At Protiviti, we believe meaningful growth happens not only through our work, but through the experiences that shape us along the way. Our Sabbatical Program gives employees the opportunity to step away from their day‑to‑day roles and invest time in personal passions, learning, reflection, and renewal.
This article marks Part 1 of our 2026 Sabbatical Series, a three‑part spotlight on colleagues who used their sabbatical to pursue meaningful experiences and return with fresh perspective. Through their stories, we’re excited to share how time away can spark growth, deepen purpose, and influence how we show up—both at work and beyond.
In this post, we are spotlighting Autumn Beck, a Senior Manager in our Business Performance Improvement capability, located in our Chicago, IL office.
Autumn Beck’s sabbatical allowed her to fully disconnect along the 500mile Camino de Santiago walking trail. The experience helped her rediscover balance, recognize the importance of prioritizing loved ones, and reshape her boundaries around work and wellbeing. She returned with a renewed perspective—carrying forward healthier habits and is encouraging her team to do the same.
Protiviti: What made you feel it was the right time to take a Sabbatical?
Autumn: In all honestly, I was starting to feel some burnout. When I started at Protiviti, I always knew it was a benefit we had and something I wanted to take advantage of one day. I was on a long-term engagement that was difficult to find a stopping point and step away, but I knew it was something I needed to do for myself to recharge. I put in the request around nine months in advance and it got approved within a week.
Protiviti: What a quick turnaround time! What did you do on your Sabbatical? Did you have specific goals you wanted to achieve during your time away?
Autumn: I wanted to use my time to completely unplug and reconnect with everything around me. I spent a couple of days in Paris, France, and then made my way to the French Countryside to begin a walking trail in Spain called the Camino de Santiago with a friend. I heard about this trail in college and thought it was something I was going to have to do after I retire, but at the beginning of my Protiviti career, learning about the Sabbatical, I knew this was what I was going to do. It was always a plan of mine.
After walking the Camino de Santiago, my husband met me in Lisbon, Portugal for a two-week vacation. We also visited Sevilla and Barcelona in Spain.
Protiviti: I’ve recently learned about this trail and that there are many different paths you can take. Which route did you follow?
Autumn: I did the French route, starting in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port – It was 500 miles carrying around a 17lb backpack! My average step count was 45,000 steps a day which was about 18 miles a day. We finished in 32 days.
Protiviti: Wow! Did you train ahead of time?
Autumn: I’m pretty active and before I left, had been training for a half marathon. Granted that’s far less than what I was walking every day, but no I didn’t really train for it.
Protiviti: What was the highlight of your experience?
Autumn: Having no responsibilities, no stressors and a clear mind was the highlight of this experience. My only responsibility was to move forward. All I needed to do was walk – If I wanted to. There were no external demands or pressures, other than to go outside and take a leisurely 7 hour walk. There is so much more to life than the day to day stressors that feel so loud. I got to take a beat and enjoy all that was around me.
Protiviti: What did you learn about yourself and from this experience?
Autumn: I knew that I was going to have a really cool experience, but I didn’t expect it to be so profound. We take things so seriously which puts unnecessary stress on ourselves. Mistakes happen, but things always work out. Work will always be there. Not everything is a fire drill and it’s ok to take a moment instead of operating in “go, go, go” all the time. This sabbatical truly was a time for me to pause and reflect on my priorities.
Protiviti: Have you made any changes in your work style or priorities based on your experience?
Autumn: I do my best to build scheduled breaks into my day now. I encourage my team to do the same. You’re allowed to step away and take a 30-minute lunch, go on a walk, or have uninterrupted break time.
Protiviti: What advice would you give to colleagues considering taking a sabbatical?
Autumn: If you decide to take a sabbatical, you need to go all in. Whether you plan a big trip or decide to stay at home. Do it and be present with whatever you do. Separate yourself from your work. Your team, advisors and mentors have your back and will support your work while you’re away. The work will be there whether you are there or not. Take the time to unplug and fully recharge.
Protiviti’s unique sabbatical benefit can fuel personal growth and professional revitalization. We encourage all Protiviti team members to consider this opportunity not just as time off, but as a chance to enhance their life story and return as more complete individuals, ready for future challenges.
