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Brilliant Balance

Brilliant Balance

Cherylanne Skolnicki 453 Episodes Oct 13, 2026

The Brilliant Balance Podcast helps women in leadership design their next chapter for sustainable success without burnout. Host Cherylanne Skolnicki, an expert in work-life balance and leadership growth, shares ideas and insights to help high-achieving women align ambition with personal fulfillment. Topics include leadership mindset, time management, and personal growth. The podcast features conversations with experts and ambitious women on strategies for burnout recovery and productivity.

Episodes

You're not doing too much. You're just doing it alone.
You're not doing too much. You're just doing it alone. Oct 13, 2026 36:47 What if creating the life you want isn't about doing more, but about creating the capacity to make space for what comes next? In this episode, I'm sharing stories from my recent retreat at Canyon Ranch and the moments that reminded me what real growth can look like. From allowing yourself to receive and step away from the demands of daily life to building the infrastructure that makes that possibl
Taking a Power Pause - with Neha Ruch
Taking a Power Pause - with Neha Ruch Oct 6, 2026 48:33 What happens when you step away from your career to make room for family life? In this episode, I'm joined by Neha Ruch, author of The Power Pause, to explore how a career pause can become an opportunity for growth, self-discovery, and a new sense of purpose. We're talking about how to navigate identity shifts, redefine success, and make intentional choices about work and family without feeling li
Boundaries Aren't Mean; They're Math.
Boundaries Aren't Mean; They're Math. Sep 29, 2026 27:05 Boundaries don't make you selfish or unkind. They help you make intentional choices about where you give your time, energy, and attention. In this episode, I'm talking about why saying yes to someone always means saying no to something else. We explore people-pleasing, the pressure to be agreeable, and why it can be so difficult to recognize what we actually want. You'll learn how to start strengt
Entrepreneur Like a Mother with Beth Mazza
Entrepreneur Like a Mother with Beth Mazza Sep 22, 2026 36:45 Building a business and raising a family can feel like two competing priorities. But what if the business you build could actually support the life you want? In this episode, I'm joined by Beth Mazza, co-founder of Female Mavericks and a serial entrepreneur who built and sold two consulting firms while raising four children. Beth shares the lessons she and her business partner, Victoria, learned a
What if I worked for YOU for a day?
What if I worked for YOU for a day? Sep 15, 2026 36:07 When life gets busy, thinking time is often the first thing to disappear. But without space to step back, we can easily end up moving through life without checking whether we're actually headed in the right direction. In this episode, I'm talking about the power of taking an entire day to think, plan, and solve problems with intention. I share how this practice became part of my own life, how it e
"Breadwinner, Redefined" with Alexis Contos
"Breadwinner, Redefined" with Alexis Contos Sep 8, 2026 45:52 Nearly 40% of American mothers are now primary earners, but the culture hasn't fully caught up with what that actually requires. In this episode, I'm joined by Alexis Contos, founder of The Breadwinners, a community built around the realities of building a career while raising a family. Alexis shares why she walked away from a 20-year corporate career, how one dinner at South by Southwest turned i
The Week That Works for Everyone — Except You
The Week That Works for Everyone — Except You Sep 1, 2026 24:31 Have you ever looked at your calendar and realized you've created a week that works for everyone else, but leaves very little space for you? In this episode, I'm exploring how we end up in this pattern and what it takes to create a week that supports the life we actually want. I'm talking about why "life is full" is a more empowering way to think about busy seasons, and why waiting until everythin
What Gets Scheduled Gets Done
What Gets Scheduled Gets Done Aug 25, 2026 28:47 We all have good intentions. The challenge is turning those intentions into action. In this episode, I'm revisiting one of the very first episodes of the Brilliant Balance podcast because the message is just as relevant today as it was then. As I navigate a busy season of travel, family transitions, and sending another child off to college, I'm putting this principle into practice myself. If you'v
How Change Really Happens with Kristy Ellmer
How Change Really Happens with Kristy Ellmer Aug 18, 2026 33:10 Change is hard. But it isn't because people resist it. In this episode, I'm joined by Kristy Ellmer, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group and co-author of How Change Really Works. We explore why so many personal and organizational changes fail, what behavioral science teaches us about making change stick, and the simple shifts that can help us move forward with more confidence.
Life as you Climb with Betsy Hamm
Life as you Climb with Betsy Hamm Aug 11, 2026 41:50 What does it take to build an ambitious career without losing sight of what matters most? In this episode, I'm joined by Betsy Hamm, former CEO of Duck Donuts and founder of Loud & Lifted. Betsy shares the unexpected career moves that took her from marketing iconic brands to leading a company through rapid growth, private equity, and international expansion. Along the way, she opens up about the i
Performing for People Who Aren't Even Watching
Performing for People Who Aren't Even Watching Aug 4, 2026 26:56 How many decisions do you make based on what you think other people will think? In this episode, I'm unpacking the quiet fear of judgment that shapes so many of our choices. Whether it's speaking up in a meeting, showing up at a reunion, making a career change, or simply deciding what to wear, we often act as though everyone is watching our every move. The truth is, they're usually much more focus
What avoidance really shows us
What avoidance really shows us Jul 28, 2026 30:45 Have you ever finally done something you've been putting off and immediately wondered, Why did I wait so long? In this episode, I'm exploring what avoidance really is and why so many of us stay stuck, even when we know exactly what we need to do. From difficult conversations and health decisions to everyday life admin, avoidance often looks like being busy or waiting for the "right time." But unde

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