Beyond the W2: Lessons from Life After the Corporate Grind

2025-06-02

We’re told to make it in systems that were never built for us. But what happens after the resignation, the burnout, the pivot, or the layoff? In this episode, we’re talking about what comes next, life beyond the 9–5. Whether you’re consulting, on sabbatical, freelancing, starting your own thing, or still figuring it out, this conversation holds space for the truth: leaving isn’t the end of the story, it's the beginning of a different way of working and living. We explore: The myths about success and safety we’re forced to unlearn after leaving institutional roles

We’re told to make it in systems that were never built for us. But what happens after the resignation, the burnout, the pivot, or the layoff?

In this episode, we’re talking about what comes next, life beyond the 9–5. Whether you’re consulting, on sabbatical, freelancing, starting your own thing, or still figuring it out, this conversation holds space for the truth: leaving isn’t the end of the story, it's the beginning of a different way of working and living.

We explore:

The myths about success and safety we’re forced to unlearn after leaving institutional roles
The difference between freedom and flailing, and how to build support structures that actually sustain us
The hidden truths about entrepreneurship, consulting, and life outside the W-2 that don’t make it to the highlight reel
What it means to not recreate the very grind we escaped

Key Takeaway:
Liberation is not a one-time act, it’s a lifelong practice.
Black leadership must be sustainable, whether you’re inside or outside the system.

RESOURCES

Are you a woman leader who is depleted, exhausted and looking for a way out? Check out Trenia's 5-part limited series podcast The Burnout Rescue Plan. Click here to listen.

Want to schedule a 1-1 consultation with David? Visit https://strivequity.com/

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