Can You Be Ambitious Without Burning Out? Riah Patel on Networking, Mentorship & Slowing Down to Succeed

Riah Patel has the career, the drive, and the results to prove it. A senior leader and surveyor in the real estate industry, she's spent a decade building an impressive career through sheer intentionality — moving from graduate scheme to business development, team leadership and strategy, while becoming one of the most respected networkers in her field. But the most interesting part of her story isn't the promotions or the business development wins. It's what she discovered when she finally gave herself permission to slow down — and realised her results actually got better.In this episode of Successful AF, Riah gets refreshingly honest about the cost of always being full throttle, what sustainable ambition really looks like in practice, and why she still does power poses in work bathrooms before big presentations.In this conversation, you'll hear:Why career networking doesn't have to feel transactional — and how to build genuine human connection in professional spacesWhat Riah learned when she stopped working at full speed (spoiler: she didn't fall behind)How she finds and works with mentors — including why her longest-standing mentor wasn't who she expectedThe confidence-building habits that actually work, from coaching to body languageWhat burnout prevention really looks like when you're wired to be competitiveWhy her definition of success has shifted — and what "complicated" really meansThis one is for anyone who's ever wondered whether ambition and sustainability can actually coexist. Turns out, they can. You just have to be intentional about it.Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.Connect with Jess:Instagram: @kalicoaching.coWebsite: www.kalicoaching.co.uk