When a six‑week trip home turned into sudden grief, Dilara Cossette learned exactly how thin the line is between “crushing it” and being crushed. In this raw sit‑down with Jolie, the self‑described bridge‑builder between sales and marketing gets honest about toxic teams, performance anxiety, and why fractional doesn’t mean “always on.” If you’re leading while your heart hurts, this episode is the permission slip you need.  Key Takeaways• Vulnerability isn’t weak—it’s the shortcut to real trust• Fractional leaders must set loud boundaries or drown in Slack pings• Spot stress signals early; burnout is easier to avoid than to rehab• Hobbies and micro‑joys keep the empathy tank full• Celebrate the tiny wins; they compound into resilience Timestamps00:00 – Meet Dilara & why empathy is a demand‑gen superpower01:44 – Leading with vulnerability after personal loss04:37 – Toxic cultures, unrealistic expectations & the exit plan10:20 – Fractional leadership: value without 24/7 availability15:56 – Layoffs & how to show up for colleagues in free fall17:52 – Reading your own stress signals before they scream22:30 – Hobbies, balance, and the “no vacation‑to‑vacation” life33:00 – Grief in business: making space for the hard days40:01 – Modeling vulnerability so teams feel safe to follow47:02 – Burnout red flags & boundary resets56:03 – Fractional doesn’t equal fractional human LinksLearn more about DilaraLearn more about JolieLearn more about Revenue Mind