The Charlene Gisele Show

Hosted by Charlène Gisèle

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131

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The show for successful professionals wanting to achieve career excellence without the stress. Join former high-powered lawyer turned executive coach Charlène Gisèle as she guides you to the pinnacle of balanced career success. Drawing from her experience helping professionals overcome burnout and manage anxiety, Charlène shares research-backed frameworks, transformative mindset shifts, and science-based tools to help you optimize performance, prevent burnout, and sustain excellence in demanding roles. Learn how high achievers strengthen resilience, recover like elite athletes, focus deeply,

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September 9, 20261 hr 3 min

Performance Psychology: What Elite Sport Teaches Us About Performing Under Pressure

What if the biggest difference between a great performance and a poor one isn’t your ability, but the mindset you bring into the moment? Dan Abrahams, sport and performance psychologist, has spent the last 20 years working with some of the best sports competitors in the world, including as consultant psychologist for Aston Martin F1, Lead Psychologist for England Golf and England Rugby, and psychologist at six Premier League clubs. He is the author of four bestselling books, including Soccer Tough, which Gareth Bale credits with changing his life. In this episode, we explore why the psychology of elite sport has so much to teach us about performance in the corporate world, why elite performers are often the ones most at risk of burnout, the three pillars Dan uses to build sustainable high performance, and why you cannot force a great performance no matter how much pressure you put on yourself. Dan breaks down his game face technique for building instant confidence under pressure, explains why establishing meaning beyond your career is essential before a major transition, and shows how the exact same mental frameworks used by elite athletes apply directly to boardrooms, client meetings, and high-stakes negotiations. This episode is about performance psychology, burnout, confidence, identity, and why the pressure to perform perfectly is often what stops you from performing well. Timestamp 00:00 Intro 04:14 Why the greatest performers are most at risk of burnout 09:55 How to balance ambition with rest and recovery 10:48 The three Ms: mindset, mastery, and management 16:19 Navigating identity transitions and retirement 23:06 Using purpose to build a deeper sense of meaning 25:54 Managing performance anxiety and sleep before a big day 38:00 Overcoming imposter syndrome and confidence erosion 39:01 The game face technique for instant confidence 53:58 Why visualisation can feel uncomfortable and how to use it anyway What We Cover How to build a high-performance mindset without becoming consumed by outcomes The role of rest and recovery in sustainable performance How to create your own Game Face for high-pressure situations Using visualization and mental rehearsal without making it feel “woo-woo” What elite sports psychology can teach lawyers, executives, investors and other high performers What sports psychology actually involves, beyond just mindset Why the hardest workers and most intense competitors are often the most burnout-prone The difference between practising and performing, and why corporate life is performance-heavy The three Ms framework Key Takeaways You cannot force performance and you cannot control outcomes. You can only control your mindset going in. Quality beats quantity. Mastery comes from purposeful, deliberate practice, not simply doing more. Recovery is part of performance. Rest and recuperation are essential to sustaining high performance. Build multiple sources of meaning. Your profession can be central to your identity without becoming your entire identity. Create a Game Face. Define the qualities you want to embody under pressure, then use them as a practical performance blueprint. Your psychology is embodied. Confidence and mindset show up in how you move, communicate, decide and execute. Guest Resources Check Dan’s website: https://danabrahams.com Listen to The Sport Psych Show podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Pf4uOIQJhbel1kYNzz39z Get Dan’s new book, Compete: https://hawksmoorpublishing.com/book/compete-developing-a-mental-playbook-for-performance-under-pressure-in-sport-dan-abraham Connect With Me 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/ ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter: https://charlenegisele.com/newsletter/

