Leadership Tea What’s Really Breaking Women Leaders? A Conversation on Burnout & Broken Systems | S4 EP 20
In this heartfelt conversation, Shelby and Belinda share their reactions to the 2025 Women in the Workplace report by McKinsey & LeanIn.org. They highlight the deep fatigue and burnout women experience as they rise into senior leadership.
They reflect on the emotional and logistical realities that the data doesn’t always capture:
– women reaching the top of the ladder only to find exhaustion waiting for them
– the cultural pressure in the U.S. to “do it all” without asking for help
– the double standard where men receive quiet support systems while women feel judged for needing them
– the loneliness of leadership, especially for women of color
– the guilt that comes with caregiving and boundary-setting
– the absence of sponsorship and empathetic leadership in many workplaces
Grounded in personal stories—from missing their children’s milestones to carving out time for family despite career demands—they illustrate how women are not less ambitious; they’re simply navigating systems designed without them in mind.
The episode ends with a call for leaders everywhere to build cultures rooted in trust, compassion, humane expectations, and real support—because meaningful leadership is not about suffering in silence; it’s about helping others rise with you.
Referenced in this episode:
McKinsey & Company: “Women in the Workplace Report”
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/women-in-the-workplace
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