Katrina McGhee is a Career Break and Sabbatical Expert, creator of the Break Blueprint, BreakSpace and the author of Taking a Career Break for Dummies. As a certified master coach with an MBA, Katrina helps mid-career professionals create happier, more fulfilling lives by designing bold and transformational breaks. Her clients return from their breaks recharged, inspired, happily-employed and forever changed. On their time off, her 60+ clients have traveled the world, launched a business, changed careers and more.
Katrina's work was inspired by her own 20-month career break where she saved $40,000 in just 18 months to quit her corporate job to travel the world. She's now an enthusiastic world traveler and digital nomad. Her advice on career breaks, money, and travel has been shared across various outlets including Forbes, Smarter Travel, Thrive Global, and Yahoo.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
(01:54) Katrina shares her background and the motivations behind her career break, including her corporate burnout and desire for a more fulfilling life.
(02:03) Discussion on the concept of taking a "break" and its significance.
(02:39) The societal expectations that influenced Katrina's early career decisions and the realization that led to her career break.
(05:15) The transformative potential of taking breaks from routine life and career paths.
(06:04) Katrina talks about her "one day" list of dreams and how a career break allowed her to start checking off that list.
(07:46) What "fulfillment" means and how it relates to career and personal growth.
(10:28) Katrina reflects on her lengthy deliberation before finally deciding to take a career break.
(13:43) The fears associated with taking a career break, like losing career trajectory and financial stability.
(16:34) Katrina outlines how she planned her break financially and logistically, emphasizing the importance of having a plan to make such a break successful.
(18:30) The impact of a career break on one's professional life upon returning.
(20:21) Katrina discusses the importance of having a clear purpose for the break to ensure it is transformative and not just a pause.
(23:46) The practical steps and mindset changes necessary to prepare for and benefit from a career break.
(27:19) Katrina advocates that everyone deserves a break to reassess and realign with their true desires and capabilities, independent of their career stage.
(30:36) The societal perceptions of career breaks and the personal fear of judgment or failure associated with them.
(35:10) The broader societal and psychological implications of taking a break and how it challenges conventional career narratives.
(37:15) The importance of defining success personally and not by societal standards, and how breaks can help achieve that clarity.
(40:17) Personal growth through career breaks and the non-linear benefits they can bring, such as unexpected opportunities and enhanced self-awareness.
(48:54) Katrina shares why she believes career breaks are essential and how she supports people through their own break journeys.
(53:06) Rapid-fire questions about influences, readings, and where to find more about Katrina's work.
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BOOKS AND RESOURCES
- Unraveling Your Relationship With Money - a book Katrina mentioned
- Learn more about Katrina's BreakSpace community
- Read Katrina's book Taking A Career Break For Dummies
- Connect with Katrina on LinkedIn, her website,
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