Summers Series #6 - Kisha Left Without a Plan: The Career Break That Opened Unexpected Doors

<p><strong>Summer Series #6 - Kisha Left Without a Plan: The Career Break That Opened Unexpected Doors</strong></p><p>Kisha Ward loved her corporate career—until burnout caught up with her. After years of leading major projects, ERP implementations, mergers, and international supply chain work, she made the courageous decision to negotiate an exit without having another job lined up.</p><p>In this episode of Taking a Career Break with Katrina McGhee, Kisha shares the fears that came with stepping away from a successful career, including losing her identity, disappointing others, and facing the uncertainty of what would come next.</p><p>What started as a much-needed break became a complete reimagining of work and life. Kisha talks about learning to rest, letting go of constant productivity, rebuilding her relationship with money, and reconnecting with family, friends, health, and creativity.</p><p>She also opens up about her writing journey—from struggling to start, to developing a consistent writing practice, to pursuing publication in the fast-growing romantasy genre. Along the way, an unexpected consulting opportunity found her, eventually allowing her to create a flexible lifestyle that combines high-level consulting with extended breaks dedicated to writing.</p><p>This conversation is a powerful reminder that a career break is not always a step backwards. Sometimes it is the pause that creates space for a more aligned, creative, and fulfilling future.</p><p>Follow Kisha&#39;s journey</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/my_umisays"><u>https://www.instagram.com/my_umisays</u></a></p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/daradenningbooks"><u>https://www.instagram.com/daradenningbooks</u></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">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TakingaCareerBreakwithKatrina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><p>00:00 Burnout ended a job Kisha once loved</p><p>03:55 Leaving a successful corporate career without a plan</p><p>07:03 Fear, identity, and starting a career break</p><p>11:18 The goals for the break: writing, health, rest, and relationships</p><p>13:24 Learning to stop being productive all the time</p><p>18:20 Changing her relationship with money</p><p>21:40 Finding a writing flow and rediscovering creativity</p><p>23:42 The consulting opportunity that unexpectedly found her</p><p>26:43 Tripling her income after taking a break</p><p>30:22 Pursuing writing seriously and entering the romantasy market</p><p>36:56 Building confidence in uncertainty and creating a new way of working</p><p>43:24 What her life and writing routine look like today</p><p>48:34 The precap letter and seeing her future become reality</p><p>51:48 Returning to the dream she had as a child</p><p>Ready to stop &quot;running on empty&quot; and start running toward a life you actually love?</p><p>🫶🏼Join the BreakSpace community - <a href="www.gobreakspace.com">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.gobreakspace.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>🎁Order Katrina&#39;s book (w/ special bonus!) - <a href="https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/book">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/book⁠⁠