September 4, 20261 hr 3 min

HRV, Nervous System & Burnout: Why You’re Exhausted & How To Listen To Your Body

What if your pursuit of better health, performance, and longevity could actually become another form of stress? In this episode, Salim Najjar, founder of The HRV Guy, brings the lens of an engineer to the human nervous system, guiding CEOs, founders, and elite performers toward nervous system sovereignty using heart rate variability as the compass. After raising his own HRV from 32 to over 100, he created the A.R.T. of the Heart framework, a path to turning stress into an ally rather than an enemy. After years of pushing his body through intense biohacking, minimal sleep, endurance training, fasting, and relentless optimisation, Salim experienced burnout and discovered HRV as a completely different way of understanding his body. What began as an obsession with optimising a number on a wearable eventually became a practice of listening to his nervous system rather than trying to control it. This episode is about HRV, burnout, biohacking, nervous system health, and why your body's wisdom is the only guru you will ever need. Timestamp 00:00 Intro 04:06 Salim's transition from corporate to nervous system work 05:27 Losing his father and the roots of his type A drive 07:48 Launching a beverage company and discovering biohacking 10:04 Finding HRV and the science of cellular inflammation 17:50 What HRV actually measures and why it matters 25:11 The five pathways and Salim's HRV journey from 30 to 170 39:44 Pathway one: sleep as the foundation 43:14 Pathway three: reframing and the shoulder dislocation story 47:38 Pathway four: intentionality and purpose 52:36 How to apply the five pathways as a busy executive 58:06 How long to track HRV and which device to use What We Cover The hidden downside of extreme biohacking Why high achievers can become addicted to optimisation How burnout can happen even when you're “doing everything for your health” What HRV is and why it can be useful How to use HRV as a language rather than a performance metric The five pathways of nervous system sovereignty How hormetic stress can build nervous system capacity The power of reframing difficult experiences How community and relationships influence nervous system health How to use wearables without becoming obsessed with the data Key Takeaways Chronic stress is the leading cause of cellular inflammation, which drives most aging and disease. HRV is a language your nervous system speaks to you, not a score to compare against anyone else. Your relationship to a stressful event can change your physiology as much as the event itself. A minimum of three months of consistent tracking is needed before HRV data becomes genuinely useful. The best HRV device is the one you will actually wear consistently, not the most accurate one. Sleep creates the foundation. Hormetic stress builds capacity. Reframing changes your relationship with reality. Intention creates alignment. Community amplifies it. Guest Resources Take Salim's free HRV archetype quiz: https://thathrvguy.com/hrv-quiz Explore Salim's courses and coaching: https://thathrvguy.com/offerings Connect With Me 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/ ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter: https://charlenegisele.com/newsletter/

August 26, 202640 min

Fertility, Egg Freezing & Embryo Banking for Career-Driven Women with Dr. Sasha Hakman

You built the career, the title, and the financial independence you always wanted. But did anyone ever tell you what that timeline was costing you biologically? Dr. Sasha Hakman, double board-certified OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist, helps driven, career-focused women understand their fertility before it is too late to act on it. We explore why so many ambitious women delay motherhood without understanding the trade-off, why female age remains the single biggest predictor of reproductive success, and what it means to plan your fertility the same way you plan your career. Dr. Hakman breaks down egg freezing versus embryo freezing, shares her own fertility journey as a career-driven physician, and explains the regret she hears most often in her practice. This episode is about fertility, career and motherhood, egg freezing, and why understanding your own biology is one of the most powerful things a high-achieving woman can do for her future. Timestamp 00:00 Intro 03:07 Sasha's mission and who she helps 04:04 What infertility actually means 06:13 The main causes of infertility and how they have evolved 11:43 Why women are trying to conceive later than ever 17:25 Why female age matters and why that is not anti-feminist 22:27 Egg freezing versus embryo freezing explained 28:36 The right age to consider egg freezing 33:29 The most common regrets Sasha hears from patients 36:43 How to get a fertility evaluation 37:31 The biggest lesson from Sasha's own fertility journey What We Cover What infertility means medically and how the definition has recently changed The most common physiological causes of infertility, including PMOS (formerly known as PCOS) and endometriosis Why the rate of infertility has increased significantly in just a few years The real physiological trade-offs in delaying motherhood for career reasons The biological reason egg quality and quantity decline with age The real difference between freezing eggs and freezing embryos Who is and is not a good candidate for egg freezing at different ages The regrets a fertility doctor hears most often from patients in her practice Why a fertility evaluation before trying to conceive can save time and heartbreak How to stay emotionally grounded while going through fertility treatment Key Takeaways Female age is the single biggest predictor of reproductive success. You are born with all the eggs you will ever have, and egg quality declines well before quantity runs out. Freezing your eggs gives you full autonomy over your future fertility, regardless of what happens in a relationship. At 43, it typically takes around 50 eggs to produce one chromosomally normal embryo. Unexplained infertility affects 15 to 20 percent of couples, and around 40 percent of those cases trace back to endometriosis. Guest Resources Learn more about Dr. Sasha Hakman: https://www.sashahakmanmd.com/ Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sashahakmanmd/ Connect With Me 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/ ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter: https://charlenegisele.com/newsletter/

