I’ve always been the go-getter type—the kind of woman who sets big goals and doesn’t stop until she gets there. Training at the UN? Done. An internship at the embassy in Cairo? Check. Writing travel reportages, building a program that connected top experts with company leaders—just another day in my high-achieving world. I thrived on the hustle, the impact, the adrenaline of success.

But here’s what no one tells you: ambition without balance will knock you down. Hard. My body did exactly that. Living with an autoimmune disease, I kept pushing, ignoring the warning signs, convincing myself that success had to come with sacrifice. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.

The wake-up call? Taking all my vacation days (for the first time ever) and flying to Thailand for a month. I had waited years—literally—to be healthy enough for a long-haul flight again. And in that moment, I realized: I get to design my own career. I get to lead, thrive, support my team, and still have a life that doesn’t drain me. No more running on empty. No more equating overwork with success.

That’s exactly what I help other ambitious women do. Because true success isn’t just about climbing the ladder—it’s about building a career that works for you. It starts with understanding who you are, knowing your strengths, aligning your mindset and values with your goals, and having the strategy to make it happen. High-achievers don’t have to burn out. You get to have it all—without losing yourself in the process.