Mini Retirement in Midlife: How Taking a Career Pause Led to a Powerful New Beginning with Patricia Sasser | #257

Mini Retirement in Midlife: How Taking a Career Pause Led to a Powerful New Beginning with Patricia Sasser | #257

From Second Act Success: Business Tips & Career Change Advice for Women by Shannon Russell | Business Coach for Women and Author of Start Your Second Act

May 25, 2026 · 29 min · Season 1 · Episode 257

About this episode

In this episode, Shannon Russell interviews Patricia Sasser about her experience taking a mid-career sabbatical after personal loss and how it led to a new beginning.

👉 Start Your Second Act Strategy Call with Shannon here. What happens when life forces you to slow down? In this powerful episode of the Second Act Success Podcast, Shannon Russell sits down with Patricia Sasser, independent school leader and incoming Head of School, to talk about taking a mid-career sabbatical, also known as a “mini retirement,” after experiencing profound personal loss. After years of serving students, families, and school communities while navigating grief and burn...

People in this episode

Host: Shannon Russell

Guest: Patricia Sasser

Topics covered

  • mid-career sabbatical
  • personal loss
  • career pause
  • new beginnings
  • education leadership

Keywords

  • mini retirement
  • career change
  • sabbatical
  • grief
  • education

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Second Act Success Podcast

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