HEADSHOT: A Pause, A Picture, A Possibility

Facilitators

Gyongyver Szabo

Growing up in Budapest during the historic fall of the Berlin Wall felt like sitting in the front row of a wild makeover show. I witnessed first hand the art of reinvention. Both my parents faced major career crossroads in midlife, and seeing them grapple with uncertainty taught me that reinvention isn’t a stroll through a rose garden, it’s messy, unpredictable, and often painful. But I also saw how embracing change can lead to new opportunities and, eventually, a better life.

The deep desire for reinvention found me in my early 50s, after more than 25 years in corporate HR at a FTSE 100 company. Even though I had everything I needed, I felt an increasing pull toward a different kind of life, one where I had more creative freedom and control over my time. Was this a midlife crisis, I wondered? Should I just wait it out and hope the feeling will pass? Or was this a sign that it was time to move on? I felt more lost than I had since I was a teenager.

I turned to professional literature, and a new world opened up to me. Eventually, I enrolled at Chip Conley’s Modern Elder Academy (MEA), eager to understand the complex terrain of midlife transitions. My growing fascination with reinvention became impossible to ignore. So, I took the leap, leaving the familiar behind to embrace a deeper calling: guiding others through major career transitions by helping them tap into their talents and reimagine their futures.

Today, I combine career coaching with the transformative power of travel. Through workshops and retreats designed for renewal and self-discovery, I help people navigate change. Along the way, I’ve become a collector of unconventional career stories—testaments to human creativity and resilience in the pursuit of a larger, more meaningful life.

Jae Sloan

I am a photographer, and that practice sits alongside my work as a holistic coach, organisational development consultant and wellbeing practitioner.

I almost always work with people who admit they ‘hate their photo taken’, but after every shoot they always say ‘that was fun!’ I’ll create a safe place where you can be yourself, explore and have some fun with the experience. You can read more about me here.

I experienced the power of photography first hand as a model, using the process of witnessing myself in a picture as a way to more closely examine who I am or even wanted to be. I wrote about this experience in a blog you can read here.

After a big life transition in 2023, a move from London to a tiny village in Southwest Wales, I wanted to continue to use photography as a creative outlet and to continue my personal exploration through self portraiture. The image used here is a self portrait I made after a particularly emotional time when I was dealing with a lot of unexpected grief that surfaced after my big move. I wanted to capture the emotion I felt getting to the other side of my grief when I felt stronger and grounded, but also immensely grateful for the support I received from those around me to get me through.

Eventually, I started photographing other people, and I discovered how much joy it gave me and aligned with my purpose. I quickly developed an interest in soulful portrait photography, and I’ve had the desire for some time to use photography as part of workshops just like this. I’m so excited to create a safe place for you to get into your body, hold an intention and then be able to witness a still of that moment - as inspiration, as motivation, as a memory.

You can see some of my portrait work here: https://felinstudio.myportfolio.com/

If you have any questions or want more information, please request to book a chat with Jae.