How Women CEOs Can Lead Without Burning Out with Meghann Conter | Ep 69

In this episode, host Madeleine MacRae sits down with Meghann Conter, founder and CEO of The Dames, to dismantle the myths of hustle culture and redefine what success looks like for high-achieving women. From physiological differences in productivity to personal stories of burnout, ADHD diagnoses, and solo parenting, this episode is a masterclass in intentional leadership and aligned living.

Together, they explore how women can reclaim their time, energy, and joy—without sacrificing ambition. If you're a woman in business who's tired of grinding and ready to lead with authenticity, this episode is your wake-up call.

Key Takeaways

• Ditch the Hustle: The 24/7 hustle model was not made for women. Aligning with your natural rhythms leads to more sustainable success.
• CEO is an Inside Job: Your business thrives when you are well. Tracking energy, prioritizing wellness, and building structure around your cycles can transform your results.
• Choose Presence Over Perfection: Being present in the moment and embracing your evolution creates a deeper, more fulfilling version of success.
• Drop the Stick: Shame, guilt, and comparison are silent saboteurs. Letting go of internalized judgment opens the door to aligned action and joy.
• You’re in a Category of One: There is no competition when you embrace your unique path. Comparison is wasted energy.

In This Episode

• [0:00] Meet Meghann Conter: visionary, founder, community builder
• [1:36] The Dames: Hogwarts + Harvard for women entrepreneurs
• [4:00] Why most networking is broken—and how to fix it
• [7:15] The hustle myth: why it burns out women faster
• [10:15] Productivity vs. alignment: managing your energy
• [13:05] The CEO wake-up call: redefining time and success
• [17:00] Replacing coping mechanisms with true self-care
• [22:00] When ADHD isn’t a curse—it’s clarity
• [26:30] Releasing the “hard life” narrative
• [31:00] Letting go of shame and owning your evolution
• [34:59] Don’t wait to live your life: the journey is the destination
• [37:49] Megan’s personal success algorithm

Notable Quotes

• [08:16] “Men are built on the 24 hour clock and that is how they function. Women are built on a 28 day cycle and that is how our bodies function.” — Meghann Conter
• [10:16] “If you are a true CEO, you are not the one who's operating the business and running the business.” — Meghann Conter
• [17:08] “The life of a CEO is an inside job. So if you're not consistently doing your own personal growth work and becoming completely aware of yourself in your own unique cycles, your own unique human design, astrology personalities, et cetera, then you are typically looking at what's going on around you.” — Meghann Conter
• [37:49] “Until we decide that we're successful, we'll never be successful. It's like until we decide that we belong in a community, we'll never belong in a community.” — Meghann Conter
• [40:37] “If you're going to waste your time comparing yourself, you are donating your time to other people's causes that you don't necessarily like.” — Meghann Conter

Our Guest

Meghann Conter is the founder and CEO of The Dames, a women’s business accelerator for six, seven, and eight-figure entrepreneurs and corporate leaders who want growth without sacrificing themselves. Known for its “Harvard meets Hogwarts” vibe, The Dames combines deep strategy with aligned energy and authentic community.

Resources and Links

Meghann Conter

• The Dames: