In the market in which we operate, the badge matters. The brand we represent opens doors, generates listening, validates conversations. Being at the head of large companies and powerful brands makes us, in a way, interesting. Not just for the market, but for others and often for ourselves. Over time, "who I am" and "where I am" become confused. We start to feed our ego with the prestige of the position, even when, internally, something no longer makes sense.
Talking about it takes courage. The system rewards movement, not pause. It praises achievements, not questions. No wonder 67% of executives have experienced moral exhaustion trying to maintain their integrity in environments that discourage it, according to the Harvard Business Review. This ethical burnout arises from the friction between what you believe and what you live. The statistic is not surprising, but it reveals what many leaders feel and few verbalize: it's not overwork that makes you ill. It's misalignment.
As senior leaders, we influence much more than deliveries, we shape references and behaviors. That's why I felt it was time to get out of autopilot and look for a more authentic way of leading.
I recently did the improbable: after a 20-year career, at what many would call my "peak", I decided to take a break. What I've heard most since I decided to take this break has been admiration, support and people dreaming of one day "having the courage". For me, this time is making me an even deeper and more powerful professional. In a world where having time is a luxury, I've given myself the luxury of looking inwards and silencing the noise in order to understand my mission and build my next steps with purpose.
Thaís now knows a bit more about anthroposophy, Life Design and has discovered that ceramics is an exercise in creativity and reconnection. Having the time has allowed me to use other "brain muscles" and reframe my knowledge. I'm now starting to open up these new paths through mentoring and a personal project that I'm lovingly shaping.
With that, I leave you to reflect: are you living and acting at work based on your beliefs and values? Are you really proud of what you are leaving the world?
