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6 B C B U S I N E S S . C A J U LY/A U G U S T 2 0 2 5 DESK DITOR'S e P o r t r ai t : E v a a n K h e r aj ; o u t f i t p r o v i d e d b y M i n e a n d Yo u r s lu x u r y c o n s i g n m e n t RETHINKING WORK Have you ever felt like taking a step back from your job or career to just... take a time out? If so, you're not alone. Scores of Canadians are choosing to take an intentional break from the workforce to reset, reprioritize and re-evaluate. There's even a buzzy new term for it: micro retirement. Far from a fleeting fad, it's a movement growing in popularity among people who are taking their career trajectories into their own hands and redefining the (now very outdated) notion that you should stick with one company or one path in your career, even if you're feeling unsatisfied, unfulfilled and, frankly, "stuck." On page 48, writer Sara Harowitz dives into why the trend is catching on with workers in B.C., and the surprising benefits people are finding after trading their alarm clocks for catching up on passion projects and recalibration. The story subject, a rock star HR pro who worked with teams across the country, swapped her nine-to-five for travel, spending more quality time with family and creating the mental space to contemplate her next move. The result: a recharge that ended with starting a new venture in which she is in the driver's seat, rather than continuing on as part of a corporate culture she no longer aligned with. Full disclosure: Not only am I a believer in micro retirement, I've also just lived it. I stepped away from my previous role as a media exec without any idea what I would do next. Zero job prospects and zero plan (insert nervous laughter here). What drove me forward was having the overwhelming feeling that I wanted to chart a new path, while realizing I didn't have a second to even think about that path when I was working full time. My personal micro retirement journey lasted a whopping 10 weeks. For the first time since my kids were born, I spent the entire Christmas break not checking Slack or email, and instead being fully present. And while, yes, in theory you can also do that while you're in a high-stakes role, it's unlikely you will, if you're being honest with yourself. I was a weekday ski bum (I only learned to ski last year, so making it down my first blue run felt like a major victory!). I finally learned how to use my Instant Pot. I napped (a lot). I read. I did a leadership course. I took long walks and had coffees with important people in my life. I thought about what matters to me in my personal and professional life, and, eventually, I charted a new path with a publication and company that aligns with my beliefs and goals (thanks, new bosses!) So, if there's anything this issue has taught me, it's that two things can be true at the same time: change can be scary, but so can staying in the same space. And there's one more thing, too: getting comfortable with being uncomfortable can sometimes be where the biggest growth happens in your career. Also in this issue, we're diving headfirst into our Top 100 (starting on page 23), ranking the biggest companies in B.C. by revenue—and there are some big trends for the provincial economy emerging out of contributor Michael McCullough's exhaustive lists. Will a powerhouse company finally unseat Telus in the top spot? Read on to find out. Our annual leadership issue is back and we're talking to the top decision-makers in B.C. about the advice that resonated in their careers NEXT DARCY MATHESON Editor-in-Chief bcb@canadawide.com | @bcbusiness Follow BCBusiness on

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