The Executive Exhale Podcast
The Executive Exhale Podcast is your space to pause, breathe, and reconnect with what truly matters as a leader. Hosted by executive wellness coach and HeartBreath™ guide Tammy, this podcast is designed for high-achieving professionals who are feeling the weight of stress, burnout, or misalignment in their careers and lives.Through candid conversations, expert insights, and powerful mindfulness practices, we explore what it means to lead with clarity, purpose, and well-being. Whether you're navigating career transitions, seeking work-life balance, or simply looking for tools to manage stress more effectively, The Executive Exhale podcast offers real talk, deep insights, and actionable str...
93 | From Burnout to Breakthrough: Neuroscience, Stress Resilience & Joe Dispenza’s Influence
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What if stress wasn’t just “part of the job” but a signal your body is asking for change?
In this episode of the Executive Exhale Podcast, I sit down with Jason Munson, known as The Stress Interventionist and a leading consultant at NeuroChange Solutions. Jason shares his powerful story of burning out, discovering the neuroscience behind stress, and using meditation and neuroplasticity to rewire his brain and his life.
We dive into:
- Why chronic stress corrodes leaders from the inside out (and what it’s really c...
92 | Are you really fine, or have you just learned to survive stress?
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In this powerful episode of The Executive Exhale Podcast, I open up about what it means to be regulated through stress and how not being regulated can have an impact on your leadership performance. I bring up why so many leaders resist admitting they’re struggling, how identity and ego keep us stuck in the burnout cycle, and what “adapting” to stress is actually doing to your body.
If you've been telling yourself, “I’ve gotten used to the pressure,” this is your wake-up call.
You’ll learn:
✅ Why adaptation i...
91 | Burnout in Men: The Hidden Struggle No One Wants to Talk About
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In this episode, I’m digging into a kind of burnout we don’t talk about enough; and that is, burnout in men. Not the kind that forces you to stop, but the kind that quietly simmers under the surface. The kind that hides behind high performance, long hours, irritability, and emotional shutdown.
As an executive resilience coach, I’ve worked with very high-achieving men who appear to be “doing fine” but are silently running on empty and feeling very dissatisfied with their lives. Burnout in men often goes overlooked...
90 | From Floor to Freedom: How Rachael Reclaimed Her Life After Collapse
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What happens when mindset strategies are no longer enough and the body forces a full stop?
In this compelling episode of The Executive Exhale Podcast, leadership psychology expert and health coach, Rachael Edmondson-Clarke shares the moment she collapsed in her office and how that experience changed everything. With over two decades of experience supporting senior leaders and Fortune 500 companies, Rachael brings powerful insights into sustainable high performance, burnout recovery, and the courage required to realign with purpose.
This conversation explores the warning signs many leaders ignore, the limits of...
89 | It’s Always Darkest Before Dawn: A Heart-to-Heart Share
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This episode is a little different. It's more raw, more real. I’m not here today with a toolkit of strategies or leadership hacks. I’m here to speak from the heart.
If you’ve been moving through a heavy season, questioning your path, doubting your choices, or just feeling completely and utterly exhausted, this one’s for you. I’ve been there. More than once. And recently, I found myself back in that space, wrestling with grief, identity shifts, and the pressure to hold it all together.
In this short...
88 | The Myth of Balance, Burnout Prevention & Brave Boundaries with Dr. Denise Brown
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In this episode of Executive Exhale, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Denise Brown who is a physician, former CEO, and now the self-described “Fairy God Doctor.” With over 30 years of experience in healthcare leadership, Denise brings a refreshing, no-BS approach to helping women in business avoid the burnout trap before it begins.
We talked about her career shifts, the value of taking a pause, and about her journey in the writing of her book The Fairy God Doctor’s Guide to a Good Life. What started as a l...
87 | The One Ball You Can’t Drop: A Conversation with The Dutch Mentor
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In this episode of The Executive Exhale Podcast, I’m joined by Walter Dusseldorp, also known as The Dutch Mentor. He shared a powerful story that stuck with me. He said life is like juggling six or seven balls, but only one of them is made of glass. That glass ball is your family - but could also represent your health or your well-being. Drop that one, and it shatters. It was a simple but profound reminder of what truly matters, especially when you are leading under pressure.
Walter brings deep ex...
86 | Time Management Won’t Save You — This Will
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If you’ve ever said, “I just need to manage my time better,” this episode is for you.
