From Food Industry to Tech: Hannah’s Career Change into Tech

Hannah made a career change into tech after 20 years in the food industry, retraining with Supermums and launching her own Consultancy to help organisations transform with tech.

Hannah

Course:Salesforce Admin
Region:EMEA
Sector:IT
Job Title:Consultant
Works:Maven Kairos
Lives:Devon

From Food Industry to Tech: Hannah’s Career Change into Tech

Hannah made a career change into tech after 20 years in the food industry, retraining with Supermums and launching her own Consultancy to help organisations transform with tech.

Previous Role → New Role
Food Industry Leader → Strategic Transformation Consultant

“Supermums gave me so much more than I expected — structure, confidence, and a community that truly believed in me.”

Why a Career Change into Tech

If you’d told me five years ago that I’d be running my own strategic transformation consultancy and helping a university prepare for a Salesforce implementation, I would have laughed.

I spent 20 years in the food industry, having studied food science at the University of Reading. Although I’d always been a bit of a tech enthusiast, I never imagined I’d actually make a career change into tech. After reaching senior leadership roles, I was made redundant — an experience that, although difficult, gave me the opportunity to reassess what I wanted from my career and life.

I became self-employed, helping families save money on utilities. The shift was a huge change of pace, but it opened my eyes further to how technology can make life easier.

Then life threw me a few curveballs: during COVID, my marriage broke down, my mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and I moved back home to care for her. Sharing a room with my young daughter while supporting my parents was a period of complete rebuilding. It made me ask myself: What do I really want to do?

The answer was clear — I wanted to help people and businesses navigate change. That’s how I found myself in project management roles within tech companies, where I discovered the power of CRM systems and Salesforce. I was hooked.

Why I Chose Salesforce and Supermums

I found Supermums while researching Salesforce training programmes online. I watched a few interviews with Heather Black and immediately felt the energy and community vibe. It wasn’t just about learning software — it was about belonging to a supportive network that understood the challenges of balancing family, study, and work.

When I spoke with Lyn from the Supermums team, I knew I’d found the right fit. I didn’t want to learn alone in front of a screen — I wanted accountability, encouragement, and connection.

“Supermums gave me structure, support, and a learning environment where people genuinely root for each other.”

I began the Salesforce Administrator course in February while still in my previous job. A few months later, I was made redundant — which, although tough, turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

The cohort experience was incredible. Everyone was juggling something — jobs, family, caring responsibilities — and we supported each other through it all. When I doubted myself, there was always someone in the group reminding me that I could do it. The way Supermums fosters that community is genuinely life-changing.

I also took part in Supermums’ career coaching and LinkedIn workshops, which helped me rebuild my professional profile and highlight my consultancy and leadership experience.

Life After Supermums: Building My Own Consultancy

After completing my Salesforce Administrator certification in July, I decided to take a leap and start my own consultancy business.

An old colleague — now an MD — reached out and encouraged me not to take another job, but to back myself. With their encouragement, I set up my company, built my website, gathered testimonials, and started networking.

Within weeks, I secured my first client engagement with a local university. They were preparing to introduce Salesforce as their CRM, and I’m now leading their discovery and business case phase — applying everything I learned from Supermums’ Consultancy Skills course.

The structure, framework, and confidence Supermums gave me have been invaluable in launching this new chapter of my career.

“Supermums gave me the courage to back myself. I realised I wasn’t just learning Salesforce — I was building the confidence to lead transformation.”

My Advice for Others a Career Change into Tech

If you’re thinking about retraining with Salesforce or joining Supermums, my advice is simple: believe in yourself.

There will be moments of doubt, but you’re not alone — your cohort and the wider Supermums community will be there to support you. Lean on them.

Also, take care of your mindset. Balancing family, work, and study is tough, but investing in personal development and motivation really helps. Books like What Color Is Your Parachute? and inspirational speakers like John Ran made a big difference for me.

Finally, be consistent. Every small step forward is still progress, even on the days when it feels hard. And remember — you’re doing this for you.

“Supermums and my journey with Salesforce gave me more than I ever expected — skills, belief, and a community I’ll be part of for a very long time.”