Donna chats about her journey from home working to a fresh start.
After more than two years working from home, much of it managing the office and accounts for our family construction business, I’ve recently stepped into a brand-new chapter of my career. Taking on my new role at Rambutan as Office and Accounts Manager, in a completely different industry, has been both exciting and quietly daunting. However, my new journey has already been very rewarding.
Working in the family business taught me resilience and commitment in ways no other role ever had. When it’s your own business, there’s no real switch off; enquiries don’t wait for evenings, weekends or even holidays. Balancing work mode and family mode was often challenging, but there were moments that made it all worthwhile. One of the proudest was watching my son complete his Carpentry NVQ, knowing he’s gained skills for life through working alongside us.
Before this, I spent 15 years in the chemical industry, where I learnt so much without even noticing the years slipping past. Before that, I spent 10 years in the cosmetics industry, where the energy, people and sense of community made work feel like being part of one big family. Looking back, there’s a clear theme throughout my career: I’ve always enjoyed being surrounded by people.
Working from home gave me flexibility that I’ll always appreciate, especially as a parent. But, I found I missed the buzz of being around people, chatting face-to-face and building connections in an office. I realised I needed a change, not just for my career, but for my wellbeing too. That’s when I found Rambutan!
As you can imagine, deciding to leave the family business wasn’t easy. It meant difficult conversations, careful planning and trusting myself to step into something unfamiliar. While I wasn’t nervous about meeting new people, I did worry about learning new systems, adapting to different technologies and pushing myself well outside my comfort zone, all without letting anyone down.
Now, I’m genuinely enjoying learning again. My role at Rambutan has reminded me how important it is to keep growing, especially in a world where technology moves so quickly. It’s easy to become comfortable, but growth rarely happens there. I’ve definitely broadened my software knowledge by being involved in different aspects of the business, from accounts processes to office systems, which has been really satisfying.
Getting to know the team has been such a highlight. Everyone has been so friendly and welcoming that it already feels like I’ve always worked here. I’ve particularly enjoyed sharing ideas and seeing how our work directly supports the company’s goals. It’s been refreshing to work for a company that truly lives by its values – they aren’t just words, but the way we do things every day.
Even the small, celebrated moments working at Rambutan have reminded me how energising a positive, people-focused workplace can be. It’s motivating to see how much everyone cares about doing a good job, and it’s inspiring to feel part of something bigger.
Here’s to new routines, earlier school runs, fresh challenges and the confidence to start again, even when it feels a little scary.