About Beyond Cubicles
📢 #BeyondCubicles is a weekly LinkedIn series created by Carolina D’Souza, born out of her own experience transitioning from a corporate career to independent consulting. Since its launch in June 2024, the series has evolved into a platform that showcases the inspiring journeys of several founders who have redefined the traditional 9-to-5.
Through authentic narratives, #BeyondCubicles highlights themes of courage, resilience, and purpose. The stories feature individuals from diverse industries—ranging from tech and education to wellness and adventure—who share their experiences of stepping away from conventional roles to pursue passion-driven careers.Â
✨ Note: All features in this series are unpaid and shared as a way to honor and amplify real stories of transformation.
“Every time you fail, you learn one way not to do something.”
Nathan Conradie‘s journey from academia to entrepreneurship began with a problem he saw up close: his students struggled to cope with clinical practice after graduating.
While in emergency medical services education, he worked on a research project to develop a system to better prepare them for treating patients.
“What began as a way to support graduates became something with broader potential,” he says.
That project became Proficien, a platform helping healthcare organizations track and maintain clinical skills.
Launching a business after a career in medicine and teaching came with a steep learning curve. “I went from being an expert in my field to learning everything from scratch,” says Nathan.
Unlike his previous roles, where outcomes spoke for themselves, entrepreneurship required a different kind of communication. “You have to convey your value clearly, and that took trial and error.”
Each failed pitch became a chance to adjust. “Every time you fail, you learn one way not to do something,” he says.
Learning from mistakes, and from others, became critical. “I’ve been lucky to have a support network and soak up as much knowledge as I can.”
But the transition wasn’t without emotional cost. “I’ve experienced absolute excitement… mixed with abject terror that all the time, effort, and resources may not lead to financial success, but I have not let this deter me from fulfilling my vision. I see each step on my journey as a problem I need to solve.”
Personal branding brought its own discomfort. “You have to be willing to look silly in front of people you respect, and you have to be willing to plot a course that people did not expect you to take.” he says. His method: create, post, improve.
“As a start-up owner, you must be a jack-of-all-trades,” he adds. “I wish I had divided my time better and spread out the things I needed to do.”
To reset his mind, Nathan trains for triathlons. “I can’t tell you how many good ideas I’ve had on a run or a ride,” he says.
Originally from South Africa, he moved to Abu Dhabi for a faculty role and broader opportunity. “The UAE has been a great home and has let me move from academia to business,” he says.
His advice to other entrepreneurs? “The journey won’t be easy. But with hard work and smart choices, you can make a career shift you’re truly happy with.”