“Finance was never my dream. I knew I had a bigger vision for my life.” 

What work were you doing previously?    

My first career was in finance.

I worked as a bond broker at TPICAP in Singapore, one of the largest inter-dealer brokerage firms in the world.

I started when I was 18, straight out of high school, thanks to an internship opportunity through my dad (who also worked there). His thinking was, “you can work, make some money, and figure out what you really want to do.”

I ended up staying in the same office, on the same product, for 11 years! You could say I got stuck – golden handcuffs and a very comfortable life.

The funny thing is, I knew since I was 10 that I wanted to be an actor. But it never felt “realistic.”

I thought I’d never make money, and it would be too difficult a life. So, I chose with my head instead of my heart.

What are you doing now?    

 I’m now a fitness coach, actor, and comedian based in Toronto.

Why did you change?

I always had a feeling I was meant for something bigger – that I was capable of more.

Finance was never my dream, and while I don’t regret the opportunity, deep down I felt unhappy.

I felt like a coward, like I’d chosen the easy way out. I was coasting, I was bored, and I knew I had a bigger vision for my life.

The acting dream had always been in the back of my mind, but I’d never pursued it, not even classes or auditions.

Approaching 30, I finally bit the bullet, quit, and moved to London.

At first, I shifted into tech thinking that a more modern culture and a product I cared about would solve the problem.

It was better in some ways (culture, product), worse in others (pay, workload, endless Zoom meetings).

Also, I’m just the LEAST technical person ever. 

I’m an artist/performer at heart, not a tech wizard. My boss even described me as “like her grandma!”

When was the moment you decided to make the change?    

The first move came as I was approaching 30, after 11 years in finance.

I wanted a new challenge and to live abroad, but the big shift into acting and fitness came after two very difficult years in London.

During COVID, I lost my tech job and ended up back in finance, which was awful. That’s when I discovered the Careershifters Launch Pad course.

I eventually went back to Singapore, and being stuck in a country I didn’t want to be in, doing work I didn’t enjoy, felt like a huge defeat.

What had all the struggle been for? Why had I left finance in the first place?

Something had to give. I started exploring the acting scene in Singapore and met an actor for coffee. She said, “It sounds like you don’t want to be here, and it sounds like you want to learn to be an actor. You’re Canadian, why don’t you move to Canada and give it a go for a year? Worst case, it doesn’t work out and you can work in PR.”

It sounded crazy, but I was desperate. I resigned, booked my flights, and that was that.

How did you choose your new career?

To pursue acting, I knew I’d need another career.

I needed something flexible enough to allow for auditions and time off. The Careershifters Launch Pad helped me define my interest “buckets.”

My virtual fitness club now taps into so many of them:

Mental health and self-help: I’ve struggled with loneliness, low self-worth, and finding community. I wanted to help women feel confident, motivated, and supported.

Fitness: I’ve always been active, but during COVID, I discovered at-home workouts and fell in love with them.

Music: I'm obsessed with music and playlists are a huge part of group fitness. It’s not just a workout, it’s an experience!

Both acting and fitness are about moving people. Making them feel something.

I didn’t want to work in a big gym. So I asked: how can I blend group fitness with coaching, helping women hit their weight loss goals in a fun, supportive environment?

Affordable, like personal training, but accessible to all. That’s how Fury Fitness Club was born, and I became an online fitness coach.

Are you happy with the change?  

It’s a huge relief to finally feel like I’m on the right path.

The struggle of shifting careers was immense, with many dark and hopeless moments.

When I think about how long it took – knowing in my early 20s I wanted something that felt like “me,” but only finding it in my mid-30s – I’m incredibly grateful I got here.

On paper, this life isn’t as “successful” as finance, and it’s definitely harder work. But it’s work I can be proud of.

What do you miss and what don't you miss?

I miss a lot!

I actually enjoyed the structure of a Monday–Friday, 8–6 job. It gave me focus. I miss weekends and holidays (being a hustler means working most days).

I miss colleagues. I’m very social, and my colleagues were my friends. I miss dressing up for work.

