Let’s talk, not about your job title, and not about the next project or deliverable. 

Let’s talk about you—your life, your leadership, your values—and how all of it fits together when the pressure is on and change hits hard.

As someone who works closely with executives and leadership teams in financial services and STEM organizations, I see something that’s impacting more professionals than ever before, and not enough of us are talking about it.

It’s the emotional aftermath of layoffs, restructuring, or budget cuts, and how these sudden changes not only shake your role but also your identity. I recently shared this message with our private LinkedIn community during a brisk walk one Sunday, and I felt called to bring it here as well.

If you’ve been pouring everything into your career, this is for you.

When Business Happens… Life Also Happens

Over the past few months, I have worked with several senior leaders who found themselves unexpectedly in transition. 

Some were impacted by company-wide restructurings or mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Others were affected by cost-cutting decisions that resulted in their departments being downsized or eliminated entirely.

What struck me most was the emotional weight they carried afterward. 

Guilt. Regret. Disappointment.

These were not mediocre contributors. These were seasoned professionals, the kind who lead teams, spearhead strategic initiatives, and work tirelessly to deliver results. And yet, when the company made a business decision, they were let go.

If you’re in HR, you may have seen this firsthand. And if you’re a leader in transition—or even someone who’s safe today, you may be asking yourself: 

What was it all for?

Here’s the hard truth I want to share with love: too many of us have built our identity solely around our titles. We’ve sacrificed time with our families, our health, our personal dreams—all in service of keeping that title.

Until suddenly… we don’t have it anymore.

The Moment That Changed Everything for Me

Recently, I celebrated my mom’s 80th birthday. She has been running her own business for over 45 years, and like me, she raised a family while managing her business. During her birthday dinner celebration, I listened to everyone share their favorite stories about her. What stood out wasn’t her accomplishments or achievements. It was her presence. Her care. Her contributions to our family.

That day reminded me of something I often notice in high-achieving leaders, including myself. We’re so driven, so committed to the mission, that we frequently put our humanity on the back burner.

As a mom, entrepreneur, and executive coach, I’ve learned that the cost of that imbalance can be too high.

Taking the Pulse: Your Wheel of Life

When we work with our clients at ExecutiveBound, we guide them through the Wheel of Life, an assessment tool that evaluates key areas of their well-being:

1. Career
2. Relationships (family, friends, romantic)
3. Finances
4. Health and nutrition
5. Personal growth
6. Fun and recreation
7. Physical environment 
8. Spirituality
9. Any other area that matters to you

Let’s do this together right now: On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being excellent, 1 being needs attention), how would you rate yourself in each area?

Now, imagine cutting a wheel of cheese based on those scores—how uneven would that wheel be? That unevenness reflects the challenges and difficulties you’re currently facing. Even if your career is going well, how are other parts of your life paying the price?

What I hope you take away from this message is this: give yourself grace. You’ve been doing the best you can. However, now is the time to ask yourself what needs to shift so that your career and your life work together, not in competition.

Because when life happens— and it will — you want to feel whole. You want to know that you didn’t sacrifice everything for something for ONE thing.

The Identity Trap: You Are More Than Your Title

When our identity is so closely tied to our professional title, any shift in that role can feel like an earthquake. It’s disorienting. And that’s when regret creeps in. Regret for missing family milestones. Regret for not traveling. Regret for putting your well-being last.

Let’s change that narrative.

As leaders, especially in high-performance industries like financial services and STEM, we’re often expected to deliver results at any cost. However, we can only deliver long-term, sustainable success when we’re also thriving as individuals.

And the organizations that support this approach? They retain their top talent. They build cultures of trust and innovation. They develop resilient, purpose-driven leaders who drive business growth without burning out.

Let’s Reimagine What Integration Looks Like

It’s time to reimagine what leadership looks like in your organization, not only for you but for your entire team.

Ask yourself:

• Where am I thriving right now—and where am I merely surviving?
  
• If I lost my title tomorrow, what part of myself would remain strong and grounded?
  
• On a scale of 1 to 10, how well integrated is my career with the rest of my life?
  

Now, imagine what it would feel like for your life to feel more integrated. Imagine making decisions from a place of clarity instead of fear. Imagine leading your team in a way that models what true success looks like both at work and at home.

That’s the kind of transformation we help organizations and leaders create at ExecutiveBound. Through our C.A.R.E.S. Leadership Success System, we empower professionals in financial services and STEM to lead more purposefully, develop critical leadership skills, and drive measurable business outcomes without sacrificing what matters most.

Ready to Learn How This Works?

If this message resonated with you, and you want to explore what a more integrated career and life could look like for you or your team, join us at our upcoming high-value Elevate Masterclass – The Confidence Playbook: Strengthen Self-Trust and Communicate with Impact.

Through this empowering leadership development opportunity, we lower the stakes and help our members experience how we engage with you, with zero risk to you or your organization. You’ll walk away with practical tools and insights that you or your team can implement right away.

To save your virtual VIP seat (worth over $2K in value), please visit ExecutiveBoundMasterclass.vip

Or connect directly with me at info@executivebound.com.

You don’t have to wait for a re-org or a wake-up call to start living and leading more intentionally. The future of leadership starts with you.

Coach Ginny.