💡 Episode Summary:

In this candid and energizing solo episode, Lori explores a surprising superpower that many leaders underestimate: taking a real vacation. Drawing from her own story—where a life-changing trip to Paris with her sons became the moment she finally unplugged—Lori challenges the culture of hustle and the badge of busyness.

She breaks down why stepping away isn’t a luxury—it’s leadership. If you’ve ever answered emails from a beach chair, or told yourself “I’ll relax after the next deadline,” this episode is your permission (and playbook) to rethink what true rest looks like.

From neuroscience to team dynamics, Lori lays out a compelling case for disconnection as a strategy to reconnect—with yourself, your family, and your vision.

📍 If you’re building a sustainable leadership life and want to create a team culture that thrives even when you’re offline—this one’s for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Rest Is a Responsibility, Not a Reward

True vacations aren’t indulgent—they’re part of being an effective leader. Rest sharpens clarity, creativity, and decision-making.

• You Can’t Be Essential and Always Available

Being the bottleneck doesn’t make you irreplaceable—it makes you tired. Lori emphasizes building systems and trust that allow work to flow without you.

• The Paris Wake-Up Call

Lori’s honest reflection on a vacation that didn’t go as planned vs. the one that changed everything. Her turning point? Realizing her presence is the best gift she can give her family—and herself.

• Model the Culture You Want

If you want your team to value rest, you have to model it. Leaders who take real breaks create permission for their teams to do the same.

• Boundary-Setting Is an Act of Service

Clear out-of-office messaging, aligned expectations, and strong communication allow for guilt-free time off. Lori shares how she prepares her business and team for her absence.

🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

• Lori’s Paris vacation story—how stepping back redefined her leadership lens
• Science of unplugging: The mental health and productivity benefits of true rest
• Psychology of overwork: Why it’s so hard to stop—even when we want to
• Lakehouse vacation vs. Paris trip—two different outcomes, one major lesson
• Practical delegation tools and pre-vacation planning tips

✨ Reflection Prompts:

• What would it take for you to feel safe unplugging?
• Do you believe your team can thrive without you for a few days? If not—why?
• Are you leading from depletion or from overflow?

🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

• Founders and executives who haven’t taken a guilt-free break in years
• Leaders struggling with control or delegation
• HR professionals cultivating healthy team dynamics and burnout prevention
• Working parents navigating boundaries between life and leadership
• Anyone who wants to rest, but feels like they can’t

📩 Want to Go Deeper?

• Download Lori’s Vacation Prep Checklist for Leaders
• Share this episode with your team before your next time-off request
• Follow Lori on LinkedIn for more leadership tools
• Book a Leadership Strategy Call:...

💡 Episode Summary

In this inspiring and honest conversation, Lori sits down with Liza Maschi—Vice President at Kraft Heinz—to talk about the bold moves, personal sacrifices, and joyful wins that shaped her career journey. From starting as an intern to becoming a senior executive at brands like Coca-Cola, Danone, and now Kraft Heinz, Liza shares how saying yes to unexpected opportunities (and tough transitions) built the foundation of her courageous leadership.

Liza opens up about navigating pregnancy in the corporate world, balancing motherhood with a high-impact career, and what it means to lead with both drive and heart.

If you’re a high-achiever looking for real talk on risk, resilience, and rising with purpose—this one’s for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Say Yes Before You’re Ready

Liza’s rise from intern to VP was fueled by her willingness to step into roles that stretched her—even when she didn’t feel 100% prepared.

Authenticity Is a Leadership Superpower

Whether managing teams or making tough decisions, Liza emphasizes showing up as your full, human self. Vulnerability builds trust.

Duality Is Strength—Not a Flaw

Liza talks about embracing the “and”—being a powerful executive and a present mom, being driven and joyful, being serious and playful.

Lead by Example, Even in Private Moments

From quietly pumping breastmilk in a Danone breakroom to taking bold career leaps, Liza models resilience in everyday acts.

Find Joy, Not Just Achievement

Liza weaves self-care, reflection, and joy into her fast-paced schedule—proving that high performance doesn’t have to come at the cost of well-being.

🔎 Mentioned in the Episode

• Liza and Lori’s Coca-Cola connection—how one chance meeting shifted a career path
• Liza’s move to Danone during a major life transition
• Kraft Heinz’s culture and Liza’s leadership approach today
• The importance of women advocating for themselves during motherhood and career moves

✨ Reflection Prompts

• What risk would you take if you trusted yourself more?
• Are you prioritizing joy—or just productivity?
• What version of leadership would your younger self be proud of?

🧠 Who This Episode Is For

• Women leaders navigating motherhood and executive roles
• Professionals ready to grow through change and uncertainty
• HR and DEI leaders looking to support more human-centered workplaces
• Ambitious individuals craving purpose and performance

📩 Want to Go Deeper?

• Follow Liza Maschi on LinkedIn for more leadership inspiration
• Connect with Lori Pine on LinkedIn to keep the conversation going
• Book a 1:1 strategy session with Lori at loripine.com
• Try reflecting on your last “yes”—and what it led to

🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

⭐️ Leave a review so other heart-centered leaders can discover the show

📲 Share this episode with a woman in leadership who needs a reminder of her power

💡 Episode Summary:

In this deeply honest and empowering solo episode, Lori Pine shares her personal story of breaking free from The Exception Trap—the pressure to always overperform, over-deliver, and prove your worth. As a former corporate VP and now executive coach, Lori invites listeners into the emotional cost of being “the one who makes it”—and the quiet burnout that often comes with it.

Through the lens of her own professional success and personal loss, Lori unpacks what it means to redefine success on your own terms. If you’ve ever felt like you had to earn your seat every day, this episode offers the permission slip you didn’t know you needed: to rest, to realign, and to lead with joy—not exhaustion.

Whether you're navigating corporate life, entrepreneurship, or a leadership transition, this episode will help you return to yourself—and your true definition of success.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

The Exception Trap is Real

Being “the exception” can feel like a badge of honor—but it often comes with invisible emotional labor.

Success Without Alignment Is Exhausting

Lori shares how she climbed the ladder only to realize it was leaning against the wrong wall.

Let Go of What’s Not Yours to Carry

From grief to corporate pressure, Lori walks through how she learned to release responsibilities that didn’t belong to her.

Stop Performing, Start Leading with Presence

Authentic leadership isn’t about always having it together—it’s about being real, being present, and being human.

From Approval to Alignment

This episode is a roadmap for shifting your motivation from external validation to internal alignment.

🔎 Mentioned in the Episode:

• Lori’s journey from VP to Executive Coach
• The concept of The Exception Trap—and how it sneaks into ambition
• Reflection practices for redefining success
• Leadership lessons born from grief, burnout, and transformation

✨ Reflection Prompts:

• What am I chasing—and who am I chasing it for?
• Where am I operating from approval instead of alignment?
• How would I lead differently if I didn’t have to prove myself?

🧠 Who This Episode Is For:

• High-achieving professionals struggling with burnout
• Women in leadership redefining what success means
• Executives ready to lead with authenticity instead of perfection
• Coaches and mentors navigating personal transformation

📩 Want to Go Deeper?

• Reflect on your own Exception Trap using Lori’s journal prompts
• Follow Lori Pine on LinkedIn for weekly insights and leadership tools
• Book a 1:1 Strategy Session with Lori: loripine.com

🎧 Subscribe to The Joy CEO Podcast

⭐️ Leave a review so other ambitious, heart-led leaders can find the show

📲 Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder: they’re allowed to rest, realign, and rise on their own terms