Executive Careers with Fexingo · 2026-07-10 · 9 min
Episode 105 explores a taboo but powerful career tool for senior executives: the strategic sabbatical. Lucas and Luna examine how deliberate career breaks can accelerate leadership growth, using the example of former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi's announced transition period in 2018 and how she framed her board service as a sabbatical-like learning phase. They discuss the difference between a burnout break and a planned growth sabbatical, the optimal duration (3-6 months), and concrete steps to pitch a sabbatical to your board without signaling weakness. Specific data point: research from Harvard Business Review shows executives who take 4+ month sabbaticals report 83% higher leadership effectiveness scores upon return. The episode includes practical advice on structuring sabbatical goals around three pillars: intellectual reset, network deepening, and personal recalibration.
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