Summer Series #1 - Brittany Took a Sabbatical...Then Changed Her Entire Life

<p>Welcome to the very first episode of our new <strong>Taking A Career Break Summer Series!</strong></p><p>Throughout this special series, Katrina sits down with former coaching clients who have taken courageous career breaks and sabbaticals to hear what really happened after they stepped away from work.</p><p>Our first guest is <strong>Brittany Coleman</strong>, whose story is one of the most remarkable transformations we've ever shared.</p><p>When Brittany began her sabbatical, she was exhausted after years of nonstop work in the nonprofit sector. Burnout had taken over, and she struggled with the idea of stepping away from a leadership role she believed couldn't function without her.</p><p>But what began as a planned sabbatical quickly became something much bigger.</p><p>Just weeks into her break, Brittany faced an unexpected divorce. Instead of returning to work as a distraction, she used her career break to reconnect with herself, discover new passions, build healthier boundaries, and completely redefine what success looked like.</p><p>Today, Brittany runs her own consulting business, teaches pottery, works part-time in education, and has built a career around work she genuinely enjoys.</p><p>Please follow Brittany's journey here: <a href="http://www.kelseystreet.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">www.kelseystreet.com</a></p><p>Want to start your journey? Book a free consult with Katrina here - <a href="https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/freeconsult" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kmcgheecoaching.as.me/freeconsult⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>🎙️ <strong>Enjoying the podcast?</strong></p><p>⭐ Follow or subscribe on your favourite podcast app so you never miss an episode!</p><p>💬 If the show has helped or inspired you, leaving a quick <strong>5-star review</strong> genuinely makes a huge difference and helps more people discover the podcast.</p><p>📲 And if you know someone feeling burned out, stuck in their career, or dreaming about taking a career break, share this episode with them — it might be exactly what they need to hear.</p><p>❤️ Your support helps us continue creating honest conversations, practical advice, and inspiring stories for people ready to make a change.</p><p>▶️ Watching on YouTube? Don’t forget to <strong>like, subscribe, and turn on notifications</strong> so you never miss future episodes and career break conversations - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TakingaCareerBreakwithKatrina" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TakingaCareerBreakwithKatrina⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p>00:00 – Brittany reflects on the burnout that led her to consider a sabbatical<br />00:47 – Welcome to the first episode of the Summer Series<br />02:07 – Meet Brittany Coleman and her career break journey<br />03:10 – Life before her sabbatical: burnout, nonprofit leadership and exhaustion<br />07:43 – The fears of stepping away from work<br />10:18 – Creating a purpose for the sabbatical: putting herself at the centre of her life<br />11:10 – Learning how to truly disconnect from work<br />12:50 – The biggest highs and unexpected challenges of her sabbatical<br />17:16 – Discovering pottery and finding a new creative outlet<br />19:57 – Returning to work with healthier boundaries<br />27:07 – Why Brittany decided to take a full career break<br />34:57 – Turning pottery into a business<br />40:10 – Building a consulting business through small experiments<br />45:53 – Designing a career around work she genuinely enjoys<br />48:19 – How coaching shaped both her sabbatical and career break<br />50:36 – Looking back at her career break intentions<br />53:53 – Brittany's advice for anyone thinking about taking a career break<br />56:40 – Final reflections and where to connect with Brittany</p><p>Ready to stop "running on empty" and start running toward a life you actually love?</p><p>🫶🏼Join the BreakSpace community - <a hre