The unCorporate Leader | Leadership, Communication, Teamwork, Productivity, Strategy
The un-Corporate Leader: next-level leadership—without next-level burnout
Did you think that making it into a leadership position would mean your job would get easier? Do you look back and realize you were wrong when you used to think, “If I had the chance, I could do it better?”
Being “closer to the sun (aka. the c-suite)” isn't always easier. The politics get thicker, the demands come from even more places and the strengths that helped you get promoted, seem to have become your new weaknesses. For many of us, we assumed that autonomy would increase as we climbed the ladder, but the truth is you have more people to please in order to get your work done.
I know, because I experienced this phenomena for decades in my career in tech. Whether it was the promotion to Director, the appointment to VP or finally stepping into the C-suite, there was always more to balance and more to navigate. On top of that, there were shifts I needed to make in how I thought about and ran my team and organization. I struggled with my identity and with managing myself, while managing everyone else so we could get things done. If quite cracking had been a thing while I was on the inside, I would have raised my hand and said, “yes that’s me”.
But, I did it! I had a successful career in tech, so much so that I was able to retire at 45. I have mentored, coached and taught others how to approach their jobs differently and I can teach you too.
If you are ready to think more strategically, run your team more effectively and lead with executive presence, then this podcast is for you. Within these episodes you will learn how to hack your job, with proven tools and methodologies that will allow you to easily grow and scale as you continue on your leadership journey. Who knows, it might even give you what you need, to strive for the next level, without burnout!
Grab your Starbucks, sparkling water, or your wine (no judgement here) and cozy up to hear what it takes to navigate this changing corporate world while maintaining your sanity and NOT giving up on your leadership dreams.
Want to get access to The unCorporate Leader community AND get a chance to receive a Clarity Convo worth $375 (yours FREE if accepted)? Join me here, today!
If you have a question or comment, feel free to contact me at: silvia@heysilvia.com
Listen on:
Episodes
2 days ago
2 days ago
10 min
Hey un-Corporate Leader,
Welcome to Episode 11 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week we're diving into a 3-step audit for ensuring an effective Strategic Plan.
Whether your Strategic Plan is brand new or has been in place for a while without gaining traction, this episode will help you figure out what's working — and where you might need to change your approach.
In this week's episode, we'll cover:
Why your Strategic Plan isn't gaining traction
The one area you need to focus on to make the biggest impact
Whether you are unintentionally creating more work for your team
Have you accidentally left people in the dark on key constraints or parameters
Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️
Referenced in Today's Episode:
EP3: The 5 Questions That Help Create a Best-in-Class Strategic Plan
Join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com
Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.
Jul 6, 2026
Jul 6, 2026
18 min
Hey un-Corporate Leader,
Welcome to Episode 10 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week, we're talking about showing up and maintaining Executive Presence in meetings.
Whether we like it or not, people will judge you on a first impression. When you have limited time, you need to take control.
Even if this is something you already do well, use these steps to teach others on your team how to do the same — and take control of your team brand. The better you and your team is thought of, the easier it will be to influence for success!
In this week's episode, we cover:
Being prepared in the context of meetings, especially difficult ones. This is a key leadership skill every leader needs to master.
How to Elevate Your Talking Points — Using effective communication to succinctly share why what you're presenting matters at the right level for the room.
Practicing your pitch — Practice yes, but how you do this and WHY it impacts your leadership style to help your brand.
Taking in the Feedback – Listening deeply is leadership gold and essential to help you influence further, driving better impact for your organization.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️
Referenced in Today's Episode:
Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com
EP6: 3 Steps to Influence and Executive
Want more clarity? If you're navigating a culture fit situation and not sure how to handle it, apply for a Clarity Call with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5
Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.
Jun 29, 2026
Jun 29, 2026
22 min
Hey un-Corporate Leader,
Welcome to Episode 9 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week we tackle one of the most misused phrases in leadership: culture fit.
You know what it's like — something feels off with a team member, and you can't quite put your finger on it. So you call it a culture fit issue. But if that's all you've got, that's a problem — and a legal and bias risk you don't want to ignore.
