By: Marcus Delaney
Carol Enneking’s professional journey has taken her across multiple continents and industries, offering a broad view of leadership in action. From energy and finance to healthcare and technology, her diverse career has provided her with valuable insights into organizational dynamics. Yet, for all the cultural and organizational diversity she has encountered, one insight stands above the rest: the human element never changes.
“Working across six continents taught me that while business models differ, human nature doesn’t,” Enneking reflects. “Great leadership transcends geography and strategy. It’s rooted in clarity, empathy, and trust.”
That belief has become the cornerstone of her work as a speaker, author, and advisor. After decades in executive roles, Enneking distilled her experiences into The Rebalancing Act: Wisdom from Working Women for Success That Matters, a book that challenges the traditional notions of achievement and power. The book is not a rejection of ambition, but a reimagining of it—an invitation to pursue meaningful success without sacrificing well-being.
A Life Lived in the Fast Lane
Enneking’s career has spanned high-level corporate environments and grassroots leadership development. Along the way, she observed a troubling pattern: talented, purpose-driven people were burning out in pursuit of an impossible ideal. “I’ve seen brilliant people confuse busyness with impact,” she explains. “Leadership isn’t about doing more; it’s about aligning your energy, purpose, and influence in a way that’s both sustainable and meaningful.”
This realization didn’t come from theory but from personal experience. “I wrote The Rebalancing Act because I lived it,” she admits. “Like many high-achieving professionals, I once believed success required doing everything, all the time. Eventually, I realized that version of success comes at too high a cost—to our health, our relationships, and even our creativity.”
Her book reflects the challenges faced by ambitious professionals who feel overextended and underfulfilled, offering guidance toward a healthier, more intentional approach to success. “Balance isn’t weakness; it’s strategy,” Enneking says. “The most successful leaders aren’t those who do it all—they’re the ones who focus on what matters most and have the courage to let the rest go.”
The Power of Pausing
Change, Enneking believes, is both inevitable and essential. Yet the way professionals handle transitions often determines whether they evolve or unravel. “Career and life transitions test every leader’s resilience and adaptability,” she explains. “My advice is to pause before you pivot.”
Her message contrasts sharply with the modern culture of constant motion. In a world that prizes speed and productivity, Enneking advocates for reflection as a critical form of leadership discipline. “Most people rush to fill the space that change creates, but clarity comes from reflection, not reaction,” she says. “Ask yourself: What’s no longer serving me? What do I want this next chapter to stand for?”
That approach aligns with her broader philosophy of creating margin in life—space to think, breathe, and regain perspective. “Transitions aren’t disruptions,” she insists. “They’re invitations to evolve.”
Empowering Women to Lead Differently
A core part of Enneking’s work focuses on women in leadership,a space she views as offering both opportunities and challenges. “The landscape for women in leadership is expanding in opportunity and complexity,” she explains. “We’re no longer just breaking glass ceilings; we’re redesigning the rooms.”
However, with those opportunities come new pressures. “The expectation to be everything to everyone is still very real,” she notes. To help address that tension, she founded Rebalancing Revolution™, a growing community dedicated to helping women lead with authenticity, clarity, and balance. The initiative brings together ambitious professionals who want to achieve success without losing themselves in the process.
“We focus on sustainable leadership, not endless striving,” Enneking says. “It’s about creating space for joy, clarity, and impact.” Her message to aspiring female leaders is direct: “You don’t need to hustle harder; you need to lead differently.”
Through her speaking engagements and workshops, Enneking helps women move beyond survival mode and into a state of intentional growth. Her frameworks challenge conventional corporate narratives, showing that productivity and well-being are not opposites but allies.
Building a Foundation of Sustainable Success
For Enneking, leadership is not just about achievement—it is about legacy. She wants her work to outlive her career, shaping how organizations think about success for years to come. “Through my work as a speaker, author, and advisor, I want to leave a legacy of sustainable success—helping people and organizations thrive without burning out,” she says.
Her impact is already visible. She has worked with leaders at various levels, from CEOs to early-career professionals, and her message has gained attention globally. Her Oxford Talks presentation on redefining success recently surpassed one million views, a milestone that underscores how universal her message has become. “That tells me this conversation reaches far beyond my own story,” she says. “It’s a universal truth: when we rebalance how we work and live, we create stronger leaders, healthier organizations, and more enduring impact.”
Redefining Leadership for a New Era
At the heart of Carol Enneking’s philosophy lies a quiet but radical proposition: success should not require self-sacrifice. It should be measured by alignment, not exhaustion. Her insights challenge the outdated idea that effectiveness comes from doing more. Instead, she encourages leaders to focus on doing what truly matters.
Her message is finding particular resonance in a post-pandemic world where employees and executives alike are questioning the pace and purpose of their work. For Enneking, this moment is not a crisis but a crossroads—a chance to build cultures that value both performance and presence.
“Rebalancing is not about perfection,” she concludes. “It’s about staying aligned with what gives your life meaning. When we lead from that place, everyone around us rises too.”
With her global experience, her clear-eyed empathy, and her unwavering commitment to redefining success, Carol Enneking has become a compelling voice in modern leadership. Her work is a reminder that real achievement is not about how much you do—it’s about how deeply you live and how meaningfully you lead.
