187: Turning Adversity into Authority: Resilience Personified with Victoria Pelletier

Victoria Pelletier is recognized across North America as a dynamic, captivating keynote speaker, published author and dynamic executive. Her story of overcoming unspeakable odds to live a life of #NoExcuses is both moving, and incredibly inspiring.

 

Victoria draws from her 20+ years in corporate senior leadership at companies like IBM and American Express to deliver engaging, inspiring keynotes to audiences across North America.

 

Socials:

Website: https://victoria-pelletier.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VictoriaPelletierUnstoppable 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoria_pelletier_unstoppable/?hl=en 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriapelletier/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Victoria.Pelletier.Unstoppable/

 

Summary:

 

In this episode of The Heartbeat for Hire Podcast, host Lyndsay Dowd welcomes Victoria Pelletier, a powerhouse executive who became a COO at just 24 and has held senior leadership roles at IBM, Accenture, and American Express. Victoria shares her harrowing journey from a childhood defined by abuse, addiction, and trauma to becoming a global voice on "healthy resilience". She discusses the pivotal moment when she realized her "Iron Maiden" nickname was a sign that her professional armor was actually distancing her from her humanity. The conversation explores how leaders can shed their protective shields, embrace vulnerability, and build cultures where people can succeed without breaking.

 

Key Takeaways:

 

- Resilience is a Muscle: While some resilience may be innate, it is primarily a muscle that can be developed and strengthened through intentional work.

- Armor vs. Humanity: Wearing a "shield of protective armor" to appear strong can often be perceived by others as a lack of emotion or empathy.

- Humanize Your Leadership: Small, deliberate actions—like spending the first few minutes of a meeting on personal connection—can bridge the gap between performance and humanity.

- Embrace Discomfort: Stepping into the "zone of discomfort" is necessary for high-performers to learn how to show vulnerability and lead as their whole selves.

 

Episode Chapters:

 

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:52 Meet Victoria Pelletier: A Story of Resilience

03:02 Victoria's Early Life and Challenges

05:07 The Iron Maiden: Leadership and Resilience

07:25 Balancing Strength and Vulnerability in Leadership 

14:25 Maintaining Authenticity in Corporate Leadership

16:53 Closing Remarks and Future Plans

23:00 Final Thoughts and Farewell