In today’s session, I’m pulling back the curtain on why time management strategies and productivity hacks aren’t enough to keep burnout at bay, especially for high-achieving leaders. Because the real issue isn’t your schedule… it’s your nervous system.
🎯 Take the free Leadership Energy & Stress Resilience Score to get personalized insight and tools to reset your system: [Insert link here]
This isn’t about doing more. It’s...
85 | The Best Leadership Podcast Episode Ever? (Well, Okay, Maybe Second Best?)
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What if being a great leader meant being less essential? In this episode, Jeff Matlow, a 3x entrepreneur, author, keynote speaker, and creator of The Best Leadership Podcast Ever, helps me unpack why the best leaders make themselves replaceable, how imposter syndrome can actually sharpen your leadership, and what accountability looks like when it’s done right.
Whether you’re navigating burnout, new to leadership, or leading at the highest level, this episode delivers perspective-shifting advice, with a few laughs along the way.
To connect with or learn more abou...
84 | Hormone Shifts and Women in the C-Suite: A Candid Talk with Amita Sharma
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In this episode, I’m joined by Amita Sharma, co-founder of NourishDoc, for an honest and much-needed conversation about peri-menopause, menopause, hormone shifts, and the impact they have on women in leadership, especially those of us navigating the C-suite or other high-pressure roles.
We talk about:
✔️ What’s really happening in our bodies during perimenopause and menopause
✔️ Why so many women in leadership suffer in silence
✔️ How we can better support ourselves, and each other, through this transition
✔️ What Amita and NourishDoc are doing to bring culturally sensitive, science-b...
83 | You Feel Like a Fraud? Good.
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If you’ve ever felt like a fraud, like you’re just waiting for someone to “find you out,” I want you to know: you’re not alone. And more importantly? That feeling might actually mean you’re exactly where you need to be.
In this episode, I’m digging into imposter syndrome, why so many high-performing leaders feel it and how it might actually be a good thing.
I’ll share a reframe I recently heard from fellow coach and thought leader, Jeff Matlow from The Best Leadership Podcast Ever, t...
82 | Burned Out or Just Done? Retire, Pivot, or Push Through
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Have you ever whispered to yourself, "I think I'm done"? I have and I know how overwhelming that moment can feel.
In this solo episode of The Executive Exhale, I speak directly to the leaders, helpers, and high-achievers who are questioning whether to retire, walk away, change careers, or just find a way to survive the pressure.
I share my own story of burnout and recovery, and guide you through the real questions to ask when you're standing at the edge of exhaustion:
Is this burnout or misalignment...81 | Why We Hesitate to Invest in Ourselves (and How to Move Through the Fear)
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In this episode, I’m digging into something I see all the time with high-achieving leaders; especially those in healthcare, non-profits, and other helping professions.
We’re burned out. We’re exhausted. We know we need support. And yet… we hesitate to invest in ourselves.
Maybe you’ve felt that quiet resistance before. You come across a coaching offer, a retreat, or a program that sparks something inside you but then you talk yourself out of it. You wonder if it’s worth the money, if it’s selfish, or if you shou...
80 | How to Stop Playing Small and Advance Your Career
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In this episode of the Executive Exhale Podcast, I’m joined by Rosie Zilinskas, a 30-year corporate veteran and women’s leadership advocate. We talk about why so many women feel stuck in their careers and what it really takes to move forward. Rosie shares practical strategies to help you unlock your leadership potential, advocate for yourself, and navigate the challenges of corporate life. If you're a woman in leadership, or aspiring to be, this conversation offers insight and tools to help you take the next step in your career with clarity and conf...
79 | You're Not Broken. Your Nervous System Needs a Reset.
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Are you a high-performing leader who feels stuck, exhausted, or unfulfilled, even after trying all the "right" fixes like therapy, job changes, or mindfulness practices? You're not alone.
In this episode (replay of YouTube content), I share my perspective on why so many accomplished professionals still feel drained and disconnected, and how to begin resetting from the inside out.
I also introduce the Leadership Energy & Stress Resilience Score, a free tool that helps you pinpoint your stress zone and guides you toward your next best step.
78 | You Can’t Lead Clinical Excellence on a Fried Nervous System
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In this episode, I’m speaking directly to the healthcare leaders who feel like they should have it all together, but inside, they’re running on fumes.
