August 6, 2025
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For Developing the Young Workforce’s No Wrong Path campaign, Highland RFCA’s Head of Engagement, Michelle McKearnon, shared her own career path to reiterate that there really is no wrong path.
The social media movement provides inspiration and reassurance to young people receiving their exam results. The aim is to highlight the different options that are available to young people and show them that exam results are not necessarily the key to unlocking future success. The campaign takes place from the 4th to the 8th of August.
Reflecting on her time after leaving school, Michelle said: “I left school in 1982 with no idea what I wanted to do, so I spent two years ‘out’ – one as an au pair in Belgium and one working in a girls’ boarding school in Hastings – before going to university in Liverpool to study a joint degree in French and Environmental Science. Languages and nature have always been two passions of mine, so it was a good, if unusual, combination!”
About the start of her career, she said: “My first jobs were environmental; an outdoor education officer in a Walled Garden restoration project, and then an education lead in a Tropical Butterfly House. I had a short stint working for Tourist Information in Edinburgh, then took some time out to have my two daughters.”
She spoke about her career path in more detail: “I then changed direction and worked for several years for Fife Council as a teaching assistant in the Bilingual Support Department, working with children of all ages for whom English was not their first language.
“From there, a colleague and I set up our own business providing English language lessons to many companies who were employing overseas workers in a range of sectors, from aviation to Premier Division footballers! Being self-employed was great fun and hard work, but the arrival of my third child meant I needed a more consistent income, so it was back to environmental issues working in the third sector for a recycling charity and a grant-awarding body.
“Next came the change which led, indirectly, to ultimately working with Defence. I moved into a Business Development role with Falkirk Council, which led to me setting up the Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce. During my time with Chambers of Commerce, I crossed paths with military Veterans and agencies. I then became interested in this sector, being the first Chamber in Scotland to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and reach Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold. In 2017, I left the Chamber and moved full-time into working for HRFCA. I first joined as a Regional Employer Engagement Director and was then promoted to Head of Engagement. I have been here for eight years now!”
She summarised how she got to where she is now since leaving school: “So, from butterflies to battalions, it has certainly been a very varied route. All of the roles I have had have taught me new skills and given me a range of responsibilities which I need for my current role. If someone had told me back in 1982 that I would end up working for the Ministry of Defence, I would have laughed – but here I am! There really is No Wrong Path.”
