From London desk job to the Scottish Highlands.  How Rachel went from burnout to retrain as an outdoor instructor.

Name: Rachel Ekstein

Age: 27

Job title: Instructor

What were you working as?

I graduated from university in 2021, and took a role in start-up recruitment, spending a year at a start-up firm as a recruiting product managers, and then a year in the financial tech world, hiring engineers for trading companies in the USA. I then decided to take a sabbatical and move to Canada for 2 years, it was here where I fell back in love with the outdoors. Living in Banff National Park and working as a tour and hiking guide I decided if I was to move back to the UK, the outdoors is where I wanted to be. 

Was there a specific moment that made you decide something had to change?

I was experiencing serious burnout from my role and had started to question my decision to live and work in London. I got caught up in the post-graduation idea of moving to the big city and joining a corporate role. I did enjoy my job at first, but after the two years, I realised that maybe it wasn’t for me and that I wanted to redirect my career to one where I’d enjoy every day and not feel stressed at the idea of an email coming in at 4am (USA work hours in the UK aren’t for the faint-hearted).  

Why did the Scottish Highlands appeal to you as a place to reset or retrain?

After spending 2 years in Canada, I knew that I wanted to live in a place that offered amazing views but also opportunities that aren’t available in other places. The Highlands really have it all, you can paddle on a world-class river one day, go hiking up some of the biggest mountains the UK has to offer the next and then go climbing after. There really isn’t a place like it. I’ve been able to do every activity, even snowboarding, all within an hour of the centre.

What attracted you to becoming an outdoor instructor?

I’d done a lot of outdoor activities in school, and enjoyed every moment of it. So I knew coming into the course that all the activities offered were going to be something that I enjoyed. Also, the idea of being able to give other people the opportunity to experience some of the things I did as a child really motivated me. I think there is so much to gain by being in the outdoors, and for a lot of people who may feel like they don’t fit in the traditional education box, the outdoors offers them so much more. Teamwork and resilience are really built in the outdoors, and I wanted to be able to inspire others.

What doubts or fears did you have before making the change?

There was definitely a part of me that was nervous to make such a big career change. Throughout school and at university it feels like you should have a career in the business world, and to step away from that was a big decision for me to make. Also the fear that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the outdoors. But all of those doubts and fears have been wiped away, throughout my training I’ve been able to really learn and gain the knowledge needed to feel safe and know that I can keep my clients safe and secure, but also the skills gained have been amazing, and I’ve never been happier – waking-up and looking forward to a day in the outdoors beats any other role I’ve ever had before.

How did friends, family, or colleagues react to your decision?

It was actually my friends and family who pushed me to make the decision. I met 3 amazing outdoor instructors in Canada who live in Australia and hearing their stories and what their day-to-days were like really inspired me to make the change. My family told me “about time!”, my mum actually thought I should do this post school but I chose university instead, so she definitely was happy to hear I’d come around – even if only 8 years later.

How did you find out about Active?

I googled courses in the UK, and after looking at a few I found Active Outdoor Pursuits. They just covered everything, I actually was on a camping trip when I chose Active!

What skills did you learn that surprised you most?

The people managing skills definitely, you can do all the training in the world for certain trips and activities. But being able to adapt to the clients you have surprised me the most. One day you can be with a family, then a stag-group and then after a group of kids. Being able to have those soft skills is so important.  

What was the biggest challenge during your training?

Believing in myself, it’s hard not to compare yourself sometimes. There were definitely times where I thought I’d never be able to do something, but with practice and hard work and also finding a way that works helped me overcome this.

Were there any moments when you felt outside your comfort zone?

Nearly everyday! But in the best way, being able to push yourself through the challenging moments and when you come out and have achieved things, it is just the best feeling in the world.