Lonely at the Top

Teresa Low is a former CMO with 25-plus years leading global brands and teams, including Hershey's, Beam Suntory, and Courvoisier. Originally from Singapore, Teresa spent three decades climbing the corporate ladder in the U.S. before stepping away to become an executive coach. She now helps high-performing women leaders articulate who they are, own their value, and be seen in the right light.

This episode of Lonely at the Top is about the invisible cost of carrying everything quietly, the good girl conditioning that keeps high-achieving women over-functioning, and learning to trust yourself enough to stop earning your belonging. Teresa opens up about being so good at appearing like she "had it all together" that people simply assumed she was fine, even as burnout and resentment built quietly underneath for decades. She shares candidly about being the only woman, and often the only foreigner, in rooms full of executives, the isolating feeling of not speaking the unspoken cultural language of a group, and the identity crisis that hit when she finally left her CMO title behind to build something of her own.

Episode Highlights

• Why Teresa became so skilled at carrying things quietly that people assumed she was fine, and the toll that took over decades of high-level leadership
• The loneliness of being the only woman and only foreigner in the room, and how "good girl conditioning" trains women not to inconvenience others or ask for help
• The identity crisis of letting go of a corporate title after three decades and learning to trust herself without a label to hide behind

Connect with Teresa Low

Website: Teresa Low Consulting: https://www.teresalowconsulting.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresalow/
Substack: https://teresalow1260.substack.com/

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Fernanda Brasileiro spent 20 years in global operations leadership, working in corporate supply chain planning for companies like Krispy Kreme, and serving major clients including McDonald's, Starbucks, and Chick-fil-A. After leaving her full-time corporate role, Fernanda now offers consulting, workshop facilitation, and coaching for supply chain analytics and leadership development.

This episode of Lonely at the Top is about the hidden costs of corporate leadership, the challenge of psychological safety, and learning to build self-trust after years of chasing external validation. Fernanda opens up about leading teams that ranged from 20 to 50 people, the thankless, unmeasured work of being a nurturing leader, and a psychological safety workshop that fell apart so badly it felt like an episode of The Office. She also shares candidly about the zero boundaries she held with work at the height of her career, the toll it took on her health, and how she's since redefined success through self-compassion and internal validation rather than proving her worth to others.

Episode Highlights

• Fernanda's experience leading teams of 20 to 50 people across corporate supply chain planning and the invisible, thankless labor of being a nurturing leader
• Why she pushed for psychological safety training at a company where leaders were quietly criticizing employees in real time during meetings, and how the resulting workshop fell apart
• The zero boundaries she held during the peak of her career, working 50 to 70 hours a week while managing her household, three kids, and her hobbies
• How chasing external validation and trying to "prove herself" led to declining health, and what shifted once she discovered IFS (Internal Family Systems)
• Why she now tells corporate employees to invest in their own development rather than waiting for their company to approve or pay for it

Connect with Fernanda Brasileiro

Website: Fernanda Brasileiro
Newsletter: Passion for People Development (on LinkedIn)

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Ricky Powell is a Happiness Architect, executive happiness coach, and culture transformation strategist who spent 25 years inside NBC Universal, including nine years working under a supervisor whose behavior left him questioning who he could trust. Behind his successful corporate career, Ricky faced workplace toxicity, betrayal, isolation, and the pressure of protecting his career while navigating a deeply difficult relationship.

This episode of Lonely at the Top is about standing up for yourself, finding strength through personal development, and how to respond when circumstances are outside your control. Ricky opens up about the nine-year experience with a toxic supervisor that ultimately changed the direction of his life, the meticulous records he kept to protect himself, and the moment those records became critical to saving his career. He shares how discovering the study of happiness, meaning, purpose, and personal development helped him move through an incredibly difficult period and eventually led him toward his work helping others create happier, healthier workplaces.

Episode Highlights

• Ricky's experience navigating nine years with a toxic and manipulative supervisor
• Why he began documenting lies, sabotage, and workplace incidents and how those records ultimately protected him
• How personal development and the study of happiness helped Ricky survive an incredibly difficult chapter
• The difference between feeling pain and practicing toxic positivity
• Ricky's philosophy that life is 10% what happens and 90% how we respond
• Why language matters, and how changing “I have to” into “I get to” can shift our perspective

Connect with Ricky Powell

Website: Lifelong Happiness
Cellphone: 805-279-4222

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Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell is a native Hawaiian scholar, wayfinder, oral historian, and founder of Co3, Co-Creating Cohesive Communities. Grounded in ALOHA and guided by purpose, she helps leaders and communities navigate complexity while honoring people, place, culture, and relationships. But behind her accomplishments and years of leadership, Dr. Gerry has also faced isolation, imposter syndrome, burnout, and the painful realization that carrying more does not necessarily mean leading better.

