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What happens when doing everything right still leads you to the hospital?

In this episode of What Changed?, I sit down with Cynthia Lai, an executive coach, lecturer, board advisor, and entrepreneur who spent over 20 years in senior banking roles before her body forced her to stop. Twice. What looked like success on the outside slowly became unsustainable on the inside.

This is a candid conversation about high achievers, hustle culture, and what happens when your career becomes your identity. Cynthia shares the warning signs she rationalized, the pressure to keep performing, and the moment she realized that pushing through was no longer an option. We talk about why driven people often ignore burnout until it shows up physically, and why setting boundaries can feel more threatening than exhaustion itself.

You should listen if you feel successful but tired, motivated but depleted, or proud of how much you can handle while quietly questioning the cost. This episode will challenge how you define ambition, productivity, and self-worth, and may help you recognize signals you have been pushing aside.

If you have ever wondered how long you can keep going like this, this conversation is for you.

Cynthia Lai: https://linktr.ee/cynthiakylai

More episodes and reflections: https://linktr.ee/whatchangedpod