The Leadership Lens

Author: The LeadWell Collective

  • How to Recognize and Recover from Burnout as a Leader

    Burnout often creeps in when you least expect it, causing serious damage to both your personal well-being and professional performance.

    As leaders, we’re taught to push through the toughest challenges. In the tech industry it’s all too prevalent. Studies show that nearly 60% of tech workers report experiencing burnout, with 45% of women in tech citing high levels of stress and exhaustion, while 70% of IT professionals say they often feel overwhelmed by their workload (according to recent surveys from Tech Republic and Forbes).

    When burnout hits, it can severely affect our decision-making, energy, and leadership ability. Recognizing the signs early and knowing how to recover is vital to sustaining long-term leadership success.

    Burnout in the tech industry is something I’ve witnessed far too often. It’s unfortunately very common among women who tend to try to juggle it all. After 20+ years in tech, I’ve seen how the relentless pace, constant deadlines, and expectations of always being “on” can drain your energy, focus, and passion. Burnout isn’t just about long hours or overwork; there is also an emotional drain, the constant fear of failure, and the silent expectation that you can always do more with less.

    The weight of responsibility, often compounded by the pressure to be perfect (remember Perfection is Boring!), can leave you physically and mentally exhausted. Yet somehow we just keep pushing through. What I’ve learned the hard way is that true leadership doesn’t mean sacrificing your well-being. It means recognizing when you’re running on empty and taking the necessary steps to refill your cup before you crash. When you see burnout creeping in, I urge you to not just see it as a personal struggle, but remember it’s a leadership issue that needs to be addressed on a systemic level.

    Signs and Symptoms of Burnout: Know What to Look For

    Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a slow process that builds up over time. Often you don’t know you’re in it until it’s almost too late. Here are the key signs and symptoms that can point to burnout:

    1. Emotional Exhaustion
      Feeling physically and emotionally drained after a full day’s work is a common sign. When you’re exhausted to the point where even the thought of work feels unbearable, it’s a red flag. Are you unable to “turn off” after your workday ends?
    2. Decreased Performance
      This might seem obvious, but when you’re experiencing burnout, productivity drops. It’s hard to keep up with deadlines, and the work you once breezed through starts to feel like a burden.
    3. Cynicism and Detachment
      Once highly engaged people may start to display a lack of interest in their work. You might see sarcasm, negativity, or a sense that “nothing matters.”
    4. Chronic Stress and Anxiety
      Feeling constantly on edge or overwhelmed is a major symptom. Stress can come from juggling tight deadlines or being overwhelmed by constant updates. This can lead to feelings of anxiety and in the worst cases, physical symptoms like headaches, digestive issues, or sleep disturbances.
    5. Physical Symptoms
      Over time, burnout doesn’t just affect mental health—it takes a toll on the body. Chronic fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, and even illnesses can be a sign of burnout. In the tech world, sitting all day can make these symptoms even worse.
    6. Lack of Motivation and Enthusiasm
      If you or your team notice that things that once brought joy, energy, or excitement have lost their appeal, burnout might be the cause. For those in leadership positions, this may look like a lack of initiative in meetings or a reluctance to take on new projects.

    A great leader knows when to step back, recharge, and invest in their own mental and emotional health. They also recognize the signs of burnout in their teams. Know when to seek or offer help or take a break!

    Did any of this resonate with you? If you are showing signs of burnout start by planning one action you can take to begin recovering—whether it’s a break, a conversation, or seeking support.

    Even better, check out the “Addressing Burnout In Tech” 30-minute course from the LeadWell Collective. We share practical tips and go into more detail on how to identify burnout and how to address it! https://weleadwell.thinkific.com/products/courses/burnout


  • The New Narrative for Women in Leadership

    By: Milja Saari-Hembruff

    Whether you’re early in your career or leading a global team, I hope you find these posts can help you become a stronger, more authentic leader. We’ll talk about leadership for both men and women—but today, I’m focusing on the unique experience of women in tech leadership.

    For much of my career, I’ve been the only woman in the room. Boardrooms, product launches, leadership meetings. My journey in tech has taken me through roles alongside developers, product managers, and executives. And while the gender balance was often lopsided, I consider myself incredibly lucky. The majority of people I’ve worked with—men and women—have been supportive, encouraging, and genuinely invested in my growth.

    That said, the path hasn’t always been clear. I’ve reported to at least 15 managers over the years. Some were incredible leaders. Others taught me… how not to lead. Every leader, though, gifted me with an opportunity to learn—how to manage with empathy, how to adjust your style to different people, how not to burn bridges and how powerful it is when you treat each person as an individual, not just a role on a team.

