Ellen Chen's story of navigating a career change after her father's passing is one of introspection and reinvention. Balancing personal grief and professional demands, Ellen chose to resign from her demanding HR role. This pivotal decision allowed her to prioritize family and launch her own consulting firm.

Key Questions Answered

1. What prompted Ellen Chen to share her personal story at this moment?

2. What was the health condition of Ellen’s father, and what happened to him?

3. How did Ellen Chen manage both her high-demand job and her responsibilities towards her family?

4. What led Ellen Chen to contemplate and eventually decide to quit her job?

5. What structured plan did Ellen follow post-resignation?

6. How did Ellen reconnect with her family and friends during her break?

7. How does Ellen address imposter syndrome in her career and advice for others?

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Immigrant, moved to Texas, studied programming, COBOL.

03:56 Imposter syndrome is natural and encourages growth.

06:53 Men apply when underqualified; women fear inadequacy.

12:10 Moved parents to Houston; Dad's passing affected me.

16:02 Quit job in 2024 with husband's support.

19:58 Reconnecting with family, staying busy, building bridges.

23:20 Personal reflection during three-month silent retreat.

25:03 Started networking and exploring job opportunities again.

29:53 Consulting leverages experience, fixes culture, saves jobs.

32:07 Pausing to discuss feelings about career change.