learn how rest redefined kristen’s life

From burnout to global soft power—how an unexpected sabbatical became the foundation for a billion-dollar movement.

Kristen Renee Ingram, Emmy Award-winning CEO and founder of Black Girl Sabbaticals, didn’t plan to start a global movement. She planned to rest. But what began as a personal pause soon became a reimagining of power, purpose, and the way we lead.

What if rest wasn’t a break from your purpose—but the beginning of it?

For years, I did what many of us are conditioned to do: I climbed the ladder, collected the accolades, and wore overachievement like armor. Emmy Award? Check. Dream career? Check. Global impact? Check. But somewhere between producing for the culture and carrying the weight of the world, I realized I wasn’t living—I was performing. Even in purpose.

I wasn’t burnt out. I was disconnected. From myself. From joy. From breath. So I did something radical.

I stopped.

The Pause That Changed Everything

My first sabbatical wasn’t planned. It was remembered. A return to something my spirit already knew but my schedule had silenced: ✨ That stillness is sacred. ✨ That softness is strategy. ✨ That rest isn’t earned—it’s embodied.

I spent months living between Mexico City and Chicago—rewriting my life by listening to my body, tending to my nervous system, and trusting that I didn’t have to hustle to be held by God.

Rest became my rebellion. And eventually, my roadmap.

💡 Ready to create your own rest roadmap? Explore our resources →

From Grind Culture to Global Lifestyle

What started as a personal pause became a public reckoning. Friends noticed the glow. Clients noticed the shift. And most importantly—I noticed myself again.

That’s how Black Girl Sabbaticals was born. Not as a brand. As a movement.

Today, BGS is where sacred rest meets strategic living. It’s where high-performing women unlearn hustle and remember wholeness. Through retreats, rituals, digital courses, and soft power tools—we help you design a life that nourishes your soul and honors your purpose.

My Truth? I Had to Stop to Start Again.

I didn’t lose my ambition. I just redefined what it looks like. Now I lead from a rested body, a nourished spirit, and a global rhythm of ease.

So if you're feeling the nudge to slow down, to soften, to begin again— Let this be your invitation.

You don’t need a new life. You need a rested one.

→ Want to start your own sabbatical era? ✨ Take the Rest Archetype Quiz ✨ Shop the Rest & Reflect Journal ✨ Join the Rest Retreat Waitlist

Black Girl Sabbaticals is the #1 global lifestyle brand redefining success through sacred rest. From digital courses and rituals to international retreats and journals, our ecosystem empowers women to live richly and sustainably—without burnout.

With radical rest + soft power, 

Kristen Renee Ingram