Summary

When senior engineering leader Theresa Aristarco faced long COVID and burnout, her world suddenly got small — walking the dog became impossible, and even daily tasks drained every ounce of energy. But what happened next redefined her idea of success. In this powerful conversation, Theresa shares how she chose health over the high-powered career that once defined her, building a support team, finding strength through therapy and physical recovery, and ultimately transforming her life through creativity and coaching. From learning to ask for help to finding joy in the simple act of baking bread, her story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and the courage it takes to start again.

Keywords: resilience, burnout recovery, long COVID, vulnerability, reinvention, holistic healing, redefining success, coaching, leadership transformation.

Chapters

00:00 From Burnout to Breakthrough
06:44 The Turning Point: A New Perspective on Health
13:57 Building a Support Team for Recovery
21:42 Celebrating Triumph: The Wedding Day
23:35 Reclaiming Health and Creativity
28:22 Transformative Journey Through The Artist's Way
30:45 Redefining Success: Health First
33:53 Coaching Through Transitions
38:43 Building a Sustainable Coaching Business
41:04 Taking the First Step Towards Change
43:26 Finding Meaning in Struggles
46:13 Rapid Fire Insights and Reflections