Leading Through Chaos: Resilience, Integrity & Mental Health in Uncertain Times
When the world feels heavy, how do we lead with compassion?
I recently had the honor of being featured on the InVivo Leadership Strategies Podcast in a deeply personal episode titled "Leading Through Chaos." I joined executive coach Leili Sadaghiani for a conversation that weaves together mental health, leadership, and identity, especially during times of collective trauma and global unrest.
As a therapist, I hold space for clients navigating painful life transitions, identity shifts, intergenerational trauma, and emotional overwhelm. In this interview, I step into the seat of the speaker, reflecting on my own lived experiences as an Iranian-American woman, an immigrant, and a mental health provider. I share about how these identities shape the way I lead, heal, and show up.
Why This Episode Matters Now
This episode is about more than leadership in the traditional sense. It’s about how to stay emotionally grounded and ethically aligned when external events (from international crises to systemic injustice) feel too big to process. We unpack how leaders, caregivers, and therapists alike can remain present and purposeful without bypassing reality.
It’s also a vulnerable look at what it means to process collective grief while still holding space for others.
Mental Health Meets Leadership
Throughout the conversation, Leili and I reflect on:
How to regulate your nervous system when leading or supporting others.
What it looks like to hold space without suppressing your own emotional truth.
Why resilience isn’t about avoidance, and more about moving forward while still feeling.
As a therapist who also integrates EMDR, somatic therapy, and breathwork into my work, I emphasize the importance of connecting the body, breath, and emotions. Leadership doesn’t live only in strategy, it lives in our capacity to stay with discomfort, set boundaries with compassion, and respond with integrity under pressure.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
It’s okay to feel deeply. Emotional regulation doesn’t mean emotional suppression.
Honoring collective trauma as Iranian-Americans
Ways to stay emotionally regulated and build inner resilience while moving through global events.
Supporting yourself and others while staying honest about life’s challenges.
Whether you’re in a formal leadership role or simply trying to lead your life with more clarity and care, this conversation offers both practical insight and heartfelt reflection. It’s for anyone navigating uncertain times — trying to stay connected to their purpose, while honoring the very real emotional toll of this moment in history.
🔊 Click Below to Listen to the Episode Now on Spotify:
InVivo Leadership Strategies Podcast - Leading Through Chaos
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💜 Breathe Deeply,
Melika Biglarpour-Watson, LMFT