Tech Exec Takes 8-Month Break, Surprisingly Survives Blank Calendar Shock
KEY POINTS
- •Adam Stewart worked nearly 20 years in tech, including 10 years at Google managing education and public sector teams.
- •In January 2024, he left Google for an 8-month career break, during which he balanced family, travel, and budgeting.
- •After networking and staying current, Adam took a senior director role at Visa supporting UK and Ireland government solutions.
Adam Stewart, 43-year-old UK tech veteran, paused his nearly 20-year career—10 of which were spent bossing schools at Google—starting January 2024. After 8 grueling months without a corporate calendar dictating his every waking second, Adam figured out fitness, family, and even some DIY home projects were good distractions from existential dread. Founding a Google Doc goal system to avoid turning lazy was his wingman. He took a post at Visa as a senior director in UK/Ireland government solutions after recruiters finally realized 'career break' wasn’t code for 'permanently unemployed.' His grand adventure included road-tripping Spain with his daughter—apparently the real career break is driving, not just napping.
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(1 of 3)Left Google, blank calendar panicked Adam. Turns out adulting means scheduling family homework help and Spanish road trips. Who knew?
Taking an eight-month vacation from tech is the adult version of 'I don't like this game anymore,' but with more spreadsheets.
Stewart’s career break shows you can swap 'sync meetings' for 'sync family homework' and somehow still stay employed.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 7/22/2026 | Author: Charissa Cheong
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