Joe Dunaway 0:02

Welcome to the VICI Code, where we unlock real stories of small business owners who've battled chaos, crushed doubt, and conquered their challenges. Faith, family, and finances. No fluff, just raw, honest conversations that decode the path to victory. One story at a time. What is up? Thank you for joining us today as we explore our latest purpose-driven journey, Success Without Self-Abandonment, where we learn about the human first pivot, how high-level executives can overcome the invisible weight of performance. Implement the love, lead, succeed methodology to scale their impact and ensure that professional growth never comes at the cost of their personal peace. We are told that to reach the top, we must sacrifice. We are told to keep our emotions out of the boardroom and our real selves at home. But what happens when that professional mask starts to crack? Today's guest didn't just break the mask, she built a new model for leadership. The Isabel Tremblay, a marketing powerhouse who led 42 brands, survived severe executive burnout, and emerged as the founder of Inovating and author of Lead, Love, Succeed. Isabel and I connected through Dan Martell's elite mastermind. She represents the corporate to conscious transition that so many high-level executives are currently seeking. Her ability to synthesize high-level marketing strategy with human-centric leadership makes her an ideal guide for leaders who are ready to stop self-abandoning for their PL. Today we are exploring executive renewal. We're diving into how to lead with calm clarity and why love is not just a personal virtue, it's a high-level business strategy. As always, we filter Isabel's journey through the Vici pillars of faith, family, fitness, and finance. Isabel, so excited to have you on the show. Welcome to the Vici Code.

Isabelle Tremblay 2:12

Thank you so much, Joe. I'm excited to share my story and to communicate to your audience that they really don't have to choose in between a successful business and a peaceful life as well.

Joe Dunaway 2:24

It's a great story and there's a beginning. So let's start there, the breakthrough. You were leading a strat a strategy for 42 brands at a global giant. Many listeners would kill for that level of success, yet you hit a wall of severe burnout. Take us back to that moment. What was the internal conversation you were having with yourself when you realized that success felt more like self-abandonment?

Isabelle Tremblay 2:49

Yes. And sometimes it's difficult to for me to think about it because I can remember exactly how exhausted I feel. And um one of the uh you know emotion that comes with burnout is also that you often you feel um, you know, some regret and you feel disappointed, you know, with yourself. You feel uh failure. Uh, but for me, the story was I I had a corporate career with this uh giant in the optical industry for over 23 years. And at the end of my career for the last uh year, I took a temporary assignment where I had two really high executive positions, one as uh head of marketing uh for one business division and the other one for director of sales and marketing for a completely different business division. So I was managing two budgets and had, you know, over 20 people reporting to me. Um, you know, some days I had over like 16 meetings a day. Um, and on top of that, uh I was a single mom, um, you know, um managing the struggles and uh challenges of you know two teenage daughters. Um so at that point of my life, I think I was measuring my success by, you know, the number of meetings, the number of phone calls, um, you know, my numbers at work, if I achieve my targets. But then I realized at some point I felt really disconnected. Um, so sometimes burnout is not simply just a calendar problem. You have too many meetings, you're doing too much. It's really about feeling empty and so focused on your work that you forgot about really who you really are. So one night I was sitting at my computer, and um, of course, it was around 11 p.m. Cause um, you know, working 80 hours a week, I was working all the time. Uh, but then I realized something was definitely wrong because I was trying to put together an email, and uh it took me about two hours to write two sentences, and that's back in the days where you know you didn't have Chat GPT or AI help you communicate so well. And um then I just started being emotional, and the next day I went to see my family doctor and was diagnosed with a um situational stress disorder, which is really uh medical term for burnout. And um at that point, it's like, you know, uh, as I mentioned, I really felt like a failure uh because I wasn't there anymore uh in the office to go uh and help serve my team and protect them. And um I felt like a failure at home too, because mom, you know, wasn't allowed to spend the day in bed, or I was supposed to be an achiever and you know, get all these things done. Um, so that's a bit of background on my story and how I experience burnout.

