I Was Ready
to Walk Away

BY VINNIE RECILE
Transformative CFO, Strategic Advisor, Public Speaker

SEPTEMBER 7, 2026

There was a moment in my career when I was ready to hand in my resignation.

Not because I wasn’t capable. But because I wasn’t sure if I believed that I was.

I was working as a CFO, sitting at a table where I was the only woman, surrounded by strong, confident voices who seemed certain in every decision they made. And quietly, I was questioning my own.

 

Learning to Trust What I Knew

I’ve always been drawn to understanding what sits beneath the surface. Not just the numbers but the story they tell. That’s what pulled me into accounting in the first place. The problem-solving. The ability to interpret what’s really
happening and help shape decisions from there.

But there’s a difference between knowing something and trusting that you know it. And at that point in my career, I wasn’t sure I did.

 

When Confidence Slips Quietly

From the outside, nothing looked wrong. I had built a strong career. I had experience. I had earned my place in the room.

But internally, my confidence was slipping. I started second-guessing my recommendations. Questioning my judgment. Wondering if I was actually capable of doing the job at the level it required.

No one else could see it. But I could feel it.

 

The Moment Everything Came to a Head

There was a decision I didn’t agree with. I remember sitting with it, going back and forth in my mind. And then, finally, getting quiet enough to hear something clearly: I’m not crazy. These decisions are wrong.

That was the moment everything shifted.

I went to the CEO and said, “I stand by my decision—and I’m willing to hand in my resignation if you feel that it was wrong. I’ll have it to you this afternoon.”

And then there was silence. A full sixty seconds.

Before he said, “That won’t be necessary. I don’t think we could do this without you.”

 

What I Realized in That Moment

That was the moment it clicked.

The only person who didn’t understand my value was me.

Nothing about my capability had changed. Only my belief in it.

 

What Changed After That

I made a decision that day. I wasn’t going to put myself through that again. I had to trust my judgment. I had to accept that I was good at what I did, even if I didn’t feel it all the time.

And I had to stop treating every mistake as proof that I didn’t belong. Because mistakes happen.

That doesn’t make you incapable. It makes you human.

 

What It Took to Get There

Around the same time, I was balancing everything: my role, my family, and the decision to complete my accounting designation. I would study every night from 9 p.m. to midnight. Lectures. Notes. Practice exams. Over and over again. My hands would ache. I would tape up my arm just to keep going. It was exhausting.

And I was still nervous going into the exams.

But when I passed on the first try, I felt something I hadn’t fully allowed myself to feel before. Proud. Not because I had proven something to others. But because I had finally proven something to myself.

 

What I’m Drawn to Now

That experience changed how I think about my work.

I’m still deeply connected to the numbers. To the strategy. To helping organizations make better decisions.

But I’m equally drawn to something else. Helping others find their footing. Whether that’s through teaching, mentoring, or simply sharing experiences, I want to be part of creating a path that feels more accessible for others.

Because I know what it feels like to question your place.

 

What We Can Do for Each Other

I’ve seen what happens when women support each other. When we stop positioning ourselves as competitors and start pulling each other up. When we share what we’ve learned instead of expecting others to figure it out alone.

That’s where real leadership shows up.

Not in telling people what they should do. But in helping make the path a little easier for the person coming next.