Way Out #29: From Silicon Valley Hyper-Growth to Redesigning Maternity Leave for Parents with Kelly Ling
What happens when the high-paying Silicon Valley career you spent 15 years building suddenly collides with real life? On Way Out #29, I sit down with former DoorDash executive Kelly Ling to talk about the illusion of startup security and the raw turning points that forced her to walk away. After surviving a life-threatening pregnancy and hitting a wall of burnout, an unexpected maternity leave layoff became her ultimate golden ticket to reclaim her time. Tune in to hear how Kelly walked off the corporate treadmill, intentionally slashed her salary to one-sixth of her former income, and finally built a life centered around peace, presence, and proactive change for other parents.
Way Out #23: From Corporate Gaslighting to Total Freedom with Karol Figueroa
A successful climb up the corporate ladder landed Karol in a Director role at Microsoft. But her real wake-up call came from her 4-year-old daughter. While Karol was working late one night to pay for a lavish lifestyle, her daughter looked at her and said the five words that changed Karol's life forever: "Mom, but I already love you."
Way Out #20: Laid Off From Her Executive "Dream Job": The Burnout Story with Haley Scruggs
For years, Haley Scruggs believed that success required pain — and her body eventually made sure she knew the cost. In this episode of 101 Ways Out, the founder of A Lighter Way Consulting opens up about the extreme corporate burnout that pushed her to her breaking point, how being laid off from her executive "dream job" became the ultimate blessing in disguise, and why you do not have to sacrifice your health and happiness to be successful.
Way Out #7: From Emmy-Winning Oprah Producer to Entrepreneur and Puppeteer with Lisa Weiss
She spent years at the pinnacle of television as an Emmy-winning producer for Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. But when a layoff coincided with a high-risk pregnancy, Lisa Weiss was forced to reimagine her identity without the safety net of a "dream job." In this episode, Lisa reveals how she escaped the trap of the "unlived life," why she turned down venture capital advice to follow her gut, and how a 7-minute puppet show about mansplaining unlocked more business confidence than any boardroom meeting.