Are you an executive struggling with the isolation of high-level leadership? Have you faced a personal crisis that forced you to re-evaluate your entire career path? In this powerful, authentic, and strategic episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with the two Lisas—Lisa DeCarlo and Lisa Shalet—co-founders of Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB). They share deeply personal stories: Lisa D’s health scare that forced vulnerability and Lisa S’s decision to retire from Goldman Sachs to prioritize time. Learn their unconventional strategies for career entry, board service, and building the essential peer community needed to lead.

Lisa DeCarlo is the co-founder of Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB), co-creator of The Decade Game®, and founder of Just Go. A board director, advisor, and catalyst for change, she is passionate about helping leaders and organizations innovate, get unstuck, an dream bigger—guided by her core belief that nothing happens without movement.

Lisa Shalett is the co-founder of Extraordinary Women on Boards, a powerhouse network of 1,000+ trailblazing women corporate board directors dedicated to advancing board excellence and staying cutting edge. A former Goldman Sachs Partner, she now serves as an independent board director, corporate advisor, and entrepreneur.

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Key Takeaways:

• The Unconventional Career Entry: Lisa D shares how she accidentally landed a temp job on a trading floor and used a two-year commitment to learn every business unit (sales, trading, investment banking) —a non-traditional path that led to six job offers.

• Vulnerability is the New Executive Armor: Lisa D’s severe health crisis forced her to realize she wasn't hiding her decline and that her ability to be open about life experiences later "opened up so many doors" in bigger leadership roles.

• Time is the Ultimate Priority: Lisa S reveals why her father's sudden death caused her to retire from Goldman Sachs six months later. She suddenly saw a clock ticking backwards and realized her purpose was to be home for dinner.

• The Power of the Trusted Space: EWOB was built from the need for a community where women could "take the armor off". They discovered the power of a peer group that shares emerging best practices and sees you, not just your title.

• Organizational Intelligence (OQ) is Key: Lisa S stresses that beyond IQ and EQ, executives must develop OQ —understanding how things work informally within an organization —to navigate their career path and break the unwritten rules of the game.

The Lisas’ journey is proof that your most vulnerable moments can provide the deepest clarity on your life's purpose and unlock your Unstoppable potential.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast! 

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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music) 

The Unstoppable Pivot: 5 Steps to Turn Vulnerability into Executive Clarity

Why Your Biggest Crisis is Your Best Career Move

Have you ever felt like you had to keep your armor on, even when you were secretly struggling? For high-level leaders, admitting vulnerability can feel like career suicide. But the truth is, the most profound clarity and best career moves often come directly after a personal crisis.

This article is for you if you're ready to stop wearing the armor and start leading with authenticity. We're breaking down the strategic and authentic journey of Lisa DeCarlo (former banking COO) and Lisa Shalet (former Goldman Sachs Partner), co-founders of Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB). You'll learn the five core steps they used to pivot from intense corporate careers to a mission of building a trusted peer community.

To use these steps, you must be ready to view your personal challenges not as weaknesses, but as profound catalysts for change. This strategy requires prioritizing time and purpose over title and salary.

Here's what you need to be successful:

• Cultural Curiosity: A willingness to leave your comfort zone to gain global perspective.

• Organizational Intelligence (OQ): The desire to learn the informal rules of a company, not just the handbook.

• Clarity on Time: A commitment to prioritizing minutes over money.

Step-by-Step Guide: Your Strategic Ascent

1. Start Unconventional: Use Curiosity to Build Career Breadth

It's common to follow the straight path from school to corporate recruiting. The problem is this limits your knowledge. The strategic approach is to embrace the unconventional and let curiosity guide your early moves. For Lisa DeCarlo, this meant taking a temp job on a trading floor, learning every business unit over two years, which led to multiple job offers. For Lisa Shalet, it was the gutsy move to Japan as a young adult, leading to an East Asian Studies major and a niche that got her into Goldman Sachs. Your willingness to try new things and be uncomfortable builds career breadth.

Unconventional Starts Win

• Follow your curiosity, even if the job isn't prestigious.

• Use a temporary role as a chance to learn every single part of a business.

• Learn the language and culture of places outside your normal circle to find your niche.

• The uncomfortable moves you make early on become your muscle memory for change later.

2. Prioritize Time: Measure Your Life in Seasons of Love

When you're running at executive speed, it's easy to lose track of time. The biggest mistake is realizing too late that you've missed crucial years with your family. The authentic pivot requires a radical re-evaluation of time. After her father’s sudden death, Lisa Shalet saw a clock ticking backwards and realized her highest priority was being home for dinner. She retired from her partner role six months later because she couldn't reconcile that purpose with the time demands of the job. You must determine what you are willing to retire for.

Time is the Ultimate Currency

• Re-evaluate your priorities when a personal crisis slows you down.

• Look for the gift in a difficult situation—it's often a chance to reflect.

• Be clear on your purpose, and if your job conflicts with it, you must be willing to walk away.

• Remember, every minute matters; measure your life in "Seasons of Love," not just years of employment.

3. Take the Armor Off: Lead with Vulnerability

The traditional executive mindset teaches you to hide weakness. The problem is this lack of vulnerability isolates you. The new approach is to realize that your personal crises can open doors. Lisa DeCarlo’s severe, rare autoimmune condition forced her to accept help, and she realized she wasn't hiding her decline from anyone. Later, she used that experience to connect with people and take on bigger leadership roles. Your willingness to share a personal struggle builds trust and proves you are human.

Vulnerability Unlocks Opportunity

• Do not feel ashamed to ask for or accept help; your personal rock bottom is often visible to others.

• Vulnerability is not weakness; it is a tool that opens up doors in bigger leadership roles.

• Use your life experiences to connect with people on a human level.

• Remember that a crisis can be a catalyst for profound, positive change.

4. Master the Game: Develop Organizational Intelligence (OQ)

It's tempting to think your IQ and EQ are enough to climb the corporate ladder. The problem is you're missing the unwritten rules. The strategic move is to develop Organizational Intelligence (OQ). This means going beyond the handbook and understanding how things work informally within the organization. Lisa Shalet emphasizes that OQ is essential for executives to mind their careers and navigate the game of promotion and influence.

Learn the Unwritten Rules

• Know that success requires more than just high IQ and EQ.

• Develop Organizational Intelligence (OQ) to understand how things work informally.

• Don't just focus on weaknesses in performance reviews; own your strengths.

• Be confident in your accomplishments and stop apologizing for your success.

5. Build the Peer Community: Create Your Trusted Space

When you retire or leave the corporate flow, it's easy to feel irrelevant. The biggest challenge for high-level executives is finding a place where they can take the armor off. The strategic solution is to build your own trusted peer community. The Lisas built EWOB from this very need—a scrappy, organic group where incredible women could share best practices and challenges without judgment. Your purpose isn't just about what you do; it's about the ripple effect you create by supporting others.

Create Your Own Village

• Find or create a trusted space where you can take the armor off and share honestly.

• Realize that your purpose can be found in helping individuals find their clarity and connections.

• Your commitment to supporting others creates a valuable ripple effect in the world.

• When you find your purpose, it provides the steadiness needed to navigate difficult life transitions.