What Self-Care and Burnout Really Mean for Women with Lakila Bowden (S2, E13)
What Self-Care and Burnout Really Mean for Women with Lakila Bowden (S2, E13)  
Podcast: The Real Connect
Published On: Wed Jan 21 2026
Description: What does self-care look like when you’re building a career, building a family… and life is still lifing?In this episode of The Real Connect Podcast, Tamika Carlton sits down with Atlanta powerhouse Lakila Bowden, COO, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Isee Technologies, for a fearless and fruitful conversation. Lakila breaks down why career success doesn’t have to cost you your health, what alignment really looks like in real life (not just as a buzzword), and how women can give themselves permission to prioritize themselves without guilt.Lakila also shares her story about leaving corporate on her own terms, building a business with her sister Camille (who is blind and absolutely unstoppable), and navigating one of life’s most emotionally complex seasons with intention, joy, and self-preservation.This episode is for the woman who’s tired of pouring from an empty cup and ready to build a life that actually feels good.What You Will Hear About:1. Why weekends off and real rest are a non-negotiable (and how Tamika protects her peace).2. The difference between being a “cultural fit” vs. a cultural addition in corporate spaces.3. What “alignment” actually looks like and how to strengthen your intuition as a decision-making muscle.4. How Lakila built a company with her sister Camille and why accessibility is about capability, not limitation.5. Leaving the corporate world at 37 to create financial freedom and moving without fear.6. The truth about women, burnout, and self-care guilt.7. Love, partnership, and why her husband is genuinely part of her self-care.8. Lakila's book: The Sho Nuff Principle: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-shonuff-principle-lakila-bowden/1148372350🔗 Watch, subscribe, and share this episode if you care about self-care, burnout prevention, women’s wellness, alignment, and the kind of connection that feels like fuzzy socks.Take the Guilt Detox Quiz: https://app.agolix.com/assessment/28648Connect with Lakila Bowden on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakilaj/Follow Lakila on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lakila-bowden-mba-0463272/Visit Lakila Bowden's website: https://lakilabowden.com/Connect with Tamika on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamika_carltonjbpJoin The Connect (free weekly newsletter): https://www.tamikacarlton.com/newsletterVisit Tamika’s website: https://www.tamikacarlton.com00:00 Introduction to Self-Care01:49 Energy and Positivity03:08 Career Success and Personal Happiness03:27 Corporate Challenges and Alignment08:09 Entrepreneurial Journey13:26 Preventing Burnout17:52 HBCU Experience and Personal Growth20:15 Traveling the World: A Journey of Exposure and Growth21:19 Family Support and Fearlessness22:59 Meeting My Husband: A Fearless Love Story28:45 The Importance of Accessibility and Capability31:01 Writing and Self-Care: The Show N Principle32:27 Balancing Joy and Grief: A Personal Story36:46 Speed Round and Closing Thoughts#TheRealConnectPodcast #TamikaCarlton #SelfCare #BurnoutPrevention #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #CorporateToEntrepreneur #LakilaBowden