Edel Freitas's Relaunch Success Story
By Rochna Pant
Edel's Success Story
October 2023
Edel Freitas relaunched as a STS Specialist at Organon, Portugal after a six year career break. She received a very warm welcome from a bilingual team and found a place where she felt that she could be her authentic self. Her business education, her work at the Venture Development Center at UMass Boston and her transferable skills from her career break were instrumental in her relaunch.
Click here to view the one-page profile we compiled to highlight Edel's career path!
How was it like returning to work through the Organon career reentry program?
- I was looking for a flexible, supportive, international, and bilingual work environment and Organon checked all the boxes. Organon also has a mission for women's heath that was a huge plus.
- Business was my field of education and I have had dual interests- being a business person and having a creative side which worked in my favor during the interviews. My manager was very supportive of my art and valued my transferrable skills
- The interview process felt very natural and non-intimidating. The experience was good, and it's important for people returning to the workforce to feel comfortable during interviews as they are also evaluating the company
The mentoring sessions with iRelaunch and the initial days back in a corporate setting provided valuable insights and "aha" moments. These moments included understanding the transition into work, balancing family life, adapting to a new schedule, and navigating different personalities. My mentor, Elizabeth Gish, was particularly helpful when I faced a challenge, providing concise and experienced suggestions, which made a lot of sense given her own journey as a relauncher.
Hear Edel talking about being specific during job search and how it is essential to define what you want in a job.
I'm grateful for my preconceptions about the job, for while some aligned with reality, it's been a chance to awaken my dormant analytical skills. Challenges can indeed be fun. I see potential for process improvement here, a path I may explore, as enhancing processes is what truly excites me. 🌟💼🚀
Hear Edel underscoring the importance of recognizing one's talents and the value they may hold, even if others see more in them than we do.
Did this story motivate you or inspire you!?
Do you have a relauncher success story of your own to share with us and the rest of the relauncher community?
Sharing your inevitable success is a great way to give back as your story will inspire and motivate other relaunchers, especially if your story is not the typical story that is told.
It is our hope that all relaunchers are able to see themselves reflected in relauncher success stories as we all know how important representation is. We respectfully ask you to share only the details of your relaunch you are comfortable sharing, but to indeed share your story with us so we can be sure to document and feature a more diverse population of relauncher experiences, background and identities.
