Twenty years straight in tech, the last ten at Google, and then a deliberate pause. A 43-year-old UK-based executive left Google in January 2024 with a plan to take anywhere from six months to two years off, and was back at work in a senior director role eight months later.
According to Business Insider, the playbook was simple. Set goals, protect finances, stay in touch with the industry, and let the next opportunity come through the network you already built.
- Career length: 20 years in tech, 10 at Google.
- Last role: Head of Public Sector for Google Cloud, UK and Ireland.
- Break length: 8 months, January to August 2024.
- New role: Senior director, UK and Ireland government solutions, at Visa.
- Outcome: The break felt like a reset, not a derailment.
How the Break Was Structured
The first few weeks were the hardest. The calendar went blank, the structure disappeared, and the day had to be built from scratch. The executive's response was to write down goals in a Google Doc, check them most days, and update progress. Fitness, family, travel, home improvements, volunteering. The Doc was the operating system of the break.
The second decision was financial. The executive set aside enough to cover the period without a reliable income, and tightened the budget to give the break room to breathe. That is the unglamorous part of every career break story, and the part most people under-plan.
How the Return Happened
The executive did not job-hunt in the traditional sense. He stayed current on the technology and public sector industries, kept up with former colleagues, read books, and listened to podcasts. People he had worked with reached out, including someone at Visa, which led to a multi-round interview process and a senior director offer.
The interview experience was telling. The career break was not a major focus. The framing was that senior candidates have gaps for all kinds of reasons, and the conversation stayed on skills and fit.
Our Analysis
The most underappreciated part of this story is the financial setup. The executive had a clear runway, a clear end-state, and a clear "I will not be caught short" rule. That is what made the rest of the break possible. Without the financial structure, the break turns into a slow job search, which is the worst version of a sabbatical.
The second insight is that the network does the work. The Visa role came through a former colleague who reached out after the executive left Google. That is not a coincidence. People who have operated at a high level stay connected, and the act of taking a break does not sever the connection. It sometimes strengthens it, because the executive's perspective becomes more valuable when they are not a competitor for headcount.
What It Means for You
Say you are a senior leader, eight to 15 years into a role, considering a planned break. The cheapest move is to spend a weekend doing three things. One, calculate the actual runway you can afford, with a buffer. Two, write down the three outcomes you want from the break, beyond rest. Three, make a list of the ten people you most want to stay close to during the break, and tell them you are taking it. The third step is the one that produces the next role.
Bottom Line
A career break is not a gap on a resume. It is a deliberate investment in clarity, network, and energy. The ones that work look like this one. Plan the money, set the goals, and let the network carry the return.
Key takeaways
- Set a clear financial runway before the break starts.
- Write the goals down and check them most days.
- Stay current on the industry and let the network do the work.
- Frame the break as a reset, not as a gap, when re-entering the job market.
Frequently asked questions
How long was the career break?
Eight months, from January to August 2024.
What was the new role after the break?
Senior director for UK and Ireland government solutions at Visa.
How was the return triggered?
Through a former colleague at Visa who reached out, leading to a multi-round interview process.
What was the hardest part of the break?
The first few weeks, when the calendar went blank and structure had to be rebuilt deliberately.
Does a career break hurt senior-level hiring prospects?
In this case, no. The executive reported the break was not a major focus in interviews, and that senior candidates have gaps for all kinds of reasons.