If You’re Still Holding On, What Are You Really Afraid Of?

You’re not trapped by your business, your team, or even your schedule. You’re trapped by the stories you’ve been telling yourself about what has to happen next. In this third installment of the special mini-series on the seven transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it’s time for something new, Kris unpacks the beliefs that quietly hold you back—the false truths that keep high-achieving women stuck in businesses they’ve already outgrown. She gets right to the heart of the stories we cling to when we’re afraid to move on, and dismantles them one by one. Like the belief that if you step back and the business doesn’t thrive, you’ve failed. That if you’re no longer running things, you’ve somehow lost your relevance. That wanting something new makes you ungrateful—or worse, that letting go means it was never enough to begin with. Here’s what we explore: Why it’s not your job to make the business live forever How to let go without guilt, shame, or fear of becoming invisible The difference between relevance and resonance—and why resonance is what actually matters What it means to be a woman in transition and still be powerful How to redefine your value outside of what you produce This episode is not about dismantling your success—it’s about unhooking from the beliefs that keep you small, tired, and holding on too tightly. Contact Information and Recommended Resources The best way to stay in the know? Get on the list. I’ve got some exciting things coming your way, and I always share with my email list first. Head to the thevisionary.ceo/notes and opt in.   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Are you the biggest bottleneck in your business—and don’t even realize it? You didn’t build your company to babysit it. But if you’re still the one making every call, solving every fire, and holding the reins so tightly no one else can lead...this episode is your wake-up call. In this second installment of the special mini-series on the seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it’s time for something new, Kris explores what it really means to step into the advisory consultant role for the very business you created and the team you built. If you’ve ever felt the urge to evolve beyond the business you built, this is your roadmap—and your invitation. It’s not just about delegation. It’s about identity. Because learning to release control doesn’t start with your team—it starts with you. Letting go of being the person who approves every decision, solves every problem, or catches every dropped ball requires more than systems—it requires a shift in who you believe yourself to be. Kris walks through why founders get stuck in a cycle of over-functioning, how perfectionism masks fear, and why holding the metaphorical bat too tightly means no one else will dare take a swing. Here’s what we explore: The difference between being essential and being in the way Why your team may be relying on you more than they need to What mentorship and true leadership actually look like How to grow your business by getting out of the weeds What really happens—emotionally and practically—when you loosen your grip This episode calls you forward—not to abandon your company, but to evolve into a different kind of leader: one who guides instead of manages, who advises instead of reacts, and who trusts her team to rise. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Wanna know if your business is ready to run without you? Take the short quiz here: www.thevisionary.CEO/businessready.   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

You say you want freedom. But are you really ready for it? This week, Kris kicks off the first of seven essential transitions every successful woman must navigate when she knows it’s time for something new. It starts with a brutally honest question: Is your business ready to run without you? And are you ready to let it? In this episode, Kris unpacks what readiness really means—not just logistically, but emotionally. Because saying you’re done and being done are two very different things. Here’s what we explore: The trap of being needed—and why it’s so hard to let go How your team might be holding you back (even if they mean well) Why control feels safer than it really is And how to know if you’re truly ready for what’s next This isn’t about stepping down. It’s about stepping into a new version of you. And readiness is just the beginning. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Wanna know if your business is ready to run without you? Take the short quiz here: www.thevisionary.CEO/businessready. The One Hour Leader Blueprint thevisionary.ceo/onehourleaderblueprint The One Hour Leader Coach thevisionary.ceo/onehourleadercoach   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest0

This season marks a turning point—not just for the podcast, but for the visionary women who listen. If you’ve ever wondered what comes after success, you’re in the right place. In this kickoff to a brand-new series, Kris introduces a deeply personal—and much-needed—conversation: what it means to go beyond the CEO. Because sometimes, the biggest transition isn’t building the business... it’s releasing your grip on it. Here’s what we explore: What it really takes to prepare your business (and yourself) to function without you Why staying too long might be holding you—and your team—back How AI and legacy leadership tools can still support your team while you evolve This isn’t about retirement. It’s about reinvention. And if you’re feeling restless, you’re not alone. Tune in now and meet the woman you’re becoming—one transition at a time. And be sure to listen to upcoming episodes as Kris explores the seven transitions every founder must face to move into her next chapter. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. The One Hour Leader Blueprint thevisionary.ceo/onehourleaderblueprint The One Hour Leader Coach thevisionary.ceo/onehourleadercoach   Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

You built the business. You built the team. You built the life. But now… what? This is the moment no one warns you about. When the business you poured everything into is running—maybe even thriving—but you feel restless. Detached. Like maybe you’ve outgrown what once felt like everything. In this episode, Kris Plachy opens the door to a new conversation—one that’s been quietly forming behind the scenes. This isn’t a pivot away from leadership. It’s a leap into deeper truth. She speaks directly to the woman who’s questioning what’s next: The one who can’t imagine walking away, but can’t imagine staying the same. The one who keeps showing up for her business, but secretly wonders if it’s still hers to love. The one who has succeeded by every metric but still lies awake at night asking, “Who am I now?” It’s time to meet her—the woman beyond the CEO. Here’s what we explore The raw emotional terrain of success that no one prepares you for Why so many Gen X founders are hearing a whisper they can’t ignore The difference between leaving a business and leaving yourself behind And how to start writing the next chapter—without rushing the ending of this one If you’ve built a beautiful business but you’re starting to dream in a new direction, Kris made this episode for you. This is your invitation to the age era. And Kris will meet you there. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

