There are few pieces of career advice more damaging than the idea that success requires sacrifice.

For Sam Yarbrough, that message came during a job interview. When she explained that she was committed to both her career and her family, she was told, "Well...you chose to work."

It was a mindset she'd encounter again and again—that ambitious professionals, especially working moms, should expect to trade time with their families for career success. But instead of accepting that belief, Sam used it as a filter. If an organization couldn't respect her values, it probably wasn't where she wanted to lead.

That perspective eventually led her to walk away from a prestigious executive role, navigate an unexpected identity crisis, and co-found Arcadia—a leadership community built on a different philosophy: you don't have to choose between building a meaningful career and living a meaningful life.

In this episode, Lindsay and Sam unpack the myths we've accepted about ambition, boundaries, and leadership—and why the best leaders are whole humans, not just high performers.

What You'll Learn

• Why "you chose to work" is one of the worst pieces of career advice working parents receive
• How boundaries reveal whether a company's culture truly aligns with your values
• Why leaving a prestigious role led to an unexpected identity crisis
• How to separate your worth from your title and paycheck
• What "whole-human leadership" really means
• Practical ways to identify your priorities before making career decisions
• Why harmony—not balance—creates more sustainable leadership
• How Arcadia is helping leaders grow without sacrificing what matters most

About Sam Yarbrough

Sam Yarbrough is the co-founder of Arcadia, a leadership community that helps executives and go-to-market leaders build successful careers while staying connected to what matters most. After years leading high-growth teams in the corporate world, Sam left a prestigious executive role to create a new model of leadership—one that prioritizes career, family, health, relationships, and purpose instead of forcing people to choose between them. Through Arcadia and its immersive Leadership Experience, she helps leaders grow as whole humans, not just professionals.

This episode is for anyone who's ever felt like they had to choose between career success and the life they wanted outside of work. Whether you're a working parent, an aspiring leader, or simply questioning what success should look like, this conversation is a reminder that you really can have both.

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