If you’ve ever wondered why you can’t focus like you used to or why your patience is thinning, or why you feel tired but wired all the time. It’s not because you’re broken. It’s because your nervous system is over capacity, and no one ever taught you how or supported you to come back to center.
In this conv...
77 | I Had It All—So Why Was I Miserable? A C-Suite Wake-Up Call
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What if everything you worked for—the title, the house, the team, the success—left you feeling nothing? In this eye-opening episode of The Executive Exhale Podcast, I welcome guest Jo Stone, award-winning executive coach and founder of The Balance Institute, to unpack what truly happens when high-achieving women hit the top... and still feel unfulfilled.
Jo takes us into the pivotal moment of realization that despite reaching the C-suite, building her dream life, and ticking all the boxes, joy and peace were still out of reach. Together, Jo and...
76 | Silently Burning Out: Still performing. Secretly struggling.
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In this episode of The Executive Exhale Podcast, I open up about the reality of executive burnout—how it doesn’t always look like falling apart. Sometimes, it looks like high-functioning chaos: checking all the boxes, leading meetings, and keeping it together on the outside… while slowly unraveling on the inside.
I share my own story—how I gained 40-50 pounds, slipped into depression, and kept performing while feeling completely disconnected and exhausted. It’s a version of burnout many high-achievers don’t recognize until it’s taken hold.
75 | The Ally Mindset: How to Lead with Heart and Still Deliver Results
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What if success as a leader isn’t just about what you know or do—but about the strength of your relationships?
In this episode of The Executive Exhale Podcast, I’m joined by Morag Barrett, global leadership expert, founder of SkyeTeam, and author of You, Me, We. Morag has helped over 15,000 leaders in 20+ countries transform how they lead by transforming how they connect.
We explore what she calls the connection crisis in today’s workplaces, and how her Ally Mindset framework—built on five powerful practices—can help lea...
74 | Empathy Isn’t Weak—It’s Your Superpower!
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Is leading with empathy really a weakness or too 'woke'—or is it the smartest strategy we have?
In this episode, I challenge the outdated belief that heart-centered leadership is soft or impractical. Drawing from leadership science, personal experience, and coaching insights, I unpack why empathy is a superpower and why leading with heart is a competitive advantage in a world that often feels cold and isolating.
You'll learn:
Where the “soft leadership” myth comes fromResearch-backed evidence on the power of empathy in leadershipHow to bring more heart into yo...73 | Resilient Leadership: Building Trust & Preventing Burnout with Dr. Barb Thompson
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In this episode of The Executive Exhale Podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with Dr. Barb Thompson—a board-certified organizational and business consulting psychologist and former U.S. Army operational psychologist.
Barb shared powerful insights from her leadership journey and military experience, and we dug into what truly drives high-performing teams. We talked about the importance of trust, transparency, vulnerability in leadership, and why those qualities matter more than ever.
We also explored:
✅ What it takes to build trust on a team and why it's foun...
72 | Decision Fatigue and the Power of Simplifying Your Life
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In this episode of The Executive Exhale Podcast, we’re exploring the sneaky energy drain that’s hitting so many leaders hard right now — decision fatigue.
From choosing what to wear to making complex leadership calls, your brain is working overtime, but it doesn’t have to. You’ll learn how to recognize the signs of decision fatigue and get real-world strategies for reducing your mental load and protecting your focus and well-being.
✨ Inside this episode:
What decision fatigue is and why it mattersHow to reclaim your time an...71 | Overwhelmed? Fix Your Mindset, Fix Your Business
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In this episode of The Executive Exhale Podcast, we explore why mindset is the foundation of both business success and personal wellness. You can have the best tools and strategies, but if your mindset isn’t aligned, stress and overwhelm will take over—making it nearly impossible to create a thriving, sustainable business. Our guest, Eric, shares how getting your brain right, setting clear goals, and structuring your business effectively can not only enhance performance but also reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
Looking for ways to streamline and systematize your work...
70 | Finding Joy & Self-Discovery Through Art Journaling with Susan Hensley
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In this episode of The Executive Exhale Podcast, Tammy welcomes Susan Hensley, a transformational coach, speaker, and author, who shares her journey from corporate executive to art journaling advocate. Susan discovered art journaling as a creative escape during burnout, and it quickly became a powerful tool for self-discovery and emotional processing.
