Episode 105: The Kind Way: Burnout, Boundaries & Becoming More Yourself with Sophie Bretag
Aug 11, 2026 · 57 min · 10 segments
Have you ever reached a point where life has forced you to reconsider what really matters? For bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker and executive HR consultant Sophie Bretag, experiences…
Have you ever reached a point where life has forced you to reconsider what really matters? For bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker and executive HR consultant Sophie Bretag, experiences of burnout and cancer became part of a much bigger journey of rethinking how she wanted to live, work and show up in the world. In this episode of It’s a Mindset, Sophie joins me for a deeply personal conversation about kindness, boundaries, resilience and what it means to become more of yourself — particularly as we move through midlife. As the founder of Metta Leaders and author of The Kind Way, Sophie has spent almost two decades working in executive HR and leadership. But her understanding of kindness extends far beyond the workplace. We talk about her own experience of burnout, her cancer journey and the lessons that came from being forced to reassess the way she was living. We also explore the many different facets of HR and its impact on people and organisations, why boundaries are an essential part of kindness, and why putting yourself at the centre of your own life isn't selfish. One of my favourite parts of our conversation was our discussion about midlife and the permission it can give us to stop trying to be who we think we're supposed to be and instead become more of who we already are. Sophie is genuinely one of the kindest, most vibrant, beautiful and generous souls I know. She has been a huge supporter of me and my work — something I was so grateful to hear again during this conversation — and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to learn more about her story and the experiences that have shaped the work she does today. This is a conversation about what can happen when life asks us to slow down, reassess what matters and choose a kinder way forward — not only for the people around us, but for ourselves. **Key Episode Takeaways:** - Burnout can be a powerful signal that something needs to change. Sometimes slowing down gives us the opportunity to reconsider how we want to live and what truly matters. - Kindness includes boundaries. Being a kind person doesn't mean constantly saying yes, putting everyone else first or abandoning your own needs. - Midlife can be an invitation to become more of yourself. Rather than reinventing ourselves entirely, this chapter can give us permission to embrace more of who we've always been. - Putting yourself at the centre of your life isn't inherently selfish. There are times when prioritising your own wellbeing, needs and dreams is exactly what you need to do. - HR has the potential to profoundly shape people's experience of work. Sophie shares some of the different facets of HR and why human-centric leadership matters. - Success can be measured differently. Through The Kind Way, Sophie challenges traditional ideas about performance and explores kindness as a life-changing metric for leadership, success and the human spirit. **About the Guest:** Sophie Bretag is a bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker and executive HR consultant specialising in kindness-led, human-centric leadership. As the founder of Metta Leaders, Sophie brings almost two decades of executive HR and leadership experience working with organisations across Australia and internationally. Drawing on both her professional expertise and her own experiences of burnout and significant health challenges, Sophie is passionate about redefining performance by placing human capacity and kindness at the centre of leadership. Her book, The Kind Way, explores kindness as a life-changing metric for leadership, success and the human spirit, encouraging us to reconsider how we lead, work and live. **Show Resources:** Follow Sophie on Instagram: @sophiebretag Connect with Sophie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiebretag/ Check Out Sophie's Book, The Kind Way: https://www.mettaleaders.com/book Follow Emma, the Podcast Host on Instagram: @emmalagerlow Check Out Emma's Book, Worthy and Wealthy: https://www.amazon.com.au/Worthy-Wealthy-Discovering-Abundance-Fulfilment/dp/1998528022 If you LOVED this episode, make sure you share it on your Instagram Stories and tag us @emmalagerlow and @sophiebretag. Yours in Kindness, Emma. X.
Have you ever reached a point where life has forced you to reconsider what really matters? For bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker and executive HR consultant Sophie Bretag, experiences…
