What if you didn’t have to wait for your job to change… to feel better at work? 😌
This week on The Pausecast VIP, I’m joined by the legendary Marci Shimoff—#1 NYT bestselling author of Happy for No Reason and a global thought leader in personal development.

I met Marci a while back at a women's business conference where she spoke, and I fell madly in love with her (and her concepts lol). I couldn't wait to host her and help amplify her message knowing pausing plays a big part in cultivating and sustaining happiness.

If you’re successful on paper but quietly tired, stretched, or wondering “Is this it?”—this career-meets-inner-work conversation is for you. Marci shares practical, science-backed ways to create happiness from the inside out—so your leadership gets lighter, clearer, and more fulfilling. ✨

In this episode, we explore:

• A simple 2x2x2 pause you can use before tough meetings 🧠

• How to activate your body’s “feel-good” chemistry (hello, oxytocin 💛)

• Why heart rate variability (HRV) matters for performance + resilience

• The daily question that upgrades your well-being

• Marci’s “rooms of happiness” framework (think: building a house for your joy 🏠)

• What you can—and can’t—control when it comes to fulfillment at work

This isn’t “be positive” advice.
It’s grounded wisdom for leaders navigating growth, pressure, and what’s next—without burning out. 🔥

👉 Subscribe to The Pausecast so you don’t miss these leadership conversations.
Ready to feel more fulfilled at work and navigate your next level of leadership?

👉 Book a call with me and let’s explore how to bring “happy for no reason” into your leadership—on your terms.

#ThePausecast #TechLeadership #PersonalGrowth #FulfillmentAtWork #InnerWorkMeetsLeadership #PauseToLead

What if the next level of your leadership doesn’t come from pushing harder—but from pausing on purpose?

In this episode of The Pausecast, I sit down with Melody Olson, former Senior Engineering Director at Google, for a refreshingly honest conversation about leadership, career evolution, and what happens when you stop following the “expected” path.

After a successful, high-profile career at Google, Melody chose to pause—and that decision opened the door to a new chapter defined by curiosity, intentional growth, and smarter risks.

We talk about:

• Why pausing can be a strategic move (not a setback)

• How smart risks build stronger leaders and teams

• The reality of balancing family life with ambitious careers

• Why investing in personal growth pays off long-term

• Setting boundaries, protecting deep work, and redefining success

• Letting go of linear career ladders and embracing a “jungle gym” path

If you’re a leader who’s successful on paper—but sensing there’s more available to you—this conversation will resonate.

Real talk.

Grounded wisdom.

Permission to evolve.

Connect with Melody on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melody-olson/

Thanks for tuning in this week—and as always, remember: your pause might be the most powerful move you make.

In Ep. 233 of The Pausecast, I sit down with my former big tech colleague Ada Lau and we explore her journey from aspiring journalist to successful big tech leader.

Ada shares how she built a career bridging technology and people, and the lessons she’s learned leading high-performing teams in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, and the challenges that she also overcame.

We dive into the joys and challenges of tech leadership, including building team dynamics, fostering collaboration, and navigating AI and enterprise-scale change.

Ada also shares candid insights on professional growth, work-life balance, and the power of pausing to reflect, make better decisions, and maintain resilience.

Maybe you can relate if you're also riding the tech waves these days.

Key Takeaways:

• Transitioning to tech allowed Ada to combine logic, problem-solving, and her love of people.

• Strong team dynamics and collaboration are essential for sustainable success.

• Embracing mistakes fuels learning, creativity, and resilience.

• Work-life balance is an ongoing challenge—but intentional pauses help.

• True success can be measured by happiness, not just achievements.

Whether you’re leading in tech or navigating constant change, Ada’s story is a masterclass in adaptability, authentic leadership, and finding joy along the way.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to lead with confidence, clarity, and happiness.