Startups thrive on speed, but leaders thrive on self awareness.
In this article for StartUp Today Magazine, I share how pride creates blind spots, and how self aware founders build stronger teams, better systems, and more resilient companies.
Leadership is emotional work. And the best founders know this.
https://startuptodaymagazine.c....om/pride-in-startup-
#founderlife #startupcommunity #highgrowthfounders #leadershipdevelopment #selfawareness #businessstrategy #womenintech #micaelapasseri
@Mirela Sula
Global Woman Club

Start Small, Start Again

Your rebuild begins with one small step.

Not a grand announcement.
Not a perfect plan.
Not a dramatic transformation.

Just one honest action you can take today.

Too many capable professionals delay starting again because they think the next chapter has to look impressive. But real change rarely begins loudly.

It begins quietly with a decision to show up differently, to try again without punishing yourself for the past, to take one step without needing the full staircase.

If you’ve fallen off track, this is your permission slip:
You don’t need to start over. You just need to start small.

Momentum isn’t built by big promises.
It’s built by consistent, compassionate movement.

Save this as your reminder to begin.


#leadershipclarity #personalgrowth #startsmall #emotionalwellbeing #resilientleadership #mindsetshift #progressoverperfection #selfleadership #professionalgrowth #clarityfirst

Today I turn 42 - and I’ve never felt more grounded, energized, or aligned. ✨

Birthdays always invite reflection, and this year I’m struck by how different I feel compared to a decade (or two) ago.

In my late 20s and early 30s, I was achieving, striving, pushing… but often running on empty.
I looked “in control” from the outside, but inside I was stretched thin, tired, and disconnected from my own energy.

Today, at 42, life feels very different.

I feel calm.
I feel grounded.
I feel in control.
And I genuinely have more energy than I did back then - not because life is easier (it isn’t), but because I’ve learned how to support myself on all levels: body, mind, and soul.

This year, I’m grateful for:
🌿 The practices that help me stay centered, even in chaos.
💛 The people who remind me what truly matters.
🔥 The purpose that fuels my work with women leaders around the world.
✨ The resilience and clarity that came from navigating burnout - and transforming how I live and lead.

Growing older has been a gift.
It’s given me perspective, strength, and the deep knowing that sustainable success comes from the inside out.

So here’s to another year of energy, alignment, impact - and continuing to build a life and business that feel good, whole, and true.

Thank you for being here. 💛

p.s. I also see my birthday as a day to be extra generous to the world at large, so I always donate a substantial amount - this year to Trees for All, planting trees worldwide where it is needed the most. Share in the giving if this resonates with you.🌳✨

#birthdayreflections #womeninleadership #personalgrowth #energyleadership #burnoutprevention #holisticwellbeing #sustainablesuccess #leadershipjourney #reclaimyourcontrol

I\m Not Broken, I\m Burdened I'm Not Broken, I'm Burdened

> “The presence of calm doesn’t mean the absence of a storm. It simply means you’ve found the armour to stand in the rain without falling apart.”

There are days when everything feels heavy. You look in the mirror and all you see are the cracks:
"I'm always making mistakes."
"I'm not pretty enough."
"I'm too emotional."
"I'm failing as a mother."
"My children don't respect me."
"Maybe that's why my partner left."
"I'm neurodivergent, my brain’s all over the place."
"I'm broken."

But what if I told you… you're not broken, you're burdened.

Burdened by expectations.
Overwhelmed by responsibility.
Exhausted from masking pain.
Stretched far beyond your emotional capacity.
Still standing. Still trying.

The guilt you carry, the shame you wear, the inner critic that won’t shut up, they didn’t appear out of nowhere. They’ve been shaped by pressure, trauma, disappointment, and emotional overload. And when you carry that much for so long, it makes sense that it feels like you're falling apart.

But you are not broken.
You're burdened.
And you can begin again.

💡 The Way Back to Calm Starts with a Choice

Start by choosing you.
Not in a selfish way, but in a healing way.

Begin with this simple exercise:

Write down everything that makes you feel burdened. Be honest. Be raw. Let it out.
Your truth is your starting point.

Next, ask:

Can I change this? If yes, what small step can I take today?

If not, how can I begin to accept it without guilt?

Allow yourself to feel.
It's okay to cry.
It’s okay to miss someone who hurt you.
It’s okay to admit you’re not coping.
That is where healing begins, not in perfection, but in permission.

✨ Self-Care Isn’t a Luxury, It’s a Lifeline

The Reclaiming Calm Program was created to hold your hand through the overwhelm. It offers trauma-informed tools, reflection practices, guided journaling, DBT strategies, mindfulness, and emotional resilience-building. You’re not alone.

You’re not weak for needing rest.
You’re not selfish for needing space.
And you're not broken, you're healing.

Let us help you find calm in the storm.

I’m so excited to announce that the Global Women of the Year list is now live! 🌟

We’ve created the Global Woman Magazine List, celebrating women who inspire, lead, and make a difference every single day. And now, we’re inviting YOU to be part of it!

The nominations are officially open, and you can nominate yourself or a woman whose impact deserves to be recognized. This is about visibility, recognition, and celebrating the incredible contributions of women around the world.

Who will be named among the 100 Global Women of the Year? Maybe it’s you, or someone you admire! Don’t miss this chance—click the link, find all the details, and apply now. ✨

#globalwomen #womenoftheyear #celebratewomen #nominatenow
https://apply.globalwomanmagazine.com/

The AI Cofounder for solo founders.
Join waitlist : www.matryai.com

Time off won't fix burnout if your habits stay the same when you return.

Real prevention happens when you learn to manage your time and energy every single day. 💛