Melody Wilding is an executive coach, human behavior expert, and author of Trust Yourself and Managing Up. In this episode we unpack how high-achievers often sabotage their careers through people-pleasing and emotional suppression.

Melody shares why sensitive strivers (a term she coined for deeply feeling, high-performing individuals) often struggle to advocate for themselves in professional environments — and how this disconnect leads to burnout, resentment, and career stagnation. We explore the difference between being collaborative and being a doormat, and how to set boundaries that actually earn respect rather than risk relationships.