Suggest Your Heroes
Have you escaped? Know someone who has?The Hero Hall of Fame
Hero
From banking to the visual arts
William Savage was for some years an investment executive at the Australian finance house Babcock & Brown. Within 18 months of the credit cruch, the company had collapsed overwhelmed by debt. From being a holiday amusement, art has become a new focus. He is represented in London and NY, his work sells well and he paints when he is not studying portraiture.
Hero
Rod Schwartz builds social investment bank
After 15 years in the wilderness, journeying from investment banking through venture capital, I eventually came to find that what I wanted to do was transfer my skills into the social business, enterprise and investment sector.
Hero
Stephen Ridley; Swapping the suit for the stage!
Stephen Ridley escaped Investment Banking to be a musician. 24 hours after quitting his job, he rolled an upright piano in the middle of one of London's busiest streets and started playing. After 1 month he had been offered 9 management deals, and started recording his first album, Butterfly In A Hurricane, now on iTunes.
Hero
Financial Search Consultant starts meditation and yoga place
Hugo Sandon escaped financial search and recruitment after a burnout to set up a retreat place, Beacon Bank Farm, to do a six month meditation retreat. After the retreat he stayed on to manage Beacon Bank Farm and help make avaiable a space where people can come and de-stress and enjoy the fruits of a simple approach to life. Hugo lives in a yurt under a tree and has never been happier.
Hero
NYC Transplant Helps Others Break Out of the Cubical
Liz Presson knew that there had to be something to tie all of her passions together. She knew she loved startups, tech, yoga, surfing, cooking-- but how would she make those passions her life mission? How would she inspire others with such an array of interests? After dropping everything -- including her well-paying job -- to move to NYC, she was determined to find out.
Hero
From 19th Century Art to 21st Century Tech
Ashley Gallman spent several years in the traditional art business at Sotheby's and an Upper East Side Gallery, when she realized that something was missing. In order to pursue her passion for building communities and helping others, she became the Client Relations and Events Manager of the Wix Lounge, a free co-working and event space for creative professionals run by Wix.com.
Hero
Ex-City Director teaches 'the edge' through Mindfulness
A longterm Mindfulness practitioner, Louise quit as Global Head of Telecoms and Media for RCM to start a retreat for the weary and frazzled and to offer corporate strategy consultancy to senior executives & entrepreneurs. Then she co-founded Mindfulness at Work - a low-cost, science-based programme teaching employees to have 'the edge' & be more effective & happier at work.
Hero
Former Cisco Employee Starts Innovative Hydration Start Up
David Mayer broke free from his corporate prison as a project manager at Cisco to start up Clean Designs, LLC., an innovative water bottle company in Northern California.
Hero
From Investment Banking to Fly Fishing
William Daniel left a 12 year career in investment banking in 1995 to set up Famous Fishing, which offers bespoke flyfishing days to corporate clients and their guests on the famous chalk streams in the south of England.
Hero
Banking Professional Escapes Cube for Rewarding Non-Profit
Marianne Fitzpatrick escaped the banking industry and is now loving work as a Project Manager with a non-profit organization.
Hero
Marketing Coordinator becomes a full-time DJ.
Dennis Tjoeng won several awards as an advertising copy writer. He worked in the best recruitment company as a marketing coordinator. And quit to become a DJ. Because djing makes him happy.
Hero
Combining Management Consultancy and African education org
Freddie Brunt is not a true 'escaper'. Freddie combines his work managing UK Government projects in Afghanistan through a major international development consultancy, with his work for AZLera – an education and social entrepreneurship NGO working with talented students in Mozambique, helping prepare them for the demands of further education in Mozambique and further afield.
Hero
Professional Services Marketer to Adventure Traveller
In 2012 David left his job as a marketing executive to pursue his dream and make a living out of adventure.
Hero
Media Agency CEO Transitions to Documentary Photography
After more than twenty five years in advertising Richard is making the change to pursue creative and business opportunities in documentary photography. Photography has been a lifelong passion and the lure of finding and telling stories to the world as well as supporting the development of documentary photography has become too enticing.
Hero
Banker escapes after 25 years to join a media startup
Gavin took an opportunity in early 2012 to make a big career change after 25 years in investment banking operations to join a media startup with a charitable foundation attached and an inspiring vision.
Hero
Fund manager becomes online business entrepreneur
Rob was a fund manager enjoying his work but disliking the daily regime that a job in the financial services industry entails. He escaped to a life where he works from home on the internet and is free to work the hours he chooses.
Hero
From a lawyer to building an ethical online fashion business
Martin spent about 7 years in Law for a Canadian company in London. He was unhappy and disliked Law almost the moment he started. So he decided to make a change. He quit and focused on his small business idea - now the successful 'The Corner Theatre'.
Hero
Property market professional escaped to Devonshire
Penny worked for 25 years in London. She had a great job but she wanted a complete change before she was too old to do so. She bought a historic medieval farm in Devon and converted a 16th century barn into holiday accommodation. She is surrounded with animals, loving the peace and quiet, the starry night skies, the fresh air, and the country life.
Hero
From the world of finance to founding Not Just A Label
Stefan escaped the world of finance and now he is loving life running his own online designer platform NJAL. Supporting others and making an actual change to this world. Read how his moment of truth got him to where he is today.
Hero
From economic consultancy to International development
Fumi spent almost 7 years in the economic consultancy field but knew he wanted to spend his time helping others. He got prepared and began his adventure in the international development world, starting at the Colombia University..