Why On Leave?
Liz Coffey
Founder
I've been where you are, my headspace taken up by something outside myself. On Thanksgiving 2020, eating chicken tikka with my husband in our Chicago condo without the usual holiday bustle, I heard myself clearly for the first time in years. The realization struck: I needed to change how much space my corporate job occupied in my life.
I invested in coaching – which initially felt extravagant but was ultimately the most valuable thing I've ever done. As the world reopened in 2021, I discovered how different life could feel when experienced on my own terms.
The true 'a-ha' moment came during a solo trip to Birmingham in spring 2023. Away from home and fully present, I explored local museums, monuments and hiking trails by myself with fresh curiosity. A spontaneous conversation with a woman at a restaurant bar reminded me there was more to life than my professional identity. On the flight home, I felt like myself again – not just Liz the professional, but Liz the whole person.
I wondered: Does anything exist to help women create experiences not to escape, but to reconnect with what matters most to us?
When I discovered it didn't, I knew I had to create it.
After 15+ years advising c-suite leaders on communications, I chose a new direction. I got trained as a coach myself and launched On Leave in February of 2024. Now, I help women design experiences that reflect who they really are and what truly interests them.
On Leave isn't just a service. We're a community helping women reconnect with themselves through thoughtfully curated experiences, meaningful conversations (including through our new Circles offering, kicking off in January 2025) and daily reminders to prioritize what matters.
You've shared your own moments of recognition:
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You're ready to be more than your job title.
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You want to balance caring for others with taking care of yourself.
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You're navigating a new chapter – parenthood, a career shift, empty-nesting.
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You're seeking something meaningful – a new experience, a goal, deeper connections.
Sometimes all it takes is a spark. That's why On Leave exists. For you.
Self-care doesn’t have to mean spas, pools and yoga, and travel doesn’t need to be about crossing places off your “bucket list” or visiting the most Instagrammable spots – not if those things don’t help you feel what you want to feel.
On Leave believes:
A day or weekend experience is a great opportunity for a reset, and you don’t need to travel over an ocean or leave the U.S. to find what you’re searching for.
Cities and towns can be the best sanctuaries for self-discovery – full of streets to wander, all kinds of art to create and so many people and places to learn from.
As women, we’re not all the same, so our self-care solutions shouldn’t be either.
