In this powerful episode of The Empowered Team Podcast, Kari Schneider sits down with executive coach and leadership mentor Valarie Sandjivy, founder of Ellipsus. With over 20 years of experience coaching C-suite leaders and entrepreneurs, Valarie offers a rare glimpse into the inner world of high-performing leaders. Together, they explore: Why “it’s lonely at the top” and how to find space for your own evolution. The true role of emotional intelligence in hitting key performance outcomes. What “emotional mastery” really means — and how it helps leaders hold more without burning out. Why innovation starts with the inner game. How to shift from survival mode to possibility thinking. The overlooked power of presence and the subtle difference between fighting and surrendering. Valarie shares personal stories, bold truths, and a surprisingly grounded approach to leadership that challenges conventional hustle culture. Whether you’re leading a business, a team, or just your own life — this conversation will expand what you think is possible. 🎯 Key takeaway: The most powerful leaders are not the ones who do more — they’re the ones who can hold more with clarity, calm, and emotional coherence.   Take Valarie’s FREE Leadership Assessment: https://www.ellips.us.com/quiz Connect with Valarie: Website: https://www.ellips.us.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriesandjivy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valarie_sandjivy/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/valarie.sandjivy 👉 Ready to go deeper? Join the Empowered Team and take your leadership to the next level: https://theempowered.ca/team-learn-more 👉 Ready to use AI to support your leadership? Grab our free guide “the 50 best AI prompts for executives” https://thehumanalgorithm.ai/free-ai-guide