My Why: The Heart Behind Workplace Wellbeing

We all have moments that clarify our purpose—those quiet affirmations that we’re on the right path. For me, those moments often come through the people I meet and the stories they share after my talks. But the roots of that purpose go much deeper. In this post, I’m reflecting on the personal legacy that fuels my work, the values passed down from my mother, and how they continue to shape the way I show up for others with empathy, intention, and heart.

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At the end of one of my keynotes, a woman came up to me with tears in her eyes and she said, thank you so much for this. This came at the exact right moment in my life. Now a favorite quote of mine is, to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived is to have succeeded. So this quote is actually one I use in the eulogy for my mom. And she really is the inspiration behind much of my why. She instilled this passion for helping others, of really being of service in the world in me from such a young age. And it's that sense of purpose really from her that's been a huge driver for my entire career. Knowing that I can help people feel like the load of life is lighter and helping them feel more hopeful about the future, that's what this is all about for me. And also, it feels like a way of honoring my mom's legacy.

My Burnout Story

Burnout isn't just a professional interest for me—it's personal. My journey into understanding and supporting others through stress and burnout began with my own experience. This lived experience deeply impacts the work I do today. In this post, I’ll share how my story shapes the way I support others and why a mix of empathy, evidence-based tools, and realism makes all the difference in burnout recovery.

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One of the things that I think helps me in providing support to employees and organizations on stress management and burnout is my own burnout story. In 2019, after 42 weeks of pregnancy and 36 hours of labor, I became a mom. And only a few months after that, my own mom was given a terminal cancer diagnosis. She ended up living for two years, but we had a little pandemic sprinkled in there for good measure. And those few years of transitioning to becoming a new mom caregiving for my own mom, as well as my business really pushed me past that edge and led to my burnout in 2021. So while you don't need to have experienced burnout to support others, I do think it really helps me show up with more empathy. And not only do I bring in evidence-based strategies for stress management and burnout recovery, but I bring this realistic perspective about what's feasible because there's nothing worse than when you're burnt out,

being told, hey, here's the solution, and it's something that's completely untenable. So one of the things I hear in the feedback from my programs is that people appreciate that vulnerability in my share and that they also feel more inspired and hopeful that recovery is possible because of that story as well as the tools that I share.

Out-of-the-Box Wellness: The Session Companies Repeat

Sometimes, the most memorable well-being lessons come with a bit of shock value—in the best way. What started as a niche, unconventional topic has become a more mainstream conversation about holistic wellness. And the best part? Years later, participants still tell me how this session transformed how they shop, choose, and care for themselves. In this post, I’m sharing the story behind that program—and why lasting impact is the heart of everything I do.

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Let me tell you about a time that I scarred people for life, but in a good way. So one of the most enjoyable parts of the well-being programming that I do is that I get to be creative and really approach well-being from this holistic perspective. So one of the more atypical programs that I run is called You Are What Your Skin Eats. And it's all about the products that we use and the impact that they can have on our health. And this used to be a pretty out of the box topic, but now it's way more mainstream of a conversation. And one of the things that I find most rewarding is that I have people who attended that program seven years ago who say every single week it still guides their decision making. And that's really the whole goal behind why I do what I do is to really see that impact being lasting in people's lives.

Helping Teams Thrive: My Workplace Wellbeing Offerings

Effective workplace wellbeing programming isn't one-size-fits-all—it requires flexibility and a deep understanding of your organization's unique needs. What truly transforms this work is the opportunity for ongoing collaboration. When organizations and wellbeing professionals become thought partners, they create a dynamic relationship that evolves with employee needs. The result isn't just better programming—it's the continuity of care that builds trust, drives engagement, and creates lasting cultural change within your organization.

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Three of the main ways to work with me for well-being programming are employee off-sites, ERG-focused events, or conference keynotes. So pretty much you name it, I can support you. I do programming as short as, say, 30-minute stretching and yoga sessions as a certified yoga instructor to as long as half-day programming. One of my favorite things that's happened in my work as a speaker is having organizations that I've partnered with since 2018. These are some of the most rewarding because we become thought partners for one another. Each year I meet with these organizations and we say, okay, what are the newer challenges? What are the things that employees really want to have addressed? And then I can come up with new and innovative programming to really support those challenges and needs. Being able to see those familiar faces, build those ongoing relationships really helps me feel like I'm making that longer term impact and having that continuity of care that's so valuable in this space.

