On Leadership, Letting Go & The Power of a Career Break with Ex Walmart Comms Leader Melissa Hill

In this reflective and energising episode, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with my former Asda colleague Melissa Hill, now on a well-earned career break after 16 years at Walmart. Together, we explore what it really means to pause, reset, and be intentional about the next chapter.

🔑 Key themes:

• The reality of high-pressure comms roles in global corporations
• Embracing horizontal leadership and active listening
• Rediscovering human connection after stepping off the corporate treadmill
• Viewing yourself as a “corporate athlete” who needs to rest and recover
• Planning a meaningful career break with purpose and structure
• Letting go of identity wrapped up in job titles and learning who you are outside of work

Melissa shares her “three Ps” for her sabbatical: public service, personal housekeeping, and purposeful enrichment of the mind — and offers candid reflections on what she’s learning while travelling across Europe, including surprising insights from Beirut and spontaneous reunions in Bradford.

This is a must-listen for anyone considering a career pivot, feeling burnt out, or simply seeking inspiration on how to live and lead with more intention.

💬 “The minute you step away, you realise — it wasn’t the job that made me. I made the job.” – Melissa Hill

🔗 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your audio fix.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, and please rate or share if it resonated.