BUZZSPROUT
In this powerful episode of Stop Shoulding All Over Yourself, I sit down with leadership coach and executive communications expert Karen Marinella-Hall to explore the concept of self-sabotage and how it impacts our personal and professional lives. Drawing on her extensive experience as a former award-winning Boston news anchor, corporate communications executive, and coach, Karen shares her journey of transformation and the tools she uses to help leaders step into their full potential.
We kick things off by discussing the Positive Intelligence framework developed by Shirzad Chamine and how identifying your internal “saboteurs” (like the Avoider, Stickler, or Hyper-Vigilant) can change the way you approach challenges. Karen explains how these internal voices, though rooted in self-protection, often hold us back—and how we can learn to manage them.
Karen and I also dive into our own experiences of avoidance, procrastination, and perfectionism, and how we’ve used personal growth tools to push past these barriers. Karen shares an inspiring story about how a trip to Antarctica became the catalyst for her own reinvention, proving that transformation often starts with stepping outside your comfort zone.
Finally, we discuss the importance of self-awareness, understanding your values, and figuring out what you truly want in life—because living authentically means aligning your goals with who you are at your core.
If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure how to tackle the next big step in your life or career, this episode is for you. Take the free saboteur assessment linked in the show notes, and start building the life you want today!
Listen now and join us for an inspiring conversation about personal growth, self-discovery, and courageous change.
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About Karen
Leadership coach and executive communications expert Karen Marinella Hall is not afraid to ask the tough questions that challenge clients. She has been asking tough questions for decades as an award-winning news anchor and reporter in Boston. Her direct, but gentle style creates a safe environment for clients to appreciate their strengths and discover those areas that need to be developed in order to reach personal and professional goals.
Unlike other coaches, Karen brings a powerful approach to leadership coaching, leveraging her years of experience as a news anchor, corporate communications executive, and an executive coach. Her business savvy and strategic ability have helped countless executives across every industry develop their leadership presence, communications style, and executive impact. Her clients are typically at an important inflection point, either stepping into a new leadership role or facing challenges in their current roles. With Karen’s help, leaders learn how to connect, communicate, and inspire change in themselves and those around them.
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Karen offers a boutique executive coaching and communications consulting practice. Before starting this service, Karen was a successful executive coach at Bates Communications helping senior leaders around the world build executive presence. She has held senior corporate communications positions in Greater Boston and is a six-time Emmy award-winning journalist from WLVI-TV in Boston.
Karen is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) through the Co-Active Training Institute (CTI) and has achieved Associate Certified Coach (ACC) status with the International Coach Federation (ICF). She is also certified as a StandOut Strengths coach. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Broadcast Journalism from Emerson College and earned an MBA at Curry College.