dj believes that sabbaticals are the key to sustaining meaningful, impactful lives.

Over a decade ago, dj created his dream job, a company which helped over a million entrepreneurs in emerging markets gain access to finance. 

But, six years in, he found himself yearning for time off; space to do things that really mattered outside of work. His life had very little balance—he found himself disappointing friends and family with constant travel and around-the-clock hours. Burned out and disillusioned, dj set off searching for answers.

His four month sabbatical—the longest break of his life—changed his life dramatically. He walked 900 miles across Japan on pilgrimage, remodeled a cabin in the woods with his father, adventured, mourned and charted a very different course for his life upon return.

After returning from sabbatical, he began meeting fellow sabbatical-takers with similar stories: not only were sabbaticals crucial in healing burnout, they led to more creativity, life-satisfaction, and greater positive impact in one’s career. 

dj collaborated with researchers at Notre Dame and Harvard Business School to understand the impact of sabbaticals and their role in the future of work. This research is the foundation of The Sabbatical Project, a home for evidence, stories, and community around sabbaticals.