Former Walmart and IKEA Executive Says ‘You Cannot Meditate Your Way Out of Burnout’

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Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by GlobeNewswire Former Walmart and IKEA Executive Says 'You Cannot Meditate Your Way Out of Burnout'Author of the article:Nabeela Elsayed, former chief operating officer of Walmart Canada and chief human resources officer of IKEA U.S., is the author of "Breaking Burnout: How High Achievers Break the Success Myths Driving Exhaustion, Overwork, and Burnout." GNWIn “Breaking Burnout,” Nabeela Elsayed argues burnout stems from the definition of success we inheritedTHIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountTORONTO, Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nabeela Elsayed spent more than two decades rising from barista to the C-suite, serving as chief human resources officer and chief operating officer at Walmart Canada and as chief human resources officer at IKEA U.S. Her new book, “Breaking Burnout: How High Achievers Break the Success Myths Driving Exhaustion, Overwork, and Burnout” (Post Hill Press), argues that resilience workshops and better boundaries treat only the symptoms of burnout, not its causes.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.The pressure is widespread. Just 34% of employees worldwide are thriving, while 65% are struggling or suffering, according to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace report. Gallup also found that workers in the U.S. and Canada report more stress than workers anywhere else in the world. The World Health Organization classified burnout as an occupational phenomenon in 2019, defining it as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“Breaking Burnout” examines what happens when an entire generation of leaders, employees, parents and caregivers transitions from healthy ambition to exhaustion, and how to stop it through three tools:The Burnout Loop: Ways to identify the right moment to interrupt the “loop” – the pattern by which high performers go from striving to identity fusion, over-functioning and, eventually, depletion.The Seven Success Myths: A breakdown of inherited beliefs such as “the grind is the price of success,” “rest is weakness” and “your worth is your output” that Elsayed calls the silent operating system of professional life.The Re-Imagine Success Roadmap: A system for building sustainable success rooted in clarity and meaning.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Together, the tools help employees at all levels re-imagine, redefine and renegotiate their relationship with work, self-worth and achievement.“When you care deeply about your work, you don’t become immune to exhaustion. You become more vulnerable to it,” said Nabeela Elsayed. “Work can be meaningful, but when it becomes your primary source of meaning, it turns into a demand you can never fully satisfy. ‘Breaking Burnout’ offers a roadmap to success and well-being.”The book has drawn praise from Thrive Global founder and CEO Arianna Huffington, who calls it “a timely, deeply human guide to succeeding without burning out”; bestselling author Chester Elton, who says it shows burnout is “a natural response to how we’ve defined success”; and organizational psychologist Tasha Eurich, who writes that it “challenges you to rethink what success was supposed to mean in the first place.”This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Nabeela Elsayed spent more than 20 years in leadership. She started at Starbucks earning $6.50 an hour and rose to chief human resources officer of IKEA U.S., then chief human resources officer and chief operating officer of Walmart Canada, leading 100,000 employees and managing more than 400 stores. Now an author and executive coach, she is a leading voice on preventing burnout and building sustainable leadership. She has been named to the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, the Top 50 Best Executives and the Top 100 HR Professionals lists. She serves on the boards of the Miracle Foundation, the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism and the National Council of Canadian Muslims. She is also the co-founder of Rippl, a global online well-being conference.Photos accompanying this announcement are available atMEDIA CONTACT Lauren Lawson-Zilai Zeal Communications hello@zealcommunications.coThis advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.