Ep 5: Think You’re Too Old to Change Careers? Adam Rowland, Founder of Awkward Animations Proves You’re Not

Ever thought about walking away from a high-paying corporate career to pursue something wildly different - without knowing how it would all work out?

In this episode of Good Shift, I sit down with Adam Rowland, former Head of Planning at global brands like Ralph Lauren, ASICS, and Icebreaker, who swapped spreadsheets and a high-paying corporate role, for self-made, stop-motion animation.

He didn’t wait for burnout. He made the leap while things were going well and told us why he's always had that mindset. He now runs his own animation studio, Awkward Animations.

This episode is full of real, raw, and deeply helpful insight for anyone ready to shift gears but unsure how to do it, especially with a mortgage, kids, and self-doubt in the mix.

Adam breaks down:

✅ How to know when to leave the corporate world (even if it’s going good)
✅ Why upskilling on the side was the real secret to being able to pivot
✅ How to up your game at networking and build confidence around it
✅ Advice on planning ahead for a shift (incl financials)
✅ Why backing yourself doesn’t mean you can’t build a safety net
✅ Why it’s never too late to become a beginner again

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to start again, or worried about what people will think, this episode will shift your mindset and give you practical ways to move forward.

🛠️ Recommendations:

🎥 Pak’nSave Stop-Motion Ad (Watch It Here)

🎥 Lee Jeans commercial by Awkward Animations

🎙️ Mel Robbins Podcast on Confidence

🧠 Sir Ken Robinson TED Talk – “Do Schools Kill Creativity?”

👉 Connect with Adam:
LinkedIn
Website
Instagram

🚀 Follow Good Shift for Bite-Sized Career Shifts:
Instagram: @goodshiftpod