August 21, 20261 hr 9 min

The Seven Types of Rest: Why Sleep Is Not Enough When You Burnout

When did you last feel truly rested, not just physically, but in every part of who you are? Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, board-certified internal medicine physician, speaker, and bestselling author of Sacred Rest, shares the framework that has helped over 500,000 people identify and recover from the specific types of rest their body and mind are missing. We explore why sleep alone cannot solve the kind of exhaustion most high performers carry, how rest deficits show up differently depending on who you are and the work you do, and why so many driven professionals are producing at a high level while running dangerously close to empty. Dr. Dalton-Smith breaks down all seven types of rest, from physical and mental to emotional, social, creative, sensory, and spiritual, and explains what depletion in each area actually looks and feels like. This episode is about rest, burnout, performance, recovery, and why learning to restore yourself is one of the most strategic things a high achiever can do. Timestamp 00:00 Intro 03:10 Why rest is not the same as sleep 04:43 The seven types of rest and why they matter 08:51 Rest deficits, anxiety, and burnout 15:29 How to identify your personal rest deficit 19:06 Rest needs in relationships and couples 27:07 Breaking down each type of rest: where to start 27:31 Physical rest: signs, symptoms, and how to recover 32:12 Mental rest deficit and how to quiet a busy brain 46:09 Emotional rest and the cost of professional emotional labour 49:35 The difference between trauma dumping and emotional rest 50:28 Creative rest and why it matters for leaders 55:19 Spiritual rest and reconnecting with purpose 57:33 Sensory rest and digital overload What We Cover Why sleeping and resting are not the same thing, and why that distinction matters The seven types of rest and what depletion in each area looks like in real life What physical rest actually involves beyond sleep, including body ergonomics and movement Why mental rest is often the area where high achievers are most depleted How emotional labour at work creates a hidden rest debt that follows you home The difference between trauma dumping and true emotional rest Why creative rest is relevant for leaders even if they do not consider themselves creative What spiritual rest means for people without a religious practice How sensory overload compounds burnout, especially for neurodivergent high performers Key Takeaways Sleep cannot fix a creative, emotional, or social rest deficit. You need the right type of rest, not just more rest. Lying down is physical rest. But if your brain is still running, you are not mentally resting. Your area of daily struggle is often a direct signal of where your rest deficit is. Identifying your partner's rest needs is as important as knowing their love language. You can be visible without posting anything yourself. Engagement matters as much as output. True self-care is not pampering. It is knowing yourself well enough to protect what you need. Guest Resources Take the free rest deficit quiz: https://RestQuiz.com Get the Sacred Rest book by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: https://amzn.to/4jwa8xN Visit Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s website: https://DrDaltonSmith.com Connect With Me 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/ ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter: https://charlenegisele.com/newsletter/

