In this transformative episode of A Voice and Beyond, host Dr Marisa Lee Naismith sits down with visionary entrepreneur and author Melissa Gonzalez, founder of The Lionesque Group and Principal at MG2.

Melissa has built a career creating world-class experiences for Fortune 500 brands and startups alike. But after a sudden, life-threatening health crisis, she realised the high cost of hustle culture — and made a powerful shift towards intentional, purpose-driven living.

Drawing from her upcoming book, The Purpose Pivot, Melissa shares how she and more than 35 senior women leaders are redefining what it means to lead with authenticity, intuition, and balance.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why high achievers often confuse exhaustion with accomplishment
The subtle warning signs of burnout and how to catch them early
How intuition and vulnerability can become your leadership edge
What it means to “work healthier, not harder”
Why success without self-connection will always feel empty
Simple practices to align your energy, mindset, and purpose

Whether you’re a leader, creative, or entrepreneur, this conversation will help you move beyond performance pressure and step into a new era of authentic, sustainable success.

Find Melissa Here:

Website: https://www.melissagonzalez.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissagonzalezlionesque/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melsstyles/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/purposepivotwithmelissa/#
Email: macy.mohr@smithpublicity.com

Resources/Books:

The Purpose Pivot: How Dynamic Leaders Put Vulnerability and Intuition into Action https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Pivot-Dynamic-Vulnerability-Intuition/dp/1394329474
The Pop Up Paradigm: How Brands Build Human Connections in a Digital Age https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Up-Paradigm-Connections-Dig

Find Marisa online:

Website: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarisaleenaismith/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmarisaleenaismith/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marisa.lee.12
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avoiceandbeyond3519/videos

Resources:

MLN Coaching Program: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/mentoring/
Schedule a Free Clarity Call: https://calendly.com/info-56015/discovery
Gratitude Journal: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/product/in-gratitude-my-daily-self-journal/
Download your eBook: Thriving in a Creative Industry: https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/product/ebook-thriving-in-a-creative-industry-dr-marisa-lee-naismith/

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#196 How to Step into Sustainable and Authentic Success Minus the Burnout with Melissa Gonzalez