Bridging the Gap: Real Solutions for Employee Wellbeing

Career Coaches and Workplace Wellbeing Speakers offer unique value through our dual perspective on talent retention. Having witnessed thousands of career transitions firsthand, we understand exactly why employees leave—and what makes them stay. This allows us to address specific challenges that broader wellbeing programs often miss, effectively bridging the gap between organizational initiatives and individual employee needs. This targeted approach creates tailored solutions that complement existing HR efforts, ultimately strengthening retention and boosting workplace satisfaction where it matters most.

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Hi, my name is Aileen Axtmeyer, and I'm a Career Coach and Workplace Wellbeing Speaker. One-on-one, I help people land work they love, and then I work with organizations to help them retain that talent. I have the unique perspective of having almost two decades of coaching experience and seeing why people leave their jobs. And it's such a joy to get to be on the other side of the table and try and help organizations keep those people around. My background in psychology, counseling, and other stress management modalities gives me that kind of versatile, tool to add to organizations toolkits. A lot of organizations will have bigger programs or bigger solutions for well-being but sometimes more of those unique topics for employees at hand get lost in the shuffle. And that's where i really like to be of service to be kind of the bridge of any gaps in well-being programming to make sure all employee challenges are being addressed.

Embracing Eustress: When Stress Becomes Your Secret Advantage

In our pursuit of stress reduction, we've overlooked a powerful truth: not all stress harms us. The workplace wellness conversation often focuses exclusively on eliminating pressure, but what if some stress actually fuels our growth?

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Do you know what eustress is? About 90% of people say no when I ask them in my wellbeing workshops. And I think that's part of the problem. We talk about stress all the time, but this important part of the conversation is being left out. Eustress means good stress. It's when we're pushed just outside of our comfort zone and we're challenged and we have to rise to the occasion, but we're not quite overwhelmed. So think about when you're using a new skill at work, or maybe you have that big presentation And you feel confident about doing it, but you still have to really be on for it. Those are those times when we grow personally, we grow professionally, and we need those. It's part of the human experience. When we think about employee well-being, we think about stress management, we need to acknowledge this big piece of the puzzle. And for the other piece, we can talk about strategies and tools that help tell our brains and our bodies that they're safe when they might be telling us otherwise.

Burnout Recovery Starts with THIS Simple Strategy

Don't underestimate the power of a five-minute break. While wellness initiatives often focus on major interventions, these tiny pauses between meetings can significantly impact your workday.

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One of my favorite tools to give employees for stress management as well as burnout recovery is five minute breaks. Now, don't roll your eyes. This is a tiny thing, but I promise it makes a big difference. So there's actually a lot of science and research behind this that shows that when we have tiny, tiny breaks, even as short as those five minutes between meetings or even just throughout the day, our brains have that ability to recover. It can be really restorative. And in fact, participants in one study in 2021 from Microsoft saw that they had a 40% lower reduction in stress levels and they were 13% more engaged in their next meeting.

A lot of times when we think about well-being, we think of these huge interventions or these huge changes, but I think sometimes those aren't accessible and these little micro moments, those micro actions can be incredibly powerful as well. People need accessible, simple, practical and implementable strategies more than ever before.

From Stress to Support: Helping Employees Thrive

Every wellbeing initiative begins with understanding your unique needs. Whether you approach me with a specific program in mind or employee feedback highlighting concerns, my consultation process creates space to discuss challenges and define success. I love designing targeted programming that makes employees feel seen and valued—even when underlying circumstances can't be changed. This collaborative approach transforms workplace challenges into opportunities for meaningful support.

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When I work with organizations for wellbeing programming, I always start with a consultation. So sometimes people come to me really dialed in on exactly what they want to do, date, time, location. Other times they've maybe just gotten some employee survey results or have been hearing some pain points, and they're trying to brainstorm different ways to address those challenges. I want to be that place where you can talk about those challenges, think about what success really looks like for a program, and then help you get where you want to go. An example would be Leadership Development Day for a big organization I did this past summer. They had a return to office mandate for an extra week per month. And there was a lot of stress, anxiety, and they knew this was going to add some more challenges to those employees. So I couldn't fix that. I couldn't change that. But I knew that I could listen to some of the things that had been shared and address that specifically in my programming so that employees feel seen, heard, and valued, which is a key to burnout prevention.

