Martha Chrisander: From Inner Critic to Inner Compass

On this episode of Adapt or Die, executive coach Andreas Pettersson talks with Martha Chrisander—former journalist, B2B SaaS leader, and co-author of Power Without Permission. From quietly crying off-camera at a company-wide kickoff to winning “Employee of the Year” moments later, Martha takes us inside her transformation from insecure overachiever to confident leader. She shares how imposter syndrome, internalized perfectionism, and generational pressure nearly stole her joy—and how a bold coaching exercise finally shattered the negative self-talk. The result: a more open, grounded leadership style and a generational pattern broken for her sons.

Challenge → Despite external success, Martha was unraveling inside—plagued by perfectionism, self-doubt, and stress symptoms that disrupted both her work and home life. Her inner critic ran the show, and she feared the cost of trying (and failing) to fix it might outweigh the pain of staying stuck.

Adaptation → With the support of a perceptive manager and a brave leap into coaching, Martha cracked open her armor. A powerful exercise confronting her own negative self-talk shifted her mindset from fear to possibility—and taught her how to lead with evidence instead of anxiety.

Success → Today, Martha brings radical honesty and vulnerability into every leadership room. She champions psychological safety for her teams and shows up fully at home—watching her 12-year-old son begin to rewrite his own story with resilience and confidence.

🔥 60-Second Hot Seat:
Martha shares why she stopped treating compliments like lies, what breaking an egg taught her son about self-talk, and how she turned her inner critic into a creative motivator. Her biggest belief shift? You don’t need outside permission to take up space—you just need proof that you already belong.

Think high achievers don’t struggle with self-doubt? Martha proves the fiercest growth happens when you stop hiding from your own story.

📘 Power Without Permission
Martha is a co-author in Power Without Permission. Get your copy at leadersadapt.com book and join the community of women building unapologetic leadership from the inside out.

Visit www.leadersadapt.com/adaptordie for show notes, free resources, and coaching programs.

Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:
https://missionmatters.com/author/andreas-pettersson