Handled correctly though, culture fit is one of the most powerful tools you have as a leader. The key? You have to actually define it.
In this week's episode, we'll cover:
Why "culture fit" without definition is a slippery slope full of bias and legal risk
What culture fit actually means — and why it's about the HOW, not just the WHAT
How to define your culture in behavioral terms so you can hire, manage, and have real conversations with confidence
Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️
Referenced in Today's Episode:
Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com
Podcast Episodes: https://theuncorporateleader.com/podcast/
EP8: You Don't Have a Talent Problem (Yet)
EP3: The 5 questions that help create a best-in-class strategic plan
Want more clarity? If you're navigating a culture fit situation and not sure how to handle it, apply for a Clarity Call with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5
Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.
Jun 22, 2026
Jun 22, 2026
15 min
Hey un-Corporate Leader,podc
Welcome to Episode 8 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week we tackle one of the most common frustrations I hear from leaders: What do I do when I have a talent problem?
You know what it's like — someone on your team isn't delivering, and you're already mentally drafting the corrective action plan. But what if the issue isn't them? What if the real gap is clarity — and it starts with you?
In this week's episode, we'll cover:
Why focusing on talent too soon can actually slow you down
How to audit whether the real problem is expectations, not performance
The simple conversation framework that helps employees rise to the occasion — or self-select out
Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️
Referenced in Today's Episode:
Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com
Podcast Episodes: https://theuncorporateleader.com/podcast/
EP7: The 3 steps to see why your organization isn’t delivering
EP2: 4 Behaviors to implement for Strategic Leadership
Want more clarity? If you're stuck on a people situation and not sure whether it's them or the system around them, apply for a Clarity Call with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5
Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.
Jun 15, 2026
Jun 15, 2026
17 min
Hey un-Corporate Leader,
Welcome to Episode 7 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week we take a moment, as Leaders, to diagnose our organization when it isn't quite working.
You know what it's like — you think you have all the pieces in place, and yet it still seems really hard to get things done. You assume you have the right talent, communication, and resources, but something is still off.
In my capacity as HR Business Partner, I was often sent in when organizations weren't delivering. It seemed like it might be a talent issue, but leadership was unsure. Every time, I would use this 3-step audit to see where the dysfunction was within the org — and now you can do the same.
In this week's episode, we'll cover:
Why the talent isn't always the problem
How to step-by-step audit your org to better understand what truly needs to change
Check in to see if you need a little help to better see what's wrong in your org
Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️
Referenced in Today’s Episode:
Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com
Podcast Episodes: https://theuncorporateleader.com/podcast/
Episode 3 – The 5 questions that help create a best-in-class strategic plan
Episode 2 – The 4 Behaviors You Need to Implement to Become a Strategic Leader – including the almighty 80/20 rule
Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5
Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.
Jun 8, 2026
Jun 8, 2026
15 min
Hey un-Corporate Leader,
Welcome to Episode 6 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where this week we're diving into 3 Steps to Influence Any Executive.
You know the moment. You've laid out the perfect rollout plan for your project, program, or strategy — and then you're asked to have just one more conversation with that exec.
You happily schedule a quick 30-minute chat, fully expecting it to wrap in 15. But you're barely two slides in when the whole thing goes sideways.
If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.
In this week's episode, we'll cover:
How to pivot when your "easy" meeting gets hijacked by someone else's triggers — and the leadership skills to get it back on track
How to identify your allies before you need them — a critical part of leadership development
The key to effective communication with senior executives — even the difficult ones
How to spot potential detractors and navigate around them before it's too late
Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode. 🎙️
Referenced in Today’s Episode:
Join the Community If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com
Triggered by Triggers: Blog post with the neuroscience behind being triggered https://theuncorporateleader.com/blog/
Episode 5 - The 3 Leadership Skills that Create Executive Presence: https://theuncorporateleader.com/podcast/
Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5
Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.
