Executive Leadership Insights: The Truth Behind Our Titles

Achieving Higher Performance

When professional pressures collide with private struggles, performance at work can suffer. Feelings of shame and fear arise. Shame that you are not managing things better. Fear you may lose your job. Fear that you have lost “it” – your inner strength, resilience and hope. Fear you’ll be discovered, and your reputation will suffer. With no safe place to share your experience and seek support you keep it a secret, which only adds to the pressure and your distress.

Today’s executives face a tremendous amount of pressure to be perfect, exceptionally productive and always on-call. Overwhelming and unsustainable, this becomes too much to manage, leading one to mask one’s private struggles like illness, violence, emotional distress and loss. Fear of retribution prevents us from reaching out for help.

Pulling Back the Curtain of Shame

In a candid article posted to LinkedIn, Michelle Tenzyk, CEO and Founder of East Tenth Group, shared her personal struggles with severe depression and suicide. Her story resonated with thousands of other high-achieving executives and the article went viral.

In the article Michelle talks about the increasingly difficult paths high-achieving professionals have forged for themselves and the lack of open, honest support structures. She shares her deeply personal and painful challenges of living with mental illness in the hope of pulling back the curtain of shame and embarrassment so others do not feel as alone as she did.

We invite you to read and to share Michelle’s article with others: The Truth Behind My Title: A High-Achieving CEO’s Candid Story Of Depression, Suicide, And Hope

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Michelle founded the global movement ‘The Truth Behind Our Titles’ “to transform the conversations we have about the private challenges that affect our corporate lives – so we can find our own personal power, realize our unique potential and inspire other professional men and women to do the same.”

“For many years I have been thinking about corporate and professional men and women – the increasingly difficult paths we have forged for ourselves by “leaning in” just a bit too far at times. The seeming lack of open, honest support structures. Having my own personal struggles with an often-stigmatized illness over 20 years of my career – and never feeling safe about speaking up about it – got me thinking that there had to be a way to create a conversation, a discussion for men and women, to find hope by hearing another professional’s story of adversity while holding a prestigious and coveted title and positions. I wanted to pull back the curtain of shame and embarrassment that some of us feel from these struggles. I wanted to make it ok. I wanted others to not feel so alone as I had when I was suffering the worst of my illness and there was no one coming forward for me to relate to. How do you keep climbing the proverbial ladder when something so dark and difficult seems to be enveloping your life? The more we can shatter the belief that in order to be professionally successful, we need to hide or disguise our inner struggles and difficulties, the better. I truly believe it is quite the opposite…our greatest challenges are often the key, and the door, to our greatest successes.”

Michelle Tenzyk, CEO & Founder, East Tenth Group

The organization’s inaugural event in 2014 in New York City inspired a panel of high-achieving professional women to lead by example: sharing their stories of illness, violence, emotional distress and loss – and how they overcame them.

The mission of the movement is to encourage professional executives worldwide to participate, share their own stories, learn from others and benefit from the fuller, richer life it leads to.

Learn more about The Truth Behind Our Titles. Share your story, join the conversation and Truth community, and realize your full potential while helping others to do the same.

Let’s discuss your needs. Call (917) 776-0026

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US

The ETG team was thorough and efficient in assessing our strengths and weaknesses. Their plain language action plan and follow-up ensured our success. We could not have achieved our HR performance improvements without them.

Tom Ruchalski, CFOSkyline Windows

ETG works hard to reflect the values of our organization, and don’t say ‘it’s my way or the highway”, they adapt to the needs of my organization.

CEOResearch Organization

ETG’s work with our organization was true to their promise that they provide immediate, actionable advice. They will make a real, immediate difference for any organization they work with.

Suzanne Copeland, Senior ExecutiveSterling Bank

ETG is not afraid to address an issue, even if it’s sensitive. They bring a very objective business-like perspective. We start from the same language and that coupled with specific recommendations on how to change behaviors gets the results we want.

CEOConsumer Products

Michelle is very direct, very real. She listens and adjusts her plan to you and your business – definitely not one size fits all. She has become a trusted partner for us.

Head of HRFinancial Services Firm

ETG’s knowledge of the big picture from a business and HR perspective and their attention to detail proved to be invaluable. We implemented their recommendations to our HR operations processes with excellent results.

Mike Martorella, Former Head of HRBunge Global Markets

Michelle’s guidance was tangible during a significant transition. It made a positive shift in our culture and impacted our bottom line.

Jennifer BrooksFormer President, The Scienomics Group

The ETG team were professional, organized, and discrete in their dealings with our employees. They provided great insights and recommendations. Their work was timely and cost-effective.

Ellen Kiernan, Marketing Communications ManagerAxioma, Inc

Michelle’s executive coaching is productive and immediate. She draws on your personal strengths, addresses real-world office dynamics, and improves your self-awareness and leadership skills.

EVP, Managing DirectorClient Services, Marketing & Communications Company

East Tenth Group turned our HR department into a well-oiled machine. They expertly determined our greatest areas for improvement and executed solutions that fit our unique needs and priorities.

Ellie Mitchell, former SVP, GMJavelin Marketing Group

East Tenth Group gave valuable recommendations that helped our business move forward by using their business knowledge and strategic insight to leverage our talent and resources.

Stephen LongleyFormer CEO, TPG Direct