Joe Dunaway 5:46

Oof, and we've seen it happen time and time again. And that led to love leads succeed. You call your methodology a supernatural approach to business in the cutthroat world of C-suite marketing and corporate growth. Love is often dismissed as soft. How do you prove to a skeptic executive that leading with empathy and connection is actually the most profitable way to lead?

Isabelle Tremblay 6:10

Yes, uh, well, uh love leadership is really not soft. Um and it's, you know, as I mentioned, it it's not often it's not like a burnout is not a time management issue, it's an identity issue. And how you can really have the best success in in business is really having um a leadership style that doesn't embrace power or control, but that's more about um really leading your team by lifting them up, making them rise, and really um coaching them. It's not about uh fear, it's really about love and love not in a soft way. Of course, you're gonna achieve targets, but you're gonna do it with um realizing that people in the room, your team, uh people in your organization, they're all human beings and they deserve respect. And um, you know, they they deserve that that human trust as well. Um, so I I bel I truly believe that um love-led leadership is the only way to go. And in fact, my experience in the corporate world, um, at the end of my career, I had a um a manager that was really toxic. And I I want to tell you that my book was uh somewhat inspired by it because my burnout story, I I I needed to really communicate what it was, what real leadership should really be about, you know, uh that you should should should really respect people and treat them um with kindness.

Joe Dunaway 7:53

Yeah, no, that makes a lot of sense. And I think it just allows you to connect better and and when you when you're able to connect better, you can be able to communicate better. And when you can communicate better, you know, things just flow a lot more seamlessly, and people aren't, you know, fear never works. It just doesn't. Ultimately it breaks down. And um, when you've got people that are happy and feel like they can fully express themselves, you know, their their work tends to reflect that. So that's uh you know, you can see you can imagine how you know leading in that way leads to, you know, a better business, a more profitable business. How does this methodology shift the way you align sales, marketing, and culture?

Isabelle Tremblay 8:37

Well, um I um in my book Love Leads Succeed, I I have 15 chapters basically of um content on how um you can from an emotional intelligence standpoint, from a um business goal set setting standpoint, and from different aspects of the business. I don't specifically get, you know, not only in sales and marketing, but it's more about how the entire organization as a team should function, uh, whether uh, you know, it's teamwork and even I touch on um, you know, team building, um, and really, I really get to in a you know the positive uh mindset as well and the power of the mind, which I'm very passionate um about. But if you embrace the love, lead succeed method, I would tell you that from a sales, a marketing standpoint, operation or financial standpoint, uh, I think you're uh putting the uh foundation in place to have uh success in your business.

Joe Dunaway 9:42

Yeah. And so let's talk about that finance pillar. We focus on the numbers, but you speak about the invisible weight of constant performance. How do you help senior leaders reorient their financial and their financial and career goals so that they aren't hitting KPIs, but building a life that feels as good as it looks?

Isabelle Tremblay 10:07

Yeah, I I think it's about having a um a life and a business that's really aligned with who you are. Uh so first you need, of course, to establish your goals and look at them, uh, I would say um every day, but then ask yourself the real questions, you know, about your your life in general and what you want to achieve, what you stand for, or even deeper question, what's your mission, your vision in life? And make sure uh as a business owner um that you know some of your business strategies and the culture you establish in your business is very aligned um with who you are. Uh and when I believe when you live in an alignment um, you know, from business and life, uh, then uh success follows.

Joe Dunaway 11:02

100%. Yeah. And then what does executive renewal look like for a leader currently in survival mode?

