If you're a high-achieving leader who’s already mentally drafting Q1 OKRs between bites of pumpkin pie…

this episode is your invitation to pause - in service to all your doing!

Because here’s the truth: you are more productive, more grounded, and way more inspiring when you unplug from work and plug into gratitude.

Yep. Gratitude isn’t fluffy. It’s a performance enhancer.
Research shows that practicing gratitude at work can make you up to 50% more productive—and just 3 minutes a day for 14 days rewires your brain toward joy, ease, and emotional resilience. (Take that, endless Slack pings.)

In this Thanksgiving-week Pausecast, we explore:

1. Why gratitude is a secret leadership edge—not just a holiday hashtag.

2. Wildly compelling stats on how gratitude impacts your brain, energy, and leadership presence.

3. Simple gratitude practices you can integrate during a season that’s supposed to be warm and meaningful… but often feels like a sprint.

4. How gratitude helps you thrive (especially when work is intense or life feels “a lot”).

5. Your personalized Gratitude Pause Plan—so you leave with something you can use immediately.

If you’re craving more ease, more grounding, and a holiday season that feels like connection instead of another item on your to-do list… you’ll love this one. 🧡

#ThanksgivingWeek

• #GratitudeSeason

• #HolidayWellbeing

• #ThankfulLeader

  #Techleaders

"We can’t see the forest from inside it. Strategic pauses create the distance required for clarity." — Rachael O’Meara

I just released a new episode of the podcast, and it’s a personal one. I’m sharing a few unexpected leadership lessons from my recent trip to Thailand—especially from the Lantern Festival, where thousands of glowing lanterns lifted into the night sky.

It reminded me how much leaders need moments of wonder to stay inspired… and how easy it is to forget that when we’re deep in deadlines and decisions.

In this episode, I talk about:
– Why beauty and play actually fuel clarity and creativity
– How adaptability becomes a superpower when things don’t go as planned
– What gentle strength (thank you, elephants) can teach us about grounded confidence
– Why collaborating with strangers can open up new possibilities
– And the one thing every tech leader needs more of right now: strategic pausing

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, reactive, or low on inspiration lately, I think this one will feel grounding.

Why you need to know Rachael O'Meara

Rachael O’Meara is an author, TEDx speaker, executive coach, and host of The Pausecast. She helps high-achieving tech leaders move beyond overwhelm and self-doubt to reclaim confidence, energy, and clarity—so they can lead with purpose on their terms for what's next.

What if curiosity was your greatest leadership skill?
In this inspiring episode, Rachael sits down with Aidan Booth, Director at one of the big techs, to explore how curiosity, reflection, and joy shape powerful, authentic leadership.

💡 Aidan opens up about his career journey — from the lessons learned through failure to the boundaries he’s set to protect his energy and well-being.

He shares how staying curious helps him grow, lead with empathy, and pay it forward to those coming up behind him.

🔥 Whether you’re navigating a big decision, leading through change, or simply ready to feel more confident in your leadership — this episode reminds you that your only real competition is who you were yesterday.

✨ Key Takeaways:

• Curiosity is your secret weapon for growth and clarity.

• Self-reflection strengthens confidence and presence.

• Boundaries protect your energy — and your joy.

• Failure isn’t the end — it’s how you evolve.

• Paying it forward expands what’s possible for everyone.

🎙 Favorite Sound Bites:

“I want to earn it each and every day.”
“I try to be fully present and engaged.”
“Pay it forward — 10X, like 100X.”

To connect with Aidan, you can find him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-booth-37199a8/