How One Employee Transformed a Wellness Training into Everyday Kindness

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I recently had the opportunity to support an HR team onsite and it was with an organization that I do company-wide well-being programming for. I had done a program called the Science of Kindness, only a couple months prior. While I was at the organization, I used the restroom. When I went to wash my hands, I saw this basket there, and it had all these different products, and it said: “Use what you want, take extra time to take good care of yourself, and leave things for other people.”

Next to the basket was a sign that said “Year of Kindness” and it had an employee's name. I ended up going and talking with that employee and she shared that she had attended that Science of Kindness training and that it really impacted her and inspired her to do more good for both herself as well as for those around her. She shared that it really made a difference in her life.

This is my dream in action. Whether speaking at a large conference or with a small team onsite, I never want people to simply think, ‘Oh, that’s interesting,’ and then go back to life as usual. I want them to feel inspired and empowered to incorporate these tools well beyond our time together.

In every session, I offer multiple tools with the hope that each person walks away with at least one that really resonates and feels applicable to their life beyond our time together. Each time I hear that someone has taken action, it’s a powerful reminder that we all have the ability to create positive change for both ourselves and for those around us.

Learn more about signature programs and speaking style: https://www.aspirewithaileen.com/corporate-wellness

If you're ready to book a consultation to discuss your speaker needs: https://aspirewithaileencalendar.as.me/corporatewellness

Tech Boundaries

Ever find yourself doing the "just one more scroll" dance at midnight? Or perhaps you've mastered the art of the "five-minute email check" that mysteriously transforms into an hour-long digital rabbit hole? Don't worry—you're in good company!

Most of us have experienced that moment of shock wondering "Where did the time go?" as we emerge from a tech trance.

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If you feel like there's not enough time in the day, here are some strategies to create different relationships with technology to improve that feeling. So the first step is we have to be self-aware. Get a sense of your screen time statistics, but not just for your phone. Check out your relationship with your laptop as well.

Now I know for different people, there's different realities of how possible it is or doable it is to close the laptop, give it a bedtime. But for some of us, we can explore hmm, is there room to create a little bit more of a boundary and say, this is the bedtime for the laptop, this is the bedtime for my phone, and create some space for yourself in those ways. The second thing is when we integrate any tool to elicit behavior change when it comes to our devices, know that these things are addictive. Habit change is also very hard. So understand that willpower will wane at a certain point. When it happens and that tool or strategy loses its impact, the key is to recognize, hey, you're human, and then try something new.

Salary No No

In today's job market, there's a persistent question that haunts many job seekers: When is the right time to discuss salary during the interview process? While pay transparency laws are gradually reshaping the landscape, many job seekers still find themselves navigating murky waters when it comes to compensation discussions. The conventional wisdom of "never bring up salary first" might seem outdated in today’s world, but there's more nuance to this advice than meets the eye. Let's dive into why timing and leverage matter when discussing your worth with potential employers, and how to strategically approach this delicate conversation in a way that maximizes your negotiating power.

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This might be controversial, but no, do not bring up salary in a job interview. So the good news is hopefully this video will be outdated sooner than later with new pay transparency laws coming into effect in different states. And, hopefully the way of the future is that everyone always just shares the salary range in a job description. But for the world we're living in now, sometimes we have no idea what the salary will be. And I completely understand that you want to be intentional about your time and energy, but you don't want to bring up the number first because you don't have leverage in that instance. A lot of times organizations are now asking you your salary requirements in earlier stages of interviewing. So you definitely want to be prepared with doing your research and having that band or that range, but you never want to bring it up first. You want them to want you and see you as the best candidate first, and then get that leverage before bringing up salary.

Translating Experience to Resume

Crafting a resume that truly reflects your skills and achievements can feel daunting, especially when writer’s block strikes.

But don’t worry! In this post, we’ll explore two simple yet powerful strategies to help you break through the mental roadblocks and turn your day-to-day tasks and accomplishments into polished, professional resume language.

