When Does It Get Good?

E32: ADHD: The Hidden Engine Behind My Success (and Struggle)

Getting diagnosed with ADHD at 47 changed the way Zovig Garboushian sees everything – her drive, her emotions, her past, and the pressure she’s always put on herself to hold it all together.   This episode is less of a lesson and more of a moment. Zovig shares what it’s like to be in the middle of something big: a late diagnosis that’s bringing clarity, grief, relief, and a whole lot of questions. How do you process a lifetime of feeling “too much” or “not enough” when you realize your brain has been wired differently all along? What does ADHD in women actually look like, especially in high performers who never thought it applied to them?   Zovig talks openly about patterns she used to dismiss or joke about, and how those quirks now make more sense through the lens of ADHD. Her story reflects what so many women experience: going undiagnosed for years because they don’t fit the loud, restless stereotype. Instead, they get labeled as intense, emotional, forgetful, or inconsistent, until something clicks and the pieces finally start to fit.   If you’ve ever questioned why you operate the way you do, or felt frustrated by patterns you can’t seem to shake, this episode offers a new lens and a lot of validation.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Personal Revelation and ADHD Diagnosis 01:24 Misconceptions About ADHD in Women 04:15 What the ADHD Assessment Was Really Like 05:29 The Emotional Impact of Getting Diagnosed 07:01 How ADHD Affects Relationships 08:45 High Performance, Creativity, and Burnout 10:43 Self-Discovery and What Comes Next 13:26 The Emotional Side of ADHD 14:08 A Message for Listeners   Links Connect with Zovig Garboushian: Website: http://www.boldnessablaze.com/ [http://www.boldnessablaze.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoviggarboushian/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoviggarboushian/] Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm [http://hivecast.fm]

E31: Not a Monster, Just Misunderstood: Unpacking the Abrasive Leader Archetype with Catherine Mattice

Most abrasive leaders don’t realize they’re causing harm until the culture breaks and someone finally says it out loud.   Catherine Mattice, the CEO and founder of Civility Partners, has spent years coaching leaders who’ve been called a workplace bully but who don’t see themselves that way. In this episode, Catherine joins Zovig Garboushian to break down what really drives abrasive leadership, how it quietly fuels toxic workplace dynamics, and why so many leaders stay silent instead of addressing it.   Is being high-performing enough if people around you feel silenced or shut down? What’s the cost of avoiding hard conversations to keep a top performer happy? And how can executive coaching turn a pattern of damage into a chance for growth?   Catherine shares how she uses direct, honest feedback to help leaders understand their impact and rebuild trust. From the subtle signals of culture erosion to the big organizational risks that come from letting bad behavior slide, this episode challenges leaders to take a harder look at how company culture is shaped and what happens when no one speaks up.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Understanding the Abrasive Leader 03:17 How Toxic Behavior Impacts Company Culture 09:00 Executive Coaching for Workplace Bullies 14:01 Why Employers Avoid Confronting High Performers 20:29 The Cost of Fear in Leadership 31:21 Toxic vs. Tough Leadership Styles 42:16 A Message to Abrasive Leaders   Links Connect with Catherine Mattice: Navigating Toxic Work Environments For Dummies Pre-order: https://civilitypartners.com/navigating-a-toxic-workplace-for-dummies/ [https://civilitypartners.com/navigating-a-toxic-workplace-for-dummies/] Website: https://civilitypartners.com/ [https://civilitypartners.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinemattice/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinemattice/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/civilitypartners/ [https://www.instagram.com/civilitypartners/]   Connect with Zovig Garboushian: Website: http://www.boldnessablaze.com/ [http://www.boldnessablaze.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoviggarboushian/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoviggarboushian/] Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm [http://hivecast.fm]

E30: Are You Doing Change Management Wrong? Probably

Top-down change is easy to mandate but nearly impossible to make stick without the people it affects.   Why do so many leaders still default to pushing change from the top when it so often leads to resistance, confusion, or quiet disengagement? In this episode, Zovig Garboushian challenges the old playbook and shares a more human-centered approach to change management, one that invites participation, builds trust, and actually works.   Zovig unpacks the common ways people react to change—fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—and how leaders can spot these behaviors before they become roadblocks. You’ll hear why open-source change, a model that puts employees at the center of planning and implementation, leads to stronger outcomes and less pushback.   If you’re leading through change right now (or about to), you’ll walk away with clear ideas for building a real plan, communicating with purpose, and helping your team feel safe and supported through the messiness. Because resistance isn’t a problem to avoid. It’s a signal worth listening to.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Change Management 02:06 Ineffectiveness of Top-Down Change 03:44 Resistance to Change 05:00 Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn Responses 08:52 Addressing Resistance in Change Management 10:30 ProSci Framework for Change 13:32 Shifting Implementation to Employees 15:29 Focusing on Talking, Not Telling 18:42 Role of External Organizations in Change Management   Links Connect with Zovig Garboushian: Website: www.boldnessablazecoaching.com [http://www.boldnessablazecoaching.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoviggarboushian/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoviggarboushian/] Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm [http://hivecast.fm]

E29: Nice, But Useless: How Biased Feedback Holds Women Back with Dora Mołodyńska-Küntzel