Mostly, I miss stability: the regular pay check, the bonuses, the clear ladder to climb.

I don't miss being stuck indoors on a sunny day, boozy client nights, endless Zoom calls.

Most of all, I don’t miss that nagging feeling that I wasn’t becoming the person I was meant to be.

How did you go about making the shift?

I spoke to friends of friends in fitness and acting. 

They reassured me it was possible and gave me tips. Informational interviews were by far the most useful tool.

People were always kind and generous with their advice.

How did you develop (or transfer) the skills you needed for your new role?

My biggest transferable skills were relationship building and people skills.

All my past roles were customer-facing. I became a Certified Personal Trainer through online study.

In Toronto, I scoured studios, taking classes, talking to managers, and learning where I might fit in.

At the same time, I studied acting voraciously: audition classes, Second City Toronto, even a stand-up comedy course. I treated it like going to university.

What didn’t go well? What wrong turns did you take?

A common mistake: quitting jobs before lining up the next step.

It left me with months of unemployment and living off savings. It's very isolating being out of work for a long time, and can lead to desperately grabbing at any job.

Another mistake: choosing careers for financial gain or appearances, instead of what I really wanted. That only led me from one unsatisfying job to another.

When I first moved to Toronto, no studio would hire me. Imposter syndrome hit hard, and I gave up for a while.

Acting wasn’t going well either. I thought I’d be a natural, but acting is HARD. I made things worse by being hard on myself, convinced I’d never make it.

Things shifted once I allowed myself to be a beginner, to explore without judgment, and to let go of the outcome. That’s when I started enjoying the process.

How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible?    

I was very lucky that my first career in finance was lucrative, and Singapore is a tax haven.

That combination gave me a cushion to live off while building my fitness club and acting career.

What was the most difficult thing about changing?

The loneliness, constant soul-searching, the rejection.

There were many times that I felt hopeless along the way. Changing careers means letting go of your old identity, and that can be brutal.

But it was also an awakening, and I’m grateful for the growth it forced.

What help did you get?

So much.

A recruiter friend helped me rewrite my CV/LinkedIn profile.

He gave me advice on how to search for jobs (reaching out to people directly on Linkedin as opposed to applying online was invaluable advice!).

The Careershifters Launch Pad course was incredibly inspiring and a lovely support system.

Being a part of the alumni community is great! #don'tdoitalone. YouTube, podcasts, and mentors online gave me endless free learning.

I also hired a coach, Sally Sampson, who helps artists become entrepreneurs. With her guidance, I built my social media presence and solidified my idea for Fury Fitness Club.

Not to mention the support of friends and family.

What have you learnt in the process?    

What has held me back the most is my self limiting beliefs.

Never in a thousand years would I have thought that I would start my own business!

Taking action is everything. Fear and indecision keep you stuck.

Being a perfectionist doesn’t get you anywhere. Done is better than perfect.

Be kind to yourself, trust yourself, and don’t give up.

What do you wish you'd done differently?

I wish I’d explored and upskilled while still working in finance.

The job wasn’t so demanding that I couldn’t have studied or gained experience in other fields alongside it.

What would you advise others to do in the same situation? 

Get out of analysis paralysis!

Don’t just Google things endlessly and leave them for years.

And don’t do it alone. Reach out to anyone whose work interests you on Instagram and LinkedIn. Also chat to friends and family.

Take classes, explore, experiment.

What resources would you recommend to others?

In addition to the ones I mentioned:

Skool.com is an amazing platform with communities where you can learn anything.

I’m part of several groups there, and my Fury Fitness Club community is also hosted on it!

Acquisition.com - Alex Hormozi is a guru in the business world and has free courses on how to create offers and generate leads.

To find out more about Kat's business, visit https://www.furyfitnessclub.com/

Kat took part in our Career Change Launch Pad. If you're ready to join a group of bright, motivated career changers on a structured programme to help you find more fulfilling work, you can find out more here.

What lessons could you take from Kat's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.