Together, Tammy and Susan explore how leaders and executives can use art journaling to process emotions, gain clarity, and reconnect with their inner creativity. Susan shares practical exercises, including a three-minute music-led drawing practice, to help break through mental barriers...
69 | Narcissistic Boss? Take Your Power Back!
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Are you dealing with a narcissistic leader at work? Struggling with gaslighting, manipulation, and power plays? In this episode of The Executive Exhale Podcast, I share my personal experience navigating narcissistic leadership—both in the workplace and in my own life. We’ll break down the traits of narcissistic bosses, expose their tactics, and, most importantly, give you the strategies to outmaneuver them. From setting boundaries to managing up and knowing when to walk away, this episode is packed with practical tools to help you reclaim your power. Let’s dive in.
Supp...
68 | Overcoming Overwhelm: Moving Beyond the Freeze
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In this episode of Executive Exhale, host Tammy discusses the challenges of overcoming overwhelm and maintaining mental health during difficult times. Tammy shares her personal experiences with anxiety and overwhelm, particularly in light of current geopolitical tensions and financial strains. She emphasizes that feeling overwhelmed is a common experience, especially for empathetic leaders. The episode provides practical strategies for managing overwhelm, including breaking tasks into smaller steps, limiting negative news consumption, prioritizing joy, and maintaining positive connections. Tammy stresses the importance of self-care and creating a sustainable life despite external chaos. The discussion...
67 | Navigating Triggers with Integrity
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Welcome back to The Executive Exhale podcast. In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into a topic that many of us have faced—those moments when we feel triggered by a comment, a statement, or a situation that doesn’t sit right with us. Whether it's bias, offensive remarks, or just a response that hits too close to home, how do we find the courage to challenge without letting our emotions take over?
I’m sharing some personal reflections today, including a mistake I made in a recent conversation where I let myse...
66 | 5 Signs It’s Time to Leave Your Executive Role
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In this episode of The Executive Exhale podcast, I’m diving into five key signs that might mean it’s time to rethink your career path. I know this struggle firsthand—I had a six-figure executive role, but deep down, I felt completely misaligned. On paper, everything looked great, but inside, I knew something was off.
I’ll walk you through the five biggest red flags: feeling disconnected from your mission or that of who you work with, noticing how stress is impacting your health and wellness, feeling stagnant, staying in your rol...
65 | Leading Through Stress: Protecting Your Well-Being
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In this episode of The Executive Exhale podcast, host Tammy interviews Andrew O'Brien, founder of The Mindblowing Coach, about stress management and burnout. Andrew shares his personal journey of overcoming burnout and developing a science-based approach to stress mastery. With 25+ years of experience and multiple certifications, Andrew discusses the impact of chronic stress on individuals and organizations. He introduces his 'O'Brien 10' framework, which consists of 10 domains for optimizing well-being. The conversation covers the biological aspects of stress response, the importance of self-compassion, and practical strategies for managing stress. Andrew emphasizes that both...
64 | Leading with Impact: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
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In this episode of The Executive Exhale podcast, host Tammy interviews Carly Pepin, an international speaker and consultant specializing in leadership and business growth through human behavior principles. Carly shares her journey of overcoming challenges, insights on viewing obstacles as opportunities, and strategies for aligning business success with personal fulfillment.
The conversation dives into leadership wellness, managing business challenges, and creating impact while staying true to your values. Carly also shares success stories of clients who transformed their businesses and lives by aligning with their vision. Don’t miss this insightful di...
63 | Leadership Wellness Reimagined: A Conversation with Kim Wilson
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Welcome to The Executive Exhale Podcast, where we pause, exhale, and explore strategies for reclaiming your well-being as a leader. In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Kim Wilson, the CEO of the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce.
Kim and I go way back to high school, and we’re reconnecting today to discuss leadership, wellness, and community advocacy. Kim shares her journey from high school to becoming a powerful advocate for local businesses in Moncton, New Brunswick. She offers valuable insights on the importance of bala...
62 | The Charisma Edge: Resilience, Leadership, and Wellness with Richard Reid
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This podcast episode features Richard Reid, an organizational psychologist and strategic consultant with over 20 years of experience in driving organizational change and enhancing corporate wellbeing. Richard discusses his career journey, the importance of charisma in leadership, and strategies for building resilience and maintaining wellness in high-pressure executive roles.
He emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence, and psychological safety in diverse workplaces. Richard also shares insights on mindfulness, trauma-informed leadership, and the power of self-reflection in personal and professional growth. The conversation touches on the challenges of burnout, the importance o...
61 | The Power of Our Voice: with Dr. Bahareh Amidi
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This podcast episode features Dr. Bahareh Amidi, affectionately called the "Spiritual Poetess of Light," in a profound conversation with host Tammy about the transformative power of words and voice. Dr. Amidi, a poetry therapist with a PhD in educational psychology, unveils her Healing Through Words framework, which invites individuals to connect deeply with their inner selves through the written and spoken word. She shares how a blank page becomes a powerful portal for heart and soul expression, enabling people to find clarity, healing, and transformation.
Dr. Amidi draws from her experiences...
60 | Well Leaders Are Great Leaders: Unlocking the ROI of Wellness in Leadership
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In this episode, we explore the powerful connection between wellness and leadership success. Discover how prioritizing your well-being can sharpen your focus, elevate your performance, and help you achieve true work-life balance.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the demands of leadership or wondered how to create a sustainable path to success, this episode is for you. Tune in for actionable tips and quick wellness wins to help you thrive both professionally and personally.
Ready to unlock your potential? Let’s start building the foundation for the unsto...
59 | The Keys to Successful Leadership with Ian MacLeod
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This podcast episode features a conversation between host Tammy and guest Ian McLeod, focusing on leadership, wellness, and personal development. Ian, with 15 years of management experience in a large nonprofit organization, shares insights on leadership challenges, stress management, and the importance of understanding human psychology in leadership roles.
We cover a variety of topics including the significance of active listening, building trust in organizations, and the role of women in leadership. Ian emphasizes the importance of aligning activities with common vision and values, and the need for open dialogue and active...
58 | Why Should YOU Attend an Executive Wellness Retreat?
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As an executive coach, I am seeing negative trends and patterns in the areas of leadership wellness. High-performing executives struggle to integrate work pressures and daily demands with their mental and physical health. This results in executives dealing with the impacts of chronic and intense stress, fatigue, or, worse yet, complete burnout.
Wellness retreats offer a restorative experience that rejuvenates the mind and body and renews leadership capabilities. Some say it's just a luxury, not a necessity. Others think they're purely about relaxation or that taking time off will reduce productivity. In...
57 | Growing the Leaders of Tomorrow with David Martinek
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In this episode, I chat with David Martinek. David is a communications and marketing professional for over 30 years. He has worked with all manor of organizations, from for profit billion-dollar tech giants to non-profits and public service organizations. He is a people person who is passionate about growing tomorrow's leaders and being a mentor. We talk about the power of emotional intelligence, the notion of imposter syndrome, how building a community helps with the feelings of isolation as a leader and the mentoring of young leaders to be tomorrow's professionals!
If y...
56 | Life and Leadership Lessons with Mike Phillips
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In this episode, we explore a powerful blend of leadership, life lessons, and wellness essentials with our guest, Mike Phillips. Tune in as we discuss the journey from youth coaching to senior leader mentorship, unveiling lessons learned along the way about influence, boundaries, and balancing high performance with personal wellness. We dive into the importance of prioritizing people, managing overwhelm, and developing a strong personal "why" for lasting success in leadership and life.
Key topics covered:
Building your “Leadership Toolkit” through vision and purposeEssential life lessons on setting boundaries and sayi...55 | Connect, Transform and Thrive: Unlock Your Inner Potential for Lasting Change
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Turns out that anything and everything your heart desires is an inside job! In this episode, I speak with Max Latimer, a coach/consultant who is also a heart-led creator in his life. His journey is bringing him to a place where he can help high-achieving humans who have lost themselves in the pursuit of more and to reconnect to and learn to trust in their inner knowing so that they can create and live a deeply connected life! We go over the value of raising your awareness around your negative self-talk, how...
54 | HeartBreath™: What is it and Why Should Leaders Consider It?
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In this episode, I speak with special guest Loretta Cella. Loretta is a friend, colleague, alma mater, mentor and the curator of her trademarked HeartBreath™ modality. She explains how her lifetime of human services and leadership development work led her to create this transformational modality rooted in heart-centric and neurosciences. HeartBreath™ is a powerful practice that connects breathwork with heart-centered mindfulness and connection to self. Discover why this approach is a game-changer for leaders who want to reduce stress, build resilience, and lead with greater clarity and emotional balance.
To connect with...
