If you’ve ever reached a point in your career where everything looked good on the outside but felt completely misaligned on the inside, you’re not alone. For many high performers, there comes a moment when the work no longer feeds your values, and the question becomes: do I keep climbing this ladder, or do I start again somewhere new?

In this episode I chat with Claire, CEO of Hands Across The Water, about what it takes to step away from a corporate career you love in order to follow a deeper calling. From leading national events at REA to rebuilding homes in Thai villages, Claire’s journey is one of courage, resilience and redefining what success truly means.

She shares openly about the moment she realised her work no longer aligned with her values, the IVF journey that tested her personally, and how she and founder Pete pivoted an entire organisation when COVID wiped out 80% of their fundraising overnight. Today, she leads a sustainable model that combines charity with social enterprise, creating bright futures for more than 170 children in Thailand.

  “  The relationships you'll build on this ride will become, lifelong friends. The connections you make, the conversations you have and what that then creates is just this experience that as someone looking to sign up for the ride, you go, actually, I get so much out of this because of The relationships and  the connections.”  - Claire Baines

We cover:

• The turning point when Claire realised her corporate career no longer aligned with her values
• How she transitioned from running national events at REA to becoming CEO of Hands Across The Water charity in Thailand
• The silent grief of IVF and infertility, and the mindset shifts that helped her continue leading with resilience and purpose
• What happened when COVID cancelled charity bike rides and wiped out 80% of fundraising overnight
• How Hands Across The Water built a sustainable not-for-profit model by combining charity with social enterprise in Thailand and Australia
• Why the Hospitality Training Centre and Agricultural Learning Centre in Thailand are giving children real employment pathways for the future
• The power of experiential fundraising and why doing a charity bike ride in Thailand builds community, resilience and lifelong connection

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35 AI Prompts to help you Grow your Business on Social Media: https://courses.thatpropertymum.com.au/35-prompts-to-grow-your-property-management-business-on-social-media

Connect With  Claire Baines

handsgroup.org.au

facebook.com/thehandsgroup

@handsacrossthewater_anz

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