Jun 1, 2026
Jun 1, 2026
24 min
Hey un-Corporate Leader,
Welcome to Episode 5 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where we focus on Executive Presence. In a world where it is hard to determine what the "right" Leadership Qualities are, we explore the amorphous world of Executive Presence, what it is, and the 3 Leadership Strategies you need to execute against to be seen as a true leader.
You can be the best at your job, but if you aren't seen as having Executive Presence there will be a limit to how far you can go. Don't just focus on dressing the part and having a good PowerPoint — focus on:
Ensuring you and your team are highly thought of — a cornerstone of strong Leadership Traits
Practicing Effective Communication by listening and asking clarifying questions before moving forward on new endeavors
Spending time understanding the larger landscape and articulating your Strategy for what's next
There are many layers and nuggets here, so grab your drink of choice and enjoy this week's episode!
Best,
Silvia
Join the Community! If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com
Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.
Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5
May 25, 2026
May 25, 2026
20 min
Hey un-Corporate Leader,
Welcome to Episode 4 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where we focus on your number 1 Leadership Skill as a Leader.
Even if you have done all the work to create the best Strategic Plan, it doesn't guarantee that your team will execute against the plan. Because of this you must focus on one thing and one thing only to ensure success.
That said, this is something that is simple, but it isn't always easy. So, grab your drink of choice to listen to this week’s episode.
Best, Silvia
Join the Community! If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at https://theuncorporateleader.com/
Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.
Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5
May 18, 2026
May 18, 2026
24 min
Hey un-Corporate Leader,
Welcome to Episode 3 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where we focus on the 5 questions that help create a best-in-class Strategic Plan.
Here is the thing, if you are feeling pulled in all directions, asked to do more with less, while constantly putting out other people's fires, then you may have a problem with your Strategic Plan Process.
There have been moments when I've inherited a team, gone into an interim gig and found that the team had no idea what to focus on. Instead of being able to focus on the critical few, they have to deal with the trivial many.
This leads to overwhelm, stress, confusion and A LOT of re-work. If you are ready to begin pairing down your and your team's workload — let's tackle it with this simple Strategy framework.
By the way, I've been there — and I've helped hundreds of leaders just like you not only survive but thrive through best-in-class Strategic Planning, and I know this will help you too.
What are we covering?
What it means to be a "Lazy Overachiever" and why it matters to your Strategic Plan
What a Strategic Plan really is and why its set-up is essential to ensuring you aren't overtaxed at work
The 5 questions that will help you create a best-in-class Strategic Plan Process
Why a good Strategy helps you say "no" so you can get time back
Bonus: An example of creating a best-in-class culture by using the 5 questions of a best-in-class Strategic Plan
Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode.
Best, Silvia
Join the Community! If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at www.uncorporateleader.com
Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.
Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5
May 11, 2026
May 11, 2026
26 min
Hey un-Corporate Leader,
Welcome to Episode 2 of the un-Corporate Leader Podcast — where we focus on the 4 Behaviors to Implement for Strategic Leadership.
I get it. You feel pulled in all directions, asked to do more with less, while constantly putting out other people's fires. I've been there — and I've helped hundreds of leaders just like you not only survive but thrive through Leadership Development.
In this week's episode, we'll cover:
Why climbing the corporate ladder without Leadership Coaching won't actually make things easier
Why understanding and staying grounded in your Strategy is the superpower that will make the difference for you
Why focusing on just 4 behaviors will help you develop your Leadership Qualities
Why becoming a "Lazy Overachiever" is something to aspire to for your sanity
And bonus, learn a quick Leadership Coaching tip on how to pause and protect your priorities.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy this week's episode.
Best, Silvia
Join the Community! If you haven't already, join the un-Corporate Leader Community at theuncorporateleader.com
Got questions? I have answers! Send them to silvia@heysilvia.com and I may answer yours on a future episode.
Want more clarity? If something's not working and you suspect burnout might be creeping in, apply for a Clarity Conversation with Silvia — limited spots are available now: https://forms.gle/LFL6m7LkR4qwaUhu5