Ep. 54 - Moving to Portugal, Career Change and Starting Over with James Dowsett

Many people dream about packing up their lives and moving abroad. What often gets left out are the practical realities that come afterwards. The paperwork, the uncertainty, the culture shock, the unexpected setbacks, and the resilience it takes to build a life somewhere new.This week, Meghan is joined by James Dowsett, Analytics Consultant at WPP, who shares the story of a career that has taken some unexpected turns. From beginning his career in the UK Civil Service to navigating redundancy during the pandemic, and eventually relocating to Lisbon, James reflects on the moments that challenged him most and the decisions that ultimately shaped his life today.What emerges throughout the episode is a broader discussion about trusting your instincts when your career takes an unexpected direction. Some of our biggest opportunities arrive disguised as disappointments, and while setbacks rarely feel meaningful in the moment, they often become the experiences that teach us resilience, confidence, and the importance of making decisions that align with our values rather than fear.Meghan and James also explore the realities of relocating to Portugal as an expat. They discuss navigating visas, residency, bureaucracy, building community in a new country, and adjusting to a different pace of life. While moving abroad is often romanticised, they reflect on the challenges that come with leaving familiar routines behind, alongside the rewards of creating a life that feels more aligned with your priorities.Whether you're considering a career change, relocating overseas, recovering from redundancy, navigating uncertainty, or wondering whether to trust your intuition when life doesn't go to plan, James's story is a reminder that careers are rarely linear. Sometimes the path that makes the least sense at the beginning becomes the one you're most grateful you took.CONNECT WITH JAMES:Instagram: @jmdowsettChapters:00:00 Introducing James and reconnecting after Fuller's05:15 From government to the graduate programme at Fuller's22:00 Redundancy, resilience and transferable skills35:00 Relocating to Portugal and starting over abroad46:00 Visas, bureaucracy and life as an expat57:00 Trusting your instincts when life changes directionWORK WITH MEGHAN: If you are interested in working with Meghan one-to-one for therapy or career coaching, you can book an introductory session here: ⁠https://app.paperbell.com/checkout/packages/223411⁠GUEST SUBMISSIONS: If you think you know someone who would make a great guest, email Meghan at: ⁠hello@meghanfitzpatrick.com⁠SUPPORT THE SHOW: If you'd like to support the show and the work of Career Congregation, you can do so here: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/meghanfitzpatrick⁠Keywords: Career change, Career transition, Relocation, Moving to Portugal, Portugal, Lisbon, Expats, Expat life, Living abroad, Visa process, Residency, Immigration, Career coaching, Therapy, Coaching, Redundancy, Career resilience, Transferable skills, Burnout, Burnout recovery, Work-life balance, Mental health, Overwhelm, Stress, Personal development, Trusting your intuition, Starting over, Remote work© Copyright Meghan Fitzpatrick 2026