As working mothers and high achievers, we are trained to keep pushing through—no matter the cost.

On top of that, you’ve probably been told at some point that the best way to be taken seriously as a woman in leadership is not to show any emotion.

That can lead you to keep pushing down your emotions.

But those pesky emotions often refuse to be silenced.

That’s why I recently sat down with nervous system expert Jane Pilger to demystify a topic you’ve heard about but may not fully get: nervous system regulation.

No doubt, you’ve heard about the benefits of nervous system regulation for your children.

But, did you know that it’s a skill that the most trusted leaders employ pretty much daily?

We break down why one key to effective leadership—at work and at home—starts with staying in control of your own internal state. When you understand how your nervous system works, you stop fighting yourself and start moving forward with more ease and confidence.

This isn’t about "fixing" or eliminating your emotions. It’s about working with your body and mind, not against it.

What You'll Learn:

• What is your nervous system “home base”, and how do you know if you’re in it?

• Why willpower and pushing through don’t help

• Practical tools you can use in stressful moments

• Why expanding your “emotional capacity” is a core leadership skill

This conversation is packed with simple, practical strategies you can use immediately.

Tune in now and learn how to lead from a place of calm strength—no ice baths or meditation cushion needed.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

You start the week with a color-coded calendar, clear priorities, and the best intentions.

But by Wednesday, things are already going off the rails. You’re already working through lunch, but you’re about 4 tasks behind where you intended to be.

Loads of high-achievers get sucked in by the same culprit:

Magical schedule thinking.

Magical schedule thinking is what happens when you underestimate how much time things will take, and end up overcommitting yourself in the process.

You convince yourself you can knock out a killer presentation in exactly one hour. Which would work in a world where there was no inbox pinging you, or colleagues interrupting you.

Your motivation isn’t the problem. Your math is.

Instead of working harder to try to grind it all out, you need to understand how to unwind the magical thinking.

So that your schedule works for you, instead of against you.

When you learn to ditch the magical schedule thinking, you’ll finish the day feeling accomplished, not defeated and overwhelmed.

What You'll Learn:

• The hidden reasons we overload our calendars (even when we know better)

• How to spot the telltale signs that you’ve slipped into magical thinking

• A simple, four-step approach to creating an intentional, doable schedule

• Replacing overwhelm with a powerful feeling of control over your time

You can’t create more hours in the day.

But you can change how you show up for them.

Listen to the full episode now.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

When’s the last time you interviewed for a job?

Maybe it’s been a few years. Or even a few promotions ago.

If so, you need to know that the interview game evolves as your career evolves.

At the mid-to-senior level, interviews are no longer about proving you’re a go-getter who can do anything.

As you get more senior, interviews are about something different:

Showing up as the leader who can drive results, influence outcomes, and represent your employer with authority.

That shift requires a completely different approach.

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m breaking down what it really takes to nail your next job interview—from how to tell your story, to the questions you should be asking (and avoiding), to how to walk into that conversation truly knowing you’re a catch.

Because it’s less about knowing the ‘right’ answers, and more about showing that you’re a high-impact leader.

If you’re even thinking about a job change in the next 6–12 months, this episode is required listening.

What You'll Learn:

• How to prep for mid-career interviews (especially when it’s been years since your last interview)

• The mindset shift that separates the loyal (junior) team player from the confident (senior) leader

• Crafting smart questions that position you like a strategic peer, not a hopeful applicant

• The four examples every woman should have ready to go (including how to structure them for maximum impact)

Whether you’re actively interviewing or just want to be ready when the right opportunity comes knocking, this episode will help you bring your A-game to your next job interview.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

Ever catch yourself spiraling with frustration after a tense meeting... and think, “Why didn’t I stop myself sooner?”

Or maybe you’re trying to create an exercise habit, and find yourself skipping out most of the time.

You’re not alone.

And these “fails” don’t actually mean you’re failing.

As women who are used to crushing big goals — especially those who’ve succeeded by pushing through and hustling hard — we can be our own worst critics when it comes to building new habits.

You might think it helps.

But here’s the thing: changing habits comes in phases, and the early phases might look like “fails”.

Unless you know what to look for.

This week on the podcast, I’m walking through a powerful three-phase framework that explains exactly what’s happening when you’re trying to change thought patterns or habits—and why your progress may be non-linear, even when you're right on track.

What You'll Learn:

• Why noticing your thoughts after the fact is actually a sign of progress

• How to navigate the messy middle, when you can see the pattern happening in real time but can’t seem to stop it

• Why “gathering the data” is necessary to successfully move through the phases of change

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

Ever had a colleague who keeps cutting you out of the loop?

They conveniently “forget” to invite you to key meetings. They drop you from email chains. Or withhold information that you need to do your best work.

