In the Know: How is it (almost) H2 already?!

Hello, Arka Raina here, NYT network’s newest (and remote) team member. ?? ! Welcome to our June newsletter!

For this newsletter, we’re discussing all things rest and mental health.

Take it from me: I quit my job after ~6.5 years in Big Tech to move abroad to Canada ???? for a sabbatical! Now I have swapped glass and concrete skyscrapers for (the more and better) green national parks and hiking trails, TfL for (the sadly worse) CTransit, and Starbucks for Tim Hortons. But so far, it has been worth it!

As someone who has always prided themselves on being an organised planner, I surprised myself slightly by taking a leap measured hop into the unknown. I quit my job, giving up the stability of a well-defined corporate career path, but why?

• Because I needed to take time off to process and reflect on my experience, including the highs and lows.
• Because I wanted a change and to discover myself (and maybe even consider a cheeky career change? ??)
• Because, ultimately, to go further you need to refuel, and rest is an essential component to that.

My plan for this sabbatical is to cultivate experiences that are completely different from my tech job and that will make me more well-rounded. To develop key life skills, I plan on doing the following:?

• Solo travelling (see pic below) - to develop my ability to cope with unexpected setbacks and to make decisions under pressure. So far, I have booked areas around Calgary (where the Rocky Mountains are) and Edmonton. I plan to go East to near Montreal (French-speaking Canada), and Toronto, and I hope to later visit the Maritime provinces.
• Sustainable living and ethical commercial farming - to test my ability to adapt to a completely different lifestyle. As much as I love being a product designer, there is a life beyond sitting in front of a computer screen. I will volunteer for a short time at a farm and horse riding centre to learn new responsibilities and commune with animals! As a self-confessed animal lover, it is one thing to strategically choose your tube seat based on proximity to the nearest dog for pets, but it is another to do health checks with cattle, geese, sheep and turkey!
• Working in other languages (French, Spanish and Hindi) - to develop my cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills. I plan to get a seasonal job in the hospitality/tourism sector for this. It is also a good way to build my network, explore the place I will be in, and make new friends!
• Dealing with extremely cold temperatures - nothing will test my self-control and resilience like being in -30C! ????
• Continuing creative hobbies such as improv comedy, and picking up new ones such as watersports - just plain fun ???

I am looking forward to seeing the person who I will be next year. ??

Follow my sabbatical journey via my Substack for updates and reach out to me on LinkedIn if you have Canada travel tips!

Stay happy and speak again soon.

The rest of the newsletter is packed with info on our upcoming social to Wimbledon, wellbeing summer event that you can’t miss as well as our usual reads, listens and member updates. Enjoy!

?? EXTRA TICKETS RELEASED ??

Our next event: Experience Wimbledon with the Now You're Talking Network

Join us for an unforgettable day at the prestigious Wimbledon Championships! Immerse yourself in the excitement of world-class tennis, savour the tradition of strawberries and cream, and enjoy the electric atmosphere of one of the most iconic sporting events in the world!

This exciting outing is designed to offer a perfect blend of sunshine, fun and camaraderie.

Join us in your all whites for a fun day out at Wimbledon. Limited spots available and don’t forget to book the afternoon/day off work!

SIGN UP HERE ???

?? Our next event: Stress Less, Shine More: A Women's Wellness Evening ????♀?

Burnt out. stressed. anxious. exhausted. pushing through.

These are the words of women in our network on how they feel as we enter the second half of this year.

Can we encourage you to invest in your wellbeing this summer?

In today's fast-paced world, it's more important than ever to prioritise your self-care and wellbeing.

Stress Less, Shine More will offer you a unique opportunity to step back, recharge, and invest in yourself.

Whether you're seeking practical tools to?manage stress, inspiration to pursue your goals with?greater resilience, or simply a space to?unwind and connect with others, this event is for you!

Event Details:

Date: Wed 24th July 2024

Time: 5.30pm - 8.30pm

Location:?Our lovely hosts at Skyscanner - Skyscanner office, 5th Floor, Ilona Rose House Manette Street, London, W1D 4AL

The agenda:

• Wellness Panel Discussion - fantastic line-up to be announced!
• Nourishing Food and Drinks + freebies
• Meditation Session
• Connection and Community

We can't wait to see you there!

LIMITED TICKETS HERE ???

Trips, concerts and bikes. What 11 Women Are Splurging On In June

100+ Affirmations for Every Black Woman Out There - useful for everyone!

In a world where relationships are often celebrated and marriage is frequently considered the norm, singlehood sometimes carries an overlooked financial burden. Stay clued up and Read The Single Tax: The Hidden Cost of Being Single.

‘You are not obligated to complete the work’ - Sim shares tips on maintaining a positive outlook.

Throwback to this awesome TedxTalk on ‘The Power of Radical Vulnerability’ by Ugla Stefanía Jónsdóttir & Fox Fisher.

If you're interested in how to monetise an offline interest into an online project, Danielle breaks down how she made money online through side-hustling in this 30mins podcast.

On Tuesday 10th July, Colorintech are partnering with ServiceNow to host an Industry Connect for Sales professionals based in London. Open to all Sales or Account Executives from any professional experience level.

Calling all girlies in Finance! Finimize are hosting an exclusive interview with Robinhood UK's President, Jordan Sinclair, in London this week. Join the waitlist if you’re interested.?

Lloyds Bank have created an impressive resource hub supporting women-owned businesses. Check out the useful resources and guides.

Julie Wright was part of a team of talented creatives who recently shot an incredible short film French Toast II. They are crowdfunding and need your support, read more and support here.

Olamide Majekodunmi has started creating personal finance content on YouTube, check out her content.

Mary Kemi A. wrote an article for The Financial Technologist covering ‘Navigating Success: Promotion, Networking, and Advancement Strategies for Black Fintech Professionals’. We think it is worth everyone reading! Download your free copy of the magazine and read the full article (Pages 62-63).

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Missed our latest newsletter? Read it here.