This week, Dr. Cynthia is joined by Melissa Aarskaug, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Growth at Druva, author of Renaissance, and a true architect of a career designed on purpose.

Melissa challenges one of the most common myths about success: that it's defined by titles. Instead, she shares how real momentum emerges when values, energy, and calendar align—and how her biggest breakthroughs occurred when she stopped chasing every opportunity and started choosing the right ones.

A married mother of four, Melissa didn't wait for permission. She designed her own lanes—blending leadership, cybersecurity, storytelling, boardrooms, and stages—to solve real problems and build meaningful impact. That same philosophy led her to found the Executive Connect podcast, creating the resource she once wished existed.

In this conversation, Melissa shares: • Why clarity cures more than we think • How to run your life like a portfolio (with quarters, tradeoffs, and non-negotiables) • Why small, consistent reallocations beat dramatic reinvention • How to redefine success through "heart work" and "why" work • The Maverick archetypes (Visionary, Builder, Connector) and how to know which one you need in your corner

This episode is a masterclass in designing a life and career that actually fits.

Connect with Dr-Cynthia

Website: cynthiabentzenmercer.com

LinkedIn: cynthiabentzenmercer

Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

Facebook: Dr. Cynthia

What happens when life brings more than you ever asked for...

and you choose to rise anyway?

In this powerful episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with keynote speaker, New York Times bestselling author, and human behavior expert Kim Becking for an unforgettable conversation on resilience, reinvention, and unstoppable momentum.

From a breast cancer diagnosis at 30 to becoming a national speaker, from navigating single motherhood and remarriage to caregiving, Kim shares how every season of hardship shaped her groundbreaking Unstoppable Momentum framework. Together, they unpack what it really means to not just bounce back, but bounce forward.

You'll learn:

• Why resilience today requires grit with grace

• How to stop, shift, and reframe your way through adversity

• Why rest, boundaries, and community are not weaknesses, but strategies

• How to quiet your "inner bully" and reconnect with joy

• Why momentum begins with permission to feel AND permission to heal

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by "so muchness," stuck in survival mode, or unsure how to move forward after life changes, this episode will meet you right where you are.

To learn more about Kim, visit her website.

Connect with Dr-Cynthia

Website: cynthiabentzenmercer.com

LinkedIn: cynthiabentzenmercer

Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

Facebook: Dr. Cynthia

In this episode, Dr. Cynthia sits down with career strategist and author John Tarnoff to explore what it really looks like to reinvent yourself mid-career.

John shares why your 40s, 50s, and beyond are actually your most strategic years and why resilience isn't about enduring more, but realigning your work with who you've become.

Together, they unpack: • how to pivot without "starting over." • why mid-career professionals have more leverage than they realize • the difference between resilience and burnout • how to build a career that reflects your actual value

If you're navigating change, craving clarity, or thinking about what's next, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Connect with Dr-Cynthia

Website: cynthiabentzenmercer.com

LinkedIn: cynthiabentzenmercer

Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

Facebook: Dr. Cynthia

What if the voice in your head telling you "you're not ready"... is simply wrong?

This week, Dr. Cynthia is joined by Nina Blackshear, who breaks down the truth about imposter phenomenon and the sneaky ways it undermines even the most accomplished leaders. Together, they explore why your brain sends false danger signals, how to separate facts from fear, and the mindset shifts that help leaders rise into their next level without carrying self-doubt along with them.

If you've ever felt like you're not enough—even when all evidence says otherwise—this conversation is for you.

Connect with Dr-Cynthia

Website: cynthiabentzenmercer.com

LinkedIn: cynthiabentzenmercer

Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

Facebook: Dr. Cynthia

We're entering a new era of leadership—one where connection isn't "nice to have," it's the entire strategy.

In this episode, Dr. Michelle K. Johnston shares why the old command-and-control playbook is collapsing and how leaders who prioritize authentic human connection are winning in culture, retention, impact, and well-being. She breaks down the seismic shift happening inside organizations today and explains how to rehumanize your leadership approach—starting with yourself.

We cover:

• Why productivity and connection are not opposing forces
• How to prioritize relationships and results—without burning out
• The 7 shifts for leading with heart, presence, and authenticity

If you're ready to lead in a way that feels more aligned, more human, and more effective—this conversation will shift you.

