In this episode of Sabbatical Stories, Danielle Zellman shares the deeply personal journey behind her career break and sabbatical.
Danielle spent two decades operating at pace in startups and scaling organisations. But beneath the success was exhaustion and emotional avoidance. Her sabbatical wasn’t about a polished pivot, it was about surrender.
From New York City to Vermont, Turkey and Bolivia, Danielle used her career break to explore new environments, identities and ways of being. A pivotal retreat experience including an ayahuasca ceremony challenged her to confront what she had long avoided and to sit in the uncomfortable “messy middle” of personal growth.
In this conversation, we explore what happens when high performers step away from achievement and into self-discovery.
We dive into:
Why high achievers often avoid their emotions
Making the decision to take a career break without a fixed plan
The lessons learned from an ayahuasca experience in Bolivia
Redefining “home” during a sabbatical
Reconnecting with family during personal transition
Embracing the messy middle of career change
Community, connection and self-compassion
Surrendering control as a leadership practice
Other episodes you may enjoy:
Get in touch: If you are interested in sharing your sabbatical story, we would love to hear from you. Buzz us a DM on Instagram - @Sabbatical_Stories or reach out on LinkedIn - Bex Thomas.
Career transition, sabbatical and career break coaching:
As a career transition, sabbatical, and career break coach, I inspire, challenge, and support people like you to create a life that feels deeply aligned with your values, dreams, and authentic self.
Whether you’re craving a new direction, a chance to pause, or the courage to pursue what really matters, I’m here to guide you toward your own version of success on your terms.
Together, we’ll break free from societal blueprints, rewrite the rules, and design a future you’re excited to wake up to. Learn more here
💫 Ready to make the most of your time away from work? Download my free guide, "5 Ways to Maximise Your Career Break", packed with practical tips and soulful insights to help you pause with purpose and return with clarity.
Whether you're dreaming, planning, or already on sabbatical, this is your essential companion.
👉 Grab your free copy here
Guest bio: Danielle Zellman is a People Experience & Culture Leader turned fractional consultant, partnering with mission-driven companies to translate employee signals into durable strategy and measurable follow-through. As employee 20 at Cedar, she built the People Experience function from the ground up, helping scale the company to 450+ employees and $100M in revenue while sustaining engagement above 88% and eNPS above 50 through hypergrowth, restructuring, and acquisition.
Get in touch with Danielle directly on LinkedIn or using the links below:
Substack: https://zellyd44.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zellyd11/
With special thanks to:
Aunty B at The Flaxen, our amazing, talented and patient producer whose expertise helps make this podcast shine.
Nicky Sweetland, our brilliant creative force behind all things social media and visual, whose eye for detail and design brings the podcast to life beyond the mic.
Joanna Cooke, whose soulful blend of smooth vocals we are lucky enough to use throughout the show. Listen and connect with Joanna via your favourite medium:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7EyKy53TsVFLJFZFyYzBZQ?si=HaCSIRCETS2uYB3LBLcrWA
Website - https://joannacooke.co.uk
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/joannacooke
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joanna.cooke/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/joannacookemusic/
