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What happens when the people dedicated to helping others begin to burn out themselves?
In this episode of DBA Chronicles, we sit down with Dr. Jeff Frey, entrepreneur, healthcare executive, educator, researcher, and author, to explore one of the most pressing leadership challenges of our time: sustaining the people whocarry the weight of service, care, and impact.
Drawing from more than three decades of experience across healthcare, technology, higher education, and entrepreneurship, Jeff shares how his doctoral journeyevolved into a mission to understand why so many high-performing leaders burn out and what organizations can do differently.
In this episode, we explore:
- Why burnout is often a systems problem and not an individual failure
- The unique vulnerability of healthcare workers, nonprofit leaders, educators, counselors, and other helping professionals
- The concept of sustainable leadership and finding the "Goldilocks zone" between overcommitment and disengagement
- How emotional intelligence contributes to leadership longevity
- Why healthy leaders create healthier organizations, stronger engagement, and better outcomes
- The value of the DBA as a bridge between research and real-world impact
- How the Further Faster framework emerged from years of research and lived experience
One of the most powerful insights from this conversation is Jeff's observation that helping professionals often align their personal mission so closely with their professional mission that the very passion that drives them can also become thesource of burnout. The challenge is learning how to remain deeply committed without sacrificing health, relationships, and purpose along the way.
For DBA students, organizational leaders, healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone striving to make a meaningful impact without losing themselves in theprocess, this episode offers practical wisdom grounded in both research and experience.
Memorable Quote
"If you're going to study something, choose something you're passionate about because you're going to spend a lot of time researching it."
Listen now and discover how we can build organizations where the people doing the most meaningful work can continue to thrive not just survive.
Connect with Us
LinkedIn: DBA Chronicles
Website: www.dbachronicles.org
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