Lead Well, Live Well: Women Leaders, Wellness and Purpose with Marie-Hélène Pelletier, PhD
Resilience Is a Strategy — Redefining Strength for Women Leaders
In Episode 60 of the Her Resources Podcast, host Linda Misegadis dives into one of today’s most critical workplace topics: resilience — not as a buzzword, but as a strategy you can build and use. Linda is joined by Marie-Hélène Pelletier, PhD, MBA, RPsych, a leadership psychologist, executive coach, TEDx speaker, and author of The Resilience Plan. Together, they unpack what resilience really means and why so many high-achieving women equate it with endurance — at great cost to their well-being. (YouTube)
🧭 Resilience as a Strategy — Not Just “Powering Through”
Too often, we define resilience as grit or simply enduring more pressure. Marie-Hélène reframes resilience as an actionable strategy — something you can cultivate, assess, and strengthen over time. Instead of defaulting to “pushing harder,” she encourages listeners to plan for resilience as they would for any professional competency. (YouTube)
🔋 The Burnout Equation: Energy Supply vs. Demands
One of the most powerful insights from the episode is the idea that burnout isn’t a personal flaw — it’s math. If the demands on your energy consistently outpace what you can supply, burnout becomes inevitable. Understanding and managing this balance, Marie-Hélène argues, is fundamental to sustainable leadership. (YouTube)
💡 Why Women Misinterpret Resilience
Marie-Hélène highlights how women, in particular, often confuse resilience with simply enduring more. This cultural pressure to be everything — strong, capable, “unshakeable” — leads many women to push through stress, guilt, and overwhelm rather than strategically navigating it. The result? Diminished health and leadership effectiveness. (YouTube)
🌱 Micro-Habits and Sustainable Change
Resilience isn’t built in a moment — it’s built in many small decisions. Marie-Hélène and Linda explore micro-habits that support lasting resilience, like:
Taking micro-breaks during the day
Monitoring your energy levels against your workload
Setting boundaries that protect recovery time
Reframing unhelpful thoughts using tools from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (YouTube)
👩💼 Resilient Leadership in Teams and Organizations
The episode also expands the conversation beyond individuals. Resilient leaders cultivate environments where others feel supported, where team energy is protected, and where burnout doesn’t become the default mode of operation. Marie-Hélène shares actionable guidance for leaders aiming to create resilience at the organizational level. (YouTube)
🧘♀️ Choosing Guilt Over Burnout
A standout takeaway: guilt often drains resilience faster than stress itself. Marie-Hélène challenges listeners to rethink how guilt shapes choices — and to choose paths that preserve energy and mental health. (YouTube)
⭐ Why This Matters for Women in HR and Leadership
Whether you’re an HR professional juggling competing priorities, a leader supporting teams, or a woman navigating the pressures of professional and personal life, this episode delivers a roadmap for building resilience as a strategic advantage — not just surviving but thriving. (YouTube)