THE QUIET LUXURY OF AUTONOMY

Forget the Bezos panto and forego the designer bag - the new status symbol is invisible but infinitely valuable. We speak to the women trading in performative wealth for a richer, more intentional life.

- Eulogi Rheeder

When Rachel Kolisi traded in her swanky Mercedes for a borrowed Toyota Yaris - and later a new Jetour - it got people, especially women, thinking: What does success really look like in today's world? Women have been part of the workforce for decades, building our own financial future.

Now, with our independence more firmly in place, our focus is starting to shift. More and more women are choosing not to chase status symbols but to find success through simplicity, purpose and freedom. A more intentional life is beginning to feel aspirational - not because it looks impressive but because it feels right.

At the end of 2024, I walked away from the rat race of a large global corporation. I said goodbye to a cushy salary and some pretty covetable perks (medical aid and full pension) - the golden handcuffs that had held me captive for five years. My position had afforded me a house and a new SUV on a single salary (unheard of); it paid for fancy dinners and clothes by local designers. On the surface, I had all the markers of success, but internally, life felt hollow. I was deeply unhappy doing work that was so far removed from my natural skills. I felt emotionally and mentally poor.

My path to rediscovery stripped me down to my foundation and rebuilt me. I am back to writing content every day, interviewing people about their lives, weaving words into stories. I have never felt richer. But achieving this internal wealth meant I had to reconstruct my physical world. I moved back in with my mom for a year and rented out my house. I'm swapping the SUV for something more manageable. I have reached a place where possessions no longer define me; my peace of mind is the only currency that matters.