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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/
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Facebook: facebook.com/drcynthiabentzen
