Have you ever looked around at your life - your job, your success, your leadership role - and thought, “I should feel grateful… but something still feels off”?

In this episode of Your Worth, Your Way, I’m joined by Emma Mason, a success coach for senior women leaders navigating big transitions in their careers and lives. Emma shares her own powerful story of walking away from a high-powered role in the Australian Government after burnout forced her to reckon with the version of success she’d been chasing.

Together, we explore the inner unraveling that often begins in midlife - the gentle (and sometimes not-so-gentle) nudge from within that says, “This isn’t sustainable anymore.” We dive into how the pressures of corporate leadership, coupled with the silent impact of perimenopause, can cause women to doubt themselves, question their value, and feel completely unrecognisable to themselves.

This conversation is a permission slip to slow down, reflect, and begin the courageous process of coming home to yourself. If you're feeling stuck, emotionally depleted, or quietly wondering what’s next?, this episode will speak directly to your soul.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

✔ Burnout isn’t a sign of failure - it’s a sacred invitation to pause, reassess, and realign.

✔ Perimenopause is more than a hormonal shift - it’s a rite of passage into deeper personal power.

✔ Dismantling outdated models of success is essential if we want to lead with authenticity and impact.

✔ You don’t need to burn it all down to create something new - you just need to stop abandoning yourself.

✔ When we honour the voice within, we unlock a more sustainable, soul-aligned way to lead, live, and thrive.

Timestamps & Key Topics

[00:00] Welcome & Episode Introduction

[04:20] Emma’s burnout story and leaving government

[08:50] The hidden influence of perimenopause on leadership and identity

[14:30] Why high-achieving women feel like they’re “not themselves” anymore

[19:45] Rethinking success: From external achievement to inner fulfilment

[25:10] Dismantling masculine paradigms of power and leadership

[30:40] What it really means to lead from your feminine

[36:20] Redefining self-worth in midlife transitions

[41:00] Final reflections and where to connect with Emma

Resources & Links:

📌 Connect with Emma Mason:

Website: www.emmamason.com.au

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mason-coach

📌 Connect with me, Debbie Lucas:

Explore my work, podcast links, and more: www.debbielucas.me/links

🎧 Subscribe to Your Worth, Your Way for weekly episodes that help you trust yourself more, reclaim your energy, and live a life that feels like yours.

💛 If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and share it with a friend who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women come back to themselves and prioritise their joy.

Mentioned in this episode:

Intuition Quiz

You know you’re meant to trust yourself more - but if you’re still looping in overthinking, perfectionism, or pressure... your intuition may be speaking, but your ego is still steering. This quiz is designed to help you tune into your current relationship with intuitive self-trust - and discover what’s really guiding your decisions: fear or soul. It’s not about being “good” at intuition. It’s about remembering how to listen. Let’s find out where you are and where you’re ready to rise.

Intuition Quiz