Rethinking Sleep: The Leadership Advantage You’re Overlooking

If you’re constantly running on empty, pushing through stress, or telling yourself you’ll “catch up on sleep later”—this episode is for you. This week, Ren Akinci is joined by Ahna de Vena, a Sleep and Performance Specialist who has spent over 20 years helping high-performing leaders and teams rethink their relationship with rest. We explore how sleep impacts executive decision-making, emotional regulation, and long-term performance. You’ll learn why burnout is often the result of mismanaged recovery, what healthy sleep hygiene actually looks like in today’s always-on world, and how trauma—even subtle or unspoken—can quietly disrupt our ability to rest.