473: I Left My Goldman Sachs Role to Write Fiction Novels: Here’s Exactly How I Did It

Jul 24, 2025

Lindsay MacMillan, a former VP at Goldman Sachs, shares her daring transition from Wall Street to writing romance novels. She discusses the moment she realized her prestigious job wasn’t her true passion. Lindsay reveals insights on navigating the financial and emotional shifts that come with such a leap, and why many are quitting corporate roles—not just from burnout. Additionally, she highlights the importance of prioritizing creativity and how it improved her corporate performance, all while crafting a fulfilling life on her terms.

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INSIGHT

Leaving Corporate for Passion

Many people leave corporate jobs not due to burnout but because they are drawn to pursue a passion.
The risk of staying in a good-on-paper but unfulfilling job can outweigh the risk of leaving for a dream.

ANECDOTE

Lindsay's Career Pivot Journey

Lindsay navigated multiple finance roles and earned a VP promotion before deciding to leave.
She timed her exit after securing two book deals and savings, making the leap less risky.

ADVICE

Prioritize Balance and Creativity

Shift to roles with better work-life balance before a major career leap.
Prioritizing creativity before work fuels productivity and work performance.

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What if the “dream job” you worked so hard to earn… wasn’t your dream anymore?

In this episode, Natalie sits down with Lindsay MacMillan - a former VP at Goldman Sachs who walked away from a prestigious Wall Street career to follow a lifelong dream of becoming a published author. Since leaving Wall Street, Lindsay has signed major book deals with Penguin Random House, taken the TEDx stage four times, and created a multi-faceted creative business aligned with her values.

Together, they unpack what it really takes to leave a good job, why the “Plan B” trap keeps so many women stuck, and how to navigate the financial, emotional, and identity shifts that come with choosing the creative path.

This conversation is an honest, vulnerable, and deeply empowering look at what happens when you stop settling for a life that looks good on paper, and start creating one that actually feels good.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Why Natalie cut her trip short + the power of honoring your season

01:03 - From Wall Street to writing: How Lindsay made the leap from VP to published author

02:32 - The real reason people are quitting corporate (hint: it’s not burnout)

04:47 - Walking away from a “good on paper” job to follow your dream

06:58 - How Lindsay earned a VP promotion, and still knew it was time to go

09:05 - The simple shift that helped her unlock work-life balance (and still get promoted)

10:32 - Why prioritizing creativity made her better at her corporate job

12:31 - A realistic financial game plan for leaving a high-paying job

17:00 - How to build a portfolio career that funds your creativity and freedom

21:00 - The mindset shift that helped Lindsay stop working like she was still in corporate

23:01 - How to say no to misaligned money (and trust you’ll be okay)

26:17 - Why “pretty good” is the most dangerous place to be

29:21 - What it really looks like to build a creative career on your own terms

RESOURCES + LINKS

Get Lindsay’s New Novel: Summer On Lilac Island

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