
254: The Invisible Load: Leadership Shouldn’t Cost Your Wellbeing
Are you doing everything “right” at work—and still being told it’s not enough?
If you’re constantly overdelivering but still feel like you’re falling short, you’re not alone. For women in leadership—especially in tech—there’s often a hidden, unspoken weight we carry: the emotional labor, the expectations to nurture, lead, represent, and accommodate. This invisible workload isn’t part of your job description, but it shapes how you lead, how you’re perceived, and how your executive presence is judged.
Let’s talk about what that invisible load really is—and why it’s quietly holding you back!
In this episode, I unpack the unseen pressures women leaders face and explore how this hidden weight contributes to burnout, self-doubt, and feeling like you’re always behind—no matter how hard you work. From unspoken DEI expectations to caregiving responsibilities and the pressure to be a role model, I break down why this load exists, how to recognize it, and most importantly—how to lighten it.
“It isn’t that you have to work harder…it’s that you’re carrying too much of the stuff that isn’t getting you recognized.” — Toni Collis