Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. I want to take a moment to share my journey with you, hoping it resonates and inspires you on your own path.

For over 20 years, I’ve navigated the corporate landscape, designing award-winning customer experience programs for Fortune 500 companies and iconic brands. On the surface, it seemed like I had it all—a successful career, financial stability, and respect in my field. But beneath that façade of success, I struggled with burnout and the overwhelming pressure to maintain
the image of a superwoman.

As I connected with other high-achieving women, I noticed a recurring theme: "I'm exhausted and overwhelmed, feeling trapped and barely holding on, hoping for better." This sentiment struck a chord with me, reflecting the struggles faced by so many women at the pinnacle of their careers. Despite impressive titles and accomplishments, many felt disconnected and burdened by an unrealistic expectation to project strength and perfection. This pressure often leads to disengagement, fractured relationships, and declining physical and emotional health.

I realized we were conditioned to believe vulnerability equates to weakness. We learned to compartmentalize our struggles, convincing ourselves we had to put on a game face to succeed. As more women entered corporate careers, this unhealthy model continued, perpetuating a cycle that stifles effectiveness, balance, and fulfillment.

Through my journey, I've identified three key traps that many women leaders fall into:

1) The Trap of Perfection: The belief that our work is never good enough can be paralyzing. I remember discussing my feelings of inadequacy with my executive coach, who challenged me to recognize the positive feedback I was receiving from my boss and team. It became clear I was my own harshest critic, a mindset that keeps many successful women stuck on the path to burnout.

2) The Trap of Conformity: Many women feel pressured to replicate the leadership styles of their predecessors, often leading to outdated and unrealistic standards. I learned from my mentor that when your name is in the top box, you have the power to lead authentically. It’s essential to embrace your unique approach rather than conforming to someone else's definition of leadership.

3) The Trap of Self-Reliance: While grit and resourcefulness are admirable qualities in leadership, they can lead to isolation. Throughout my career, I realized how vital it is to invest in trusted mentors—women who truly understand our challenges. Surrounding ourselves with supportive allies only enhances our journey.

These experiences inspired me to create The BRAVE Advantage, where we work closely with organizations to elevate female leadership and support individual women leaders in their personal and professional journeys.

By building resilience, authenticity, and vision—key traits that enhance leadership effectiveness—we offer comprehensive range of solutions includes workshops, coaching, keynotes, courses, and customized training programs tailored to meet your specific needs.

Will you choose to continue conforming to today's narrow definition of success?

Or, will find the courage to own your place in the top box and define it for yourself?

Let’s embark on this transformative journey together.

Be BRAVE, Live Fabulous,

Michelle