In this episode of Sabbatical Stories, Bex speaks with Namrata, founder of Sing & Tea, about navigating personal transitions, cultural expectations and the power of a career break to redefine success on your own terms.
Namrata and her husband chose not to over-optimise her sabbatical. Instead, they embraced what she calls thematic living, allowing a guiding focus, such as health or exploration, to shape their decisions rather than rigid goals.
Namrata shares openly about cultural norms and expectations and how carving her own path alongside her husband was not the most common or encouraged route within their cultural context. Taking a career break, stepping away from conventional timelines and choosing exploration over certainty required courage. It meant redefining stability, success and identity outside traditional expectations.
We dive into:
Why you shouldn’t over-optimise your sabbatical
The power of living thematically during a career break
Cultural expectations around stability, marriage and career
Carving your own path when it’s not the cultural norm
How time away creates clarity for your career and life in general
Openness, identity and redefining success
How their break led to launching Sing & Tea, a soft rebellion against small talk
Timestamps
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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: Namrata is a Lead Product Manager with over 11 years of experience building and scaling subscription, payments and monetisation platforms across both consumer and B2B products. During her sabbatical, Namrata channelled her product expertise into entrepreneurship, founding Sing & Tea, a pop-up series that brings 6 strangers together in cozy corners of Bengaluru for unfiltered heart-to-heart conversations over Chia.
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/
