An accounting manager struggled with work-life balance at PwC, Walmart, and Google. Leaving the Bay Area is what finally changed the tide.

Tech Insider
Mike Manalac standing outdoors holding his son with his wife under a tree with pink flowers.
Mike Manalac says he struggled to prioritize his career without sacrificing family life.

Courtesy of Mike Manalac

I became the breadwinner when my family moved to France. I feel like I've done my husband the biggest favor ever.

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headshot of a woman in a white outfit with a yellow background
Karen Kissane is a business coach living just outside of Cognac, France.

Courtesy of Karen Kissane

I landed an easy job at Amazon after years of hard work. I felt deeply guilty until I realized it could be a strategic move.

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Photo collage featuring author Kristi Coulter, Amazon logo arrows, and a person relaxing at a desk
Years into her Amazon career, Kristi Coulter found herself coasting in an easy role that played to her strengths.

Photo courtesy of Kristi Coulter; Getty Images; Alyssa Powell/BI

I started my higher education at a community college and now have a six-figure job at a tech company. You don't need to have it all figured out in the beginning.

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Jen Lew standing outside an office building dressed in professional attire.
Jen Lew took the first job that would hire her after college and learned by doing.

Courtesy of Jen Lew

I left London for a little town in Latvia. It lacks certain luxuries, but it's a safer, easier place to raise a kid.

Tech Insider
a man sits on a rock in a body of water
Vitor Urbano loves life in Latvia.

Courtesy of Vitor Urbano

I quit Amazon after being assigned 21 direct reports and burning out. I worry about the decision to flatten its hierarchy.

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Yvonne Lee-Hawkins smiling into camera
Yvonne Lee-Hawkins says she felt disappointed she couldn't give her direct reports more individual support.

Yvonne Lee-Hawkins

I'm on track to retire at 45. I started my career earning only $26,000 and followed this 4-phase plan.

Tech Insider
headshot of a woman with a blurred tree-filled background
Annie Cole invests around $45,000 every year.

Courtesy of Annie Cole

I'm the Kardashians' private chef of nearly a decade. I like to stay out of the spotlight.

Tech Insider
headshot of a tattooed woman in a black outfit
Khristianne Uy, also known as Chef K.

Courtesy of Khristianne Uy

I supercommute over 7 hours to get to work. I won't move out of NYC and the journey is productive and relaxing.

Tech Insider : Travel
a man in a blue shirt sits on a ledge at a park
Jeff Strabone is a professor at Connecticut College.

Courtesy of Jeff Strabone

My coworkers helped me get through my divorce. As a gay man, I was shocked that straight divorced men were my biggest allies.

Tech Insider
Photo collage of a colleague placing a supportive hand on another's shoulder, alongside an image of a man removing a wedding ring, with colorful dots surrounding both images
The author and his coworkers formed an unofficial club to help each other navigate their divorces.

Getty images; Alyssa Powell/BI

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