Losing My Voice to Find My Purpose: How Burnout, a Bad Boss, and Letting Go Led Me to Build a Thriving Coaching Business
From burnout to breakthrough: how losing my title helped me find myself.
Reaching the C-suite is supposed to feel like an arrival.
For me, it didn’t.
From the outside, my career looked successful—leadership roles, influence, and responsibility at the highest level. I had spent years building credibility, delivering results, and earning my seat at the table. But somewhere along the way, success began to feel heavy instead of fulfilling.
Burnout didn’t arrive loudly.
It crept in quietly.
When Success Starts to Cost You Yourself
As the pressure increased, I began to feel myself slipping away. My personality—the part of me that once brought energy, confidence, and connection into the room—was fading. My voice became tangled in frustration. I was still showing up, still leading, still performing… but I was losing myself in the process.
For the first time in my career, I found myself at an impasse—not because of the work, but because of leadership.
The truth is: bad bosses are real.
I was reporting to someone who led from self-interest, not service. There was no desire to develop the team, no curiosity about growth, and no commitment to creating something better together. That reality only intensified the internal pressure I was already placing on myself to “hold it all together.”
I was exhausted.
Disconnected.
And questioning who I was becoming.
The Catalyst I Never Expected
I believe deeply in the power of the universe, because just when I felt most stuck, something unexpected happened—my role was eliminated.
What initially felt devastating became the very thing that saved me.
That moment forced me to stop running on autopilot and ask myself questions I had avoided for too long:
Who am I, really, outside of my title?
Where am I headed?
How do I want to get there?
And most importantly—why?
I knew that if I could understand my “why,” I could begin to see through the fog. I could reclaim clarity, confidence, and direction.
Reconnecting to What Made Me Come Alive
As I reflected, patterns emerged.
I looked at when I had been most fulfilled in my career. I examined where I consistently brought the most value to others. I paid attention to the moments when my energy was highest and my impact was deepest.
The answer became clear:
I thrived when I was developing people.
Mentoring. Coaching. Challenging leaders to grow. Helping professionals find their voice, step into accountability, and lead with integrity. That was where I felt alive—and where others experienced real transformation.
The more I leaned into that truth, the clearer the path became.
And once I see a path, I go.
Choosing Courage Over Comfort
I began researching accredited coaching programs. I built a business plan. I invested in my own coach to help me navigate the massive fear of change—because leaving behind a substantial income and a familiar identity is not a small thing.
Many people questioned my decision. Some doubted it outright.
But I could see something they couldn’t.
I could see a future built on alignment instead of exhaustion. I could see a business rooted in purpose, integrity, and impact. And while not everyone understood the leap, I had the support of my family—and that was all I needed.
Building a Business That Reflects Who I Am
Today, my coaching and training business is thriving—not because the journey was easy, but because it is honest.
I help leaders and professionals reconnect to themselves, build accountability, and lead with both confidence and heart. I draw directly from my corporate experience—not to replicate it, but to transform it into something more human, more sustainable, and more impactful.
I no longer measure success solely by titles or compensation. I measure it by:
- The leaders who rediscover their voice
- The professionals who stop shrinking to survive
- The organizations that grow because people feel seen, developed, and empowered
For the Woman Standing at the Edge of Change
If you’re successful but silently struggling…
If burnout has blurred your sense of self…
If you’re facing a crossroads you didn’t choose…
Know this: sometimes the disruption is the invitation.
Losing what you thought defined you may be the very thing that leads you back to who you truly are. When you listen, reflect, and trust yourself enough to act, clarity does come.
And when it does—go.
