004: The Power of Presence Under Pressure: Susan Bernstein on Listening to Your Body and Leading Differently

In this episode, Parul speaks with Dr. Susan Bernstein, a former management consultant turned leadership coach whose work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, somatic awareness and emotional resilience.Susan has spent years inside fast-moving organizations and high-stakes environments, working closely with women leaders who are expected to stay composed, decisive, and clear no matter the circumstances.This conversation is about what happens when the body speaks before the mind is ready.How ambition can override intuition.And why success under pressure requires more than thinking harder.Susan reflects on spending much of her early career in her head, pushing through exhaustion, and disconnection until she learned firsthand what it costs to ignore physical and emotional signals.She shares how studying mind-body psychology changed the way she understands decision-making.Why regulation matters more than control.And how presence can shift outcomes in moments that matter most.The result is a real conversation about resilience, self-trust, and leading with presence when pressure is unavoidable.Explore the Conversation02:15 Early Curiosity, Emotion, and Coaching Instincts09:02 Growing Up Smart in Phoenix12:45 Choosing Culture, Travel, and Hong Kong19:21 Witnessing Tiananmen and Global Awakening26:21 Returning Home and Rethinking Career Paths29:52 MBA, Consulting, and Imposter Syndrome31:42 Feistiness, Courage, and Inner Drive35:50 Consulting Pressure and Ignoring the Body43:39 Collapse, Burnout, and Wake-Up Call47:42 Corporate Culture and Body Disconnection50:41 Women, Feedback, and Over-Accommodation53:18 Reinvention After Personal and Professional Loss59:34 Discovering Mind-Body Psychology01:06:17 From Therapy Training to Somatic Coaching01:10:41Somatic Tools for Leaders Under Pressure01:16:24 Five Body Tools for Presence Explore more:Connect with Susan Bernstein on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsusanbernstein/]