What happens when your dream job starts crushing your values instead of honoring them?

In this episode, Steph Pennell—founder of The Event Critic and former marketing leader—opens up about the moments that pushed her to reevaluate everything. From getting a shocking piece of feedback about wearing red lipstick to quitting a high-profile job with no backup plan, Steph shares what it takes to walk away from misalignment and rebuild your career around who you actually are.

We talk about the events industry, the power of self-awareness, and how manifestation, ADHD diagnosis, and human design helped her take back control. Whether you’ve ever felt like you’re “too much” or you’re navigating burnout behind the scenes, this one’s for you.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• How Steph went from bartending to running high-impact events
• What it feels like when your work and values are out of sync
• How to navigate inappropriate or personal feedback
• What manifestation and human design taught her about leadership

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(02:29) Foundation-setting experiences

(06:19) Finding the right career path

(07:31) Thank you to our sponsors, Navattic and Appcues

(11:33) Losing love for events and getting it back

(14:21) Coaching, core values, and finding alignment

(22:16) ADHD, rest cycles, and human design

(23:14) Giving feedback without repeating past mistakes

(26:36) Balancing professional and personal boundaries

(42:21) Manifestation and human design insights

(46:43) What’s holding you back?

This episode is presented by:

Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value

Appcues: User Engagement for SaaS - https://appcues.com/value

Resources:

Connect with Steph:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theeventcritic/

The Event Critic: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eventcriticofficial/

Connect with Andrew:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/

Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.co

Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

What happens when you finally land the leadership role you’ve been working toward—only to realize it’s not what you imagined?

In this episode, Shannon Curran—former VP of Marketing at MadKudu and now founder of SSC Consulting—opens up about the real moments that shaped her career. From growing up as a risk-averse high achiever to becoming a solopreneur trusted by founders, Shannon shares the feedback that shook her, the environments that helped her grow, and the human-first leadership lessons she learned the hard way.

We unpack why cultural fit isn’t fluff, how to build trust in hard conversations, and why you don’t need to have all the answers to be a great leader. Whether you're in-house, managing a team, or building something of your own, this conversation offers something real.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• Why Shannon left higher ed and nonprofit work for tech
• The real story behind inheriting a leadership team without training
• How to navigate feedback that questions your identity

What she learned from a rocky client relationship early in her consulting career

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(01:25) Business education for the risk-averse

(05:04) Career beginnings in tech

(09:12) Thank you to our sponsors, Navattic and Appcues

(11:50) Facing speed bumps and feedback

(20:48) Managing and letting go

(26:49) Sensing trouble and taking action

(27:45) Navigating tough conversations

(30:10) Handling team changes and communication

(31:48) Learning from mistakes and setting expectations

(45:33) The myth of the all-knowing leader

(52:59) What’s next: parental leave, peace, and building enough

This episode is presented by:

• Navattic: Interactive Product Demo Software - https://navattic.com/value
• Appcues: User Engagement for SaaS - https://appcues.com/value

Resources:

• Connect with Shannon:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-sweeny-curran/
• SSC Consulting: https://shannonscurran.com/

Connect with Andrew:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/
• Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.co
• Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching

What makes someone walk away from a PhD, a career in law, and the startup that made them?

In this episode, I sit down with Else van der Berg—a former head of product turned solopreneur—to unpack the hard-earned lessons from the burnout that nearly broke her. Else shares how working 80-hour weeks and tying her identity to performance pushed her to the brink—and what changed afterward.

We talk about how startup culture, pressure to “always be on,” and even toxic leadership can distort your sense of success. Else doesn’t just reflect on the crash—she offers a clear, honest roadmap for building back stronger, with boundaries and intention.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

- Why Else left a high-growth role after a massive burnout—and how she rebuilt her career

- How early startup culture trained her to overwork and ignore red flags

- What she looks for now in leaders, teams, and work environments—and how you can too

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Intro

(07:06) From law to tech: Elsa's career transition

(08:59) Thank you to our sponsor, ThriveStack

(20:22) Challenges in the job market

(25:44) Burnout and recovery

(29:11) The persona of hard work

(30:55) Sexual harassment in tech

(33:15) Support systems and reporting issues

(38:51) Burnout and recovery

(41:03) Choosing the right work environment

(49:06) Leadership and self-reflection

(55:12) AI and the future of work

A huge thanks to this episode’s sponsor:

ThriveStack: Measure Growth. Find Drivers. Fix Leaks. https://www.thrivestack.ai/

Resources:

Connect with Else:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-else-van-der-berg-42b8b6a2/

Substack: https://elsevanderberg.substack.com/

Connect with Andrew:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewcapland/

Substack: https://media.deliveringvalue.co

Hire Andrew as your coach: https://deliveringvalue.co/coaching