This episode of Lonely at the Top is about redefining leadership, finding your way back to who you are, and learning that you don't have to carry everything alone. Dr. Gerry opens up about leaving a position of power that was taking a toll on her, the pressure to constantly prove her value, and the process of decolonizing herself and reconnecting with her Hawaiian identity. She shares how a painful moment with her grandson forced her to confront the impact of her words, leading her to develop a deeper understanding of ALOHA, self-regulation, accountability, and relationship-centered leadership.

Episode Highlights

• What it means to choose yourself when a position of power is no longer sustainable
• Moving beyond imposter syndrome and the need to constantly prove your worth
• Dr. Gerry's journey of decolonizing herself and reconnecting with her culture and identity
• How a powerful moment with her grandson changed the way she thought about her words and leadership
• The meaning of ALOHA and how asking, listening, observing, having heart, and adapting can transform relationships
• Why self-regulation and embodied leadership matter when navigating difficult conversations
• The difference between leadership that "powers over" people and leadership that empowers people
• Why taking accountability is an essential part of true leadership
• Learning that your capacity to carry something does not mean you're responsible for everything
• Why not every problem is yours to solve, not every person is yours to save, and not every room deserves your energy or your aloha

Connect with Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell

Website for Co3 Consulting
Dr. Gerry's Linkedin
Dr. Gerry's Email: [email protected]

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Shivani Mehta Bhatia has spent her career helping leaders navigate conflict, power, and organizational change. A facilitator, advisor, and writer, she works with senior leaders, particularly women of color, queer leaders, and mission-driven organizations, to transform conflict into insight, strengthen relationships, and build healthier organizations. Drawing on her background in public health, crisis response, and health equity, Shivani brings a deeply human perspective to what it means to lead when the stakes are high.

This episode of Lonely at the Top is about the courage to stay human in positions of power, and why conflict, when approached with care, can become a pathway to deeper trust rather than division.

Shivani shares how leading through the COVID-19 pandemic shaped her understanding of leadership, moral injury, and the emotional weight carried by those responsible for difficult decisions. Together, Rachel and Shivani explore accountability, public criticism, the fear of causing harm, and the relational skills every leader needs to steward power with wisdom instead of simply wielding it.

Episode Highlights

• How conflict resolution can become an invitation to deeper trust and stronger relationships
• The difference between accountability, shame, and genuine repair
• Navigating leadership criticism while discerning what feedback to receive, and what to let go
• Lessons from facilitating public health leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic
• What is moral injury and what to do about it
• Why sustainable leadership requires protecting your own humanity

Connect with Shivani Mehta Bhatia:

Website: https://shivani.co

Newsletter: Intimate Practice (available through her website)

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Vulnerability is often praised as one of the most important qualities of effective leadership, but timing matters. Sharing too much too soon can create confusion, erode confidence, and make it harder to navigate challenges, while never opening up at all can leave leaders feeling disconnected and isolated.

In this solo episode, host and executive coach Rachel Alexandria reflects on the lessons that emerged from her conversation with Sebastian and explores the delicate balance between authenticity and discernment.

Drawing from her experience as a former psychotherapist, executive coach, and public-facing leader, Rachel shares why she believes vulnerability is most impactful after you've found stability, how emotional maturity requires resisting extremes, and why the healthiest leadership isn't about appearing perfect or exposing everything. Through thoughtful reflections and practical insight, she offers a nuanced perspective on building trust, leading with authenticity, and knowing when your story is ready to be shared.

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Sebastian Martinez has dedicated his career to serving communities through advocacy, art, and leadership. As the Executive Director and CEO of Culture Shock San Diego and Deputy Executive Director of Community Advocates for Just and Moral Governance, he has spent years building spaces where people can thrive. But when public criticism, cyberbullying, and the pressures of leadership collided, Sebastian found himself facing one of the most difficult seasons of his life.

This episode of Lonely at the Top is about navigating public scrutiny and learning how to ask for help when the burden becomes too much to carry alone.

