Gwen Bortner has spent her career thriving where others hesitate—inside systems, startups, and boardrooms that weren’t designed for her. As the founder and CEO of Everyday Effectiveness, Gwen has led teams across 47 industries, from tech to telecom to fiber arts, and knows firsthand what it means to stand out at the table.

In this episode, host Rachel Alexandria and Gwen talk about being “the only one in the room,” what happens when competence becomes isolation, and how neurodivergence and curiosity can both challenge and empower leadership. It’s a candid conversation about the quiet cost of success—and how to stay connected, grounded, and effective when you’re the outlier everyone relies on.

💡 Episode Highlights

• From coder to CEO: How Gwen built a career across 47 industries and what that breadth taught her about systems, leadership, and adaptation.
• Curiosity as fuel: Why problem-solvers often rise fastest, and how that same drive can lead to burnout and loneliness.
• Neurodivergence and entrepreneurship: How ADHD traits show up in founders, and why “different wiring” can be both a superpower and a stressor.
• The lone woman in the room: Gwen shares the isolation of being the only female executive in a rapidly growing tech company, and the invisible politics that come with it.
• Turning difference into design: How Gwen helps leaders harness what makes them unique to build organizations that actually work for humans.
• Redefining effectiveness: The shift from proving yourself to creating impact with ease and intentionality.