I didn't leave IT. I left the hotshot tech companies.

After a few years in which I became really, really unhappy to the point of depression due to certain events at the company I used to work I went to a small organisation which is currently starting to get into technology to support their consultancy business.

It's a much friendlier place to work, with people who honestly care about each other. If I knew this was possible I would have done it ages ago.

A small thing I would also like to add: people claim the problem in technology is men. This is not the case. The problem in technology is assholes. And they exist at both sides of the gender divide.