Most of us answer "how are you?" with busy, stressed, or exhausted, and somewhere along the way we decided that was just the cost of doing good work. Meghan French Dunbar lived that way for years as a startup CEO, until a panic attack made her stop and question the whole script.
In this conversation, Brandon and Meghan get into why so many workplaces wear people down, and what the leaders and companies who do it differently actually do instead. Meghan shares the moment her own success started to break her, the interview that reshaped how she thinks about leadership, and a set of practical habits anyone can start this week. You will hear how to essentialize your time, relationships, and inputs, why the healthiest leaders draw from a wide range of human traits, and how opening the books with her team surfaced ideas and savings she never expected.
It started as a book for working women. By the end, it is plainly for anyone who has poured their whole self into work and wondered if there is a better way to succeed.
About our guest
Meghan French Dunbar is an author, speaker, and workplace strategist. She co-founded Conscious Company magazine, a print publication that launched in 2015 and landed in Whole Foods stores across the country. She grew it with angel funding, stayed on as CEO after the company was acquired, and stepped down in early 2020. Her book, This Isn't Working, came out of that experience and the reflection that followed. In it she lays out ideas like holistic leadership, essentializing, and the unified workplace, all drawn from her conversations with leaders who found healthier ways to build and run their businesses.
Timestamps
- 01:50 The book and the moment on the floor
- 04:15 The panic attack and six months of runway
- 06:50 COVID, postpartum, and a forced pause
- 09:50 Why the workplace was not built for women
- 13:50 The interview that changed how she sees leadership
- 18:30 Holistic leadership and healthy versus toxic traits
- 21:30 Authentic leadership and the story of Jocelyn
- 26:30 From overextended to optimized, and how to essentialize
- 34:45 Harmful workplaces versus beneficial ones
- 40:00 The unified workplace and opening the books
- 44:40 Social success versus soul success
- 51:00 Micro agency and the note to close on
A quick glimpse into our podcast
Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders."
About Xenium HR
Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more
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