Hey Leader,
There’s a role high-performing women slide into without ever applying for it.
You don’t get promoted into it.
You grow into it.
It usually starts small:
You say yes because it’s rewarded
You step in because the stakes feel high
You stay available because responsiveness gets praised as “strong leadership”
So you start:
Catching the gaps
Preventing the fires
Making the project move when it’s wobbling
And slowly, almost without noticing, everything runs through you.
Not because you did something wrong.
But because the system we work in rewards stepping in more than stepping back.
Most of the women I work with didn’t choose this role.
They earned it by being reliable. Fast. The one people turn to when it matters.
Here’s the part no one says out loud:
Sliding into Chief Everything Officer doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means your competence has been over‑leveraged.
The loop is real:
Saying yes trains expectation
Stepping in builds dependency
Constant availability keeps you operational, not strategic
And all of that? It keeps you exhausted and frustrated, even when things “look fine” on paper.
Breaking the loop isn’t about doing less or letting balls drop.
It’s about redesigning leadership so your value isn’t measured by how much you carry, but by how well the system runs without you.
If things slow down or break the second you step back… You’re not a bad leader.
You’re a Chief Everything Officer.
And you don’t have to stay there.
If this made you pause and recognize how much still runs through you, reply “Yes” and tell me one decision you’re ready to stop owning alone.
Lead boldly, live fully, & don’t forget to breathe.
In your corner,
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Scroll-Stoppers
This week’s most valuable scroll-worthy stuff, from tools to truth bombs!
A smarter way to give kudos (without it turning into more work for you). A quick read on how recognition can actually build ownership instead of dependency.
The French-girl approach to a slow Sunday. A reminder that rest doesn’t need to be earned and that leaders don’t have to collapse to recover.
The Thrive Feature
Something new we’re opening up this month.
If you’ve been nodding along to this whole Chief Everything Officer thing, this is for you.
Because at some point, being the person everyone relies on stops feeling like leadership… and starts feeling heavy.
Not because you’re doing it wrong. But because your role quietly shifted from leading to absorbing.
Most women leaders were never taught how to step out of that role without:
Letting people down
Dropping balls
Or feeling like they’re pulling back at the exact wrong time
This free masterclass is where we talk about how that shift actually happens.
Not in theory. Not with generic advice. But in real, usable moves that help you move from being the go‑to person to being seen and trusted as a strategic leader.
How to Go From Being the “Go‑To” Person to a Strategic Leader
🗓 Wednesday, January 21, at 9 AM PT
Try This Today
Three ways to start stepping out of Chief Everything Officer mode, without making a mess:
Don’t answer right away.
When something new lands in your lap this week, buy yourself a beat. Try: “Let me take a look and I’ll get back to you.” That pause matters. It’s often the difference between leading and automatically absorbing more.Give the question back.
When someone brings you a problem, resist fixing it on the spot. Say: “What do you think the next step is?” Then stop. It might feel awkward. That’s okay. This is how people learn to lead without you.Say what you’re seeing.
No big announcement needed. Something simple works: “I’m noticing a lot of decisions are coming to me, and I want us to handle that differently.”
Mini Interview
Interviews I recorded with women leaders at CultureCon who are redefining what leadership looks like.
Natasha Nuytten
CEO, CLARA
Q: How would you explain what you do to a 4‑year‑old?
“I help people find jobs where they get to do things they like, and that they’re actually good at.”
Q: What do you wish more women in leadership knew?
“That leaning into the fact that you’re a woman in leadership is the best thing you can do. You bring something to the role that hasn’t been there before. Humans crave balance, yin and yang, and that perspective matters more than we admit.”
Q: What lights you up outside of work?
“Maintaining real relationships. The kind where we challenge each other, stay curious, and don’t pretend leadership is separate from being human.”
Q: How do you protect your energy as a leader?
“Honestly? I’m not perfect at it. But I try to stay in conversations that keep humanity at the center of leadership. Those things aren’t ‘extra’, they’re everything.”
Natasha leads with thoughtfulness, conviction, and a refusal to separate business from humanity.
It’s a reminder that strong leadership doesn’t come from hard edges alone, it comes from balance, presence, and knowing what you bring to the table.
Your Power Reframe
Because what you believe shapes how you live & lead.
This Sparked Something
Little joys, leadership sparks, & random things we’re loving this week!
Game of the week: Rumikub has quickly become my favorite winter game to play! 😀 ~Alli
Unexpected joy: My friends and I landed in Davao, Philippines, home of durian, the fruit so smelly it’s banned in hotels. 😂 ~Pau
New adventure: I started posting on Instagram! I’m having a lot of fun with it, and it’ll include a lot more BTS than LinkedIn does. Come follow along! ~Alli