pumper911's journey

I recently found myself in a tough position after only two weeks in a new executive role at a leading company in our industry. After my previous company dissolved our division, I had a three-month window to secure a new job. I accepted an offer from this new company, even though it was a step down in title and a slight pay cut, as they created the role specifically for me. However, the job quickly turned into a 24/7 hustle culture, with 13-14 hour days that left me feeling overwhelmed and conflicted about my work-life balance, especially with a young child at home. After discussing my situation with my former boss, who is thriving in her new role, I decided to accept another offer from a smaller company that matched my current salary and bonus. This was a difficult decision, especially since my current company had built the function around me and the team was excited about my contributions. I am now faced with the challenge of giving my two weeks' notice, knowing that my departure may upset my current employer and potentially burn bridges in the industry. I plan to approach them with vague reasoning, stating that an unexpected opportunity came up that I felt I needed to pursue. However, I am feeling stressed about how to handle this situation professionally while considering the impact on my career and reputation in our close-knit industry.