Isabelle Tremblay 11:10

Well, um first of all, you you need to really um reclaim your time, purpose, and energy. Um, and in my uh coaching approach, because uh since I wrote the book Love Leads Succeed, I started a coaching business, uh, mainly um focusing on C-suite uh women because this is where I was, and I I feel like I have the best uh I guess experience and knowledge to help um C-suite women. Uh, but you really need um first to establish loving boundaries. Um and then yeah, yeah, I focused a lot too on on the power of the mind, and I have um, you know, a toolkit as well for for women to to use and have many exercises and practical tips on on how you can really uh clear your mind. And that goes back to you know faith and spirituality as well as meditation, which I'm a um I guess I'm a big fan of to really be able to reset your mind. Um, and then I I talk about um the future a lot when we do our work is how do you uh establish sustainable rhythms for for the future as well. And if any of um the listeners are interested, I I can offer a free renewal guide in in which I have like uh just a framework of this coaching work that we do together, and they can just send me a DM with the the word rise and I can send that free of charge.

Joe Dunaway 12:45

Awesome. Thank you so much for that, Isabel. We'll we'll we'll circle back on that uh towards the end too, just to refresh uh our listeners on that. Um let's let's jump into some of these VC pillars now. Fitness and energy management is so important. You speak about reclaiming your energy in the fitness pillar. We know that energy is a finite resource. How do you change your own relationship with your body and physical health once you stepped out of the corporate rat race?

Isabelle Tremblay 13:14

Yes. Well, for me, it starts in the early in the morning. As soon as I wake up, um, the first thing I make sure I do not do is touch my phone for a good hour uh because I believe in that distance. And as I mentioned earlier, I'm a um I'm a big fan um of meditation. Uh in fact, I've gone to two of Dr. Joe Dispenses' retreat, and I I believe in the power of clearing your mind. And I know meditation is not for everyone, um, but if you don't want to do meditation, I would highly recommend um start the day in the morning. Take about um, you know, for me, I take a good 30, 40 minutes, but even if it was just five, 10 minutes, uh, just clear your mind and focus on what's your big goal for the day. Because often people live on autopilot and you know, they start the day, they wake up, they go brush their teeth, brush their hair, they go make a coffee, but they they really don't think about uh or live in alignment with you know what they really want to get out of this day, right? Um, so so that's my my the first uh I guess 45 minutes of my morning. And then um I go for a morning uh walk or a jog with my beautiful border colleague Kobe. And um this part of the morning is crucial because I live by a lake and I I call it actually my my gratitude walk. So uh I go through like the 50 things that I'm the most grateful for, and a lot of them are repetitive every morning, but I always integrate something new based on what's happening in my life. And we know that gratitude is the um, you know, it's the key thing for receiving in the future, it's the gateway to receivership. So um I would say these are the key things that I do um in the morning uh to really have a healthy mind and and and body. Uh but uh when I get to making dinner of course um I get back to a little physical exercise and I I tend to dance while I'm making dinner. So that not only burns a few calories, but it makes dancing makes you happy and happiness uh is um you know a better state of mind than being um you know sad, of course, or having negative um emotions. And then the last thing I do um before bedtime, and I'm sorry maybe that was a long answer, but I I do a lot to make sure that I'm very aligned and um you know that my mental health is uh at its best, really. Um when I brush my teeth, I look at myself in the mirror and um I congratulate myself for all the things I did well that day. So that's just self-love, and everybody should practice self-love. Um, and then beside my bed, I have a gratitude rock. And uh before I close my eyes, I say um three snake things that I'm grateful for from the day. So um I would say that's how I keep my mind and my uh body ha uh healthy and happy every day.

Joe Dunaway 16:22

Yeah, that's that's a that's such an uh uh intentional way to live, to to to to hit all of those positive things throughout your life. I mean, each day that's like it's hard to let negative things really impact you if those are the things that you're doing. And it's really no surprise that you're starting your morning off like that. Uh, you know, not letting your phone distract you or or steal any of that, you know, positive morning energy. Um getting outside, getting your rhythm going, you're with your animal, you're with the with nature. Um, you're thinking about all the positive things and you know, getting some of that meditation in uh I I I see uh this as a very common theme with a lot of the successful people we have on here is you know, winning the morning, you winning the day. And you not only win the morning, but you also win the evening. You have you carry those rituals on into the evening too, which I think is also important uh to have a really uh uh solidified you know wind down time uh in the evening to make sure that because you can be doing all the things right if you're not doing the sleep part right, things can really fall apart. So um, Isabel, you got it really dialed in. I appreciate that.

