From Adversity to CEO: Victoria Pelletier's Journey

Picture an 11-year-old kid clocking hours at a hair salon, doing everything except the actual hair, because nobody else was going to hand her a better life. By 14 she was assistant manager of a shoe store, bossing around employees twice her age. By 24 she was a chief operating officer. That's how Victoria Pelletier's leadership journey started, and it's the answer to a question a lot of us are quietly asking: how does someone build real, lasting success out of a childhood that gave her nothing to build on? Victoria is a 20-plus-year corporate executive, board director, bestselling author, and the exec her former colleagues nicknamed the "Turnaround Queen" and "the CEO Whisperer." For years she led like the other nickname she earned: the Iron Maiden. Encased, closed off, no vulnerability allowed. It took one gut-punch comment from a colleague to make her rebuild into what she now calls a turtle instead (tough shell, soft head poking out). We get into that shift, why she's an outspoken advocate for DEI as an openly queer woman who was "the only one" in the room for years, and the actual boundaries, the calendar blocks, the delegated laundry, the one rule she breaks on purpose, that let her run a life instead of just surviving one. You'll walk away with real language for setting boundaries at work without apologizing for them, and a clear case for why inclusive workplaces perform better, not just feel nicer. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw-Pf6Bhk3g In this episode How a chaotic, adopted childhood became the drive that took Victoria from an 11-year-old shop clerk to a chief operating officer by 24 Why the "Iron Maiden" reputation she built to survive corporate leadership actually cost her, and the offhand comment from a colleague that forced her to change The "turtle" mindset: how to stay tough and resilient while still leading with empathy and vulnerability Real boundaries Victoria sets (and the one she deliberately breaks) to protect her time, her health, and her family Why DEI isn't a "tick the box" cost center, and what actually happens to retention and revenue when companies get it right What it means to lead by "fair, but not equal" when every employee's situation is different Timestamps (00:01) Welcome and meet Victoria Pelletier: chief operating officer at 24, president by 35, CEO by 41 (01:33) Starting work at 11, managing a shoe store at 14, and the drive that came from a hard start (07:28) The insecurity behind the confidence, and where the "Iron Maiden" nickname came from (09:50) From Iron Maiden to Turtle: the comment from a colleague that forced a change (12:56) Fake it till you make it versus real self-acceptance (17:36) Real boundaries: blocking her calendar, delegating chores, and the one boundary she breaks on purpose (21:50) Being an openly queer executive, and why DEI became her passion (24:40) The real benefits of DEI, and where companies still get it wrong (30:00) Boundaries at work and why hard conversations get easier (32:55) Where to find Victoria's TEDx talk and her books About Victoria Pelletier Victoria Pelletier is a 20-plus-year corporate executive, board director, bestselling author, and professional public speaker, nicknamed the "Turnaround Queen" and "the CEO Whisperer" by former colleagues and employers. She was one of the youngest chief operating officers at age 24, a president by 35, and a CEO by 41. Learn more and find her books at Victoria's website, or connect with her on LinkedIn. Favorite quotes "Even when I do not feel it, I've always shown up with confidence." —Victoria Pelletier "I will not do things that don't bring me personal or professional joy or value." —Victoria Pelletier "It's going to be fair but not always equal." —Victoria Pelletier Resources mentioned Victoria's TEDx talk on resilience (referenced in the episode; no link was provided in the source content) Unstoppable: the anthology where Victoria is a contributing author Influence Unleashed: Victoria's book on personal branding and trust in business relationships The Power of Whole Human Leadership: Victoria's book on her journey from "Iron Maiden" to "Turtle" Radical Candor by Kim Scott: the book Victoria says reflects her long-standing leadership philosophy Victoria's Books Victoria Pelletier on LinkedIn Related episodes Stop Winging It: A Leader's Guide to Resilience: another take on high-achiever burnout risk, this time from psychologist Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier's "you're fabulous and at risk" framework. Why Successful Entrepreneurs Set Boundaries: more on the calendar-blocking, delegate-it-or-drop-it boundaries that let high performers actually sustain their pace. How to Build a Workplace Culture That Lasts: pairs with Victoria's DEI section on what it actually takes to keep diverse talent from walking out the back door. Subscribe & connect If this episode gave you something to sit with, follow Phoenix and Flame so you never miss an episode: all apps in one place, or jump straight to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube. And if it moved you, leave a review; it's the easiest way to help another listener find the show. Learn more about Phoenix and Flame, connect with Dana, and listen to more episodes here. Curious where your own boundaries stand? Take my free Work Boundaries Quiz: danaskaggs.com/quiz