Unexpectedly Flourishing: The Unforeseen Benefits of a Career Downshift with Sharon Fan | Ep9 Make It Work

Sharon Fan, a Canadian-Taiwanese, had lived and worked in Asia, North America, Europe before taking charge as the Managing Director of the Taiwan office of a fast growing regional health tech startup. Leading a growing team, she dedicated herself to 15-hour workdays until a significant change reshaped her priorities: motherhood.

Opting for a transformative career pivot, Sharon chose to return to her former company, embracing a downshift, including a 50% pay cut, to transition into an individual contributor role. How and why did she do it? And what are her thoughts on it, since making the shift 2 years ago?

In our eye-opening conversation today, Sharon also shares about:

🌟Her challenges as a first time mom (“the minutiae of it all”)

🌟Why she embraces the concept of a career downshift and her unique perspective on it

🌟How she balances traveling for work and leisure for up to 30% of a year with her spouse and toddler

🌟Interesting aspects of the work culture in Taiwan that affect family life



Connect with Sharon on:

👋LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonfan/

#MakeItWorkPodcast #WorkingMoms #CareerDownshift #Inspiration #FamilyFirst #



Chapters

00:00 Make It Work Introduction

00:11 Episode & Guest Introduction

02:01 Day In A Life

03:56 Why Motherhood Was So Tough For Me

06:49 Why Taking A 50% paycut Was Worth it

11:17 Why I Love The Term "Career downshift"

16:02 Work-life Integration In Taiwan

20:21 Working With My Spouse

25:53 Outro

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PS. We are always looking for great stories to be featured! 

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