Olivia Bennett
Leadership Development Expert & Work-Life Balance Advocate
About
Helping professionals lead authentically while creating sustainable, balanced careers. Former executive who learned the hard way that burnout isn't a badge of honor.
In my previous life as Chief Marketing Officer at a rapidly scaling tech company, I was the poster child for “successful” burnout culture. 80-hour weeks? Check. Sleeping under my desk? Been there. Missing my children’s milestones for “unmissable” meetings? More times than I care to admit.
When my health finally collapsed during an investor meeting—literally collapsed, complete with ambulance and hospital stay—I was forced to confront an uncomfortable truth: the leadership approach I had internalized was fundamentally broken. Not just personally unsustainable, but organizationally ineffective.
This wake-up call launched me on a journey to reimagine leadership. After my recovery, I founded Balanced Leadership Institute, where we’ve now trained over 7,000 managers and executives in practices that drive organizational performance while supporting human flourishing. Our data shows the two aren’t just compatible—they’re synergistic.
My approach combines evidence-based performance psychology with practical tools for boundary-setting and sustainable work practices. Clients often arrive skeptical that they can maintain results while reducing intensity, then leave astonished by the productivity gains that come with strategic rest and focus.
Today’s workplace doesn’t need more martyrs sacrificing themselves on the altar of productivity. It needs clear-thinking, emotionally balanced leaders capable of making wise decisions amid complexity and nurturing the full potential of their teams.
The strongest leaders aren’t those who burnout. They’re those who know how to burn bright and steady for the long run.