This week, we are bringing you an installment of Protiviti’s Sabbatical Series, which highlights some of the useful and memorable ways colleagues have utilized their sabbatical benefit to deepen their learning and enhance their lives simultaneously.
In line with our People Promises, Protiviti offers the benefit of a sabbatical to our employees so that they may take time off to pursue their interests and passions. You may be thinking, what is a sabbatical? A sabbatical is a leave of absence available to employees to take time away from work for personal pursuits. Employees can take a sabbatical for 1-6 months and receive a monthly stipend. Whether someone dreams of international travel, pursuing further education, or simply taking time for personal reflection, our sabbatical program is intended to support our employees’ overall well-being and personal growth.
In this post, we are spotlighting Brooke Wildermuth, a Senior Manager in our Risk & Compliance solution out of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Protiviti: What inspired you to take a sabbatical? Were there specific goals or aspirations you hoped to achieve during your time away?
Brooke: I took a sabbatical to train for the 2024 Olympic Trials for the marathon and coach cross country at my own High School. One could qualify for the trials at any marathon until December 2023, so I decided to race at the Chicago Marathon in October 2023. The trials were then hosted in Orlando, FL, in February 2024. To qualify for the trails, females needed to run a 2:37 marathon. There were 213 women who qualified, and the top three will represent USA at the Paris Olympics. Unfortunately, I did not make it to the trials – I ran a 2:44 in Chicago, hitting a wall at mile 18.
For the 2020 trials, the time was 2:45, and 400 women qualified that year, so they dropped the cutoff by 8 minutes. I knew it was a stretch goal, and for me to train during my peak weeks (90-100 miles), I would have to focus on sleep, nutrition, and running both in the AM & PM some days. Thus, I decided to take advantage of our sabbatical benefit to attempt to achieve this personal goal.
Protiviti: In what ways did you personally grow during your sabbatical?
Brooke: I had been in consulting for almost eight years at the time. For the first five years, I was traveling four days a week consistently, so taking the sabbatical was a great reset for me to take care of myself, practice a healthy diet, take time with my dog, and enjoy the simple things in life, that really matter to me.
Protiviti: How did the sabbatical impact your professional mindset and approach?
Brooke: When I came back, I didn’t feel burnt out. Instead, I felt motivated to start new projects. When I find myself getting stressed, I am now very mindful of intentionally finding a better work/life balance, which I didn’t necessarily do before.
Protiviti: What’s a specific memorable or transformative moment from your journey?
Brooke: Race day! My husband’s family and my family came to watch in Chicago. At a certain point during the race, I knew I wasn’t going to sustain the pace, but it made me look back at the progress I had made and how I had the chance to be a role model for some of those girls at my high school who have their whole careers ahead of them. I got very emotional crossing the finish line and am so grateful for the experience.
Protiviti: Were there any challenges that turned into valuable learning experiences?
Brooke: It was daunting to step away from a regular paycheck. If you can plan it out financially, it’s not as stressful as you’d think, and you can make it up relatively quickly.
Protiviti: Did you establish any meaningful connections or friendships as part of your journey?
Brooke: Many of my running teammates told me our company was awesome for allowing me to take a sabbatical. It’s a great perk that not everyone has access to, so I’m grateful for that.
Protiviti: What advice would you give to colleagues considering a sabbatical? Are there any specific preparations or mindset shifts that proved crucial for a successful experience?
Brooke: People are concerned about the impact it can have on their careers. I had put 100% into work, chasing promotion after promotion – which isn’t a bad thing, but I was in turn neglecting some personal goals. I think people get so focused on career advancement, and if that is your primary focus, it’s nearly inevitable that you will reach your burnout. My advice is to take time out for yourself. Whether it’s to slow down or speed up, don’t be afraid to take it and reap the positive benefits that come from it.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Brooke! To learn more about Protiviti’s incredible benefits, like this one, visit our website and find your next adventure with us.
You can read our previous Sabbatical Series installment here!
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