Targeted, Burned Out, and Misunderstood

What if the problem isn’t leadership… but the system around it?

As we close out Women’s History Month, we’re proud to spotlight a conversation that speaks directly to the realities, challenges, and strength of women in leadership.

In this powerful episode of the Unlearned & Unlimited Podcast, host Dr. Sito Narcisse sits down with Dr. Catherine Barnes, President of Sudden Impact Solutions LLC and author of “Sister, Why You Hate Me? Ending the Cycle of Sister to Sister Destruction,” to unpack the real, unspoken challenges women face in leadership.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level motivation and dives into the deeper realities:

Women are asked to lead… then criticized when they do

High performers are elevated… then targeted

Success can cost you your identity

Leadership systems rely on policies—but ignore people

Many of us are carrying beliefs we learned from good people… that no longer serve us

And too often, leaders would rather double down than admit they were wrong

Dr. Barnes shares how these patterns didn’t start today—they’ve been conditioned over time. From the idea that there’s “only room for one,” to the lack of support among women in leadership spaces, these cycles continue to repeat… unless we choose to break them.

Her work focuses on helping organizations, leaders, and communities heal, grow, and create healthier relationships—especially among women navigating leadership, identity, and connection.

This episode explores:

The hidden pressure and targeting of women leaders

The myth of “only one seat at the top”

Losing yourself in your title and reclaiming your identity

Why policies don’t solve people problems

The importance of intentional leadership

How unlearning is just as powerful as learning

Why accountability builds trust—and ego destroys it

Featuring insights from:

Dr. Catherine Barnes

President of Sudden Impact Solutions LLC

Author of “Sister, Why You Hate Me? Ending the Cycle of Sister to Sister Destruction”

Order her book: https://book.sisolutionstoday.org/

About the Podcast

The Unlearned & Unlimited Podcast challenges traditional thinking in leadership, education, and personal growth—creating space for honest conversations that push transformation.

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