✨ Connect with Dr. Michelle K. Johnston

Linkedin:michelle-johnston

Website: michellekjohnston.com

💼 Connect with Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer

Website: cynthiabentzenmercer.com

LinkedIn: cynthiabentzenmercer

What if happiness isn't something you chase—but something you build? In this uplifting episode, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with Michele Phillips, author of Happiness Is a Habit and Energize Your Happiness, to unpack the neuroscience behind joy, resilience, and energy.

Michele shares how micro-habits can rewire your brain, boost your performance, and transform your energy from the inside out. Together, they explore what it means to "write your own outcome," how to climb out of burnout one small win at a time, and why contagious positivity is a true leadership superpower.

Key themes:

• The 90-day rule for building lasting habits
• How to shift from stress to flow using neuroscience
• The "energy brand" you project—and how to elevate it
• Get ready to rethink happiness not as a mood, but as a skill you can master.

✨ Connect with Michele Phillips

Instagram: @keyperformance

Website & Book: energizeyourhappiness.com

💼 Connect with Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer

Website: cynthiabentzenmercer.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cynthiabentzenmercer

What if you never had to feel "stuck" in your career again?

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with Gavriella Schuster, a visionary tech executive and former Microsoft leader who reinvented herself 14 times in 25 years.

Gavriella shares how she charted her path with intention—from mapping her next two jobs in advance to creating her own part-time role before "flex work" even existed. She also reveals her groundbreaking ALLY framework, helping leaders everywhere turn good intentions into real inclusion.

Key themes:

• Building equity in yourself, not just your company

• How to plan your career two jobs ahead

• Turning setbacks into stretch opportunities

• Practicing everyday allyship that actually works

Gavriella's story is proof that intentionality—and courage—are the ultimate career accelerators.

Connect with Gavriella Schuster: 💼 LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer:

🌐 cynthiabentzenmercer.com

📸 Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer

When life falls apart, how do you find your way forward?

Former USA gymnast, Emmy-winning news anchor, and bestselling author Nina Sossamon-Pogue joins Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to share her powerful T.H.I.S. framework — a science-backed roadmap for navigating life's toughest chapters with resilience and grace. From career setbacks and divorce to rediscovering joy in midlife, Nina reveals how to adapt in a positive way to whatever life throws at you.

You'll learn:

• The 4 steps of Nina's T.H.I.S. method: Timeline, Humans, Isolate, Story
• Why "comparison is the thief of joy" (and how to stop it)
• How to rewrite your story when life doesn't go as planned

This conversation is an empowering reminder that no matter your this, there's always a way forward — and it starts with the story you tell yourself.

Connect with Nina Sossamon-Pogue:

📸 Instagram: @ninaspeaks

Connect with Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer:

🌐 cynthiabentzenmercer.com

📸 Instagram: @drcynthiabentzenmercer

💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer

What if every setback you've had was actually part of your success story?

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with Latha Jay, a spiritual manifestation coach and Ayurvedic practitioner who blends neuroscience, spirituality, and ancient wisdom to help people consciously create the lives they desire. From leaving medical school and launching multiple careers to mastering the art of manifestation, Latha shares how following joy—not perfection—led her to purpose.

You'll learn how to:

• Transform "failure" into valuable feedback that guides your calling
• Use Latha's 24-7 Manifestation Method to rewire your beliefs
• Break cycles of repetition and self-doubt through shadow work
• Bring mindfulness, self-compassion, and conscious creation into your daily life

By the end, you'll see that the life you want isn't out of reach—it's already within you, waiting to be claimed. 🌿

Connect with Latha Jay: 🌐 LathaJay.com 📸 Instagram: @LathaJay

🎙️ Connect with host Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

What if your biggest reinvention came after 50?

Sally Mueller, Co-founder & CEO of Womaness, is on a mission to flip the script on menopause and aging. After a powerhouse career with brands like Target, Who What Wear, and VERSED, Sally found herself navigating menopause—and a massive gap in products, education, and honest conversation. So she built the solution herself.

In this inspiring episode, Sally shares how she launched a movement for #Menopositivity, started a venture-backed company in her late 50s, and redefined what it means to thrive in midlife.

You'll hear:

• How Sally turned a personal health challenge into a global brand
• Why menopause isn't a problem—it's a power shift
• The truth about launching a business later in life (and what it really takes)

This is the episode every ambitious woman needs to hear—whether you're in midlife, approaching it, or simply ready to embrace your next chapter with confidence.

🔗 Connect with Sally Mueller: Website: www.womaness.com Instagram: @mywomaness | @thesallym LinkedIn: Sally Mueller | Womaness Facebook: Womaness

🎙️ Connect with host Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer: Website | Instagram