Career Transformation Story | From Toy Designer to Educator & Founder

It happens so often. You’re in a job that began as a “dream job.” Over time, things change. Maybe it was one big thing, or a thousand tiny ones. But, it’s not what you thought it was any more.

What do you do? 

If you’re Gabriela Pereira , you don’t just pivot—you take that opportunity to figure out what’s really going on, at a deeper level, then completely reimagine your career. 

And the best part? Her story might just inspire you to do the same.

In this week’s SPARKED Newsletter, Gabriela shares how she went from her childhood dream job as a toy designer to founding DIY MFA, an educational platform for writers. But this wasn’t a straightforward leap. Her journey was fueled by self-discovery, unexpected challenges, and the courage to listen to her mental health needs, along with a deeper creative impulses.

Gabriela didn’t abandon her love of creating—she found a new way to channel it.

Starting with a Dream: Toy Design and Creativity

Gabriela began her career with a laser focus on becoming a toy designer—building, creating, and designing toys was her passion from a young age. Her natural Maker (drive to create) and Maven (drive to learn) Sparketypes® flourished as she worked in product management for a top toy company, designing everything from musical bath toys to spy kits. 

But behind the scenes, a mental health diagnosis began to complicate things. A key element of the job was challenging her ability to be well. Eventually, it came to a head, forcing Gabriela to make a difficult decision between staying in her dream job or prioritizing her health. Many of us have been there.

The Hard Choice and a New Beginning

Gabriela’s story took a sharp turn when she made the courageous decision to leave her toy design career, and her lifetime dream, and focus on reimagining her work in a way that better supported her well-being. This decision, though tough, paved the way for something remarkable. 

Gabriela spent a year exploring her creativity, and ultimately, her passion for writing led her to create DIY MFA—an alternative to the traditional Master of Fine Arts program. Through her platform, she now empowers writers to hone their craft, giving them access to the same knowledge without the need for formal academia. She discovered that the underlying Maker/Maven Sparketype impulses that led her to want to be a toy designer could be centered and satisfied in a whole new way, once she better understood what they were, and how to build around them.

Key Lessons: Trusting Your Inner Impulses

Gabriela’s journey is a reminder of the power of knowing ourselves deeply. By tapping into her natural Sparketypes, she was able to pivot from one fulfilling career to another, crafting work that brought her even more joy and purpose. In doing so, she also demonstrated the importance of listening to our inner impulses—the Maker’s need to create and the Maven’s thirst for learning—and finding ways to align those with our work.

So, what can we take away from Gabriela’s story?

1. Creativity isn’t tied to a specific job; it’s a mindset. Gabriela’s ability to adapt her creativity from toy design to writing education proves that our passions can find expression in unexpected ways.

2. Mental health matters. Prioritizing her health allowed Gabriela to transition into work that was not only meaningful but also sustainable in the long term.

3. Career changes are opportunities for reinvention. Gabriela's story is proof that when one door closes, another one—perhaps even more aligned with who we truly are—opens.

Are you feeling stuck or unsure about your own career path? Gabriela’s story offers a powerful example of how embracing change, even when it feels daunting, can lead to deeper fulfillment and purpose. If you're ready to discover your own Sparketype, it could just be the key to unlocking your next career transformation.

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