‘I’m happier now’: Woman leaves 9-year IT career to drive an auto-rickshaw, internet stunned |

Most people spend years trying to land a management role in the IT industry. This woman had one for nearly a decade – and then chose to walk away from it.Her story recently came to light after entrepreneur Nezrin Midhlaj shared an unexpected conversation she had during an auto-rickshaw ride. What started as a routine journey turned into a discussion that stayed with her long after the ride ended.Midhlaj said she was intrigued the moment she met the driver. The woman carried herself with confidence, seemed completely comfortable in her work and looked genuinely happy. Curious about her background, Midhlaj struck up a conversation and asked how she ended up in a profession where women are still a rare sight.The answer wasn’t what she expected.The driver revealed that before driving an auto-rickshaw, she had spent nine years working as an IT manager.For many people, that’s the kind of job they spend years chasing. But according to the woman, the reality behind the title wasn’t as glamorous as it looked from the outside. The deadlines, pressure and constant stress eventually became too much.At some point, she decided she didn’t want that life anymore. So she quit.No backup corporate role. No move to another company. Instead, she took a completely different route and started driving her own auto-rickshaw.Today, she reportedly earns around ₹60,000 a month. But when she spoke about her decision, it wasn’t the money she seemed most proud of.It was the fact that she was happy.That part struck a chord with Midhlaj, who later reflected on how easily people get caught up chasing promotions, job titles and bigger paychecks. Somewhere along the way, many forget to ask a simple question: “Am I actually happy doing this?”The story quickly resonated with social media users.Many people working in corporate jobs said they could relate to the exhaustion that comes with long work hours, endless meetings and constant pressure.One user joked about surviving 18 years in IT while sitting through meetings that should have been emails, taking “quick calls” that stretched for hours and dealing with work emergencies in the middle of the night.Others simply applauded the woman for choosing a life that worked for her rather than one that looked impressive on paper.Several users pointed out that success means different things to different people. For some, it’s a corner office. For others, it’s earning enough, having peace of mind and ending the day without carrying work stress home.The comments section soon filled with messages of support, with many saying the woman’s story was refreshing in a world where career success is often measured only by titles and status.Because sometimes, the bravest career move isn’t climbing the next rung of the ladder.It’s deciding the ladder isn’t taking you where you want to go in the first place.