Career advice - How do people in corporate world manage work life balance and their profile after a career break?

Mastering Work-Life Balance at the Top: Lessons from a Senior VP's Career Breaks

In the high-stakes world of corporate IT leadership, directors, VPs, and senior VPs often face relentless demands. You're near the top of the organizational pyramid, with a small peer group but vast reporting lines—typically 150-250 people under you. Add dozens of systems, platforms, and technologies to own, plus global stakeholders across time zones, and the role demands 10-14 hour days, frequent travel, and constant crisis management. System outages? You're on it. Roadmaps and upgrades? Leading them. This intensity fuels top performers, but burnout lurks—making work-life balance a deliberate strategy.



Consider Raj, a leader I mentored for years. His LinkedIn profile recently caught my eye: as Senior VP and Delivery Head for Banking & Financial Services at a major firm (a role he started in April), he's aggressively hiring for multiple positions, building something big. What stands out? Before this, he took a two-year career break to pursue personal goals and recharge. Prior to that, at Wipro (another multinational), he served as VP of Online Services for a year and four months—then another seven-month hiatus for personal pursuits. After two years at Wipro earlier, he paused again. This high-achiever thrives in intensity but strategically steps away to sustain his edge, then returns stronger.

Raj's path offers four timeless lessons for tech leaders navigating gaps and balance:

  • Embrace intensity, then recharge unapologetically. Deliver 110% on key projects—burn the midnight oil if needed—but plan breaks afterward. Raj completes initiatives fully before pausing, proving commitment without shame.

  • Own your story upfront. When re-entering the job market, be transparent about the gap. Was it a layoff, family time, reskilling, or recharge? Craft a compelling narrative for recruiters and headhunters—authenticity builds trust.

  • Build an ironclad personal brand and network. At this level, your reputation precedes you. Cultivate vouching relationships—peers, mentors, stakeholders—who say, "I know Raj; even post-break, he's a deliverer." Credentials and connections make gaps irrelevant.

  • Stop comparing—chart your marathon. Careers are long journeys, not sprints. Like a traveler stepping off a train at a station to refresh, you might arrive at a different (better) destination than peers. Focus on your path to stay energized and "in the game."

For a deeper dive, check my related talk on career breaks as strategic pit stops

Prioritizing balance while excelling isn't weakness—it's mastery. Give your all when engaged, explain breaks confidently, leverage your network, and run your race. You'll thrive.

Also check out viewpoint - 

Work Life tips - How do you restart your career in corporate world after a gap?




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