What if some of the most powerful women in leadership are quietly navigating crises no one ever sees?

In this episode of Possibilities with Monique de Maio, Monique sits down with Dana Cotispoti, a global HR executive, Chief People Officer, coach, and co-founder of the nonprofit HIGHER, for a raw and necessary conversation about leadership, personal crisis, and what it really means to be resilient.

Dana shares her personal experience leaving an abusive relationship while holding senior leadership roles in financial services, and how that journey reshaped her understanding of power, empathy, and vulnerability in the workplace. Together, Monique and Dana explore why personal crisis isn’t defined by circumstances, but by how it feels, and why so many high-achieving women suffer in silence.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why crisis doesn’t always look like failure, and often looks like success from the outside
• The hidden personal battles women carry into leadership roles
• Why vulnerability is not a liability, but a leadership strength
• How shame and fear prevent women from asking for help
• The long-term impact of COVID on confidence, anxiety, and resilience at work
• Why community and “finding your tribe” are essential to healing and growth

Dana also introduces her RISE Method (Resilience, Intuition, Self-care, Empowerment) as a framework for empowerment, and shares how HIGHER supports women navigating moments when life feels overwhelming.

This is a conversation about leadership without armor.
Strength without performance.
And resilience built through honesty, community, and self-trust.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to hold it all together while falling apart inside, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Dana Cotispoti and her leadership journey

02:08 – The mission behind HIGHER and redefining what “personal crisis” really means

05:18 – Why crisis doesn’t look the way we expect (and why no one is immune)

07:26 – Navigating leadership while living through an unseen personal crisis

10:31 – How HIGHER works: coaching models, cohorts, and community support

13:05 – From industrial engineering to Chief People Officer: Dana’s career path

16:54 – Vulnerability in leadership: where strength and humanity meet

19:41 – Confidence, imposter syndrome, and becoming comfortable in your own skin

22:07 – The emotional cost of pretending at work and why authenticity matters

25:01 – What “personal crisis” looks like inside modern organizations

27:38 – The post-COVID confidence crisis and loss of workplace resilience

29:54 – Why society is failing survivors and misunderstanding abuse

32:09 – The RISE Method: resilience, intuition, and self-care explained

34:44 – Motherhood, legacy, and teaching the next generation resilience

38:06 – Introversion, empathy, and leadership energy

39:08 – Advice Dana would give her 30-year-old self

40:02 – Final reflections, resources, and how to connect with Dana

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dana Cotispoti is a global HR executive, Chief People Officer, certified coach, and co-founder of the nonprofit HIGHER, which supports women navigating personal crisis. With more than 25 years of leadership experience across financial services and global organizations, Dana brings a rare blend of operational expertise, emotional intelligence, and lived experience to her work.

Through her leadership, coaching, and nonprofit efforts, Dana is committed to redefining resilience, normalizing vulnerability in leadership, and building a more humane future of work…one woman, one conversation, and one community at a time.

This podcast is part of our mission to amplify women who are redefining work, life, and leadership.