Feedback can build careers or hold them back. When it’s vague, biased, or filled with adjectives instead of actions, it does more harm than good, especially for women.   Zovig Garboushian sits down with Dora Mołodyńska-Küntzel, a DEI trainer and consultant from Punt Kick, to talk about the hidden bias in giving feedback. Why do women get more personality-driven critiques while men receive clear, actionable advice? How does that impact performance, confidence, and career growth? Research shows a clear pattern, and the consequences reach far beyond individual employees.   Dora shares practical ways for leaders to check their own bias, shift from vague observations to behavior-based feedback, and create a culture where everyone gets the guidance they need to succeed. She challenges the idea that feedback bias is only a DEI issue—when employees don’t receive clear direction, businesses suffer too.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 02:53 Importance of Addressing Feedback Bias 05:57 Impact of Vague Feedback on Women 08:17 Role of Confidence in Feedback 10:02 Confusion Created by Contradictory Feedback 12:09 Organizational Impact of Biased Feedback 14:07 Recognizing and Addressing Personal Bias 17:02 Importance of Self-Reflection and Humility 20:20 Strategies for Receiving Better Feedback 24:20 Pushing Back on Vague Feedback 27:04 Organizational Strategies for Fair Feedback 31:10 Role of Psychological Safety in Feedback 32:08 Business Impact of Quality Feedback   Links Connect with Dora Mołodyńska-Küntzel : Website: www.puntkick.pl [http://www.puntkick.pl] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorakuntzel/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorakuntzel/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puntkick.pl [https://www.instagram.com/puntkick.pl]   Links to studies mentioned: https://explore.textio.com/feedback-bias-2024/language-bias-in-performance-feedback-2024 [https://explore.textio.com/feedback-bias-2024/language-bias-in-performance-feedback-2024] https://explore.textio.com/feedback-bias [https://explore.textio.com/feedback-bias] https://www.bain.com/insights/crisis-of-confidence-women-lose-faith-careers-infographic/ [https://www.bain.com/insights/crisis-of-confidence-women-lose-faith-careers-infographic/]   Bias Reduction Checklist https://www.puntkick.pl/bias-reduction-checklist [https://www.puntkick.pl/bias-reduction-checklist] Free Ebook on Inclusive Leadership: https://www.puntkick.pl/ebook [https://www.puntkick.pl/ebook] Link to the LinkedIn Post we mentioned: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dorakuntzel_gender-bias-in-feedback-activity-7274326972325916673-Z2YW?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAEqDREBjiJ_stnF64FelYqG1b8lxUtHtHc [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dorakuntzel_gender-bias-in-feedback-activity-7274326972325916673-Z2YW?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAEqDREBjiJ_stnF64FelYqG1b8lxUtHtHc]   Connect with Zovig Garboushian: Website: www.boldnessablazecoaching.com [http://www.boldnessablazecoaching.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoviggarboushian/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoviggarboushian/] Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm [http://hivecast.fm]

E28: The Myth of Being the Greatest with Joanna Lohman

Greatness isn’t about medals or rankings. It’s about showing up fully, embracing who you are, and meeting the moment with everything you’ve got.   How often do high performers and high achievers chase success but still feel like they’re falling short? Joanna Lohman, a former professional soccer player and performance igniter, knows that struggle firsthand. In this episode, she sits down with Zovig Garboushian to talk about breaking free from perfectionism and redefining what it really means to be great.   Joanna calls perfectionism the “anti-resilience,” a mindset that keeps people stuck in fear, comparison, and self-doubt. She shares how she moved beyond the pressure of external validation and found a deeper sense of fulfillment. Her journey offers a powerful lesson: success isn’t about chasing an impossible ideal. It’s about recognizing your own unique strengths, stepping fully into your role, and trusting that your contributions matter.   This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like they weren’t doing enough, despite giving everything they had. Joanna challenges listeners to rethink personal development, embrace the messy parts of growth, and shift their focus from being the best to showing up as their best.   Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:35 The Concept of Being Great Without Being the Greatest 02:17 Joanna’s Soccer Career and Challenges 04:44 Personal Identity Crisis and Coming Out 07:03 Family Reactions and Self-Acceptance 09:45 Nomadic Soccer Career and Realizations 12:10 Acknowledging Greatness in the Journey 13:04 Team Dynamics and Individual Contributions 15:20 Letting Go of Comparisons and Embracing Individual Greatness 17:38 Compassion vs. Comparison 20:00 Performance-Based Identity and Its Pitfalls 24:20 The Importance of Self-Compassion 25:09 Evolving Identity and Self-Reflection 28:00 Challenging Limiting Beliefs and Rewriting Narratives 30:00 Aligning Identity with Values 34:04 Perfectionism vs. Excellence 38:15 Meeting the Demands of the Moment 41:25 Embracing Discomfort and Growth 44:02 Closing   Links Connect with Joanna Lohman: Website: https://joannalohman.com/ [https://joannalohman.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannalohman15/ [https://www.instagram.com/joannalohman15/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannalohman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannalohman/]   Connect with Zovig Garboushian: Website: www.boldnessablazecoaching.com [http://www.boldnessablazecoaching.com] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoviggarboushian/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoviggarboushian/] Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm [http://hivecast.fm]