Climbing the Corporate Ladder without Breaking a Heel

Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer
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Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel is a leadership and career advancement podcast for ambitious women who want more than career advice. It explores the ideas shaping women in leadership, executive leadership, career growth, stronger organizations, and more intentional careers. Hosted by executive advisor, bestselling author, speaker, and Human Capital Strategist Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, each episode features conversations with respected executives, researchers, authors, entrepreneurs, board directors, and thought leaders. Together, they explore leadership development, career advancement, human capital strategy, organizational effectiveness, executive decision-making, workplace dynamics, and the future of work. At the center of the podcast is one foundational belief: Drift is the gradual movement away from what matters most and what is required for future success. In our careers, leadership, organizations, and lives, drift is rarely dramatic. It happens one decision, one compromise, and one missed opportunity at a time. Each conversation examines how exceptional leaders recognize early signals, identify emerging patterns, and choose direction before small misalignments become significant consequences. While the ideas are relevant to every leader, the conversations are intentionally framed for ambitious women navigating leadership, influence, career progression, executive careers, and the path to senior leadership. The goal isn't simply to climb higher. It's to build a career of significance, intention, and lasting impact.

  1. 1d ago

    Stop Doing Everyone Else's Job | Liz Weber

    Are you leading at the level you were hired to lead, or are you still doing work that should belong to someone else? Leadership expert Liz Weber, CSP, CMC, President of Weber Business Services, joins Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to unpack what it really takes to grow from a hands-on doer into a strategic leader. Liz shares her Five Stages of Focused Leadership Development, from doing and managing to strategic leadership, mentoring, and eventually building a team that can thrive through leadership transitions. She explains why so many leaders get stuck in the management stage, how taking work back from your team can quietly undermine delegation and accountability, and why leadership growth often requires doing less, not piling more onto an already overflowing plate. The conversation also dives into executive communication and workplace expectations, including the hidden message you may be sending when you fire off emails late at night or over the weekend. Liz explains how leaders can communicate more intentionally, create context before introducing change, and stop wasting energy on labels and outside perceptions. You'll learn how to: • Delegate without micromanaging or taking the work back • Move from tactical management to strategic leadership • Build accountability and critical thinking within your team • Create time and space to focus on the future of your organization • Develop and mentor talent at every level • Communicate expectations without creating unnecessary stress • Recognize when you're doing work that no longer belongs at your level • Prepare your team for growth, succession, and leadership transitions Liz leaves leaders with one deceptively simple question: Are you delivering what they hired you to do, or are you doing someone else's work? If you're an executive, manager, emerging leader, or ambitious professional trying to become a more strategic and effective leader, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what leadership development actually looks like, and what you may need to stop doing to reach the next level.

  2. Sep 15

    The Hidden Cost of Women Always Saying Yes | Dr. Wendy O'Connor

    What happens when being the woman who can handle everything starts costing you yourself? In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen Mercer sits down with Stanford-trained psychologist and coach Dr. Wendy O'Connor to unpack a pattern many high-achieving women know all too well: saying yes to everyone and everything while quietly saying no to themselves. Dr. O'Connor calls it self-abandonment. It happens when work, family, expectations, and endless obligations consistently take priority over your own needs, values, and well-being. Over time, those seemingly small choices can erode self-trust and lead to burnout, resentment, and feeling disconnected from the life you worked so hard to build. Together, Cynthia and Wendy explore why high-achieving, ambitioius women are especially prone to overfunctioning, how boundaries can protect your time and energy, and why "the answer is no" can be a powerful framework for making decisions that actually align with what you want. You'll also learn how to rebuild self-trust through small, everyday commitments rather than dramatic life overhauls, and how to start practicing "no" in low-stakes moments until advocating for yourself becomes second nature. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

  3. Sep 8

    Women in Leadership: What Happens After Breaking the Glass Ceiling | Julia C. Carreon

    What happens to women in leadership after they break the glass ceiling, only to find themselves being excluded, undermined, or pushed out? Julia C. Carreon, former Global Head of Platform and Experiences for Citi Wealth and co-author of Walking on Broken Glass, joins Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to examine workplace exclusion, self-gaslighting, career advancement, and the hidden barriers executive women can face at the highest levels of leadership. Drawing from Julia's own corporate experience and interviews with more than 100 women, they explore the warning signs that your position may be eroding, what to do when you believe you're being pushed out, and how women can better support other women in the workplace. This conversation offers practical insight for women navigating leadership, executive careers, the glass ceiling, and high-stakes career transitions. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

  4. Sep 1

    Resume Mistakes That Cost You Job Interviews | Sonal Bahl

    Why isn't your resume getting you job interviews? And what separates qualified candidates from the professionals who actually get hired or promoted? Executive career coach Sonal Bahl joins Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer to break down resume mistakes, job interview strategies, LinkedIn optimization, personal branding, and how to communicate your value in a competitive job market. Sonal explains why talented professionals often understate their accomplishments and how to position yourself as a high-value candidate rather than simply listing responsibilities. She shares her "Painkiller" framework for communicating your value, the WIDOM resume formula for stronger resume bullet points, and the 3C storytelling method for answering interview questions with confidence. Whether you're conducting a job search, updating your resume or LinkedIn profile, preparing for a job interview, negotiating salary, or positioning yourself for your next promotion, this conversation offers practical career advice you can use immediately. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

