Helen Constantinides, former group CIO at Avbob, took a sabbatical from executive life to address a family emergency and safeguard her core values. She shares practical advice for CIOs on strategically preparing for time away from executive responsibilities.
While Helen Constantinides is currently on a break from executive life, her professional life is far from over. These days, Helen is actively using this time to recalibrate, deepen her insights and sharpen her leadership focus for the next chapter.
“After 10 years of intense, high-impact tech leadership within the Avbob Group, and confronted with a family emergency, I realised that operating at maximum capacity wasn’t sustainable for myself or to properly support my family. I needed more than just time off; I needed space to care for someone else and to refocus,” she explains.
Though sabbaticals remain rare among South African CIOs, Helen believes there are moments when life calls for a strategic reprioritisation that balances the pursuit of career goals with the responsibility to care for others.
“The sabbatical was a conscious, courageous act and a decision rooted in clarity, not depletion. I had the energy to keep going, but I chose instead to pause with intention and recalibrate. Sabbaticals offer a rare opportunity to zoom out, to challenge the autopilot of execution and to return with renewed clarity and intentionality,” she adds.
While sabbaticals are an opportunity for CIOs to think, learn and return with renewed purpose, stepping away from a role of this magnitude requires careful planning. Helen shares some key steps CIOs can take to prepare.
Build a self-sufficient leadership team
The first step is to ensure your team can function without your constant input. CIOs should focus on creating a leadership layer that is capable of executing strategy independently. “It’s essential to develop your team and grow their ability to function autonomously,” she says. “Once the strategy is done, you need to enable your team to drive the execution.”
This includes embedding a culture of accountability and ensuring the team is aligned with strategic direction. A well-prepared team ensures continuity and preserves momentum during the CIO’s absence.
Ensure your finances and lifestyle are ready for the transition
Helen emphasises the importance of financial preparation. “South Africans are not known for their strong personal savings behaviour, and CIOs are no exception. Even at senior levels, higher earnings often come with elevated lifestyles and responsibilities.”
She recommends building a deliberate financial buffer that allows for a sabbatical without compromising long-term financial health. “The goal is optionality. As a CIO, you should be able to step back without compromising the foundational aspects of your life.”
Maintain your networks and relationships
Remaining professionally visible during a sabbatical is essential. Helen encourages CIOs to stay connected to key stakeholders in the tech and business communities. “You have to continue engaging with peer networks, participating in relevant forums and staying close to conversations that shape industry direction. A sabbatical is not isolation but it is rather a shift in focus,” she continues.
She also sees value in using the time to strengthen relationships beyond the immediate organisation. “We have to maintain relationships with stakeholders in our own companies, but there are stakeholders in other companies that you can engage with. You can use this opportunity to grow your network and community engagement.”
According to Helen, these connections can provide external validation, surface new opportunities and keep IT leaders contextually grounded.
Use the time for personal development and discovery
Although continuous learning remains central, sabbaticals should also provide space for personal reinvestment. This could include creative pursuits, wellness routines, or in the case of Helen, home improvement projects. “I love interior design and have been working on a few new construction and renovation projects. I’m a creative person who loves beauty, so I’ve always got many ideas. I’m also taking the time to make my home more beautiful because that’s where I have harmony,” she says thoughtfully.
She also recommends using the time to reconnect with family and friends as well as past hobbies. “It’s amazing how great of a cook I’ve become! I have been experimenting with pasta sauces and salad dressings and I love finding new flavour combinations.”
Looking to the future, Helen is excited about stepping into a new role with renewed purpose and a stronger sense of self thanks to her strategic time off.
CIOs don’t just pause, they compound value. “CIOs don’t step away to slow down, they step out to see differently. A sabbatical can become a turning point that distills what matters, strengthens inner core and values, and returns a leader not just with energy but with evolved perspective and precision,” she concludes.