June 29, 20261 hr 4 min

LinkedIn Strategy & Personal Branding: How to Get Clients & Grow Your Network

Did you know your LinkedIn profile is losing you clients before you've even had a chance to speak to them? In this conversation, Steve Bruce, one of Asia's leading independent LinkedIn trainers, shares how senior executives, business owners, and corporate teams can use LinkedIn to build visibility, attract the right clients, and grow their business without feeling like they're selling. We explore why so many high-achieving professionals have outdated profiles that are quietly costing them opportunities, how LinkedIn works as a relationship tool rather than a sales platform, and why being visible online is no longer optional, even for the busiest people in the room. This episode is about LinkedIn, personal branding, visibility, networking, and why the professionals who don't tell their story are leaving business on the table. Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:26 Why LinkedIn still matters after 20 years 03:24 What busy senior executives get wrong about LinkedIn 05:02 How to build a 100% complete LinkedIn profile 06:20 The biggest LinkedIn profile mistakes 09:00 Why your headshot matters more than you think 13:30 How to use your LinkedIn banner like a billboard 15:35 Can you be too salesy on LinkedIn 26:07 Imposter syndrome and LinkedIn comparison culture 33:58 The four pillars of LinkedIn success 51:00 Is LinkedIn Premium worth it 57:23 How to follow up without feeling pushy What We Cover Why an incomplete LinkedIn profile is quietly costing you clients The difference between a tidy profile and a truly effective one Why your headshot, banner, and bio do more work than you think How to write about yourself in a way that feels natural, not salesy The four pillars of LinkedIn success and how they work together How to stay visible on LinkedIn without posting every day Why engaging with other people's content matters more than most people realise How to use LinkedIn alongside in-person networking for better results Whether LinkedIn Premium is worth it and what it actually gives you How to follow up and start conversations that don't feel like a pitch Key Takeaways Your LinkedIn profile is often the first impression a potential client gets of you. An outdated photo, missing banner, or third-person bio is quietly working against you. You don't have to post every day to be visible. Engaging with others counts. The four pillars are a strong profile, targeted connections, active presence, and strong relationships. You can build a presence on LinkedIn in as little as 15 minutes a week. The goal isn't to sell. It's to stay on the radar until the client is ready. Guest Resources Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/upgradeyourprofile/ Connect With Me 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/ ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter: https://charlenegisele.com/newsletter/

June 22, 20261 hr 17 min

Home Decluttering: How to Reduce Stress, Mess & Decision Fatigue

What happens when the state of your home starts reflecting the state of your nervous system? In this conversation, Kylie Thorley, professional organiser and declutter coach, shares how she helps driven women create calmer, lighter homes and lives through simple, sustainable systems that reduce overwhelm and restore clarity. We explore the powerful link between clutter, mess, burnout, and decision fatigue, and why so many high-achieving women can be highly organised at work while feeling completely overwhelmed at home. Kylie explains the difference between mess and clutter, why every item in your home carries a hidden cognitive cost, and how creating better systems can change not just your space, but how you feel in your daily life. This episode is about home, stress, identity, motherhood, marriage, and why decluttering is often about far more than getting rid of stuff. Timestamp 00:00 Intro 01:04 What a declutter coach actually does 02:41 Kylie's story and how she became a declutter coach 05:37 How stress, clutter, and relationship strain became connected 08:53 The link between burnout, overwhelm, and home environment 09:57 The difference between mess and clutter 14:31 Why high-achieving women can be organised at work but overwhelmed at home 25:08 Why it is so hard to let go of things 30:08 Room-by-room clutter hotspots and where to start 56:39 How to handle children's clutter and model better habits 1:03:30 Kylie's top decluttering advice for getting started 1:10:31 How to work with Kylie and join her community What We Cover The connection between clutter, burnout, and mental overload The difference between mess and clutter Why women often feel in control at work but not at home How identity and memory make it harder to let go of things The most common clutter hotspots in bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and living spaces How to help children build better habits around tidying and ownership How to start decluttering in a realistic way when life already feels full Why better home systems can improve not just your space, but your relationships and energy Key Takeaways Mess can often be tidied, but clutter keeps recreating the same problem. Every item in your home carries a hidden mental and practical cost. Decision fatigue does not stop at work. It follows you home. A tidy space is not always a decluttered space. Letting go of things is often about identity, memory, and past versions of self. The best way to start is small, simple, and specific. You do not need to overhaul an entire room to make meaningful progress. Decluttering can change more than your home. It can change how you feel in your life. Guest Resources Join Kylie’s supportive community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/declutteryourhomewithkylie Book a free 30-minute alignment call with Kylie: https://calendly.com/declutteryourhome-withkylie/30min Connect With Me 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/ ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter: https://charlenegisele.com/newsletter/

June 5, 20261 hr 6 min

Style & Wardrobe Strategy: Why Buy Clothes We Do Not Wear and What to do about it!

