Painful Ambition vs. Purposeful Ambition ft. Amina AlTai [WASHDAY WOOSAH]

his week, Mandi sits down with Amina AlTai — executive coach, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of The Ambition Trap: How to Stop Chasing and Start Living.

Amina’s story takes us from burnout and near organ failure to a full-on breakthrough that reshaped her entire relationship with success. She shares how growing up as the daughter of immigrants shaped her drive, why so many high-achieving women fall into what she calls “painful ambition,” and the five core wounds that often hide beneath our hustle.

Together, Mandi and Amina unpack:
💡 The difference between purposeful vs. painful ambition
💡 How our cultural and family roots influence our drive for success
💡 Why burnout isn’t a badge of honor
💡 How scarcity and comparison feed into “the ambition trap”
💡 Practical steps for finding joy and balance in your work

Amina also opens up about her own health crisis that forced her to redefine ambition on her own terms — and how she now helps leaders, entrepreneurs, and firsts-of-their-kind women of color do the same.

By the end of this episode, you’ll walk away with a new lens on success — one that prioritizes purpose, wellness, and authenticity over constant hustle.

Guest: @aminaaltai
Book: The Ambition Trap — available wherever books are sold
Learn more: aminaaltai.com

Episode Highlights:

• (03:00) Amina’s health scare that changed everything
• (07:45) The five core wounds that fuel burnout
• (15:00) Leaving her business and rediscovering purpose
• (25:00) Coaching the “first, few, and only” women in corporate spaces
• (33:00) Navigating authenticity in today’s workplaces
• (41:30) The truth about scarcity and collaboration
• (46:00) What “The Ambition Trap” really means

If you loved this conversation, share it with a friend who’s redefining success on their own terms — and don’t forget to rate and review Brown Ambition on your favorite podcast app!

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