Dear Reader

As I was recording, editing, and programming all things podcast, I kept hearing myself reference the burnout I felt during my final years in the corporate world — and insisting that the fatigue wasn't about the work.

And the more I heard myself say it without unpacking it, the more I found myself checking in. Was that actually true?

The honest answer is: I hadn't fully examined that season of my life until now. But with more perspective, more support, and a lot of layers peeled back, I finally took an objective look — and what I can tell you is this: it was a confluence of things.

It started in my early thirties. Within eighteen months, I got married, launched a coaching business, and lost my dad.

A few months after my dad passed, my mother-in-law's health declined and she needed much more support to navigate daily life.

Several years later, I returned to the corporate world and quickly progressed into executive leadership — work I loved and genuinely thrived on. But life had more in store.

My husband received a diagnosis that stopped us in our tracks. Not terminal, but significant — and it sent us into a quiet reckoning about how short life really is. We already knew that, given the loss and elder care we'd been navigating. But this felt different. It left me uncertain in a way I hadn't quite felt before, unsure of what it meant for everything we had planned.

And this is where things went sideways.

I isolated. Every time I turned to my family — my main support system — I felt dismissed. My friends were either navigating their own difficulties or the beautiful, busy milestones that come with raising kids. There wasn't much space for what I was carrying.

My colleagues, however, were wonderful. And so I kept going back to work. I buried myself in it — because at least there, things felt good.

If I could go back ten years, I would tell my younger self to get help sooner. Because I had no one around me navigating similar challenges, I didn't even know what I needed. I kept looking outward for a guide — someone to help illuminate the path.

And that's exactly where this connects back to you.

There will always be moments when you don't know what you don't know. It's in those moments that mentors, allies, and trusted colleagues become invaluable. And if you want it, I'm here to help you navigate your world at work.

This part — the leadership work — is genuinely easy for me. It's fun, it's energizing, it feels a little magical. Hence the podcast. So if you're struggling at work, unsure how to grow in ways that feel authentic to you, let's connect.

And if you're doing well? That's wonderful. The podcast is simply one more resource in your corner — I hope you enjoy it and share it when it resonates.

Even though I wish I had found support sooner, I'm genuinely happy with where I am. And I hope, in some small way, this helps you get there a little faster.

Best,
Silvia

P.S. I have a few spots open to work with me 1:1 in the Leadership Reset — a 3-month coaching program built around the 5 Pillars of Leadership to help you navigate the ever-changing world of leading others, without losing your sanity in the process.

If you're interested, reach out and we'll schedule some time to see if it's the right fit for you.

Leaders who have gone through this intensive have walked away with greater clarity, sharper focus, and time back in their busy schedules — and I'd love the same for you.

P.P.S. The un-Corporate Leader website, is coming soon!