What if the real problem is not that you have nothing to wear, but that you cannot actually see the value of what you already own? In this conversation, Bianca Rangecroft, CEO of Whering, shares how she built a platform designed to help women digitize their wardrobes, style what they already have, and reduce the daily stress of getting dressed. We explore the psychology behind wardrobe paralysis, why so many women hold onto clothes they no longer wear, and how clothing can become tied to identity, aspiration, and emotional decision-making. Bianca explains how Whering helps users shop their own wardrobe, make better buying decisions, track what they actually wear, and build more confidence in their personal style without relying on constant consumption. This episode is about style, decision fatigue, identity, overconsumption, female entrepreneurship, and how technology can help busy women feel more in control of both their wardrobe and their mornings. Timestamp 00:00 The wardrobe crisis and why having more clothes does not solve it 01:37 Bianca’s background and the vision behind Whering 05:17 Whering’s mission and why wear count matters 06:37 The psychology of why women struggle to let go of clothes 10:19 How Whering helps with style paralysis and outfit decisions 16:16 How Whering can help the busy high-achieving woman who stress shops 24:13 Can Whering help beyond workwear and into fitness, travel, and everyday style? 29:21 Whering vs using generic AI for style advice 34:24 Bianca’s own weekly outfit planning system 37:20 How style evolves through body changes and different life seasons 42:39 Privacy, wardrobe sharing, and the fear of being judged 47:51 Bianca’s journey as a founder and what Dragon’s Den taught her 1:01:25 What Bianca would say to the woman who says she has no time for the app What We Cover Why so many women feel they have a full wardrobe and nothing to wear The emotional and psychological reasons people hold onto clothes How clothing becomes tied to identity, aspiration, and past versions of self How Whering helps users digitise, organise, and style their wardrobe Why shopping your own wardrobe can reduce overconsumption How AI and human styling input can work together How to think about clothing as an asset class, including cost per wear How style changes across different life stages, body changes, and seasons The privacy concerns that come with digitising your wardrobe What it takes to build and scale a female-led tech company Key Takeaways A wardrobe full of clothes does not automatically create clarity or confidence. Many clothing decisions are emotional, not practical. Digitising your wardrobe can help reduce stress, overbuying, and decision fatigue. Shopping your own wardrobe is often more powerful than buying something new. Style support works best when it reflects both data and personal context. Clothing can evolve with you through different phases of life. Feeling more in control of your wardrobe can create more calm in your day. Building a startup requires resilience, conviction, and the ability to keep going through rejection. Guest Resources Visit Bianca Rangecroft’s website: https://whering.co.uk/ Follow Whering’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whering__/ Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rangecroftbianca/ Connect With Me 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/ ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter: https://charlenegisele.com/newsletter/