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Maybe the most common question I've received over the last 15 years of career coaching is, how do I translate my experience onto my resume? Two strategies for you. One, a lot of times we get in our own heads and we get writer's block when going to write a resume. So get out of the computer screen, close the apps, and instead imagine that you're speaking with a friend or a career coach, and they're just asking you, hey, talk about your day to day. What do you really do? What are some things you accomplished? Or you can even look at your calendar for the last couple of months and let those events, those deadlines that you've put on there remind you of what you've done. You can use a voice memo recorder or dictate and then from there we can polish that up into resume language and jargon. Second strategy, just look at the job descriptions for the roles that you're targeting. Let their language remind you of what you've done and then align your language to match that.

Hope that these strategies help you get your writer's block away.

Adding an Answer After an Interview

It’s happened to the best of us: You’re walking out of an interview or reflecting on it hours later when suddenly, a better answer or example comes to mind—one that could have showcased your skills and qualifications even more effectively. While this can be frustrating, there’s a professional and strategic way to handle it.

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What do you do if you're interviewing for a job and you think of an answer or an experience of yours after the interview that could actually better showcase your skills and qualifications for that role? So of course you don't want to do this after every round of an interview, but sometimes this does happen because our brains are much more capable of having that creative problem solving and thinking when they're not under stress. So if it happens to you a few minutes or hours after an interview where you think of a better example, and especially if it's not reflected in your resume or application materials, here's what you do:

When you send your thank you email, start by thanking them for their time and for sharing more about the role. Then say, as I reflected further on, your question regarding ABC, it reminded me of an example I failed to share with you. You give one to two sentences about that that demonstrates your fit for the role or your school skills or qualifications and that's it. Then you wrap up with your enthusiasm and looking forward to next steps. Hope this helps you!

Answering a Multi-Part Interview Question

Job interviews can be stressful, especially when you’re asked a question that feels like two or three questions rolled into one. These complex, multi-part questions are particularly challenging because they require you to process and remember multiple pieces of information—all while managing the pressure of the interview setting.

But don’t worry—there’s a way to handle these tricky questions with confidence and clarity.

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Have you ever been in a job interview where you're asked a question, but it's really like two to three questions in one? Those are very, very challenging for us to remember. first of all, because it's a lot of information, but second of all, when we're typically a little bit more nervous or stressed in an interview, our cognitive resources are a little bit more offline. It's harder to kind of track everything because our bodies are in that fight, flight, freeze mode.

So two strategies, one is do as much as you can to manage your stress prior to an interview, but two, here's what you can do. Or if you just really don't know what you're gonna answer for that question, you can also use this strategy one-off as needed. So you can ask them to repeat the question, and it's totally fine to take notes and write it down, whether you're in person or virtually. And then as you're writing it down, your brain's going to start to think of the examples, and a lot of people are scared to ask for that question to be repeated, but it is very much okay.

Interviewing Mind Blank

Interviews can be nerve-wracking, and one of the most dreaded moments is when you’re asked a question, and your mind goes completely blank. Sound familiar? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. It’s a common fear, but with the right approach, you can navigate this scenario with confidence and poise.

Here’s a simple yet effective strategy to handle those moments:

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What do you do if you're interviewing and you get asked a question and your mind goes completely blank? It's pretty much everyone's worst fear in the job search process, but I have a tool for you to keep in your back pocket. Now, part of what we can do to mitigate the risk of this happening is to prep as much as possible. So definitely check out my other tips and strategies for interview prep. But if the worst case happens, here's what you can do. Acknowledge the question. So look the person in the eye and say, thank you for that question. Let me think about that for just one moment. As you say that you can break eye contact and look away, which takes a little bit of the pressure off and then your brain is going to start to have some space to come up with your answer. So it's going to feel those three seconds or five seconds that you look away and think is going to feel like three hours to you, but it's much better than stumbling and mumbling your way through an incoherent answer.

Happiness Savoring Strategy

Happiness isn’t just about big milestones or grand achievements—it often lies in the small, everyday moments. One way to tap into this daily joy is through the practice of savoring.

As part of The Science of Happiness program at Yale, Laurie Santos explores this concept in a video that’s free and accessible to all. In this Youtube short, you’ll find a quick breakdown of how savoring can enhance your happiness:

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Here is your happiness assignment: Explore your relationship with savoring. Now, I'm going to link to a video that Lauri Santos delivers as part of her The Science of Happiness program at Yale. Highly recommend it. It's free and accessible to all, but this little thing can really permeate all areas of your life, and it's a practice that you can cultivate. And some people are natural savorers. So if you think about something that is a little pleasure in your day, so maybe that warm cup of coffee, first thing in the morning? What's one thing that you can think about that's pleasurable in your day to day? And, really be mindful and attuned to any sensations that go on in that moment. So that's the process of savoring. And the science shows that this can extend those feelings of joy, of contentment and influence our happiness.