  5. Aug 25 ·  Video

    Finding Your Purpose After Burnout with Sonia Azad

    What happens when the career you've worked decades to build no longer aligns with the life you want to live? In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with Sonia Azad, a two-time Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist, wellness advocate, yoga instructor, and entrepreneur, to discuss her remarkable journey from the newsroom to a purpose-driven life. After spending 20 years covering everything from crime scenes to public health, Sonia opens up about the hidden emotional toll of journalism, secondary trauma, and the burnout that ultimately led her to rethink success. She shares how losing a job unexpectedly became the catalyst for building a thriving wellness business, leading transformational retreats, and embracing a life centered on freedom and intention. Together, Cynthia and Sonia explore what it means to redefine purpose, recover from burnout, and create space for the life you actually want to live. Sonia also introduces her powerful "Me Mode" practice, a simple five-minute daily ritual designed to help you reconnect with yourself before the demands of the day take over. In this episode, you'll learn: How secondary trauma and burnout can quietly reshape your career Why losing your job isn't always the end of your story How Sonia transitioned from Emmy-winning journalist to wellness entrepreneur The importance of creating a life aligned with your values instead of external expectations How the "Me Mode" framework can help reduce stress and increase clarity A practical exercise you can use today to reconnect with yourself If you're feeling exhausted, questioning your next chapter, or searching for more meaning in your work and life, this conversation offers both practical wisdom and permission to choose yourself. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

  6. Aug 18

    How to Prevent Burnout at Work and Find Your Purpose with Elizabeth Rosenberg

    Burnout doesn't happen overnight, and recovering from it isn't as simple as taking a vacation. In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer sits down with Elizabeth Rosenberg, founder of The Good Advice Company, to discuss recovering from corporate burnout, finding purpose beyond your job title, and building a career that aligns with who you truly are. Together, they explore: What corporate burnout really looks like and how to recover The difference between your work purpose and your life purpose How to build an authentic personal brand that stands out Why intuition belongs in the workplace Practical ways to break free from autopilot and create a healthier career Whether you're feeling exhausted in your current role, considering a career change, or looking for more meaning in your work, this conversation offers practical insights and a fresh perspective on professional success. burnout recovery, corporate burnout, career purpose, personal branding, leadership podcast, workplace wellness, intuition in business, career development, women in leadership

  7. Aug 11

    When the Career You Planned Falls Apart

    Sometimes the career you've worked decades to build isn't the one you're ultimately meant to keep. This week on Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with coach, speaker, author, and former IBM executive Lyndsay Dowd for an honest conversation about career setbacks, purpose, and leading with heart. After spending 23 years building an incredible career at IBM, Lyndsay took a leap into a new leadership role only to be fired six months later. Instead of allowing that moment to define her, she used it to ask three life-changing questions: • What am I really good at? • What do I love doing? • How can I help people the most? That reflection became the foundation for Heartbeat for Hire, where Lyndsay now helps organizations embrace leadership that puts people before numbers. In this episode, you'll learn: Why getting fired doesn't have to be the end of your story How purpose often emerges from painful career transitions The leadership skills that create trust and drive real business results Why every professional should consider building a side hustle How authenticity transformed Lyndsay's personal brand and business A simple daily practice that can change the way you see the people around you Whether you're questioning your next career move, recovering from a setback, or simply trying to become a better leader, this conversation is a reminder that success isn't built on perfection. It's built on purpose, resilience, and the courage to lead with your heart. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer

  8. Aug 4

    Success Shouldn't Cost You Your Health

    In this episode of Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel, Dr. Cynthia sits down with award-winning entrepreneur, former Wall Street executive, and author Melissa Gonzalez for an honest conversation about the cost of ambition and why success should never come at the expense of your well-being. Melissa shares the deeply personal health crisis that forced her to reevaluate everything. After more than a year of ignoring stress signals like jaw clenching, shingles, digestive issues, and chronic pain, she found herself in emergency surgery. That experience became the catalyst for what she now calls her "purpose pivot." Together, Dr. Cynthia and Melissa explore why so many high achievers wear exhaustion as a badge of honor, how vulnerability actually strengthens leadership, and why intuition may become one of our greatest competitive advantages in the age of artificial intelligence. If you've ever felt like you're constantly pushing through, this conversation is a reminder that your body isn't working against you. It's trying to work for you. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your body often recognizes burnout before your mind does. How vulnerability builds stronger leaders and deeper relationships. Why intuition is becoming an essential leadership skill. How to redefine success without sacrificing your health. A simple "energy audit" exercise to identify what fuels you and what drains you. How to use your calendar intentionally instead of letting it control your life. CONNECT WITH DR-CYNTHIA LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drcynthiabentzenmercer/ Instagram: instagram.com/drcynthiabentzenmercer Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen TikTok: tiktok.com/@drcynthiabentzenmercer Connect with Melissa Gonzalez Learn more about her work and leadership philosophy. Pick up her book, The Purpose Pivot: How Dynamic Leaders Put Vulnerability and Intuition into Action.

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Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Breaking a Heel is a leadership and career advancement podcast for ambitious women who want more than career advice. It explores the ideas shaping women in leadership, executive leadership, career growth, stronger organizations, and more intentional careers. Hosted by executive advisor, bestselling author, speaker, and Human Capital Strategist Dr. Cynthia Bentzen-Mercer, each episode features conversations with respected executives, researchers, authors, entrepreneurs, board directors, and thought leaders. Together, they explore leadership development, career advancement, human capital strategy, organizational effectiveness, executive decision-making, workplace dynamics, and the future of work. At the center of the podcast is one foundational belief: Drift is the gradual movement away from what matters most and what is required for future success. In our careers, leadership, organizations, and lives, drift is rarely dramatic. It happens one decision, one compromise, and one missed opportunity at a time. Each conversation examines how exceptional leaders recognize early signals, identify emerging patterns, and choose direction before small misalignments become significant consequences. While the ideas are relevant to every leader, the conversations are intentionally framed for ambitious women navigating leadership, influence, career progression, executive careers, and the path to senior leadership. The goal isn't simply to climb higher. It's to build a career of significance, intention, and lasting impact.

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