Female Fridays

Why High Achievers Stop Listening to Themselves with Life Coach Rachel Zurer

Most high achievers are really good at thinking their way through life. We analyze. We strategize. We push forward. But what happens when success on paper doesn’t feel aligned on the inside? In this episode of Female Fridays, I’m joined by life coach Rachel Zurer to talk about something many ambitious professionals struggle with: learning how to listen to their body instead of constantly overriding it. For many of us, success comes from pushing through discomfort. We’ve been rewarded for ignoring our gut feelings, intellectualizing our problems, and staying productive no matter what. But over time, that can disconnect us from what we actually want. Rachel works with high achievers who want deeper meaning in their lives and careers. Through body-based practices and thought work, she helps people reconnect with their internal “yes” and “no” signals so they can make decisions that feel aligned rather than forced. In our conversation, we explore why so many successful people eventually reach a moment of asking, Is this the mountain I actually wanted to climb? Rachel also shares a simple exercise to help you recognize the difference between a “whole body yes” and a subtle “no”—a powerful tool for making clearer decisions in your career, leadership, and personal life. If you’ve ever felt successful on paper but still a little disconnected inside, this episode is for you. KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE * Why high achievers often disconnect from their body’s signals * What a “whole-body yes” actually feels like * How overthinking can become a coping mechanism * Cultural conditioning around productivity and achievement * The fear that comes with making aligned decisions * Practical ways to start listening to your intuition and body signals RESOURCES MENTIONED Rachel's free guide: 15 Questions to Ask Yourself as Your Soul Business (or Next Career Move) Gestates Download the guide: https://wildgenius.com/soul-business [https://wildgenius.com/soul-business] Learn more about Rachel Zurer: https://wildgenius.com [https://wildgenius.com] CONNECT WITH ME Follow me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rachelschisler [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelschisler/] Subscribe to Female Fridays for conversations about leadership, ambition, and building a career that feels as good as it looks.

How to Grow a Personal Brand on LinkedIn with Christie Freeze

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your personal brand on LinkedIn without sounding self-promotional… this episode is for you. In today’s episode of Female Fridays, I’m sitting down with one of my industry besties, Christie Freeze, to talk about what it actually takes to build a personal brand that feels authentic, strategic, and effective. Christie has built a community of more than 12,000 followers on LinkedIn and is known across the senior living industry for her energy, positivity, and expertise in video sales. She’s the Director of Strategic Growth at SalesMail and the Founder and Author of Roadmap for Eldercare — but what I admire most is how intentionally she’s built her personal brand alongside her career. This conversation isn’t just about posting tips. It’s about confidence, clarity, and visibility. Together, we talk about: * How to identify your personal brand (even if you don’t feel like an expert yet) * What to do if your job changes, and whether your brand should change too * How to grow your LinkedIn following strategically * Whether video or static posts perform better on LinkedIn * How often you should post to build momentum * How to use AI (like ChatGPT) for LinkedIn content without sounding robotic * How to create content pillars so you’re never staring at a blank screen * What to do if coworkers or leadership judge you for being visible * Why consistency matters more than perfection Christie also shares how building her LinkedIn presence opened doors to speaking opportunities, partnerships, and professional growth, and how showing up before you feel fully confident can accelerate your career in ways you can’t predict. If you’re a professional, entrepreneur, sales leader, or woman in leadership who wants to grow your visibility on LinkedIn in 2026, this episode will give you both tactical tools and mindset shifts to help you start. Because personal branding is about becoming essential in the rooms you want to be in. If you loved this episode, share it with someone who’s been thinking about building their brand. And if you’re ready to stop lurking and start posting...let this be your sign! Follow Christie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiefreeze/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelschisler/

How to Network Inside Your Organization (Without Feeling Awkward) with Author Rachel B Simon

How to Network at Work: Internal Networking Strategies for Career Growth With Rachel Simon | Female Fridays Want to know how to network at work — without feeling fake, pushy, or transactional? In this episode of Female Fridays, I break down practical strategies for internal networking, career visibility, and relationship building at work with Rachel Simon, former AT&T executive and author of Relationships at Work. A few years ago, I challenged myself to have 50 networking conversations in one year. That decision increased my sales, expanded my influence, and opened doors I didn’t even know existed. But here’s the twist: the most powerful networking strategy isn’t outside your company. It’s inside it. If you’ve ever asked: * How do I network within my company? * How do I ask a coworker for coffee? * How do introverts network at conferences? * Do I really need networking for career growth? * How do women get more visibility at work? This episode answers those questions. We cover: * Internal networking strategies that actually work * What to say when requesting a networking coffee * Who should pay for networking lunches * Conversation tips for introverts and extroverts * How to follow up after conferences or happy hours * Why women need advocates and sponsors — not just hard work Your career isn’t just about the what and the how. It’s about the who. Who knows your work?  Who talks about you when you’re not in the room?  Who advocates for your promotion? If you’ve been relying on doing great work alone, this episode is your reminder: visibility and relationships drive career advancement. Reframe networking as authentic relationship building — and watch what it unlocks. Grab Rachel Simon’s book, Relationships at Work: https://www.amazon.com/Relationships-Work-Authentically-Network-Company/dp/1637555377 [https://www.amazon.com/Relationships-Work-Authentically-Network-Company/dp/1637555377] Connect with Rachel Simon on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-b-simon-ab306a18b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-b-simon-ab306a18b/] Connect with me (Rachel Keller):  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelschisler/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelschisler/]

When the Dream Changes: Mimi Godin on Outgrowing Your Plan and Finding a Bigger Purpose

What happens when the dream you’ve been chasing for years no longer fits? After building a career across hundreds of dental practices, Mimi Godin landed the job she’d worked toward for years — only to realize six months later it wasn’t what she expected. In this honest conversation, she opens up about what it felt like to walk away from her “dream job,” navigate guilt and uncertainty, and follow curiosity into a completely new chapter of leadership. Today, as Senior Director of Dental Hygiene & Practice Development at Canada’s largest DSO, DentalCorp,  Mimi leads with a mindset that bridges clinical care and business outcomes — proving that success doesn’t mean climbing higher; it means staying aligned with what matters most. Whether you work in dentistry or not, this episode is for the high achiever with evolving dreams — the one wondering what’s next when the plan suddenly changes.  In This Episode * The surprising reality of being the first hygienist in a practice — and what it taught her about leadership * How curiosity (not planning) became Mimi’s greatest career strategy * The emotional truth of realizing your “dream job” isn’t the right fit * Navigating the tension between patient care and business outcomes * Redefining success as progress, not perfection Connect Follow Mimi Godin, MBA on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mimigodin/] Follow Rachel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelschisler/]

When Proving Yourself Is Exhausting: How to Reprioritize and Find Peace with Dr. Mariz Tanious

What happens when the drive to prove yourself collides with the pressure to be perfect? In this episode of Female Fridays, I sit down with Dr. Mariz Tanious [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariz-tanious-dds/], Chief Dental Officer at Affinity Dental Management, who shares her deeply personal journey from struggling student to executive leader—and how learning to rest became her greatest act of resilience. From being an immigrant child navigating a new language to leading at the highest levels of dentistry, Dr. T’s story is one of faith, belief in herself, and grace. She opens up about what it means to lead as a woman in a male-dominated field, to parent a child with autism while building a demanding career, and to finally give herself permission to slow down. Resources & Mentions * Cella & Rose Candles [https://cellaandrose.com/] * Connect with Dr. Mariz Tanious on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariz-tanious-dds/] * Learn more about Affinity Dental Management [https://affinitydm.com/]