Some of them do this so subtly, you may even start to doubt whether they do it on purpose.

But regardless, it’s beyond frustrating.

It’s impacting your ability to perform.

And it’s impacting how you feel about your job.

Dealing with an underminer is tricky. Especially if you’re a leader.

Asking your boss to intervene risks seeming like you can’t handle it.

And you can’t simply go rip the underminer a new one (as much as you might fantasize about it).

So what do you do?

Some of the worst leadership advice I’ve heard is on this topic: “tell your colleague how their bad behaviour makes you feel.”

This advice is great for couples therapy. But it’s awful advice for the workplace.

But, fear not. This week, I’ll break down exactly why this doesn’t work with an underminer.

And how you can successfully navigate this workplace challenge in a way that gets results and wins respect.

What You'll Learn:

• Why the typical advice ends up backfiring…and undermining you

• Framing the discussion so that you get results (from the culprit) and backing (from the boss)

• The exact script to use to address a colleague’s shady behavior

• A simple bonus question to make your conversation even more effective

If you’ve ever had to deal with a colleague who plays the undermining game, you’ll want these techniques in your toolkit.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

We’re living through a historic backlash against women and minorities.

You don’t have to live in the US to feel it.

Global companies are rolling back DE&I initiatives.

Executives are promoting a “work harder and be in the office” ethos.

And there’s the subtle insinuation that working mothers should be grateful for any flexibility we’re given at work. And any “help” we’re given at home. As if our hard work and value aren’t obvious.

In 1975, Icelandic women found themselves in a similar moment. They walked off the job and out of their homes for a full day strike. What happened next reshaped an entire country’s future for gender equality.

Most working moms won’t create change by simply walking off the job. But, inspired by the Icelandic example, we can take strategic steps to create change—at home, at work, and in our societies.

As long as women are quietly picking up the slack, systems don’t change. What would it look like if women refused to keep ‘doing their part’ to hold things together?

This week on the podcast, I’m sharing what it means to “go on strike” as an act of leadership, and how large and small acts of resistance can become the spark for lasting change.

What You'll Learn:

• The power of “micro strikes” and saying ‘no’

• What Iceland’s women’s strike teaches us about collective action and leadership

• The link between strikes and burnout prevention

• Leveraging the power of networks and communities to advance gender equity

If you’re ready to lead differently—and stop carrying a load that’s not yours—this is an important episode.

We can see gender equality in our lifetime. But only when we work (and strike) together.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

If you work in a hybrid environment, you know some things are easier:

Less time spent commuting. Fewer interruptions. The ability to pop a load of laundry in.

But hybrid work also presents its own difficulties, like:

How do I get the right visibility for my work?

How can I show strong executive presence over Zoom?

How can I build relationships with people who are 3 time zones away?

Without face time, hallway chats, and those informal “meetings after the meeting,” it’s easy to get overlooked, even when you’re delivering outstanding results.

Standing out in the hybrid world requires different tactics. But what, exactly, do you need to do?

In this week’s episode of the podcast, we’re tackling this head-on.

You’ll learn how to stand out in a hybrid environment without overextending yourself or sending a ba-jillion Slack messages.

This is about dialing your leadership in, in a way that works for the realities of hybrid work.

What You'll Learn:

• How to build visibility, presence, and your network - even when you’re not in the same location

• Actionable strategies that help you stand out, without overextending yourself

• Why boundaries become more important in the hybrid space - and how they can improve your executive presence and personal brand

If you’ve been wondering how to stay visible and sane in this new era of work, this episode is for you.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

Cinderella syndrome is the ultimate corporate fairy tale.

The belief that if you do your work perfectly, take on more responsibilities without complaint...

...one day, Prince Charming (aka a powerful leader in your company) will discover your talent and rescue you.

With the glass slipper of a promotion in hand.

Women have been fed a version of this corporate fairy tale since childhood. If you want to get ahead, you're told you should:

✳️ deliver exactly what's asked of you

✳️ keep your head down (and smile)

✳️ be lucky enough that someone notices and chooses you

This mindset has created an epidemic of strong, capable, ambitious female leaders…

...who are chronically overworked, burned out, and strung along with perpetually out-of-reach promises of promotion.

This week, I sit down with Dr. Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, associate professor in entrepreneurial leadership and diversity at HEC Paris in Doha to discuss these dynamics and more. One of the first to write about Cinderella Syndrome, she shares her expertise in gender dynamics, leadership, and how to escape the fate of a modern Cinderella at work.

What You'll Learn:

• How the Cinderella story keeps us waiting on “Prince Charming” in the workplace

• The double bind for female leaders, and how we’re encouraged to play “nice”

• How leaders can break out of Cinderella syndrome and claim their power

I can’t wait for you to hear this powerful episode.

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.