenging yet ultimately rewarding.

The Early Years: Commerce and Accountancy

For seven years, I was deeply embedded in the world of commerce and accountancy, completing all my primary education in the same field. It was not unfamiliar territory, but as time passed, I found myself grappling with a sense of unease. Over time, my intuition told me that there was something not right about my current career path. However, the glue of insecurities, fear, and unmet expectations kept me rooted. I found it difficult to leave the familiar and venture into the unknown. But then, I realized something crucial: life is too short, and truth is essential. Life is unjust, and you have to fight for what is right, even when it's not visible. Most importantly, you are born for a purpose. With this realization, I changed my life by accepting reality, even though it took time. Now, in a completely different career, I am thriving.

A New Career Path: Engineering and Entrepreneurship

My passion for engineering began during a heavy engineering apprenticeship. I qualified and served as an engineer officer. After fifteen years, a woman entered my life, and I made the decision not to renew my service contract due to the constraints of her demanding work schedule. This decision led me into a new role as deputy chief engineer at a power station in the UK. After five years, another chapter began when I was offered a job as director and general manager of a large motor engineering outfit, despite my limited knowledge of motor vehicles and the fleet of HGVs the company owned. I managed that for sixteen years, and I’m proud of the company's success in continual expansion, particularly in designing and building waste disposal plants for two UK county councils. I built three of them.

Afterward, a former acquaintance reignited my interest in the waste disposal industry, leading me to become the technical director of a UK public limited company. Two years later, the company formed a subsidiary to build a very large waste disposal plant that created biofuels from waste, and I became its engineering and operations director. Four years later, we decided to form a new company to offer engineering technology in waste recycling and re-use, leading us to undertake projects such as toxic waste facilities in Abu Dhabi and stable waste composting plants in the UK.

We received contracts to design and build two biofuels from waste plants in the UK—a large industrial estate company and a multinational cement manufacturer. These plants were designed with full automation, and both worked flawlessly. With the success of these projects, a large American multinational acquired shares in our company, valuing our technology. We sold them twenty-five percent of the company for around 1.2 million dollars.

The Lifelong Learning Mindset

This journey has taught me the importance of embracing career change and constantly learning. Never be afraid to change jobs or direction. Learn something new every day and embrace new opportunities. If a new job is offered, seize the chance to make your mark, and then move on to something better or more rewarding. The key is to maintain a connection with your first discipline to some extent. For example, switching from accountancy to sales or engineering without qualifications might not be viable, but changing from accountancy to banking might be.

My lifetime rule is to go for it and deal with the consequences later. Embrace life and don't be afraid to explore new paths. Good luck to all those who embark on this journey!