Seeing my clients attend important events wearing my creations and being able to be there for my kids and my husband every day—now that is what I consider success.

I had it all—or so it seemed to everyone else. I had a flourishing career at Deutsche Bank: the title, the money, the high executive lifestyle, jetting between the US, Europe, and Asia sometimes several times a month. I also had an amazing husband — a true partner — and three wonderful kids. The only problem was: I never saw my husband or my kids. I woke up one day and saw my life literally pass me by. My kids didn't really know me, and I did not know them. I needed to change, and to change fast, before it was going to be too late. So one day, yes, just like in a movie, I decided to change everything.

Over the next year, I completely revised my life. I walked away from Wall Street, became a stay-at-home mom, grew my own organic garden and wrote the business plan for my childhood dream—creating a brand new luxury knitwear couture line. The following year I opened my own boutique.

I started networking, designing, selecting fibers and colors, hiring professionals and created my new business venture:a hand-knitted couture clothing line for women and babies. Four months later, I had filed to incorporate MAG Tricotes (tricoter: “to knit” in French; MAG stands for my initials Malvina Alexandrovna Guretsky.)

My life has changed completely. Most importantly, my kids' lives have changed. They actually need me now. They are the ones leaning in. They share their stories with me and their teachers are even aware of my existence. My new business venture gives me the professional satisfaction I have always craved. Seeing my clients attend important events wearing my creations and being able to be there for my kids and my husband every day—now that is what I consider success.