Build Your Brave Career for Women in Tech

Return from Burn-Out & Embrace Your Innate Talent to Grow Your Career with Caroline Santinelli (Client Rerun) E168

Build Your Brave Career for Women in Tech

Show Notes

During the summer of 2024, I am re-running the most popular client conversations based on downloads, shares, and direct feedback. Make sure to catch a career update at the end of each episode.

Caroline Santinelli, a former teacher and now woman in tech, shares her brave career story of – as Brene Brown says – choosing to ‘belong to herself first.’

Caroline’s story includes moving from burnout-driven medical leave as a teacher, to embracing her innate strengths, choosing her health, and allowing her brave career to move through different phases.

At the start of her career transformation, Caroline lost her voice (for real) due to stress, experienced her first panic attack, developed insomnia, kept getting sick with aches and fevers, and finally began having significant nerve pains.

Caroline shares how she chose messy, deeply personal work of building her brave, searching out support from professionals. Her first significant step was giving herself permission to take medical leave. Then, over many weeks, she slowly gave herself permission to belong to herself and choose her innate talents. The next big step was allowing others to be disappointed.

If you’re ready to learn how to belong to yourself, embrace your innate talents, and break free of the rules and judgments holding you back, this is your episode.

Hot topics from this episode: Introducing Caroline Santinelli - educator to business owner What it means to belong to yourself, one step at a time Why it’s important to disappoint others instead of yourself How we’ve been indoctrinated to not belong to ourselves “Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke . . . She will need her sisterhood.” ― Gloria Steinem Repeating a lesson until the knowledge breaks through into wisdom Rejecting standards that are inhuman and unprofessional, like 24-hour email turn-around time for all emails Caroline’s brave role models and how women empower women who then empower other women Learning to lean into your innate talent, listen to the way (not the obstacle), and then allow the open up Connect with Caroline Santinelli on LinkedIn Original episode: E99: Caroline Santinelli - Embrace Your Innate Talent to Return from Burn-Out & Transform Your Career (Client)

For more information on how you can build your brave: Check out my website Join my mailing list for more insights, opportunities, and inspiration Connection with me on LinkedIn

More from Build Your Brave Career for Women in Tech

May 14, 2026

You are looking for a new job. You're qualified. You're experienced. You're doing everything right — and nothing is moving. Instead, you are spinning in applications, silence, and rejection. In this fifth episode of the What Now series, I walk you through what isn’t working and what you need to do instead of move past Ghost Jobs and into a new career phase.

May 7, 2026

Are you experienced, doing your job well & delivering results, and still waiting for the lay-off to smack down? You're not overreacting. You're paying attention. In this fourth episode of the What Now series, I walk you through how to stop the default response to overwork and how to reduce the fear and step back into control. I share how one client went from overworking, stressed to the max, and poorly leading her team due to lay-off fear to becoming a trusted leader, with personal and financial calm, who navigated the dreaded lay-off with inner power.

Apr 30, 2026

Did you get passed over in your career and you're ready to fix it so your work get the title and salary it deserves? In this third episode of the What Now series, I walk you through how to fix getting passed over and turn into into career leap. I share how one client went from a decade of being passed over to a role two levels up in less than four months at the same company, rooted in the Build Your Brave Career Framework. Specifically, I show you: Clarity — Have the uncomfortable conversation with your manager. Ask what led to the decision, then listen. If you hear "maybe in six months," "keep going, we believe in you," or a "well, actually" reframe — that's your clarity. Growth isn't coming here. Momentum — Process the disappointment and grief, but don't stop there. Take intentional action: shift your narrative, close a gap you actually want to close, or start exploring what's next. Accountability — Ask: Who have I been, and who do I want to become? Design clean, simple statements and become them in your daily choices. Getting passed over happens. Staying passed over is a choice. This episode is your sign to make a very different choice. Click here to start working together to solve your career confusion through 1:1 career coaching with me. Connect with Me: You can be a woman in tech and enjoy your career. When you build the skill of bravery, you will stress less, work less, and then earn more. Check out the following resources designed to help you thrive in your career: Check out my website Join my mailing list for more insights, opportunities, and inspiration Connection with me on LinkedIn

Apr 23, 2026

Are you exhausted — not just tired, not in need of a nap, just exhausted? In this second episode of the What Now series, I walk you through why career exhaustion happens and how to use the Build Your Brave Career Framework to move forward. I share client examples and concrete suggestions. Specifically, I show you: 1. Clarity — Start with honesty. What's exhausting me? Who's stealing my energy? What am I no longer willing to tolerate? 2. Momentum — Feel your way forward, not just execute. Establish clear boundaries as you feel your feelings, one brave shift at a time. 3. Accountability — Choose who you want to become and stop waiting for anyone else to become her. Career exhaustion is not permanent. It's a sign that you are ready to grow. If you've been silently asking "what now?" this episode is your sign to take the next brave step. Click here to start working together to solve your career confusion through 1:1 career coaching with me. Connect with Me: You can be a woman in tech and enjoy your career. When you build the skill of bravery, you will stress less, work less, and then earn more. Check out the following resources designed to help you thrive in your career: Check out my website Join my mailing list for more insights, opportunities, and inspiration Connection with me on LinkedIn

Apr 16, 2026

Are you feeling confused about your career, but you are not quite in crisis? You're not alone and you're not stuck. In this first episode of the What Now series, I reframe career confusion and give you a simple way to solve your career confusion. I share a client's process of moving from confused and stuck to energized and thriving, rooted in the Build Your Brave Career Framework. Specifically, I show you: Clarity — Stop asking the same big, vague questions so that you start telling yourself the truth about what you actually want. Momentum — Commit to small, intentional actions that build the confidence and the direction you need to ensure your confusion. Accountability — Decide who you're becoming and grow into your future you through self-concept and mindset design. If you've been silently asking "what now?" this episode is your sign to take the next brave step. Click here to start working together to solve your career confusion through 1:1 career coaching with me. Connect with Me: You can be a woman in tech and enjoy your career. When you build the skill of bravery, you will stress less, work less, and then earn more. Check out the following resources designed to help you thrive in your career: Check out my website Join my mailing list for more insights, opportunities, and inspiration Connection with me on LinkedIn

See all episodes →