Get more inspiration: https://nomads50plus.substack.com
Connect with Saska: https://sheroamsshewrites.substack.com
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In this powerful episode of Nomads 50+, host Chris Kalaboukis talks with Saska Hayes, a former corporate lawyer from New Zealand who traded a thriving immigration law firm for a one-way ticket to Africa. Her story is one of courage, intuition, and transformation—proof that it’s never too late to walk away from “success” and start over in pursuit of meaning.
At 30, Saska turned down a major government contract that would have secured her future—but locked her into a path she no longer wanted. Instead, she followed her gut, asking herself one question: Would I regret not doing this when I’m 40? The answer changed everything.
Her first volunteer role in Tanzania turned out to be a scam—a devastating blow that could have ended her journey. But instead of quitting, Saska pivoted, returning to South Africa to take on a professional conservation internship where she learned GIS mapping, animal tracking, and ecological research. She even used her legal background to conduct an environmental impact assessment for a private reserve—showing that every skill, even from a past career, can be repurposed in unexpected ways.
Now based in Oxford, UK, Saska balances bar work with volunteering for an asylum support organization while exploring future directions in policy, law, and conservation. She embraces uncertainty as a form of freedom, finding peace in the unfolding process rather than chasing a rigid plan.
Her story is a reminder that sometimes you have to burn the old map to find your true path—and that “success” can mean something entirely different once you start listening to yourself.
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