High-achieving women in STEM are burning out because they are honoring invisible childhood "contracts" that reward overwork, but true leadership requires reconnecting with the body to rip up those old agreements and build a sustainable identity.In this episode of Lunch with Leaders, host <a href="%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0https://www.linkedin.com/in/adaeze-iloeje-udeogalanya%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0">Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya</a> (TEDx speaker and leadership strategist) sits down with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshaevanslpc/">Marsha Evans LPC-S</a>, a therapist who blends traditional cognitive behavioral therapy with holistic modalities like Reiki, sound healing, and VR technology. They tackle a critical issue for women in STEM and leadership: the hidden cost of the “hustle contract.”Adaeze opens up about her previous mindset of wanting to outsource her entire life to give 150%, realizing that never lying down unless sick was a badge of honor—but a dangerous one. Marsha reframes this drive as a “contract” signed in childhood, often rooted in family systems where overworking was normalized.The conversation reveals why high-achieving women burn out: not because they are weak, but because they are rewarded for over-giving until their bodies intervene.Key insights include the biological reality of the 90-second emotion rule, why autoimmune diseases and weight retention are often the body “keeping score” of disconnected living, and the simplicity of reconnecting with your “little you” to find your true identity.Marsha introduces practical, trauma-informed strategies for leaders to date their bodies, track their baselines, and build a wellness team with the same rigor they build a boardroom strategy.The episode concludes that healing isn’t lying down—it is the ultimate leadership strategy for sustainable impact. Marsha Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marshalistens/">https://www.instagram.com/marshalistens/</a>Marsha's Website: <a href="https://marshalistens.com%20">https://marshalistens.com </a> FAQs1. Why do high achievers often get autoimmune diseases? According to Marsha, the body always communicates "I don't want to do this anymore," but we are trained to ignore it for dopamine hits (accolades, promotions). When we consistently override physical boundaries, the body "keeps score" resulting in inflammation, weight retention, and hair loss. To implement in your own leadership or share with your STEM audience:Audit Your "Contracts": Take 15 minutes to write down three "rules" you live by (e.g., "I never lie down unless sick"). Next to each, write who taught you that (parent, teacher, culture). Ask: Does this rule serve my 2026 body?

Marsha Evans, LPC-S: How to Lead in STEM Without Losing Your Hair or Your Sleep - 048

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