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Pivoting Out of EduAuthor: Dr.Jaimie Hoffman
In our podcast, we share the stories of other folks who have left campus-based positions in higher education and K-12. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average person holds 12 jobs between the ages of 18 and 50. Educators (like us!) often enter our careers thinking we will stay in education forever perhaps because we're trained to think that way, or perhaps it is hard to see other pathways. Both of us found our way out of campus-based positions and are finding it to be very satisfying. Language: en-us Genres: Education, Technology Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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"You're the CEO of Your Own Body": Knowing When It's Time to Leave Higher Ed
Episode 69
Wednesday, 21 January, 2026
In this episode of Pivoting Out of EDU, Jaimie sits down with Dr. Sylvester Gaskin to unpack a powerful and deeply honest career pivot story, one shaped not just by ambition, but by burnout, trauma, and the urgent need to choose health over title. Sylvester shares his unconventional path from engineering to student affairs, his rise into senior leadership as an Associate Dean, and the invisible toll that crisis response, COVID leadership, and ever-expanding responsibilities took on his physical and mental health. He opens up about navigating PTSD and agoraphobia, confronting the cultural silence around burnout in higher ed, and the moment he realized he had to "make a business decision" about his own life. Listeners will hear how Sylvester intentionally pivoted out of campus-based roles into a remote learning and development position within a medical nonprofit, translating student affairs experience into leadership development, instructional design, and systems-level work without sacrificing well-being. This conversation is for anyone who: Feels trapped by the next title or promotion Is questioning whether the cost of staying is too high Is curious about learning & development as a post-higher-ed pathway Wants proof that prioritizing health doesn't mean giving up impact A candid reminder that success isn't just about climbing—it's about choosing a path that lets you breathe.