May 29, 20261 hr 8 min

Why Magnesium Matters for Stress, Sleep and Jet Lag with Wade Lightheart

What if the reason you are struggling with sleep, energy, and stress has less to do with how hard you are pushing and more to do with what your body is actually missing? In this conversation, Wade T. Lightheart, certified sports nutritionist, three-time national natural bodybuilding champion, and co-founder of BIOptimizers, shares what decades of research and personal experimentation have taught him about magnesium, digestion, and sustainable performance. Wade's background is anything but typical. A plant-based, drug-free athlete for over two decades, he competed in both the IFBB Mr. Universe and the INBA Natural Olympia by 31. At 50, he came out of retirement to win the Open Men's and Grand Masters categories at the INBA Ironman International, then ran his first marathon six months later. He now runs BIOptimizers, one of the leading supplement companies in the world, with staff across 29 countries. We explore why magnesium deficiency is so widespread, what industrialised farming has done to the mineral content of our food, and why the recommended daily allowance of magnesium has nothing to do with optimisation. We also get into the specific demands facing high-stress, high-travel professionals, how to strategically adjust supplementation around board meetings, long-haul flights, and sleep disruption, and why combining magnesium with probiotics creates results neither can achieve alone. Timestamp 00:00 Why magnesium matters for high-stress, high-performance professionals 02:56 Becoming a parent later in life and what it does for longevity 16:59 Why Wade cares so deeply about supplementation quality 18:28 Why magnesium matters in modern high-stress life 23:45 Wade’s burnout, magnesium deficiency, and recovery story 32:44 Why magnesium is especially relevant for frequent flyers and high performers 39:42 Should you cycle magnesium or take it every day? 47:04 The laxative effect of some magnesium supplements explained 55:33 Why Wade combines magnesium with probiotics 1:02:00 When to take magnesium and probiotics for best results 1:06:29 Where to learn more about Wade and BIOptimizers What We Cover Why high performers often underestimate the cost of stress and travel How modern agriculture has affected the mineral content of food Why magnesium is involved in sleep, mood, digestion, and nervous system regulation Wade’s personal experience of burnout and magnesium depletion How to think about magnesium dosage, timing, and daily use The difference between high-quality magnesium and forms that upset digestion Why probiotics and magnesium can work so well together How to support gut health, recovery, and performance while traveling Key Takeaways There is no magic bullet in supplementation, but there are strategic tools that can make a real difference. Magnesium is one of the most relevant minerals for stressed, sleep-deprived, high-performing people. Modern food quality makes it harder to get everything you need from diet alone. Travel, poor sleep, and overstimulation increase the need for recovery support. Supplementation works best when it is personalized to your lifestyle, genetics, and weak points. Gut health and mineral status are deeply connected. Sustainable performance depends on supporting the body, not just pushing it harder. Guest Resources If you are in the UK or Europe 👇🏻 Use code charlene10 to get 10% off your order at https://bioptimizers.co.uk/shop If you are in the US 👇🏻 Use code CHARLENEGISELE to get 10% off your order at bioptimizers.com Connect With Me 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/ ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter: https://charlenegisele.com/newsletter/

May 22, 20261 hr 3 min

Managing a Global Law Firm: Growth, Culture & Client Trust

What does it really take to grow a law firm well and intentionally while continuing to lead people well? In this conversation, Simon Ridpath, Managing Partner of Charles Russell Speechlys, shares how he approaches purposeful growth, client listening, leadership, talent development, and building a firm that stays clear on what matters as it expands across global markets. We explore how Simon has shaped the firm’s growth around client need rather than ego, why deep listening has become one of his most important leadership tools, and how he thinks about behaviors, balance, and sustainable performance in a demanding profession. He also shares what it means to lead as a working father, why lawyers need to be taught leadership more deliberately, and how firms can create the conditions for both commercial success and human sustainability. This episode is about intentional growth, leadership, listening, fatherhood, resilience, and what it takes to build a high-performing culture without losing the human side of the business. Timestamp 00:00 What intentional and purposeful growth really means 03:15 Why Singapore and Milan matter in the firm’s growth story 07:06 Simon’s trajectory as Managing Partner 13:09 How deep client listening led to a new initiative 19:08 Where Simon learned the art of listening 22:01 Why Simon focuses on behaviors rather than culture 27:01 What a well-rounded life looks like as Managing Partner 31:55 Simon’s message to working fathers 37:08 The family experience that reshaped his perspective 42:04 What becoming Managing Partner really meant to him 46:08 How lawyers learn leadership 58:28 The story behind Russell Up What We Cover What purposeful growth looks like in a modern international law firm Why listening to clients can shape strategy more effectively than assumptions How Simon thinks about behaviors, values, and sustaining culture during growth What it means to build a rounded life alongside a demanding legal career Why working fathers need to be part of the well-being conversation The family experience that changed Simon’s sense of perspective How leadership is learned inside law firms Why lawyers need stronger development in leadership and commercial thinking How Russell Up gives junior lawyers a voice in innovation and change Key Takeaways Growth works best when it is anchored in a clear purpose. Deep listening is one of the most valuable leadership skills a lawyer can build. Culture becomes more useful when it is translated into visible behaviors. High performance is more sustainable when people have a life beyond work. Working fathers also need space to talk about presence, resilience, and family priorities. Leadership can be taught, especially through responsibility, reflection, and support. Law firms need to invest more intentionally in leadership development. Perspective changes how you carry responsibility. Innovation often works best when it is shaped by the people closest to the work. Guest Resources Connect with Simon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-ridpath-62a4927/ Charles Russell Speechlys Annual Review 2025: https://crsblaw.foleon.com/annual-review/annual-review-2025/ Connect With Me 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/ ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter: https://charlenegisele.com/newsletter/