This one’s raw. Tender. And so incredibly real. My client came into this conversation thinking she needed clarity. She was looking for the right answers—about her role, her goals, her business. But what came out was something much more vulnerable: the pressure to perform, the fear of letting people down, and the quiet ache of not being fully seen. This episode is a front-row seat to what happens when a powerful woman stops performing and starts telling the truth. Here’s what we explore: The invisible cost of always being ‘the capable one’ What it really feels like to outgrow your own success How to let your soul lead—especially when your head says, “Just keep going” This is the unfiltered, Beyond the CEO moment so many women never get to speak out loud—but you’ll hear it here. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

This one hit deep. I’m talking to a founder who’s done everything “right.” Built the business. Achieved success. Carried the weight. But now… she’s just tired. Tired of running, of holding it all together, of pretending she still wants what she once did. She thought we’d be talking about planning and priorities. Instead, we had one of the most honest conversations I’ve ever had with a woman who’s quietly—and bravely—acknowledging that her current chapter is over. In this episode, we talk about: The invisible weight of being everyone’s go-to What it means when your ambition fades—but your worth hasn’t Why admitting you’re done is the first brave step toward your next beautiful beginning This is Beyond the CEO work in real time. And if you’ve been secretly wondering if you’re allowed to want something new, this episode is your permission slip. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

This episode is for the woman who’s built a thriving business—and still hears a quiet voice inside asking, “Is this really it?” My client came to this session frustrated with herself for not trusting her team or delegating enough. But what we uncovered wasn’t about delegation at all. It was about the fear of stepping away. The pressure to keep going. And the guilt that creeps in when you consider wanting more for yourself… or maybe something entirely different. In this deeply moving conversation, you’ll hear: What’s really behind the resistance to let go (hint: it’s not about your team) The hidden grief and identity loss so many women feel as they evolve beyond the CEO role Why wanting more space, more freedom, or a different life doesn’t make you ungrateful—it makes you ready This is the kind of conversation most women are having only in their heads. But here, we say it out loud. And that’s where the real shift begins. Listen now—and if it speaks to you, leave a review and share it with a woman you admire who might be in her own what’s next moment. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Ever hired someone because they “seemed great”... and then spent months wondering what the hell happened? This week on Leadership is Feminine starts the series where I am letting you listen in on actual coaching conversations with female founders. I coach a founder who’s been there. She’s rebuilding her team—and this time, she’s determined to do it differently. No more hiring based on a hunch. No more hoping a great personality will magically turn into aligned performance. Instead? She’s learning to ask better questions, speak her expectations out loud (not just assume them), and trust herself in the interview process—not just the person sitting across the table. You’ll hear us: Workshop real interview questions (and rewrite the fluff into clarity) Role-play what it sounds like to actually vet for values Talk through the emotional aftermath of a few painful mis-hires—and how to give yourself grace and move forward with more strength Whether you’re hiring right now or just thinking about the next addition to your team, this conversation will change the way you think about values, culture, and your own role as the leader of both. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Join me in Sonoma in August so we can meet in person! Go to www.thevisionary.ceo/beyondceo to register your interest. Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest

What if the next step in your evolution has nothing to do with scaling, systems, or solving that one nagging employee issue—and everything to do with who you’re becoming? In this very personal episode, Kris Plachy sets the stage for a powerful shift. If you've been a long-time listener—or a longtime leader—you’ll want to hear where we’re going next. Because truthfully? You’re probably already feeling it. The tension. The boredom. The subtle restlessness that success didn’t solve. This episode isn’t tactical. It’s transformational. It’s for the woman who has checked every box... and still wonders: What now? Who am I beyond the CEO? Kris shares why she’s retiring her signature leadership programs, what inspired her to pivot her entire body of work, and how she’s now guiding high-level women through the most important work of their lives—not in their business, but in themselves. Key Takeaways From This Episode Why “dealing with Rhonda in accounting” was never really the work—and what actually is. The moment Kris knew she had outgrown her own vision—and what she did about it. How the Sage Era is calling successful women into deeper territory and new identities. The biggest lie high-achieving women tell themselves that keeps them stuck in roles they’ve outgrown. A first invitation to explore Beyond the CEO—starting with a two-day, live gathering in Sonoma. If you’ve been quietly wondering… is this it? This episode is for you. And it’s the beginning of a new conversation. Contact Information and Recommended Resources Beyond the CEO is a two-day experience for women ready to step into their Sage Era—those seeking rich conversations, deep connection, and a meaningful next chapter. If you're interested in learning more about the live event, go to thevisionary.ceo/beyondCEO Linkedin Instagram Facebook Pinterest