Climbing the Corporate Ladder without Breaking a Heel

What happens when being the woman who can handle everything starts costing you yourself? In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen Mercer sits down with Stanford-trained psychologist and coach Dr. Wendy O'Connor to unpack a pattern many high-achieving women know all too well: saying yes to everyone and everything while quietly saying no to themselves. Dr. O'Connor calls it self-abandonment. It happens when work, family, expectations, and endless obligations consistently take priority over your own needs, values, and well-being. Over time, those seemingly small choices can erode self-trust and lead to burnout, resentment, and feeling disconnected from the life you worked so hard to build. Together, Cynthia and Wendy explore why high-achieving, ambitioius women are especially prone to overfunctioning, how boundaries can protect your time and energy, and why "the answer is no" can be a powerful framework for making decisions that actually align with what you want. You'll also learn how to rebuild self-trust through small, everyday commitments rather than dramatic life overhauls, and how to start practicing "no" in low-stakes moments until advocating for yourself becomes second nature. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

What happens to women in leadership after they break the glass ceiling, only to find themselves being excluded, undermined, or pushed out? Julia C. Carreon, former Global Head of Platform and Experiences for Citi Wealth and co-author of Walking on Broken Glass, joins Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to examine workplace exclusion, self-gaslighting, career advancement, and the hidden barriers executive women can face at the highest levels of leadership. Drawing from Julia's own corporate experience and interviews with more than 100 women, they explore the warning signs that your position may be eroding, what to do when you believe you're being pushed out, and how women can better support other women in the workplace. This conversation offers practical insight for women navigating leadership, executive careers, the glass ceiling, and high-stakes career transitions. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

Why isn't your resume getting you job interviews? And what separates qualified candidates from the professionals who actually get hired or promoted? Executive career coach Sonal Bahl joins Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to break down resume mistakes, job interview strategies, LinkedIn optimization, personal branding, and how to communicate your value in a competitive job market. Sonal explains why talented professionals often understate their accomplishments and how to position yourself as a high-value candidate rather than simply listing responsibilities. She shares her "Painkiller" framework for communicating your value, the WIDOM resume formula for stronger resume bullet points, and the 3C storytelling method for answering interview questions with confidence. Whether you're conducting a job search, updating your resume or LinkedIn profile, preparing for a job interview, negotiating salary, or positioning yourself for your next promotion, this conversation offers practical career advice you can use immediately. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

What happens when the career you've worked decades to build no longer aligns with the life you want to live? In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with Sonia Azad, a two-time Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist, wellness advocate, yoga instructor, and entrepreneur, to discuss her remarkable journey from the newsroom to a purpose-driven life. After spending 20 years covering everything from crime scenes to public health, Sonia opens up about the hidden emotional toll of journalism, secondary trauma, and the burnout that ultimately led her to rethink success. She shares how losing a job unexpectedly became the catalyst for building a thriving wellness business, leading transformational retreats, and embracing a life centered on freedom and intention. Together, Cynthia and Sonia explore what it means to redefine purpose, recover from burnout, and create space for the life you actually want to live. Sonia also introduces her powerful "Me Mode" practice, a simple five-minute daily ritual designed to help you reconnect with yourself before the demands of the day take over. In this episode, you'll learn: How secondary trauma and burnout can quietly reshape your career Why losing your job isn't always the end of your story How Sonia transitioned from Emmy-winning journalist to wellness entrepreneur The importance of creating a life aligned with your values instead of external expectations How the "Me Mode" framework can help reduce stress and increase clarity A practical exercise you can use today to reconnect with yourself If you're feeling exhausted, questioning your next chapter, or searching for more meaning in your work and life, this conversation offers both practical wisdom and permission to choose yourself. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

Burnout doesn't happen overnight, and recovering from it isn't as simple as taking a vacation. In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with Elizabeth Rosenberg, founder of The Good Advice Company, to discuss recovering from corporate burnout, finding purpose beyond your job title, and building a career that aligns with who you truly are. Together, they explore: What corporate burnout really looks like and how to recover The difference between your work purpose and your life purpose How to build an authentic personal brand that stands out Why intuition belongs in the workplace Practical ways to break free from autopilot and create a healthier career Whether you're feeling exhausted in your current role, considering a career change, or looking for more meaning in your work, this conversation offers practical insights and a fresh perspective on professional success. burnout recovery, corporate burnout, career purpose, personal branding, leadership podcast, workplace wellness, intuition in business, career development, women in leadership