Three Ways Women Leave Consulting (And Which One Is Right for You)
There's no single "right way" to leave consulting.
But after coaching dozens of high-achieving women through this transition, I've seen three distinct paths - each with different timelines, trade-offs, and outcomes.
The path that's right for you depends on what you're optimizing for and what you're willing to trade.
Here's what each one actually looks like.
Path 1: The Strategic Pivot
What it looks like:
You spend 6-12 months planning while still performing in your current role. You line up a specific opportunity before you leave - usually moving to industry, corporate strategy, or an internal consulting function. You leverage your consulting skills in a new context. Compensation stays similar, sometimes with a slight decrease.
Who this works for:
Women who love the work but hate the delivery model. You're clear on what type of role or company you want next. You have financial stability to be selective. You value continuity and minimizing risk. You want to protect your professional reputation and network.
What it requires:
Time to explore and interview while still performing at a high level. Clarity on what you want in your next role (not just what you're escaping). Network cultivation in your target industry or companies. Patience, because the right role takes time to find. Willingness to potentially take a step back in title or comp.
The trade-off:
You're still doing similar work, just in a different context. If the problem is the work itself and not just the consulting model, this won't solve it. You're also managing a job search while delivering for clients, which is exhausting.
What I've seen:
A senior manager who loved strategy work but was drowning in travel spent 8 months networking and interviewing. She landed a corporate strategy role at a Fortune 500 company. No travel. Predictable hours. 20% pay cut, but she said it was worth it within the first month. Two years later, no regrets. She still does challenging work, just without the lifestyle cost.
Path 2: The Reinvention
What it looks like:
You make a complete career change to a different field or industry. This takes 12-18+ months, sometimes longer. It may require new skills, credentials, or experience. It often involves a significant compensation decrease initially. You're prioritizing alignment and meaning over continuity and status.
Who this works for:
Women who've realized that consulting and corporate life isn't what they want long-term. You've discovered a different calling or passion. You're willing to trade money and status for meaning and lifestyle. You have a financial cushion or support system to weather the transition. You're ready to start over in some ways.
What it requires:
Deep clarity on what you actually want, not just what you're running from. Financial runway to manage the transition period. Willingness to be a beginner again. Thick skin, because people will question your choice. Real conviction, because this isn't the easy path.
The trade-off:
You're giving up the credibility, compensation, and status you've spent years building. It's liberating and terrifying at the same time. Not everyone is ready for that level of disruption.
What I've seen:
A director who was burned out on everything about corporate life realized she wanted to work in education and nonprofit. She took a year to explore, build new skills, and line up opportunities. She eventually took a 60% pay cut to join a mission-driven organization. She told me her first year was the hardest of her career. Also the most fulfilling. She had to rebuild her identity completely, but she's never looked back.
Path 3: The Planned Exit
What it looks like:
You stay in consulting but use the time strategically to plan your exit. You might negotiate a different arrangement temporarily (reduced travel, different practice area, internal role) to buy yourself breathing room. You use this time to get clear on what you want, build new skills, strengthen your network, or save money. This is the "strategic pause" before the real move.
Who this works for:
Women who know they're leaving but aren't ready yet. You need time to figure out what's next without the pressure of your current role. You have some leverage to negotiate a temporary restructuring. You want to leave on your terms, not in a panic. You're willing to stay a bit longer if it means setting yourself up for a better outcome.
What it requires:
Honesty with yourself about whether you're planning an exit or avoiding a decision. Discipline to actually use the time strategically, not just delay the inevitable. A realistic timeline (this shouldn't drag on for years). Clear milestones for when you'll make your move.
The trade-off:
You're still in consulting, which means you're still managing some of the costs that made you want to leave in the first place. If you're not careful, the "temporary" arrangement becomes permanent and you never actually leave. You may also signal that you're "different," which can have career implications if you change your mind.
What I've seen:
A manager with young kids negotiated a move to an internal capability-building role. No client travel, more control over her schedule. It worked for 18 months. Then she realized the problem was bigger than travel - she still wanted out. But the breathing room helped her figure that out clearly and plan her exit strategically. She left for an industry role with a clear plan and no regrets.
Which Path Is Right for You?
Here's how to think about it:
Choose the Strategic Pivot if:
You love the work but hate the delivery model
You want similar intellectual challenge with a different lifestyle
Maintaining compensation and status matters to you
You have clarity on what role or industry you want next
Choose the Reinvention if:
You've realized consulting and corporate life aren't your long-term path
You're willing to trade what you've built for alignment with your values
You have financial runway and deep conviction about what's next
You're ready to start over and rebuild in some ways
Choose the Planned Exit if:
You know you're leaving but need time to prepare strategically
You need breathing room to figure out exactly what's next
You have leverage to negotiate a temporary arrangement
You want to leave on your terms with a solid plan
The Mistake Most Women Make
They try to decide which path to take without getting clear on what they're optimizing for first.
They look at what other people have done. They evaluate options based on what sounds least scary. They make decisions from confusion instead of clarity.
That's how you end up on the wrong path - not because the path itself is wrong, but because it's wrong for what you actually want.
Start with clarity. Then choose your path.
Get clear on:
What's actually unsustainable about your current situation
What you want your next role to give you (specifically, not vaguely)
What trade-offs you're willing to make and which you're not
What success actually means to you now
Once you have that clarity, the right path becomes obvious.
Ready to Figure Out Your Path?
If you're at this crossroads and want strategic support figuring out which path is right for you and how to execute it, let's talk.
Email me at karin@kemleadershipcoaching.com. Your next chapter shouldn't feel like a compromise. It should feel like a choice you made with clarity and confidence.
