There is a conversation that many women entrepreneurs avoid until their body forces them to pay attention.
It is the conversation about health.
Not in the surface-level, “drink more water and get more sleep” way. But in the deeper, CEO-level understanding that your body directly impacts your ability to lead, make decisions, and sustain growth.
In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Alicia Newsome to explore what happens when high-performing women ignore the signals their body is sending and how reclaiming your health can completely shift how you operate in your business.
1. Your Body Is Not Separate From Your Business [00:01:00]
One of the most powerful reminders from this conversation is that your body is not separate from your business. It is the foundation of how your business operates.
When your body is depleted, it shows up in your business as:
- Decision fatigue
- Brain fog during key tasks
- Lack of focus and follow-through
- Increased irritability with clients or team members
As Dr. Alicia explained, many women are trying to push through symptoms like fatigue, poor sleep, and low energy without realizing those are warning signals. These are not minor inconveniences. They are indicators that something deeper needs attention.
From a CEO perspective, ignoring those signals is not resilience. It is misalignment.
2. The “Check Engine Light” You Cannot Ignore [00:06:00]
Dr. Alicia shared a powerful analogy that reframes how we should think about our health.
When your car’s check engine light comes on, you do not cover it up and keep driving. You investigate the root cause.
Yet many women entrepreneurs do exactly that with their bodies.
Symptoms like:
- Constant fatigue
- Brain fog
- Hormonal imbalances
- Digestive issues
- Trouble focusing
Are your body’s version of that check engine light.
The issue is that many traditional systems only address symptoms rather than root causes. This leads to temporary fixes instead of long-term solutions.
CEO leadership requires a different approach. It requires curiosity, ownership, and a willingness to address what is actually happening beneath the surface.
3. You Cannot Lead Well From a Depleted State [00:18:00]
One of the most important shifts in this conversation is recognizing how health directly impacts leadership.
When your body is not supported, it affects:
- How you communicate with your team
- How you respond to challenges
- How you show up in your relationships
- How much capacity you have for growth
Dr. Alicia shared her own experience of exhaustion, pain, and burnout while still trying to show up in her career and as a mother. That reality is not uncommon. It is just rarely acknowledged at this level.
Many women normalize symptoms that are actually limiting their potential.
From a CEO standpoint, this is not sustainable. You cannot build a business that requires high-level thinking while operating from a low-energy state.
4. The Hidden Cost of “Pushing Through” [00:24:00]
There is a narrative in entrepreneurship that pushing through is a strength.
But what this conversation highlights is that pushing through without awareness comes at a cost.
It can look like:
- Staying in the weeds of your business late at night
- Struggling to delegate effectively
- Holding everything yourself because it feels easier
- Experiencing constant stress cycles that never fully resolve
These are not just operational issues. They are often connected to internal and physical imbalances.
When your nervous system is overloaded and your body is depleted, your decision-making shifts. You default to control, overwork, and survival-based actions.
That is not CEO leadership. That is reactive management.
5. Clarity Starts Within the Body [00:31:00]
If there is one place to begin, it is not with a complicated routine or an overwhelming health plan.
It starts with a pause.
Dr. Alicia shared a simple but powerful starting point. Ask yourself, “What do I need right now?”
That question shifts you from autopilot into awareness.
It might be:
- Rest
- Nourishment
- A mental reset
- Space to think
This is not about adding more to your plate. It is about listening to what your body is already telling you.
CEO leadership is not just about strategy. It is about self-leadership. And self-leadership begins with awareness.
If there is one takeaway from this conversation, it is this. Your body is not separate from your business. It is part of your strategy.
When you begin to lead with that level of awareness, your decisions shift. Your pace becomes more intentional. And your business becomes something that supports you, not something that drains you.
If this conversation resonated and you know your body has been sending you signals you have been overlooking, this is your opportunity to explore what is really going on beneath the surface.
Dr. Alicia works with women virtually around the world, helping them identify root causes through advanced testing and create personalized plans that restore energy, balance, and clarity. You can learn more about her work, speaking, and approach here:
👉 https://www.dralicianewsome.com/dr-alicia-speaks/
She also offers resources and tools to support energy and stress management that you can access here:
👉 https://www.draliciagifts.com
And if you prefer a direct connection, you can find and message her on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook by searching Dr. Alicia Newsome, where she actively engages and supports her community.
If this conversation resonated with you, it is likely because you are being called to lead differently in this season.
Not harder. Not faster. But with more intention.
If you want support as you build a business that aligns with your energy, capacity, and long-term vision, I invite you to join the EmpowerHer Community Circle. This is where we have real conversations about growth, leadership, and sustainability alongside women who are building with clarity.