Sebastian opens up about stepping into a beloved organization with a 30-year legacy, the backlash that came with leading change, and the emotional toll of feeling responsible for everyone around him while struggling privately. He shares his experience with isolation, burnout, and a mental health crisis that forced him to rethink everything he believed about strength, vulnerability, and leadership. 

Episode Highlights

• The challenges of leading change in organizations with deep community roots
• How public criticism and cyberbullying impacted Sebastian's mental health
• Why leadership can feel incredibly lonely, even when you're surrounded by people
• The danger of believing you always have to be the strong one
• Learning to ask for help and accept support during difficult seasons
• How vulnerability became a turning point in Sebastian's leadership journey
• The difference between living in service to others and valuing yourself
• Why being "the fullness of your humanity" is essential for sustainable leadership

Connect with Sebastian Martinez
Sebastian Martinez's Instagram

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Email [email protected]
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When you’re searching for direction, rather than seeking outside guidance or reading other people's advice books, sometimes what you need is to slow down, listen deeply, and learn the language of your own inner guidance.

In this solo episode, host and Soul Medic Rachel Alexandria explores what it's like to trust yourself, especially when you’ve been conditioned not to. 

Drawing from her work with high-level leaders and her background in psychology and spirituality, she unpacks the difference between fear and intuitive knowing, how spirit communicates without urgency, and why clarity requires your active participation. Through personal reflections and a powerful story of receiving unexpected guidance, Rachel offers a grounded, nuanced perspective on how to partner with the unseen while staying rooted in your own sovereignty.

After decades of building a values-driven business and guiding spiritually centered entrepreneurs, Mark Silver has come to see leadership as a practice of deep listening, consent, and integrity.

This episode of Lonely at the Top explores leadership defined by relationship, accountability, and alignment with Something Greater.

What does it really means to lead in a world shaped by disconnection and noise? How can we cultivate inner clarity, emotional honesty, and consent-based communication not as a performance of leadership but as an integral part of how we lead others as well as how we show up in our own lives.

Through grounded wisdom and lived experience, Mark shares how leadership can feel less lonely when we build the right structures of support, stay rooted in our values, and learn to listen beyond the mind.

Episode Highlights

• The difference between cultural loneliness and leadership loneliness
•  Why consent-based communication is a critical (and missing) leadership skill
•  How to share authentically without overstepping emotional boundaries
•  The power of creating accountability structures in leadership and community
•  Why “messiness” needs context and how to choose where to process it
•  How spiritual alignment can guide business decisions and leadership direction
•  The role of listening vs. forcing outcomes in leadership
•  Why leadership, at its best, doesn’t doesn't have to cost you, but can expand you
•  How regenerative practices and nature can support leadership wellbeing
•  Why great leaders welcome correction, and say “thank you” for it
•  The importance of building circles where you don’t have to lead

Connect with Mark Silver

• HeartofBusiness.com
•  Book: Heart-Centered Business: Healing from Toxic Business Culture So Your Small Business Can Thrive
•  LinkedIn

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Dr. Pamela Lee has spent her career making life-or-death decisions in the operating room while carrying the pressure that comes with being one of the few women leading in surgery. As a colorectal surgeon, robotic surgery specialist, and Chair of Surgery at both Sharp Memorial Hospital and Sharp Reese Stealy Medical Group, Pamela operates in environments where mistakes carry enormous weight and everyone is looking to her for answers.

This episode of Lonely at the Top is about balancing confidence with humility, navigating the intense pressure of surgery, and learning how to lead ethically in environments shaped by ego, hierarchy, and relentless expectations.

Pamela opens up about the terrifying early years of surgery, the emotional toll leadership has taken on her family life, and the moments in the operating room where she’s had to steady herself under overwhelming pressure because “if I lose it, everybody around me loses it.” She also shares powerful insights on female leadership in medicine, the evolution of surgical culture, and why the best surgeons never stop learning.

Episode Highlights

•  What it feels like to carry the weight of life-or-death decisions in surgery
•  The hidden emotional toll of leadership in medicine and motherhood
•  Why the first years as a surgeon can feel incredibly isolating
•  Balancing confidence, ego, humility, and vulnerability in the operating room
•  How robotic surgery technology is transforming collaboration and patient care
•  The sacrifices leadership can place on family relationships and emotional bandwidth
•  Why the best leaders and surgeons remain curious and willing to learn

Connect with Dr. Pamela Lee
Dr. Pamela Lee’s LinkedIn

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