    My greatest career opportunities often came under the guidance of male leaders. But my deepest understanding of leadership – meaning the experiences that taught me the kind of leader I want to be – came from watching strong women lead with authenticity and courage. They shaped how I lead today.

    So, what needs to change?
    Leadership used to be defined by a narrow set of traits. Things like decisiveness, assertiveness, and command. Traits that have long been considered “masculine”. When women show up with something different – like empathy, intuition, and collaboration – we’re sometimes seen as less capable, when in fact, we’re bringing exactly what modern leadership needs.

    I propose that we shouldn’t be asking women to fit into an outdated mold. We should be redesigning the mold.

    Here’s what I believe… When we lead with empathy, listen deeply, and build environments where people feel heard and respected, we create space for people to do their best work. That’s not “soft” leadership—it’s smart, grounded, human leadership. And when we combine different leadership styles—some more assertive, some more nurturing—we build stronger, more resilient teams.

    I think leadership comes in many forms and we’re better off when we make room for all of them.

    Now, on an exciting note, I’m happy to share that we have launched the pre-registration for a LeadWell course for Women in Tech Leadership! You can find our courses at https://weleadwell.ca.

  • The Power of Ethical Leadership


    By Milja Saari-Hembruff

    A few years ago I got a t-shirt at a conference that says “Perfection is Boring.” Every time I wear it, I think about how I want to lead… Perfection most definitely is not the goal; rather leading with values and ethics is what I seek to embody.

    Ethical leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being consistent. It’s about choosing what’s right over what’s easy. I believe that especially in the tech industry, having a clear ethical compass is critical.

    I’m sure many of you have worked in a toxic culture or for a toxic manager. That kind of environment is based on the slow unraveling of culture— or maybe the lack of culture to begin with.

    Leading ethically means making choices that reflect both your personal values and your company’s values. It’s about doing the right thing. In my last blog we talked about defining your values. Things like accountability, empathy, and justice.

    When leaders lead with authenticity, transparency, and inclusivity, magic happens. You build a culture where people feel safe to speak up, where trust is inherent, and where doing the right thing is the norm.

    I encourage you to take a moment and think about leaders you admire, either in your own life or in the public eye. What is it about them that inspires you? Here are a few examples that come to mind when I think about ethical leaders…

    Terry Fox – His Marathon of Hope inspired people to raise funds for cancer research and feel the power of giving back.

    Jacinda Ardern – Former Prime Minister of New Zealand, she demonstrates empathy, inclusivity, and transparency in leadership.

    Ruth Bader Ginsburg – As a Supreme Court Justice, she was a trailblazer for gender equality and justice.

    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – King’s leadership in the civil rights movement was rooted in ethical values of nonviolence, equality, and justice.

    David Suzuki – A long time leader in the fight for environmental justice, he is an advocate for the planet and social responsibility.

    Think about what values these leaders embody, and how you can integrate those values into your own leadership journey. Share your thoughts and let us know about other ethical leaders in the comments!

    I encourage you to check out the free course called “The LeadWell Leader”. We talk about the basics of what is means to be grounded in values and ethics.

    https://weleadwell.thinkific.com/products/courses/LeadWellLeader

  • Why Values-Led Leadership Is Necessary

    By Milja Saari-Hembruff

    Leaders who know what they stand for are the game-changers. I’m sure you’ve been in the room with leaders who captivate your attention, who you want to be like. They are the ones who lead with confidence and light up a room (or a Zoom meeting).

    Not everyone gets there right away – and some never get there.

    When I first stepped into a leadership role after 20 years as an individual contributor, I wanted to prove myself. I was trying to say the right things, do the right things, and keep my boss happy. But I didn’t really know what I stood for, and I hadn’t taken the time to think about what truly mattered to me. So when things got hard, I was reactive instead of intentional.

    In this blog, I want to talk about something I wish I had figured out much earlier: values.

    I’m referring to real, personal values. The important things that show up when you’re making hard calls or deciding what kind of leader you really want to be.

    The first step to becoming a good leader is to think about and make an intentional decision on what you stand for.

    How My Sabbatical in Laos Changed Everything

    In 2019, I took part in a one-month company-sponsored social sabbatical in the country of Laos (in Southeast Asia). It was meant to be a time to give back, but it became a whole lot more.

    I worked with an NGO that was doing incredibly impactful work. They were people who cared deeply and led with purpose. That trip changed me. I still think about it every day even 6 years later. That experience made me rethink what success looked like and, more importantly—what kind of leader I wanted to be.

