50. ”Why Would You Want to Be a Glorified Waitress?” with Kathy Healy

2025-07-10

Why would you want to quit being a CPA to be a glorified waitress? This is one of the questions Kathy Healy was asked after making the decision to leave her public accounting career and become a flight attendant. And she did it anyway. In this episode, I'm joined by Kathy Healy and her daughter Dana for a fun conversation about making bold moves later in life. After more than 20 years as a CPA, Kathy made the decision to become a flight attendant at age 52. While most people her age are counting down to retirement, she left her...

Why would you want to quit being a CPA to be a glorified waitress?

This is one of the questions Kathy Healy was asked after making the decision to leave her public accounting career and become a flight attendant. And she did it anyway.

In this episode, I'm joined by Kathy Healy and her daughter Dana for a fun conversation about making bold moves later in life. After more than 20 years as a CPA, Kathy made the decision to become a flight attendant at age 52. While most people her age are counting down to retirement, she left her job just months before 9/11 turned the airline industry upside down.

We Talk About:

What motivated her to make the change
The surprising challenges and rewards of flight attendant training
What it’s like to completely shift your day-to-day life and start over
How age doesn’t have to be a limitation (unless you decide it does)
Why it’s okay to want something different — and actually go for it

Kathy shares her story with honesty, humor, and the kind of perspective that only comes from doing the thing most people talk themselves out of.

If you’ve ever thought you’re not the “right” age for something, or you just want to hear from someone who took a risk and doesn’t regret it…This is proof that possibility doesn’t expire. And the best chapters of your story might be the ones you haven't written yet.

🎥 Watch the short video from Kathy’s final flight (also her YouTube debut) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g8rTeeR9VU

About Kathy Healy

Kathy Healy spent over 20 years as a CPA, including roles in corporate accounting, teaching, and public accounting (McGladrey & Pullen brought her back three separate times - but that's another story!). In 2001, at age 52, she traded spreadsheets for airplane aisles, becoming a Southwest Airlines flight attendant until her retirement in 2022. She now enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, attending Iowa women's basketball games, cheering on Caitlin Clark, and spending time with family and friends.

If this conversation with Kathy inspired you to think differently about what's possible, please share with a friend who might need to hear it too, and subscribe for future insights and inspiration!

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Thanks for listening!

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