When Annie Lu joined Atlassian as a product marketing manager in late 2022, it felt like the career breakthrough she had worked a decade to achieve. The pay was generous, the hybrid culture was flexible, and the projects aligned perfectly with her interests. But just over two years later, she walked away from it all.
Her decision wasn’t about ambition or chasing the next big role. Instead, it was about survival. In a candid conversation with Business Insider and follow-up reflections on LinkedIn, Annie shared how relentless corporate restructuring, AI-driven pressure, and looming layoffs left her in the grip of severe burnout.
“This wasn’t the ‘I need a vacation’ kind of burnout,” she wrote. “It was the kind where my body was shutting down, and I cried during meetings.”
Burnout, she realized, wasn’t a weakness but a signal. “It often happens to the people who care the most because they push themselves too hard for too long,” she noted on LinkedIn.
“I felt like I was leaving something good for something even better,” she reflected. That “better” turned out to be uncertainty—building a portfolio career in writing and solopreneurship, supported by her savings and her husband’s income.
Today, Annie is writing a four-part “Burnout Survival Guide” to help others navigate similar struggles. She doesn’t rule out returning to corporate life one day, but for now, she says she feels more grounded and at peace than she ever did in her so-called dream job.
Her decision wasn’t about ambition or chasing the next big role. Instead, it was about survival. In a candid conversation with Business Insider and follow-up reflections on LinkedIn, Annie shared how relentless corporate restructuring, AI-driven pressure, and looming layoffs left her in the grip of severe burnout.
“This wasn’t the ‘I need a vacation’ kind of burnout,” she wrote. “It was the kind where my body was shutting down, and I cried during meetings.”
A forced pause that saved her
By early 2025, Annie’s health had reached a breaking point. She took a 12-week medical leave, a step she says “saved” her. The first month was about going back to basics—sleeping regularly, eating well, moving her body, and making time for hobbies like journaling and reading. Slowly, she began reflecting on what she truly wanted from her career and life.Burnout, she realized, wasn’t a weakness but a signal. “It often happens to the people who care the most because they push themselves too hard for too long,” she noted on LinkedIn.
Walking away from stability
When her leave ended, Annie returned to Atlassian only to make the toughest call of her career: quitting. By leaving, she gave up a six-figure salary, stock options, and the stability of a well-regarded Big Tech role. But she also stepped away from an environment that no longer gave her meaning.“I felt like I was leaving something good for something even better,” she reflected. That “better” turned out to be uncertainty—building a portfolio career in writing and solopreneurship, supported by her savings and her husband’s income.
Sharing the story, finding purpose
Ironically, her most fulfilling work began after she left corporate life. A LinkedIn post about her burnout story resonated with thousands, garnering over 110,000 impressions, hundreds of newsletter sign-ups, and dozens of personal messages from people who felt “seen.”Today, Annie is writing a four-part “Burnout Survival Guide” to help others navigate similar struggles. She doesn’t rule out returning to corporate life one day, but for now, she says she feels more grounded and at peace than she ever did in her so-called dream job.
