Shaking on the Inside, Rising on the Outside
What if the moments that shake you most are the very ones that reveal who you are becoming?
In this episode of Empowering Women, Transforming Lives, Rebecca Hall Gruyter welcomes Sheren Bouchakian and Dr. Lynnea Brumbaugh for a powerful conversation about resilience, authentic leadership, identity, and finding purpose through life’s unexpected turns.
Sheren shares her journey from immigrating from Egypt as a child to building a successful career on Wall Street and in tech, becoming a working mother, and later navigating chronic illness and a profound shift in identity. Her story explores what happens when the definition of success you once knew begins to change.
Dr. Lynnea brings her perspective on turning our scariest moments into what she calls “sacred success.” Drawing from her upcoming book, Shaking on the Inside: Turning Our Scariest Moments into Sacred Success, she explores why true leadership begins within and how greater self-awareness can create a ripple effect across our lives, teams, and communities.
Together, they remind us that we don’t have to appear fearless to move forward. Even when we are shaking on the inside, we can choose to grow, lead authentically, and create success that reflects who we are becoming.
As always, you can find Rebecca at:
https://www.yourpurposedrivenpractice.com/
About the Guests
Sheren Bouchakian
Sheren Bouchakian is an immigrant, former corporate executive, wife, mother, and advocate for living with grit, grace, and authenticity. After moving from Egypt to New Jersey as a child, she went on to build a 30-year career in HR across financial services and technology, including the experience of ringing the Nasdaq bell when her company went public.
Today, as she navigates recovery from chronic illness and a new season of life, Sheren is focused on family, kindness, authenticity, and using her experiences to make a meaningful difference.
Connect with Sheren:
Website: https://www.gritandgracegirl.com
Facebook: Sheren Ghali Bouchakian
Instagram: @sherengb
LinkedIn: Sheren Bouchakian
Dr. Lynnea Brumbaugh
Dr. Lynnea Brumbaugh, Ph.D., is a globally recognized author, speaker, coach, and trusted advisor to executives. Through her ExecutiveOS programs, she helps leaders move beyond friction and burnout, deepen self-awareness, and build high-performing teams.
Her work centers on the Ripple Effect and the idea that transformation within one leader can influence an entire organization. Her upcoming book, Shaking on the Inside: Turning Our Scariest Moments into Sacred Success, explores how fear and life’s most challenging moments can become catalysts for deeper, more meaningful success.
Connect with Dr. Lynnea:
Website: https://www.theexecutiveos.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnea.leadership.flow
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynnea.annette/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlynnea/