Career Reinvention & Finding True Purpose After 20 Years in Retail. With Scott Baker
Scott Baker · May 13, 2025
Interview with Scott Baker
Podcast: Your Career Journey
May 13, 2025 · 48 min
Listen to Scott Baker on Your Career Journey.
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About Scott Baker
Founder of Toast Finance & Advocate for Sustainable Personal Growth and Purpose-Driven Business Goals
Nearly $500M Loans settled with his team20 years Fashion retail career5 countries Cotton On brand expansionFounder & CEO Toast Finance
Scott Baker is a business leader who has navigated a remarkable career shift with purpose and clarity. During his 20-year tenure in global retail leadership at the Cotton On Group—an Australian-based global retailer—Scott played a pivotal role in scaling the brand from 15 stores to over 200 across five countries. This experience honed his expertise in marketing, customer experience, and leadership, setting the stage for his transition to entrepreneurship. Today, as the Founder and CEO of Toast Finance, Scott leads a thriving mortgage broking business that prioritizes trust, education, and meaningful client relationships.
A leader in his industry, Scott attributes much of his business success to his focus on personal branding. By positioning himself as a trusted and authentic expert, he has grown Toast Finance into a standout brand in a competitive field. Scott emphasizes that personal branding isn’t just a tool for brokers—it’s a universal strategy that can accelerate success across industries. He shares insights on building an impactful brand that aligns with your values and resonates with your audience.
Education is at the heart of Toast Finance. Scott is passionate about empowering clients to build financial confidence, offering clarity in what is often a confusing and overwhelming process. His client-focused approach transforms complex financial concepts into actionable insights, helping people navigate milestones like homeownership and investment with confidence.
About this episode
In this episode, I chat withScott Baker, Founder of Toast Financial.
After spending 20 years building a successful career in retail and e-commerce at The Cotton On Group, Scott found himself at a crossroads. He knew he wanted more. More purpose, more alignment with his passions, and more impact from the work he was doing. But he wasn’t sure what direction that should take.
So, what does it actually look like to reinvent your career after two decades in one industry? We unpack the steps Scott took to figure out his next move, from identifying his transferable skills to exploring what really lit him up, and how he made the leap.
We also talk about the emotional side of making a big change like this. What came up for him? What felt exciting, and what was downright scary?
Scott shares what it was like going from the structure of a big corporate role to starting his own business, and the key skills and mindset shifts that helped him navigate that transition. He also dives into how building a strong network and personal brand helped him open doors and gain traction.
If you’re sitting in a role that no longer feels quite right, and you’re wondering how to figure out what’s next, this episode is full of practical advice and inspiration to get you started.
Episode breakdown:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:27 Early Career and Retail Journey
04:27 Transition to a New Career
08:12 Starting a Business as a Mortgage Broker
17:51 Purpose and Impact
24:03 Challenges of Running a Business
25:21 Staying Disciplined While Working Alone
26:53 The Importance of Curiosity in Learning
29:27 Building Momentum in Business
32:25 Networking and Personal Branding
44:42 The Power of Vulnerability and Asking for Help
If you'd like to connect with Scott:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottybaker/
Website: https://www.toastfinance.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scott_thebroker_baker/
Can you also find episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaGrahamCareerCoach/videos
Your host, Emma Graham, Career Coach and ex-recruiter, is here to help you with:
💡 Gain clarity on what’s important to you
💡 Confidently communicate your value
💡 Build a personal brand and a strong network
💡 Take a strategic approach to your next move
💡 Navigate the job market effectively
💡 Build career confidence with a repeatable success blueprint
🌐 Explore my coaching programs and free resources:
Website: https://www.egconsulting.au/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/emmajgraham
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmagrahamcareercoach/
🎁 Free Resources:
📄 CV Development Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/cv-advice
📄 LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Guide: https://www.egconsulting.au/linkedin-profile-guide
📅 Book Your FREE Career Strategy Discovery Call:
https://calendly.com/emmagrahamconsulting/discovery-call
Guest: Scott Baker
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