Episode
The Truth About Becoming Miserably Successful | Debjani Biswas
- Podcast
- The Midlife Chrysalis
- Published
- Jun 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3022
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Summary
What happens when you do everything “right” in life… and still end up unhappy? In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Debjani Biswas, leadership coach, bestselling author, and TEDx speaker, to talk about burnout, reinvention, identity, and what it really means to live authentically. She shares her journey from turning down Harvard twice and breaking barriers as the only woman in her IIT engineering class to experiencing a complete midlife unraveling that changed everything. Together with Chip Conley, she explores: Why so many successful people feel empty inside How fear and perfectionism quietly shape our lives The surprising freedom that can come from a midlife crisis The leadership qualities that matter most today The simple coaching question that can transform your thinking Warm, honest, and deeply insightful, this episode is for anyone navigating reinvention, purpose, or the pressure to keep it all together. Watch now and discover why your most meaningful chapter may still be ahead. Watch Debjani’s TEDx Talk here: TEDx Talk on Gender Bias and Identity Timestamps: (10:44) Turning Down Harvard Twice (13:19) Being the Only Woman at IIT (16:29) Discovering Executive Coaching (18:47) Indra Nooyi and Women in Leadership (20:38) Midlife Chrysalis at 49 and the First Book (24:32) Breaking Out of Set Path (28:18) Letting Go and Embracing Growth (30:15) The Meaning of Miserably Successful (33:45) The Stress Framework Explained (37:52) Powerful Coaching Questions (40:43) The Leadership Qualities That Matter Most (45:37) How Wisdom Changed Her Life (51:11) Wisdom Bumper Sticker Learn more about MEA at https://www.meawisdom.com/ #DebjaniBiswas #ChipConley #MidlifeChrysalis #MiserablySuccessful #MidlifeTransformation #ExecutiveCoaching #WomenInLeadership #EmotionalIntelli…