They called it a quick chat.

Marisa Kamall was on maternity leave. Still recovering from pneumonia that had nearly killed her. Her newborn was in the next room. And HSBC the company she'd given 15 years to, the one where she'd grown from analyst to Managing Director, leading teams of thousands across four continents called to restructure her role. Over Zoom.

When she cried, her manager said: 'I didn't think you'd react like this.'

That moment taught her something that no performance review, no promotion, and no amount of over-delivering ever would: no company will care about your career the way you do. The system wasn't built to make room for her. And the life she has now GAIA, the leadership community, the coaching, the mission only exists because she stopped waiting for it to.

This is one of the most honest conversations we've had on Burn The Rules.

Chapters

00:00 — Welcome + Marisa’s journey into the conversation

04:05 — The inside reality of corporate success

10:10 — Why Gaia exists and the mission behind it

20:43 — The “quick chat” call that changed everything

26:02 — Rebuilding identity, confidence, and leadership after corporate

31:48 — Stop rehearsing the person you think you should be

38:08 — What it really means to lead from within

42:55 — The triple hit: motherhood, illness, and restructuring

47:07 — Fitness, discipline, and regulating mind, body, and soul

57:13 — Why the system doesn’t make room for you

58:48 — How Gaia grew from an idea into a real community

64:29 — ChatGP She and women shaping the AI era

68:12 — The questions every leader should ask themselves

69:09 — Ten and Done quickfire round

72:35 — Who Gaia is for + how to connect

73:54 — Final message: speak up and take care of yourself

Connect with Marisa:
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GAIA: www.GaiaRises.com

For more information about me go to: chethirani.com

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