By: Sahra Mohamed
For decades, a corporate career path was viewed as the gold standard of success: go to school, get a job, keep your head down, maybe climb the ladder—maybe not. Stability was prized over passion, loyalty was expected to pay off, and persistence was believed to lead to a comfortable life. What once defined success for generations is now being questioned. Today, a growing number of people are walking away from the corporate structure, not just quitting jobs, but rejecting the idea that corporate life is the ultimate aspiration. Burnout and a newfound of what truly matters in work have pushed many to reconsider their paths. The pandemic made a lot of people see that their jobs weren’t as safe or as satisfying as they thought, revealing just how fragile “job security” really is. According to The Wall Street Journal, nearly 3.5% of corporate roles at S&P 500 companies were eliminated between May 2022 and May 2025, many of those laid off reported high levels of stress, while remaining employees were left managing increased workloads. The S&P 500, short for Standard & Poor’s 500, is a stock market index that tracks the performance of 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States, firms like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Coca-Cola. It’s one of the most accurate reflections of corporate America’s financial condition. So when mass layoffs hit even these companies, it’s a clear reminder that no level of success guarantees protection. Even at the highest levels of the corporate ladder, job security is no longer promised.
Creative fields have been also affected by low pay and unstable work. Many artists and photographers are told their work should be done “for exposure” rather than money, with vague promises replacing fair compensation. Many initially pursued corporate roles seeking security, only to find the same exhaustion and lack of fulfillment in a different form. What’s at stake is control, agency, and ownership. People want more than just a paycheck and a title, they want time, freedom, and purpose. Women, in particular, are leading this movement, empowered by new possibilities while challenging societal expectations around family and independence. Platforms like social media, podcasts, and subscription services have created new avenues for success, focused on flexibility, creativity, and community, qualities corporate jobs struggle to provide. According to Axios, full-time digital creator jobs in the U.S. increased from 200,000 in 2020 to 1.5 million in 2024, making creators the fastest-growing group of digital employment, showcasing the growth of independent creative careers. At the same time, major media companies like HuffPost, Disney, and Condé Nast cut thousands of editorial positions between 2023 and 2025. These cuts raised concerns about the sustainability of traditional media models and encouraged many former employees to pursure independent ventures, incuding launching their own media outlets.
In the face of ongoing layoffs, many individuals continue to value the independence and creative freedom that come with this new work model. Journalists are turning to independent platforms where they can speak without editorial constraints, while former TV hosts have launched podcasts to engage directly with audiences. On his podcast, Jon Stewart noted that majority of reporters would decline interview requests because their networks forbid them from appearing on certain shows. As noted by The Hollywood Reporter, he specifically called out NBC and CNN for restricting their journalists. According to Variety, numerous news anchors and veteran journalists have exited major networks, with CBS News, ABC News, NBC News, CNN, and CNBC all cutting staff in 2024. As the environment remains uncertain, large media institutions continue to face economic pressures. Some, like Hoda Kotb, are embracing new ventures, she recently launched Joy 101, a personalized daily wellness app focused on mental and emotional wellbeing. Though this entrepreneurial path can feel unstable or unpredictable, it offers something corporations rarely provide: true freedom. Across industries, more workers are choosing entrepreneurship, freelancing, and independent content creation. The rise of independent work reflects a new culture where people no longer accept systems that sacrifice wellbeing for profit. Instead, they seek careers that support personal growth, financial stability, and meaningful contribution. The corporate ladder is no longer the only path to success.
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