May 6, 20261 hr 8 min

Fintech & Cybersecurity Leadership: The CISO Guide to Preventing Burnout

What does it take to lead in one of the most high-pressure and male-dominated industries in the world without losing yourself in the process? In this conversation, Bronwyn Boyle, award-winning cybersecurity leader and CISO at PPRO, shares what she has learned from more than 20 years in cybersecurity, technology strategy, resilience, and cybercrime prevention. With leadership experience across global banks, regulatory bodies, start-ups, and Big4 consultancies, Bronwyn brings a rare perspective on what it means to lead under pressure while staying human. We explore the realities of being a woman in cybersecurity, the career lessons Bronwyn wishes she had known earlier, and why resilience in cyber cannot just be about systems, firewalls, and incident response, but must also include the psychological resilience of the people behind them. Bronwyn also shares how Cybermindz is helping cyber professionals better navigate stress, sleep disruption, burnout, and crisis response. This episode is about leadership, mental resilience, digital anxiety, switching off in an always-on world, and why the future of cybersecurity depends not only on stronger systems, but on healthier people. Chapters 00:00 Being a woman in a male-dominated industry 08:27 What Bronwyn would tell her younger self and women entering cyber 14:49 Why cybersecurity needs more women in leadership 17:57 Bronwyn’s path to the C-suite 20:12 Resilience, burnout, and learning before you hit the wall 22:54 The military-style resilience tools used in cyber 28:13 How Bronwyn leads junior talent through pressure and crisis 32:46 Sleep, digital anxiety, and the always-on problem in cyber 43:55 Why switching off is imperative for long-term success 50:32 Burnout, identity, and the trap of feeling irreplaceable 59:52 What organizations are doing better to support well-being 1:04:08 How Cybermindz supports cyber professionals 1:07:49 Why new talent should consider a career in cyber What We Cover The realities of being a woman in cybersecurity Why women should not wait for permission or a tap on the shoulder How strong male mentors and sponsors can help accelerate a career Why representation matters in cybersecurity and technology leadership Bronwyn’s route into the CISO role The link between cyber work, burnout, and psychological resilience How Cybermindz brings military-informed resilience tools into cyber The impact of sleep deprivation, digital anxiety, and constant vigilance Why leaders need to create space for people to admit when they are not okay The importance of switching off, recovery, and non-work activities What organizations can do to better support resilience and retention Why cybersecurity is an exciting and deeply meaningful career path Key Takeaways Cybersecurity requires resilience not only in systems, but in people. Women in male-dominated industries often need to take more agency in shaping their own path. Diverse leadership leads to better decision-making and stronger outcomes. Burnout often builds long before people realize they have hit the wall. Short resilience practices can make a meaningful difference in high-pressure moments. Sleep, recovery, and psychological safety are essential to sustained performance. Digital anxiety is real and is becoming harder to ignore. Leaders need to model healthier ways of working if they want teams to thrive. No job is worth building a life around that leaves no room for perspective or recovery. Cyber is a fascinating, fast-moving field with enormous opportunity for new talent. Guest Resources Learn more about Cybermindz: https://cybermindz.org Get more info about the Hacking Games: https://www.thehackinggames.com Connect With Me 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/ ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter: https://charlenegisele.com/newsletter/