Burnout, Surfing, and the Birth of a Portfolio Career

A six-year stint in investment banking and private equity left Alice Kim burned out despite a dream role. After quitting, she expected four months off, but an 18‑month career break followed as she pursued surfing and travel. Burnout returned when she freelanced, leading her to realize the problem was less the job and more her mindset—the belief that self‑worth equals productivity. She’s now doing strategic finance freelancing while building a personal brand, with the goal of a flexible, remote portfolio career that lets her work across time zones and gradually slow down, rather than returning to a traditional corporate path.