This isn’t just a story about quitting a job — it’s about rediscovering meaning after you’ve already “made it.” Zach Wilson, data engineer turned creator and founder, walked away from a high-paying career in big tech to build something of his own. What started as a leap toward freedom became a deeper journey into burnout, identity, and what success really means once you already have it. In this conversation, we unpack what it really takes to build a meaningful life after success — systems over ambition, investing and learning from a new form of education, integrity over hype, and the long game of finding purpose in your work. If you’ve ever wondered what comes after achievement, this episode will hit close to home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
1:03:07
--------
1:03:07
Unlearning Success: Rachel's Journey from Tech Layoffs to Food Media Founder
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
40:07
--------
40:07
In Conversation with Maddy Zhang: Breaking into Big Tech and Beyond — Google, Airbnb & More
In this episode of The Time I Left My 9 to 5, Maggie sits down in San Francisco with Maddy Zhang, a senior software engineer and content creator with over 100,000 followers online.Maddy opens up about her journey from studying computer science at MIT to landing roles at Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Airbnb. She shares how she navigated rejections, defined impact in her work, and built a creative outlet through social media.From the realities of Big Tech to handling online criticism and finding meaning beyond work, Maddy’s story is full of insight and inspiration for anyone pursuing a career in tech—or looking to express themselves outside of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
17:09
--------
17:09
Do Bold Sh*t: Robb Gilbear on Coaching, Identity & The Future Beyond 9 to 5
Robb Gilbear’s journey has been anything but linear, from dropping out of high school, building record labels, and DJing internationally to climbing the corporate HR ladder before founding Growth Habit, a coaching business built on boldness and authenticity.In this conversation, Robb shares why leaving the 9–5 was a “20 out of 10” decision, the hidden costs of job security, and why entrepreneurship is both the biggest challenge and greatest self-development journey. We dive into identity, ego death, money mindsets, and how to give yourself permission to create meaningful work in a changing world.If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to leave the corporate path and build your own, this episode is for you.📲 Stay Up to Date with the Show:Host Instagram: @maggieindataPodcast Instagram: @thetimeileftmy9to5.podcastPodcast Youtube: @thetimeileftmy9to5.podcast Chapters- 0:00 Intro- 2:40 Returning to Entrepreneurship: The Old Market is Gone- 6:06 The Trade of Entrepreneurship: Choosing Passion Over Stability- 12:54 Is Entrepreneurship Really for Everyone?- 15:46 Finding My Path Early: Dropping Out of High School- 17:30 Entrepreneurship in the Blood: Ice Cream Bikes, Hustles & Military Discipline- 19:21 Giving Myself Permission: Outsider Energy, DIY Flyers & Sharing a Bill with Daft Punk- 22:29 Parenting & Struggle: Redefining Success While Raising Kids in Debt- 25:49 The Corporate Pivot: From High School Dropout to HR- 32:27 Realizing Music Was Avoidance & Coaching Was the Path- 34:24 Going All-In on Growth Habit- 38:06 From Golden Handcuffs to First Clients: Advice for Sarah & Marcus- 47:33 Reframing Sales: Why Coaches Struggle to Sell & How to Shift- 52:45 The Common Denominator in Every Thriving Practice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
56:19
--------
56:19
From Wall Street 9-to-5 to Wellness Startup: Selina Li on Building Gymii
Selina Li grew up in Hong Kong playing competitive golf for 16 years, even representing the national team, before heading to Penn to study economics. That path led her into a quant role at JP Morgan — but the 9-to-5 left her searching for more. Selina left finance to pursue computer science at Cornell Tech, where she started building Gymii, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app inspired by her athletic background.*Use promo code "MAGGIE" to get 15% off Gymii!*In this episode, Selina shares her journey from sports to finance to startups, the identity shift she faced leaving golf, the reactions she encountered when walking away from a prestigious job, and how she grew Gymii from an idea rooted in a personal challenge into a fully launched app.📲 Stay Up to Date with the Show:Host Instagram: / @maggieindata Podcast Instagram: / thetimeileftmy9to5.podcast Podcast YouTube: / @thetimeileftmy9to5.podcast Chapters00:00 – Introduction01:51 – Selina Li’s Story in Brief02:51 – Starting Gymii: The First Steps05:27 – What is Gymii?06:30 – Leaving Competitive Golf After 16 Years08:43 – Life at JP Morgan: Lessons from the 9–513:30 – Quitting Finance: Reflections and Reactions18:23 – The Cornell Tech Experience23:40 – Finding the Right Co-Founder26:32 – Future Plans & Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In an era where the internet and creator economy are reshaping careers, a traditional 9 to 5 is no longer the only way to make a living. This podcast explores the stories of people who’ve chosen unconventional career paths—be it entrepreneurship, freelancing, or content creation. Join us as we invite guests from diverse backgrounds to share their journeys, insights, and advice on building fulfilling, nontraditional careers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brasil