A former Google executive, who once earned nearly Rs 3.40 crore annually, walked away from her high-paying job to spend more time with loved ones. Florence Poirel, who worked as a senior programme manager at Google’s Zurich office, said her decision was driven by the desire for “a life of purpose and balance,” CNBC reported.
‘The Work Was Pleasant, But I Wanted Clarity’
At 37, Poirel said she wasn’t burnt out or unhappy with her corporate routine. “By the time I left, I was absolutely not in a position of burnout. The team was pleasant. The work was pleasant enough as well,” she told CNBC Make It. What changed, she said, was her sense of clarity.
“I realised how much quality time with the people I love is the most important,” she explained. That included her partner Jan, also a Google employee and 17 years older. “I could not just wait for retirement to enjoy my time with him,” she said.
Inspired by the FIRE Movement
After more than a decade at Google, Poirel had built a successful career across the company’s European offices — beginning in Dublin and later moving to Zurich. By 2024, she was earning $390,000 (₹3.40 crore) a year. But as she learned about the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, she began to rethink her long-term priorities.
By January 2024, she had saved $1.5 million (₹12.6 crore), enough to fund what she called a “mini-retirement.” A few months later, in April, both she and her partner quit their jobs to take at least 18 months off to travel and enjoy life at their own pace.
‘Life Is Too Short and Beautiful’
These days, Poirel spends her time swimming in Lake Zurich, travelling, and offering career coaching to women. “Saying no to this kind of income can be daunting,” she admitted, adding that she doesn’t miss her old routine.
“I thought I would get bored very easily,” she said. “But now, it’s been a year and a half, and I still haven’t had a time of boredom.”
Reflecting on her decision, Poirel said she’s learned an important lesson: “Life is too short and beautiful to spend most of it at work when you can spend it with people and experiences that truly make you happy.”