I'm quitting my job at a big tech company to travel. Hustle culture is overrated — I'm taking a year off.

Fri, 08/23/2024 - 11:19

An image of a businesswoman stressed and tired at work. — A project manager at a big tech firm is putting her burgeoning career on hold to focus on her mental health.
hxyume/Getty Images

Nadia Said is a 25-year-old IT project manager at a Fortune 100 tech company.
She grew up believing a job provides financial security but is risking it to take an adult gap year.
Said saved $15,000 for the year and plans to travel in Asia, where her money will go the furthest.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation and emails with Nadia Said, a 25-year-old IT project manager at a major tech company where she started working full-time in 2020.