How Empathetic Leadership Can Reignite Joy and Purpose
In over 15 years of executive leadership, I experienced some of my most pivotal moments during what looked like just another workday. No stage. No spotlight. Just quiet turning points that left a lasting impact.
For a long time, I didn’t talk about them.
Why? Fear.
Fear of: being misunderstood, of being labeled too emotional, of offending someone in a role where every decision is scrutinized.
As a CEO and an empath, I often walk a tightrope—balancing compassion with responsibility.
Empathetic Leadership Is Powerful—But It’s Not Easy
Being an empath in business can be a strength. It gives you the ability to truly understand your clients, your team, your audience. In marketing and sales, that’s gold. But in people management or HR, it can leave you emotionally depleted. You carry every hardship, internalize every concern, and if you’re not careful, it leads to CEO burnout.
Eventually, you hit a wall. You learn to set boundaries—not because you’ve stopped caring, but because you can’t lead from an empty tank. And when you finally do, some people might see it as cold. But here’s the truth: you’re not cold. You’re numb. Numb from carrying the emotional weight of leadership for too long without a reset.
Midlife Career Reflection: When Leadership Feels Flat
Recently, I turned 52. It sparked some deep reflection—not just on where I’ve been, but on what’s next. I’m not at the beginning, but I’m far from the end. Yet I’ve found myself asking: Where do I fit now?
For years, I’ve followed the unwritten rules of what a CEO “should” be. Strategic. Controlled. Productive. But not necessarily joyful. Somewhere in the pursuit of results, I lost connection to what actually energizes me.
This isn’t a midlife crisis. And it isn’t depression.
It’s leadership stagnation—a slow drift away from fulfillment. A creeping sense that you’ve outgrown the mold, but you’re still stuck inside it.
When a CEO Is Disengaged, Everyone Feels It
Let’s be honest: you set the emotional tone for your team.
If you’re disengaged, distracted, or emotionally checked out, the culture follows. The energy shifts. People feel it, whether you say it out loud or not.
Your leadership presence drives everything—from employee morale to innovation to retention. You can’t fake passion. You can’t outsource vision. When you’re no longer inspired, the business can stall—even if it’s still technically “successful.”
Rediscovering Joy in Leadership Starts With You
So here’s the question I want you to ask yourself:
Are you leading in a way that energizes you—or drains you?
If your role no longer reflects your strengths or your values, it’s time to reassess. Break the mold. Rewrite the rules. Build a version of leadership that fits who you are now, not who you were 10 years ago.
Because when you thrive as a leader, your company thrives.
When you show up with clarity and conviction, your team rises to meet you.
And when you lead with both heart and boundaries, you create a culture of trust and resilience.
If you’re in a season of career transition, midlife reinvention, or simply trying to find your spark again—let’s talk.
You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
Leadership doesn’t have to be lonely.
Let’s get you back to building something that truly lights you up.