Isabelle Tremblay 17:40

Oh, thank you. Thank you. And it's so important to think about doing something positive before bedtime because I see a lot of people that watch the news, and I'm not judging anybody that watches the news, but you really have to live with intention with what you put in your brain before you fall asleep, because then your subconscious mind takes over. So that's why it's so important to think about a few positive things before you fall asleep.

Joe Dunaway 18:05

Yeah, amen to that. Yeah, definitely wanna wind the wind wind the day down with like some reading or something positive if you are gonna watch something. I know it's the the Blu-ray lights not great, you know, prior to going to sleep. So phone and TV, you know, within an hour of sleeping, you know, if you can stop that an hour before you shut your eyes, that's that's definitely what they prescribe. Um, now let's get into family. Um, you advocate that leaders don't have to choose between a successful career and a peaceful life. In the family pillar, how do you model this calm clarity for your own inner circle? And how do you ensure your work-life harmony isn't just a concept but a practice?

Isabelle Tremblay 18:47

Yes, and I I have to tell you, like I've changed and evolved over the years because um back in the days where I was in the corporate world and uh getting close to burnout, I remember I was um, you know, this high executive. I was on an airplane all the time. And I remember when my girls were younger, I remember crying all the way to the airport because as a mom, you know, you're leaving your child behind. Um and so now I've evolved to uh, well, first of all, I'm I'm home most of the time because with my business, I work from home and that that is uh fantastic.

Joe Dunaway 19:26

Yeah.

Isabelle Tremblay 19:27

And I make sure um to uh I guess communicate the the values and what I've learned in life with both of my daughters. I mean, they they both came to my book lunch and they they of course received a dedicated book. I think there's there's a lot of practical information in my book uh that's you know should be thought in schools. Sometimes I I don't know about the school programs in the US, but in Canada, a lot of like um, you know, the topics that are thought are not always that useful for life. So um I wish more, you know, more more schools would teach topics like this, like emotional intelligence and how you can use the power of your mind. Um and and this is what I try to teach my my daughters, really. And and when they um if one of them says says something bad about a friend's a friend, I always try to to correct them. Um, I mean, in a in a kind way, but just to say, well, uh not to try to, I, you know, we shouldn't be judging people. Um, so I I really try to teach them what you know I have written in my book so that I can give them the best possible chance of uh succeeding in life. And I I think it's also putting your um you know your your your your money um uh where your words are. Yeah. And um, and this is what I I practice. Um and I I show them love, I tell them I love them on a constant basis, but they see it too in my my actions uh with other people trying to be kind and uplifting others um every day.

Joe Dunaway 21:08

Yeah, and that's important because our kids take on our habits, right? They see us talk the talk, but if we're not walking the walk, how can you how can you expect them to do the same? And I I also, you know, I really want to point out and go back to you know how they what they teach in school. It's I I am a hundred percent with you on that. I've said it myself. Like, how come they're not teaching this power of positivity, power of belief? I know they talk about positivity, but you know, it's usually just like a slogan or you know, it's not it's like a theme. It's not like they're really teaching these kids how to overcome negativity in their own lives. I I think they the schools would benefit and I'd see I think you would see the results of improved grades and behavior by really focusing more on mental behavior, mental attitude. and being positive and the power of belief. So I'm glad you mentioned that. I I completely agree with it. And that kind of, you know, that kind of segues a little bit into faith, right? And you know, you mentioned the supernatural in your book. You know, whether you call it faith, intuition, or purpose, you know, how does connecting to something bigger than corporate grind guide guide the decisions you make for your clients at Inovating Today?

