Rishiv (Shiv) Panigrahi

I spent years as a top-performing leader at JP Morgan Chase — hitting targets, collecting accolades and moving fast. On paper it looked like success. Over time, though, I recognised a quieter dissonance: the work I was doing no longer aligned with the career and life I actually wanted.

That realisation prompted a better question: what if the same high-achieving energy could be directed toward building a career that genuinely fits? My shift was not just a change of role — it was a deliberate, professional transition into coaching and consulting.

The name BreakEven Life reflects the idea of reaching a point of balance — not the illusion of work–life balance, but a practical equilibrium where your energy, values and career move in the same direction. The “BE” in BreakEven is also a nod to the question of what it means to genuinely be — to work and live with intention rather than on autopilot.

I help mid-career technology and finance professionals — delivery managers, project managers, consultants and senior developers — navigate career transitions, rebuild professional confidence, and recover from burnout at work. I also help experienced professionals assess and prepare an independent consulting option alongside their career. And I work with professionals and new coaches setting up their own coaching or consulting practice. Outcomes are not guaranteed and depend on your own effort and circumstances.

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