    I’ll share more about that journey in a future blog, but what matters today is this: I came home from a month abroad knowing that I couldn’t lead the same way anymore. I needed to lead with more empathy. More clarity. And a lot more humanity.

    My True North: Empathy, Transparency, Communication

    Since that time, I’ve done the deep work of defining my core values— those values that help me navigate leadership in the real world.

    For me, those values are:

    • Empathy—because leadership starts with listening.
    • Transparency—because people deserve honesty and context.
    • Communication—because clarity is kindness, and silence creates confusion.
    • Collaboration—because building things together is better.

    These values don’t just live in a journal. They shape how I coach, how I parent, how I make decisions—and how I co-founded The LeadWell Collective.

    Let’s Get Practical: Do Your Values Inventory

    At The LeadWell Collective, we believe in practical learning. So let’s do this together. Here is a list values to reflect on. Read them, take the time to think about them. Listen to your gut (and feel free to Google more if these don’t fit).

    Integrity – Doing the right thing, even when it’s uncomfortable.
    Communication – Sharing clearly, listening, and keeping people in the loop.
    Empathy – Seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.
    Transparency – Being open about your intentions and decisions.
    Courage – Standing in your beliefs, especially when it’s not popular.
    Inclusivity – Making sure every voice matters.
    Growth – Committing to learning, unlearning, and evolving.
    Accountability – Owning your actions.
    Innovation – Staying curious and open to new ideas.
    Collaboration – Building better, together.
    Compassion – Leading with kindness, especially in hard moments.
    Authenticity – Showing up as your real self, not just your role.
    Excellence – Doing your best, not being perfect.
    Service – Leading with a heart for others.
    Justice – Committing to fairness and equity, even when it’s hard.

    Pick your top 3–4. Write them down. Stick them on your mirror, your laptop, or the inside of your notebook. Let them be your guide.

    Once you have your list take our 30-minute online course called “Why Values are Your Competitive Advantage”. https://weleadwell.thinkific.com/products/courses/discover-core-values

    Finally, share what your values are in the LeadWell Community or post on Instagram @leadwell.collective.

  • Welcome to The Leadership Lens

    Hi there—we’re so glad you’re here!

    We’re Milja and Melissa, co-founders of The LeadWell Collective, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome you to The Leadership Lens—our blog and conversation space about what it means to lead well in today’s world.

    Between the two of us, we’ve spent decades in leadership roles in the tech industry—navigating everything from hiring to restructuring and everything in between. Melissa is a calm, grounded leader who brings out the best in every person she manages. I bring my experience in marketing, sales development, and executive leadership roles in the tech world. While we are all about leadership development for all, we both have a personal passion for building women up to be leaders in tech.

    If there’s one thing we’ve learned in our years as leaders it’s that the world needs a different kind of leadership.

    We believe we are living in a time when people are asking for more—more humanity, more ethics, more courage. It’s not enough to lead for profit or performance alone. People want leaders who lead well.

    Why We Started The LeadWell Collective

    The idea for The LeadWell Collective was born out of this shift. After years of seeing what happens when leadership is disconnected from purpose, we knew there had to be a better way. And we’ve also seen the transformation that is possible when leadership is values-driven—rooted in clarity, courage, and compassion.

    In a time marked by constant change and growing complexity, we believe leadership should be about more than just results. It should be about making people and organizations better. Whether you’re already leading a global team, wanting to build leadership skills, or driving change in some way, the principles are the same: leadership is about how you show up, what you stand for, and how you treat people.

    That’s the kind of leadership we’re here to champion.

    What We Offer

    Our goal is to support the growth of human-centered, purpose-driven leaders. Through coaching, leadership training programs, and a vibrant community, we want to create space for leaders to grow in skill and in character.

    • Our coaching focuses on both performance and purpose.
    • Our courses help you navigate uncertainty with clarity and confidence.
    • And our community is a place to connect, share, and grow alongside other leaders who care about leading well.

    We also know that some leadership paths come with added complexity—especially for women in tech. That’s why we will be offering specialized courses and dedicated content to support women navigating leadership in technical spaces.

    What You’ll Find Here

    In this blog you’ll find practical insights, our personal stories, and tools to help you lead with intention and impact. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or growing into your first leadership role, we hope this space inspires you, challenges you, and helps you grow.

    Thanks for being here. We’re so excited to walk this path with you.

    Here’s to leading well!
    Milja & Melissa