What if the ultimate key to professional success and unlocking your full potential isn't external competition, but the internal wisdom gained from managing your mind and emotions?
In this episode of Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors, host Erica Rooney sits down with Meredith Haberfield, CEO and Founder of Think Human. With a unique background blending molecular biochemistry, executive leadership, and even Whitewater River guiding, Meredith proves that igniting transformational change in innovative companies requires blending social, psychological, and neurological science.
Join them as they explore why focusing on internal growth is the only way to overcome the "sticky floors" of people-pleasing and self-doubt, and how to use the science of your brain to make courageous leadership feel less scary.
Inside the Episode:
- From Biochemistry to CEO: Meredith shares her fascinating journey, explaining how her early experiences as a Whitewater River guide and her research on stress hormones and the immune system shaped her understanding that human behavior isn't dictated by logic.
- The People-Pleasing Trap: The most common "sticky floor" Meredith sees with high-achieving women: using external validation (like a boss's approval) as a food source, and how to disconnect from that need to author your own path.
- Time-Bound Sacrifices: Powerful advice for women making sacrifices for their team: why you must put a time boundary around those sacrifices to prevent them from becoming an ugly, permanent reality.
- Intentionality Over Anxiety: A discussion on the difference between intention (which speaks in statements) and anxiety (which speaks in questions), and how to create a clear picture of what you're aiming for to mobilize the subconscious brain.
- Blind Spot Hunting: A counter-intuitive approach to uncovering your hidden flaws. Learn why you must get "excited about seeing the ugly stuff" and approach your self-judgments with compassion and curiosity, much like a detective.
- The Stretch Zone Advantage: The scientific reason (apoptosis) why operating in your stretch zone—just outside your comfort zone—is not only beneficial for mental growth but actively optimizes your physical immune system.
- The Fire-Fueling Reaction: What to do immediately after a professional failure or rejection: commit to a "boatload of action"—do 10 small things right now—to spark new possibilities and avoid the narrative of failure.
If you're ready to stop waiting for external validation and unlock the internal capabilities needed to lead with unparalleled clarity and courage, this episode is your scientific playbook.
🔗 Resources:
- Learn more about Meredith Haberfield and her leadership development programs at think-human.com.
- Connect with Erica Rooney on LinkedIn.
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