Isabelle Tremblay 22:29

Well I I I think it's it it it's everything. And I'm not saying people necessarily need to be religious, but I think you have to have faith in in something. I think you have to be spiritual and I think you have to live your life intentionally and you have to believe in in something bigger than yourself. But you also have to believe that your own self we're all unlimited human beings and you know we have an unlimited potential and um we really have uh to to focus on uh on what we want um so that's why it I think it's important you know whether it's meditation or prayer or uh you know talking uh to to yourself to the universe or God or your you know um it's important that really um asking for what you want and focusing on what you want and being so grateful because I mean I I know there's challenging parts of the world and there's some very difficult things that are happening but if you look at your own life there's always something to be grateful for and that's really what you should focus on and um really live your life um with intention and alignment as well.

Joe Dunaway 23:54

Yeah it's funny you say that like before we got on today I did a gratitude uh social media post because as I led with in our conversation how was your weekend mine was uh I wish I could get a redo uh down the basement I you hopefully can't hear it but you know I've got you know cleaners you know cleaning up a wet mess um and today I felt the need to post a gratitude post about just like gratitude will get you through tough times and bring you peace right and um I'm grateful for my my family's health that you know it's not the end of the world uh uh of what happened and you know I'm grateful that I'm able to work from home that's the little things right I'm able to work from home and juggle all these things I'm really not missing a beat um other than you know it's a it's a little bit of a distraction but I'm grateful that despite you know the catastrophe you know uh I there's a lot of things that we can be grateful for so uh so true um and now we get to go into our rapid fire section so we got a couple questions for you uh no curveballs just what what are your thoughts on the the next three questions so the the number one sign an executive is self-abandoning um they don't have uh boundaries saying uh yes to everything a hundred percent I love that one boundaries are so important it's one of the things I teach my kids every time like gotta have good boundaries um what is one question a leader should ask their team tomorrow to foster more heart-centered alignment um what's um like what's the one thing you'll do uh today to serve others or to help others on your team yeah nice so they can recognize that yeah I like it yeah uh what does you know sometimes we refer to Vici as victory we've got uh our own methodology internally the V Vici victory to uh path to victory what does victory look like for Isabel Tremblay in 2026 um victory is to know um every day that I'm I'm working towards my goals and that I truly feel in alignment with my mission which is to help over a million people through my love lead succeed method and I would add that you are loved and that you are enough right yes thank you and so are you right back at you I appreciate that all right so we're we're at the uh towards the end I just want to remind our listeners that true power isn't found in the grind it's found in the alignment of purpose and presence you can scale your business and keep your soul imagine that if you're a leader ready to step out of the survival mode check out innovating.ca that is uh Isabel's website that is in the show notes or pick up Isabel's bestseller love lead succeed um Isabel let's let's circle back you know what what what can our uh follow our listeners look forward to uh if they reach out to you well if if your listeners want to reclaim their time purpose and energy they can get my free renewal guide so they can do so by sending me um a DM uh either on Instagram at Love Lead Succeed uh or on um another social media platform whether it's LinkedIn Facebook or even TikTok um and I'm um as you mentioned my book is also available on Amazon uh Love Lead uh succeed um I hope my message really helps people and I I just want to um uh say that you know if you feel like you are not fine just know that you're not alone and and please reach out to someone and um take the time to heal your yourself to heal yourself because numbers don't mean um anything if um you know you're not in alignment with who you truly are absolutely amen to that and uh for our listeners all of those uh social media handles and links are in the show notes so you can reach out there um and that's it uh lead with heart cultivate calm and remember you don't have to sacrifice yourself to succeed we'll see you on the next episode of the Vici Code thanks for tuning in to the Vici Code where the underdogs rise and the numbers finally make sense if today's story hit home share it and remember faith fuels a fight and your comeback is already in progress