Woman quits Google after 8 years despite promotions and perks, says ‘Thailand led me to a career I never expected’
Woman Quits Google After 8 Years, Finds New Path in Art
Woman quits Google after 8 years, but the decision was not made lightly. Sara Wilczynska, a former Google employee, credits her transformative time in Thailand for steering her toward a career path she never anticipated. After eight years at the tech giant, which included promotions and perks, she chose to leave her corporate role and fully embrace her artistic passion, a shift that redefined her sense of fulfillment and purpose.
A Tech Career That No Longer Felt Right
Sara’s journey began in Warsaw, Poland, during the 1980s, a time of economic transition that shaped her early career. She earned a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Warsaw and worked in Barcelona and Edinburgh before relocating to London at 25. There, she became a software engineer at an investment bank, a position that offered stability and financial security. However, Sara often felt uncertain whether her work aligned with her deeper aspirations.
Her career took a significant turn when she joined Google in Zurich in 2015. By 2017, she had moved to New York to work on the news section of Google Search. While the company provided flexibility and a supportive environment, Sara began to feel the weight of constant expectations and digital demands. "On paper, my career was everything I had worked toward," she reflected. "But it was the pressures of the corporate world that made me question whether I was truly happy."
The Shift Toward Simplicity
During the pandemic, Sara and her partner relocated to San Diego, a move that forced a slower pace of life. This change allowed her to notice small joys she had previously overlooked, like the scent of jasmine in the evening or the simple pleasure of eating a fish taco. These moments highlighted the growing misalignment between her work and personal values, ultimately leading her to take action. "The pace wasn’t sustainable for me," she noted. "Constant stimulation—screens, notifications, and expectations—was pulling me away from myself."
After resigning in late 2022, Sara embarked on a journey to Southeast Asia, briefly visiting Australia and New Zealand before settling on Koh Tao, a Thai island, in 2023. The island’s laid-back atmosphere provided her with the unstructured freedom she had long craved. "My partner was working as a dive master, and I had something I hadn’t experienced in years: unstructured time," she shared. This period of reflection became the catalyst for her decision to pursue art, a passion she had nearly forgotten.
Rediscovering Art in Thailand
It was during her time in Thailand that Sara rediscovered her love for painting. Though she had no formal training, the island’s natural beauty and relaxed environment inspired her to pick up watercolours for the first time. She began taking online courses and creating illustrations of everyday scenes, from sunsets over the sea to local markets. Her artwork gained traction in local Facebook groups, with people expressing how deeply it resonated with them. "I didn’t expect my art to connect with others so strongly," she said, highlighting the unexpected impact of her new creative direction.
Woman quits Google after 8 years, and the transition to art was both challenging and liberating. The initial steps were uncertain, but Sara’s commitment to her craft grew with each passing day. She started experimenting with different styles, often working outdoors to capture the island’s essence. This hands-on approach not only refined her skills but also reinforced her belief that her true passion lay in creating rather than coding. "The act of painting became a form of self-expression I hadn’t realized I needed," she explained, underscoring the emotional and psychological benefits of her career shift.
Launching a New Chapter
Returning from her travels, Sara dedicated herself fully to her art. She