Host Warren Wandling takes you behind the scenes to get to know a variety of leaders and the keys to their success. Discover strategies, tips and resources from leaders and entrepreneurs who have overcome obstacles to build resilience and achieve success. In this episode, Warren introduces you to Sharon Spano.

Episode 122- Breaking the Emptiness of Success with Dr. Sharon Spano

 

In this episode of How to Become an Obstacle Buster, host Warren Wandling talks with Dr. Sharon Spano, executive coach, author, and expert in Human & Organizational Systems, about a struggle many high achievers never talk about out loud: the emptiness of success.

Dr. Spano works with CEOs, consultants, and entrepreneurs who look successful from the outside—great businesses, big careers, financial wins—yet feel stuck, disconnected, or unfulfilled on the inside. In this powerful conversation, she explains how early experiences, generational trauma, and hidden family narratives can silently drive leaders to overachieve, grind, and push… while still feeling like something is missing.

Sharon and Warren explore how leaders can move from hustle to harmony, integrating work and life instead of chasing the myth of “work–life balance.” She shares how identity-level transformation, self-witnessing, and a clear personal mission can help leaders lead more intentionally at work and at home.

You’ll hear Sharon’s own deeply personal story of loss, grief, and rebuilding purpose after the death of her son—and how that season of pain reshaped her work and passion for helping leaders shift from stuck and unstoppable.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • What the “emptiness of success” really is—and why so many high achievers experience it
  • How generational trauma, family stories, and hidden loyalties shape the way you lead
  • Why awareness after the fact isn’t enough—and how to develop self-awareness in the moment
  • The difference between work–life balance and work–life integration
  • How sleep, health, and emotional well-being connect to sustainable leadership
  • Why true leadership transformation happens at the identity level, not just in your task list
  • The power of having a personal mission statement that guides your decisions and priorities
  • How obstacles, grief, and setbacks can become catalysts for developmental growth rather than dead ends

Dr. Spano also shares a free resource for listeners: The Leader’s Edge Quiz, a tool to help you discover where you are in your leadership development and what may be tripping you up.

👉 Visit sharonspano.com

 to access the quiz and worksheet.

If you’re a leader who’s achieved “success” but still feels like something’s missing, this episode will help you see your obstacles differently—and take the next step toward a more aligned, fulfilling life and leadership.

To connect with Dr. Sharon Spano: