How does perfectionism impact organizational well-being?

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Carrie Adair to unpack the toxic link between organizational wellness, perfectionism, burnout, and mental health.

Dr. Adair draws on cutting-edge research and real-world experience from healthcare to explain why perfectionism may actually be sabotaging your success, happiness, and well-being. From institutional culture to self-compassion, this episode offers practical tools for breaking free from perfectionistic thinking and creating a healthier, more human-centered work and life experience.

Topics Covered:

• The psychology of perfectionism
• Burnout in high-stress careers (especially healthcare)
• How leaders can build resilient workplace cultures
• The power of self-compassion as an antidote
• Perfectionism and mental health research you need to hear

👤 About Dr. Carrie Adair:

Dr. Carrie Adair is a social psychologist and former Assistant Director at the Duke Center for Healthcare Safety and Quality, where she led efforts to combat healthcare worker burnout and enhance resilience. With a PhD from UNC-Chapel Hill, her expertise lies in the science of well-being, institutional strategies for burnout prevention, and evidence-based tools to foster sustainable workplace cultures. Now working beyond Duke, Dr. Adair continues her mission to advance well-being in high-stress.

🔗Connect with Dr. Carrie Adair:

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/k-carrie-adair-phd-b3868913/

🎙About the Host:

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC, is a Dual board-certified physician with advanced training in integrative well-being, performance, and leadership development. She speaks and consults on perfectionism, sustainable success, and the well-being of high achievers.

This episode is part of her special book-writing project on unmasking perfectionism.

🔗Connect with Dr. Shabbir:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

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What if perfectionism isn't just a mindset problem but a neurological one?

In this transformative episode of Success Reimagined, host Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Romie Mushtaq as they unravel the hidden connection between burnout, anxiety, and perfectionism and how to heal from the inside out.

Dr. Romie introduces the concept of "busy brain", a state driven by neuroinflammation and chronic stress, and outlines a science-backed protocol that has helped thousands of high achievers find clarity, focus, and peace. From redefining South Asian cultural expectations to dismantling internalized perfectionism, this conversation is raw, validating, and deeply liberating.

Together, they explore:

✅What the “Busy Brain” really is and why it’s not just anxiety or ADHD
✅Why perfectionism may actually stem from inflammation and ego, not just personality
✅The Busy Brain Test and how to score your stress levels
✅How cultural narratives impact South Asian women’s mental health and ambition
✅What it means to “define your own decade” and make your own life list
✅Why therapy isn’t weakness but a peak performance strategy

👤 About The Guest:

Dr. Romie Mushtaq is a triple board-certified physician in neurology, integrative medicine, and mindfulness, blending the power of science with the wisdom of holistic healing. She is the founder of the BrainSHIFT Institute and currently serves as the Chief Wellness Officer at Great Wolf Resorts, where she leads mental and physical wellness initiatives for over 12,000 employees.

A sought-after keynote speaker and corporate wellness strategist, Dr. Romie has helped Fortune 500 companies and global organizations address burnout, optimize brain health, and elevate leadership performance. She is also the author of the USA Today and Amazon bestselling book, The Busy Brain Cure, which presents a groundbreaking protocol to heal chronic stress and reclaim focus, energy, and emotional resilience.

Her expertise has been featured on NPR, NBC, TEDx, and in Forbes, but what makes her message resonate is her lived experience—recovering from professional burnout and rediscovering her purpose. With compassion, clarity, and science-backed insight, Dr. Romie empowers high achievers to silence the noise, align with their purpose, and lead with both heart and brain.

🔗Connect with Dr. Romie:

💻 Website: https://drromie.com/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drromie/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drromie/

🎙About the Host:
Dr. Amna Shabbir is a Dual Board-certified Physician, Master Certified Coach, Professional Speaker, Employee Wellness Strategist, Mental Health Advocate, and Super Mom. She empowers high achievers to redefine success and create sustainable well-being via coaching, speaking, and virtual programs. Dr.Shabbir is the Founder of Amna Shabbir Wellness Coaching and the Early Career Physicians Institute®.

This episode is part of her special book-writing project on unmasking perfectionism.

🔗Connect with Dr. Shabbir:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.

What happens when you chase perfection in a world that demands flawlessness, especially as a South Asian woman?

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, host Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Nishat Uddin, founder of Brown Girls Health and South Asian Care, to unpack the cultural, personal, and professional layers of perfectionism. Nishat shares her journey of veering off the traditional career path, navigating community pressures, and redefining what success and mental health support mean on her own terms.

From breaking the silence around therapy to creating culturally compassionate health platforms, Nishat’s story will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt the weight of doing everything “right” just to feel “enough.”

Together, they explore:

✅The hidden cost of being the “perfect” South Asian woman
✅ How societal and family expectations shape our careers, mental health, and self-worth
✅ Nishat’s turning point that led her to leave PR and launch her advocacy work
✅ The stigma around therapy in South Asian households—and how that’s finally changing
✅ What success looks like when it’s not tied to external validation
✅ How South Asian Care is making healthcare more inclusive and culturally aware

👤 About The Guest:

Nishat Uddin is a South Asian health advocate and the founder of Brown Girls Health and South Asian Care. With a background in public relations and a passion for culturally compassionate care, Nishat is on a mission to break the silence around mental health, body image, and wellness within underrepresented communities. After becoming a VP at a top global PR firm before age 30, Nishat pivoted toward purpose-driven work, creating platforms that amplify South Asian voices and connect individuals to health providers who truly understand their cultural context. Through her advocacy, she is redefining what success and self-worth look like beyond societal expectations.

🔗Connect with Nishat:
💻 Website: https://southasiancare.com/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishatkuddin/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southasiancare/

🎙About the Host:
Dr. Amna Shabbir is a Dual Board-certified Physician, Master Certified Coach, Professional Speaker, Employee Wellness Strategist, Mental Health Advocate, and Super Mom. She empowers high achievers to redefine success and create sustainable well-being via coaching, speaking, and virtual programs. Dr.Shabbir is the Founder of Amna Shabbir Wellness Coaching and the Early Career Physicians Institute®.

This episode is part of her special book-writing project on unmasking perfectionism.

🔗Connect with Dr. Shabbir:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

❌ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.