Meg Gillespie of Atlanta on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Meg Gillespie shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Meg, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Who are you learning from right now?
Honestly, my kids. They’re my greatest teachers.

We tend to think adulthood means we’ve become the experts, but children remind us how to be present, curious, and completely ourselves. They haven’t yet learned to shrink to fit or chase approval.

I’ve worked with everyone from kids and parents to CEOs, and I’ve realized we’re all craving the same things: connection, belonging, and to be seen for who we really are.

The first half of life is about learning how to adapt and fit in. The second half is about unlearning and peeling back the conditioning that kept us safe but small. My kids remind me of what life and leadership look like before the world teaches us to edit ourselves.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a therapist turned executive coach. I help leaders and entrepreneurs perform at a high level without burning out in the process. My background as a therapist gives me a unique edge. I understand the human side of performance: mindset, emotion, communication, and how all of that impacts results.

Most of my clients come to me when they’ve built something impressive but it’s costing them more than they want to admit. They often feel depleted, reactive, and the creative, innovative mind that built the business is running on empty. My work helps them get back to center, refine how they lead, and build their next chapter from a place of alignment instead of exhaustion.

One of my favorite parts of this work is helping people see themselves clearly again. We often overlook the qualities that make us exceptional because they come so naturally. My job is to help people recognize and use those gifts intentionally, so they can lead, create, and live with more clarity and confidence.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Disconnection breaks them, especially the disconnection from ourselves. When we’re overwhelmed or hurt, we move into protection mode. We stop listening. We make assumptions. We forget that most people are doing the best they can with what they have.

What restores connection is presence. It’s the willingness to slow down, listen, and stay curious. Repair doesn’t require perfect words or big gestures, it just requires honesty and care.

In the end, relationships are everything both in life and in business. Profit, strategy, performance… all of it depends on trust and communication. We’re relational beings. When leaders prioritize that, performance follows naturally.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that strength isn’t built through striving, it’s built through surrender. The hardest seasons stripped away the noise and forced me to face myself. They taught me how to listen to my own voice and, more importantly, to trust it, especially when it didn’t match what the world expected.

Success gave me confidence, but suffering gave me compassion. It softened me. It taught me that growth isn’t about feeling good all the time (though that would be nice if it were true). It’s about being willing to face what’s hard and stay open through it. That perspective has completely changed the way I lead, parent, and coach.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think the biggest lie in the leadership space is that being successful means always being busy or “on,” and that stress and success go hand in hand. We’ve been sold the idea that stress equals importance and that if you’re not overwhelmed, you’re not doing enough. In reality, that constant pace disconnects us from ourselves and from others. When leaders operate from stress and urgency, it ripples through the entire organization, creating reactivity, lowering creativity, and stifling innovation. The leaders who make the greatest impact aren’t the ones running the fastest, they’re the ones who know how to slow down, listen, and respond with clarity instead of reactivity. That’s what creates longevity for the business and the person running it.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
For years, I did what I thought I was supposed to do by chasing achievement, approval, and a version of success that never quite felt like me. Becoming a mother, growing my business, and doing my own inner work helped me realize I didn’t want a life that just looked good on paper. I wanted one that felt good to live. Now, that’s exactly what I help others create by helping them build lives and careers that are aligned with their values, not just their goals. To lead in a way that’s authentic, sustainable, and deeply human.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganhouman/