Charissa Cheong
Coverage of Charissa Cheong in the Nexus archive.
- I realized climbing the corporate ladder wasn't for me. A sabbatical gave me headspace to pivot, and I never went back.
Glenn Stephenson worked at PwC for seven years before requesting a sabbatical to figure out his career path. During this break, he and a friend built an app and embarked on travels through South America. Feeling that entrepreneurship was a bigger risk than remaining in the corporate world, Stephenson eventually resigned from PwC to pursue their business full-time.
- I took a 7-year career break to care for my parents. I lost my professional identity — then found a new one.
Natasya Pawanteh took a 7½-year career break to care for her elderly parents after leaving her job as a geologist at Shell in 2018. The extended break led to a career pivot, and she now views caregiving as her 'greatest achievement.' The article is part of a Business Insider series exploring career breaks and professional reinvention.