Finding Your Power Beyond Burnout - Padma Dayananda

Send us Fan MailWhen was the last time you felt truly seen and heard? For award-winning tech professional Padma Dayananda, a dramatic wake-up call changed everything. After collapsing at her office and being rushed to the hospital, she discovered what many high-achieving women experience but rarely acknowledge – her body had been screaming for attention while her mind kept pushing forward."I used to dream of Excel sheets and project plans and strategies," Padma reveals in this raw, honest conversation. "I thought I'm really good at it, I love it, I thrive in this, until one day I collapsed." That terrifying moment – believing she might never see her 10-month-old daughter again – marked the beginning of a profound transformation. What followed was a journey into unprocessed grief, the discovery of "radical gratitude" as a daily practice, and eventually, the courageous decision to walk away from a 24-year career when organizational changes conflicted with her core values.Padma shares game-changing concepts that have reshaped her approach to life and work: the power of pausing to identify what's truly holding you back, expanding your "circle of influence" by stepping into discomfort, and using the "visceral vision" technique to operate from a place of achievement rather than lack. Her story of advocating for exploited children in Indian construction sites demonstrates how one person can create meaningful change by simply asking, "What would I like to do?" rather than waiting for others to solve systemic problems.For women feeling invisible or stuck in their careers, Padma offers both validation and practical guidance. "How many of you have sat at a table and shared your idea, people look at you and move on, then somebody else repeats the same idea and they're like 'wow, gravity has been discovered'?" Her coaching now focuses on helping women shed this "cloak of invisibility" and elevate their personal brand beyond organizational titles. Ready to reclaim your power? Connect with Padma through the links in our show notes to discover what might be holding you back and take your first steps toward transformation.Book a FREE SESSION HERE:https://link.coachfoundation.com/widget/bookings/wlm-special-spotsIf this conversation stirred something in you… good. That’s where change begins.Make sure you’re subscribed, share this with someone who needs it, and if you’re ready to tell your story, step into your voice, or build a life that actually feels like yours… You’re in the right place.I’m Julie Fairhurst, and this is where stories turn into power.Go to my website if you would like to be a guest on the Women Like Me Stories & Business in the toolbar click Let's PodcastJulie's Website