Meet Alexandra Stark | Executive Burnout Coach & Licensed Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexandra Stark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexandra, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I’m more relaxed than I ever have been and working less days a week. I started making more money when I started working less hours and spending more time with my kids.

It wasn’t always this way – I used to only see my kids for an hour at bedtime. I used to commute 60 miles to go to the office, EACH WAY. I had a job that I loved, but I was burned out trying to do it all. Even with a great supportive system, I felt like I was in the trenches.

I was exhausted and overwhelmed. I felt a strong sense that I would have to choose between being a good mom and having a successful career. I thought the only way was to just stop working altogether. Well, that wasn’t an option. Plus, I worked really hard to get where I was and didn’t think that throwing it all away was the answer either.

So, I went on a deep dive for several years thinking about all of the various careers that I could so that could help me feel refreshed and energized. I had some doozies, seriously, ask my friends. I thought dog groomer, bartender on a remote island, greeter at Target, florist, property appraiser, go back to school…literally anything.

After quite a bit of self-work and help from a great support system of friends, coaches and mentors, instead of looking outward to manage my burnout, I looked inward, I started setting boundaries, saying no, focusing on myself, learning for fun about leadership, challenging myself in different ways and started to feel better about myself and my work.

Now I understand that it is my role to blend the intersection of leadership and mental wellness, specifically for women. It is these two factors that allow us to lead a balanced and healthy life.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My Business Birth Story
I’ll work super hard. I’ll get good grades and do so many extracurriculars.
Oh and don’t forget about the community service hours.
And then I’ll go to a good college.
I’ll take some tough classes, be active in participating AND be in a few clubs, maybe work a part time job to pay for my books and go out a few nights a week. (Ok, let’s be honest- I went to college in New Orleans so it was more like every night- but still).
Then after college and getting my BA in Psychology – I’ll apply to 10 graduate schools in I/O Psychology because I just knew I wanted to be involved in the psychology of business and was fascinated by people and how/why they operated at work.
Then I’ll make a last minute decision to move to Florida for graduate school.
Guess how many of the schools I applied to were in Florida? Zero.
I completely changed my trajectory because I wanted to live in Florida. I had gone there on Spring Break when I was 20 and just fell in love.
Can anyone say major impulse buy?!
I completely abandoned my gut.
I went to school for Mental Health Counseling and almost left so many times.
I thought about transferring for an entire year. I wanted to go into HR. I wanted to get my acceptance back at the I/O psych school. I wanted to bartend full time.
Literally anything to get out of this program.
But I stayed. I did well. I graduated
Again, looked for jobs anywhere but in mental health-Physician recruiting was by far the worst.
Then back to Mental Health, then leadership in mental health. And there it was.
My first taste experiencing what I knew I always wanted to do. Working with women who wanted to work on being good leaders.
I learned so much during that time. I read all the books that Korn Ferry had to offer, I went to leadership training, I read Harvard Business Review for Fun.
I loved being in that leadership role.
But life happened (more on that later). And I left that role to learn how to run my own business- in Mental Health no less.
I learned all the business. Asked all the people. Worked with my own career coach AND business coach. Read all the business, finance, marketing books, blogs, articles. You know the drill.
Even created a Facebook group .
It was on my 40th birthday that I made a promise to myself. I’m going back to my roots. Whatever it takes.
And while I’m choosing not to go back to school for that I/O Psych degree I am committed to doing what I always knew I wanted to do. Help women (specifically Moms) work on being balanced and successful leaders.
And that’s how Alex Stark Coaching was born.

So why Moms in Executive Leadership you ask? I mean, nobody really asked me- it’s just a cool story and I want to share.
Because Moms in Executive Leadership are machines. They are running their organizations AND their families (even with supportive partners). This isn’t a partner bashing post, k?
Because Moms in EL have more than earned their seat at that damn table.
Because Moms have the unique ability to share a piece of themselves with the organizations they run or the businesses they own. Sometimes to a fault.
Because time after time, I saw Moms coming into therapy – Mental health therapy- to get help working through things they were dealing with AT WORK.
Going to therapy for shit at work!!!!
Like, they cared so much and couldn’t manage that they wanted to make it better for themselves, their teams and their family that they came to therapy.
Or
They were so burned out and overwhelmed that they wanted to quit, move to Mexico, be a greeter at Wal-Mart, sell shit on eBay. Literally anything to get out of feeling the way they did.
This just wasn’t right. They all wanted the same thing. And how can I help only this tiny number of women outside of the therapy space.
With this very business.
A hybrid model executive coaching program designed specifically for Moms. To become a more balanced leader AND prevent/recover from burnout.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have moved every 18 months since I was 18 years old and I can finally say I feel at home. This gem of a town has truly changed my perspective on how I want to live and I never want to move again!

Sushi night (Thursday) at Catch 109 – They only have sushi 1x per week!
Espresso Martinis at Beaufort Bar in Beaufort, NC
Take the ferry system to see all of the islands, Cape Lookout Lighthouse and wild horses at Shackleford Banks
Go to Fort Macon beach
Get coffee at Reeds (they have two locations and both are fantastic) – I get the Oat milk Latte
Go to the beach at Pine Knoll Shores for a gorgeous beach experience
See the sunsets – they are unlike any other – they turn the sky orange and pink

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this Shoutout to my daughters, Francesca & Scarlett, who are my biggest cheerleaders, the best comedians and always make sure to say, “It’s great to have a Coach and Therapist as a Mom.”

Website: http://www.starktherapeutic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talktoalexstark/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stark-alexandra/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talktoalexstark/

Other: https://www.pinterest.com/talktoalexstark/

Image Credits
Photos by Eh_Photo & Coley and Co.