Women, Leadership, and Hidden Workplace Stress: Shayna Bergman's Story

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, host Amy Stone welcomes Shayna Bergman, a coach and former HR leader, to discuss a pivotal moment during the pandemic lockdown that changed the course of her professional and personal life. Shayna shares the story of a work incident that led her to reevaluate her career and take a bold leap into coaching, aligning her work with her true values and passions.

About the Guest:

Shayna Bergman is a passionate, results-driven executive and leadership coach who empowers parents in leadership roles to unlock their potential and achieve deeper fulfillment personally and professionally. With a background in global talent development, HR leadership, and university teaching, she brings perceptiveness, insight, and truth-telling to every client interaction. Certified by the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching and accredited by the ICF, Shayna has earned multiple awards, including Alignable’s 2024 Local Business Person of the Year and Marquis Who’s Who 2025. She lives in Fairfax, VA with her husband and two spirited kids, and when she’s not coaching, she enjoys dining out, hiking, and organizing everything from her calendar to her kitchen drawers.

Main Topics Covered:

• Shayna’s pre-pandemic “hamster wheel” lifestyle as a busy HR leader and mom of two
• The chaos and challenges of parenting and working during pandemic lockdown without local support
• The workplace confrontation that sparked Shayna’s realization it was time to make a major life and career change
• Navigating imposter syndrome and shifting from HR to a coaching practice
• Building a business aligned with one’s authentic self and values
• The impact of career changes on personal fulfillment, family, and day-to-day life
• The realities of managing the “emotional load” and gender dynamics in leadership
• Tips for finding alignment between family, work, and personal values

Quote from the Episode:

"I could keep working here and be a part of the problem, or I could actually help people like this not do this to other people... I need to step outside of it and help." — Shayna Bergman

Timestamps:

• 00:00:01 – Amy introduces Shayna and previews the episode
• 00:03:18 – Shayna describes life pre-pandemic and her work/family dynamic
• 00:04:51 – The reality of strict lockdown for Shayna’s family
• 00:08:37 – The snapping point: a rude workplace confrontation
• 00:11:53 – Gender dynamics and the emotional load at work
• 00:15:33 – Shayna’s path to HR and underlying desire to coach
• 00:20:59 – Recognizing “everything is great” might not be true fulfillment
• 00:22:17 – Shayna’s private journey toward making a career pivot
• 00:26:01 – Realizing her natural fit for coaching
• 00:30:39 – How Shayna’s life has changed and the impact of her work now
• 00:33:41 – Where to connect with Shayna and her free resource offer
• 00:36:00 – Rapid-fire questions; Shayna’s take on TV, movies, and dream shopping sprees

Special Offer:

Download Shayna’s guide, “Design You: A Guide to Thriving Personally and Professionally”—normally $499—for free via the link Visit https://shaynabergman.com/free-guide-design-your-year/

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