Women CEOs On Managing Stress During Peak Quarter Pressure

A Harvard Business Review article has stated that although stress is now common in most workplaces, executive and professional women tend to experience stress more than men. There can be a variety of reasons for this, such as having more domestic responsibilities, having been socialized to say “yes” to all requests, receiving lower pay for similar work immediately come to mind and stereotype threat. 

This article will explore all the ways high-powered women, CEOs, and founders can manage stress and stay grounded through the high-pressure moments of work. 

In a report exploring the true cost of female entrepreneurship, by documents the experience of 250 entrepreneurs. Authors Yvonne Biggins and Nonie White identified practices that can help women thrive. They reported that all entrepreneurs should make time for the things that make life fun and fulfilling.

“The data shows that thriving entrepreneurs invest in their wellbeing,” Yvonne wrote. “They make time for joy and for fun.”

Health and fitness are important. The research suggests that while a high percentage of entrepreneurs do less exercise due to time constraints, those who do make a point of exercising benefit from higher performance scores. Spending time in nature and practicing mindfulness are also beneficial.

The data shows that the investment in time off pays off in terms of better performance. 

Michelle Volberg, the founder and CEO of the startup Twill, said she finds balance in the woods in this article by Business Insider Africa. She said she enjoys forest bathing, which forces you to put down your stressors and embrace nature. 

Michelle said that at least once a week, she’ll hike for about 45 minutes with her husband beneath the canopy, where her phone often falls silent due to a lack of signal, which means she can do some of her best strategic thinking.

“That completely grounds me and calms me with all of the chaos that generally surrounds founders and CEOs,” she said.

Laura, interviewed for a study by Frontiers in Psychology, stated she was her job meant giving up so many things about herself, and she had to do something about that. 

She re-started practicing horse riding, a lifelong passion, after several years of pausing it in order to dedicate herself completely to her CEO role, but she realized that reconnecting with her serious leisure had become a matter of survival.

“I got to a point where I’m thinking about work 100% of the time. I’m actually almost not sleeping anymore,” she said. “I will ride three times this week, there are only those 3 hours when I’m absolutely not thinking about work.”, she said.  

For Laura, her horse riding was a safe haven not only due to the rare peace of mind it offered but also because it represented a separate world where she could freely express herself away from the high pressures of being a CEO.

Another major reliever of stress, as highlighted by multiple female CEOs, is building community. Beatrice Dixon, CEO of Kinetic Vision, emphasized in an article by Inc. the value of building strong peer networks where you can openly share challenges and gain support.

“Creating space for honest conversations about stress helps me feel less isolated and more empowered to tackle problems,” she said.

Similarly, Courtney Sanders echoes this in her video.

“Don’t isolate — even as a solo founder, you need people to vent to, to brainstorm, or just to tell you you’re not crazy!” she said. 

Entrepreneurial peer groups and a trusted community are really good for emotional support during high-stress periods. Michelle, in an article by Business Insider Africa, said she relies on a community of women who, like her, run venture-backed startups. She is part of a group called VC Backed Moms.

“The more perspectives you can get on a situation, the better off you are to make your own decision,” she said.

You have to be extremely strict with your boundaries in order not to take on unnecessary stress. Rachel Liverman, the founder of Peaceful Fruits, in an article by Inc., said she sets clear personal boundaries to protect time for self-care. 

“I’ve learned that saying no and carving out space for rest isn’t selfish, it’s necessary for sustainable leadership.”, she said. 

On the other hand, Courtney Sanders shared in her explainer video that not every opportunity needs to be taken.

“You have to get comfortable saying no, even to great opportunities — so you don’t run yourself ragged,” she said.

Speaking of being strict and disciplined, it’s important to have structured routines that build in self-care. Courtney shares in her YouTube video that her day includes exercise, meditation, structured work time, and built-in relaxation.

“I don’t wait until I’m burned out to practice self-care,” she said. “I build little things — like a walk, a journal session, or just 10 minutes of prayer — into my schedule every day.”

Megan Gluth, the CEO of Catalynt Solutions, in an article in Business Insider Africa, said she teaches yoga at least once a week at a studio near her home outside Seattle.

The combination of being a CEO and a mother leads to high stress, and to help endure it all, she relies on yoga. Wellness routines are vital tools that help dial down stress. 

Reframing your stressors and what they mean for you helps to manage the pressure. Deepah Gandhi, Founder, Dermal MedSpa & Wellness, concurred with this in an article by Inc. 

“When I reframe stressors as opportunities to learn and grow, it shifts my mindset and makes deadlines feel achievable, not crushing,” she said. 

Similarly, in a breakdown video,Courtney discusses reframing stress. Instead of dreading deadlines and pressure, she tries to see them as fuel.

“When I look at the stressful things as growth moments, it helps me stay calm — pressure is a sign of progress,” she said.