How High Achievers Outgrow Hustle and Become Conscious Leaders with Dr. Sharon Spano, PhD

You hit the goals, earn the title, and build the career… yet something still feels off. In this episode of Innovators Inside, Ian Bergman sits down with Dr. Sharon Spano, PhD, to dig into why high achievers so often reach success and then suddenly feel empty, stuck, or disconnected. Sharon breaks down the stages of adult development, how unresolved trauma shows up in leadership, and why self-awareness is directly tied to creativity and innovation. They explore the tension between “founder mode” and collaborative leadership, the importance of somatic awareness for modern executives, and the habits leaders need to stay grounded as the pace of change accelerates. If you’re building what’s next and feel like something still isn’t lining up, this conversation offers a powerful reset.

Topics & Timestamps

🎯 00:00:00 Rethinking success for high-impact leaders

👩‍👦 00:02:28 Sharon’s path from advocacy mom to leadership advisor

🧱 00:06:12 The achiever stage and the emptiness of success

🧭 00:09:01 Moving from “stuck” into deeper growth

🏔 00:11:53 Consciousness as a mountain and center of gravity

🧠 00:19:27 Why self-awareness matters for innovation

👑 00:21:24 Founder syndrome, ego, and learning to listen

⚙️ 00:28:05 Leadership in a fast, tech-driven world

💥 00:33:43 Trauma, triggers, and anger at work

🫁 00:35:22 Somatic awareness, breathwork, and calmer leadership

🏃‍♂️ 00:37:05 Hustle culture, burnout, and what Europe gets right

📵 00:40:25 Boundaries with tech, media, and modeling change for the next generation

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