Woman, 25, says she ’emptied my bank account’ and left cushy marketing job to follow her dream

Kelsie Grace was climbing the corporate ladder when she decided to take the plunge and spend all her savings to open a bar.

The 25-year-old had been working in marketing for five years and had even moved to Melbourne to further her career, but after returning from vacation she realized she needed a change.

“I think for anyone who works in business, there’s always that one thing you’d rather be doing,” she told news.com.au.

For Ms. Grace, it was about opening a wine bar in a community-minded location that could be a place where people can come together and connect.

“I never thought this would become a reality because of the cost and time,” she said.

The 25-year-old said her partner encouraged her to take risks and made her understand that “life is short” and that she should follow her dreams.

Ms Grace said it was difficult to challenge his logic because she felt so “exhausted” and needed to find something that excited her.

“Having my partner support me one hundred percent made me feel like ‘this is possible,'” she said.

She said the reaction from family and friends has been “mixed”.

“Your friends and family need to accept that you are taking a huge risk,” she said.

Ms Grace said it has been particularly difficult because she is “a people pleaser” and “not everyone has been delighted”.

It’s also a big financial commitment. Ms Grace said the amount spent to open a bar depends on variables, but there are no cheap options.

“It’s not cheap, but it’s hard to put a dollar amount on it because there are so many variables.”

Ms. Grace shared on TikTok that she originally thought she didn’t have “enough money” to open a bar.

“How the hell do I do this?” I talked to a lot of people and the answer was simple: I don’t need to own 100% of the company,” she said.

Ms Grace said she managed to open her bar without any loans, but liquidated all her investments and found investors.

“I sold all my stocks that I had invested in. I had to launch myself to attract investors,” she said.

“My partner Taylor is an investor; we are majority shareholders and I have presented my ideas to friends and strangers.

“I emptied and sold every stock I owned and emptied my bank account.”

This is a big risk, especially since Ms. Grace left her stable job.

“Some people think you’re crazy,” she says.

“I was really afraid of leaving my corporate job, but I have never felt as free and excited as I do today.”

The 25-year-old said it was a difficult decision as she was on a “good wicket” and in line for promotion.

“I was on my way to becoming a senior leader just as I was leaving,” she said.

She thought she would feel “anxious” and “stressed,” but mostly she feels relieved and excited for the future.

Gracie’s Wine Room will open in January in Melbourne’s South Yarra, and she’s excited.

“If it doesn’t work out, I can go back to corporate,” she said.

But she is optimistic because she is passionate and believes there is a gap in the market.

Ms Grace said while there are plenty of trendy wine bars in Melbourne, there aren’t as many in South Yarra.

“We can’t always (take) $50 Ubers to Fitzroy,” she stressed.

“I think my dream is to create a space where my friends and I want to go too, that feels communal and feels like everyone is friends.”