I realized climbing the corporate ladder wasn't for me. A sabbatical gave me headspace to pivot, and I never went back.
A former PwC employee shares his experience of leaving a high-pressure corporate career to pursue entrepreneurship after a sabbatical. The story highlights the growing trend of professionals prioritizing personal fulfillment and creative autonomy over traditional career ladders.
Why it matters
This reflects broader shifts in workforce culture where employees are increasingly willing to trade corporate stability for entrepreneurial ventures.
Glenn Stephenson worked at PwC for seven years. Mariusz Smiejek for BI This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Glenn Stephenson, 32, who lives in Belfast, UK. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I joined PwC after graduating with a business degree in 2016, and I knew the hyper-competitive environment would push me. Seven years in, I wanted to push myself again, so I requested a sabbatical . My job had given me satisfaction and agency, but when I looked ahead, a structured career path in a corporate environment didn't really excite me. Becoming a partner seemed like a very all-consuming role. I felt drawn to building something completely new, but I didn't really have the headspace at PwC to think about what I wanted to do next in my career.
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