Embracing the Cringe: A Job Search Strategy That Works

When it comes to job searching and interview prep, there’s one strategy that can make a world of difference: focusing on the cringe. This approach helps candidates tackle their insecurities and turn perceived weaknesses into strengths.

As a Career Coach, I’ve found this method invaluable for my clients. Watch this Youtube Short to hear my tips on embracing the cringe.

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One strategy that I help my career coaching clients with when they're job searching and doing interview prep is to focus on the cringe. Now, if you're applying for a position where you're having to level up or you're pushing yourself a little bit outside of your comfort zone and growing into the role, sometimes when you read through the position description, you think, I don't really have that experience. I hope they don't ask me about this. And for many of us, we use an avoidance strategy. We think, I really hope they don't ask this, so I'm not going to even think about it. Now, go through the job description, look at any of those things where you think they could notice that you're not bringing as much to the table as someone else, and practice out loud and over-prepare for those questions. Best case scenario, they don't end up asking about it, but if you just avoid it, it's still likely that it's gonna come up, and the more you prepare and walk through that with a coach or yourself, the less cringy it'll be when you deliver your answer.

Career Change Story

Career changes can be daunting, but they also present exciting opportunities for growth and fulfillment. In this blog post and Youtube Short, we dive into an inspiring career change story that showcases the power of adaptability and perseverance. Whether you’re contemplating a career shift or simply looking for motivation, this story offers valuable insights into navigating the complexities of changing professional paths.

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I finally listened to that nagging feeling that had been weighing on me for a number of months. It was my junior year of college at Villanova. I had done pretty much all the requirements for my elementary education concentration but I had realized that I didn't want to be a teacher anymore and there was a lot of grief and a lot of anxiety around having spent all that time, money, and energy pursuing something and then changing my mind. I finally got up the guts to tell my parents and then I got up the guts to go to Career Services and work with a coach to figure out what I wanted to do but here's the plot twist!

I was pretty pissed after I left my first session with a career coach because I went in expecting and hoping that if I told them what I brought to the table they would just tell me what to do with my life but I came back around. I worked with a coach and through that relationship I learned what my values, interest, personality, and skills really were and what I wanted my work to mean to me. And, through that I discovered the path that I'm still on today over 15 years in.

So, if you have this sinking feeling in your gut and you just know there's a disconnect between what you're doing and where you'd rather be spending your time and energy and maybe you don't know what the thing is but you know it's not this here's your sign your nudge to listen to that to lean into that fear and give yourself that time and attention to figure out what will feel more aligned for you.

Combat Imposter Syndrome

Impostor syndrome is a common experience where individuals feel like frauds despite their accomplishments. This can often undermine confidence, stifle career growth, and create unnecessary stress. Understanding and overcoming impostor syndrome is crucial for both personal wellbeing and professional success. Watch this Youtube Short to help you navigate and conquer these feelings.

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Use this tip to help bolster your confidence in any organization that you might be in or if you're stepping into a new role and feeling a little bit of impostor syndrome. This can also be really helpful if you are job searching. So I call it the happy face folder. Anytime you have had good feedback from a performance review maybe you've gotten a kind comment from a client, customer, or colleague save these things and put them into a folder in your email that's literally just a happy face. Anytime that you start to feel that self-doubt, you might be in a growth edge where you're working on something you're not as skilled at, check out your happy face folder. Especially when you're job searching and you're not hearing back from organizations or maybe you didn't get selected this can be the thing to give you that little nudge and Pat on your back to remind you you have a lot to offer

Walk Me Through Your Resume

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Walk me through your resume. If you ever get asked that in an interview or a networking conversation don't answer it! Literally, what happens is it ends up being a mini life story and filled with a lot of information that doesn't actually pertain to the conversation at hand. So, the question within the question that the other person's really trying to get at is: tell me what I need to know about you, your background, and your experience that matters for this conversation at hand that shows you’re a good fit for this job opportunity. If you keep that in mind and use that to frame your answer and what you highlight about your background it's going to be a much more effective answer.