Many people want to find work that feels meaningful and fulfilling. But what do you do when your job doesn’t match your passions or values? For Alessandra Haybittle, this realization pushed her to leave her successful corporate job. She decided to follow her love for fitness and started her own Pilates business.

Her story is about more than just chasing a dream. It shows how she used her skills and experience to create a life that works for her and her family. Here’s how she combined her professional expertise with her personal interests to build a career she loves.

Breaking Away From the Corporate Mold

For more than two decades, Alessandra worked in the corporate world, holding senior roles at companies like AmBev and Bunge. Her days were packed with meetings, deadlines, and high-pressure projects. She enjoyed the challenges, but something felt off.

The long hours often meant missing out on family time, especially after she became a mother. She wanted to be there for her daughters in a way that her corporate schedule didn’t allow. She started to rethink her priorities and realized she wanted a career that gave her more freedom and flexibility.

This change in mindset led her to start her own Pilates business. This way, she could control her schedule while still doing meaningful work.

Why Fitness Became Her Focus

Sports and fitness had always been a big part of Alessandra’s life. As an athlete who has participated in over 100 races, she knew firsthand the physical and mental benefits of staying active. When she began thinking about her next career move, it made sense to build something around her passion for health and wellness.

Pilates is special to her because it offers more than just exercise. It helps people build strength, recover from injuries, and improve their overall health. She wanted to create a place where people feel supported and inspired to take care of themselves.

Her goal wasn’t just to open a Pilates studio—it was to create a community. She wanted her clients to feel connected, celebrated, and motivated to keep showing up for themselves.

Bringing Business Skills Into a Passion Project

Transitioning from the corporate world to owning a Pilates business wasn’t an overnight success. Alessandra relied on the skills she learned in her previous jobs, including financial planning, strategic thinking, and execution.

She learned from her corporate career that having a clear plan is essential. She applied this same attention to detail in her business, whether it involved budgeting, hiring, or marketing.

She also focused on building relationships with her clients. She made an effort to connect personally, creating a welcoming environment that encouraged them to return. She celebrated milestones, like attending 50 classes, and hosted social events to make her studio a community, not just a gym.

Navigating Challenges and Celebrating Wins

Starting a business has its challenges, and Alessandra faced many. Launching during the pandemic added more uncertainty, but she stayed focused and adaptable. She changed her strategies, managed her resources carefully, and prioritized her clients’ needs.

Despite these difficulties, she felt great satisfaction as her business grew. She opened several Pilates studios, each designed to create a welcoming space for clients. Watching her clients reach their fitness goals and connect with each other has been one of the most rewarding parts of her work..=

A Career That Aligns With Values

Alessandra’s journey is a powerful example of what happens when you align your career with what you care about most. By blending her passion for fitness with her professional skills, she’s created a life that allows her to be present for her family while doing work she finds meaningful.

Her story isn’t about chasing perfection—it’s about making choices that reflect your values and staying committed to what matters most. Whether it’s being there for her daughters or celebrating a client’s success, her approaches each day with purpose and balance.

For anyone wondering if it’s possible to turn a passion into a profession, her experience shows that with planning, resilience, and a clear vision, it can be done. It’s not always easy, but the result is a career—and a life—that feels authentic and fulfilling.