Shedding the Corporate Bitch
Welcome to Shedding the Corporate Bitch – the podcast that challenges the status quo and empowers bold professionals to ditch outdated expectations, rewrite the rules, and rise into leadership on their own terms.
Hosted by transformational coach and unapologetic truth-teller Bernadette Boas, each episode delivers raw insights, unfiltered conversations, and practical strategies for ambitious corporate professionals, executive leaders, and HR trailblazers who are ready to level up—without selling out.
Whether you're navigating toxic cultures, battling burnout, or aiming for that next big role, this show is your weekly dose of motivation, straight talk, and real solutions that get results.
Follow now—and start shedding what no longer serves you, so you can build a career and life that actually fits you.
Shedding the Corporate Bitch
How to Lead While Life Happens
What if being emotional, vulnerable, and transparent could actually be your greatest leadership advantage?
In this powerful episode, Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada's Ocean Supercluster, shatters the myth that effective leaders must separate their personal and professional lives. Leading a national innovation initiative with a majority-female team, Kendra shares raw, honest stories about adopting her daughter while climbing the corporate ladder, managing family health crises, and why scoring "high on emotion" as a CEO became her superpower—not her weakness.
You'll discover:
- Why transparency builds trust faster than perfection ever will
- The "24-hour rule" that prevents career-damaging emotional reactions
- How to reframe problems instead of falling in love with solutions
- Why purpose-driven leadership naturally creates emotional investment
- How to create truly inclusive policies (starting with your language)
- The truth about work-life "blend" vs. "balance"—and why it matters
- Why there's never a "perfect time" to step into leadership
The Challenge: This week, examine one area where you're hiding your authentic self at work. What would it look like to bring more transparency to that situation? Share your insights with your team or a trusted colleague.
Key Timestamps:
[00:01:00] - Introduction: Can you lead effectively without sacrificing your personal life?
[00:03:00] - The power of women in tech and innovation
[00:05:00] - Why diversity of thought solves complex challenges
[00:07:00] - The evolution from "private life stays private" to authentic leadership
[00:08:00] - Kendra's adoption journey: When transparency transformed her career
[00:11:00] - Remote work as a strategic talent advantage
[00:14:00] - Why men need work-life blend too (and the "babysitting" problem)
[00:15:00] - Language matters: From "maternity leave" to "parental leave"
[00:18:00] - Being an "emotional CEO": Liability or superpower?
[00:19:00] - Purpose creates emotion, emotion creates power
[00:24:00] - The 24-hour rule: Sleep on it before you send it
[00:25:00] - Focus on purpose, not path: Your North Star in chaos
[00:26:00] - "Are you trying to be pregnant or be a mom?" Reframing the problem
[00:27:00] - We need leaders in the mess—there's no perfect time
[00:28:00] - Setting personal boundaries in an age of transparency
Connect with Kendra MacDonald: Canada's Ocean Supercluster
Call to Action: Ready to transform your leadership approach? Subscribe to Shedding the Corporate Bitch Podcast for weekly episodes that challenge conventional corporate wisdom. Share this episode with a leader who needs permission to show up as their whole self.
Rate & Review: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review and share what you learned. Your reviews help us reach more leaders ready to embrace authentic, purpose-driven leadership.
Next Steps:
- Subscribe so you never miss an episode
- Share this with your leadership team or HR department
- Join the conversation on LinkedIn and Instagram @SheddingTheCorporateBitch
#AuthenticLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #WorkLifeBlend #PurposeDrivenLeadership #WomenInTech #HRLeadership #ModernWorkplace #LeadershipDevelopment
