Today we’d like to introduce you to Karenna Soto
Hi Karenna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From a young age, I was known as the sweet, easygoing girl who rarely said no. I went with the flow, eager to be liked and accepted. That pattern followed me through high school, college, and into my early career. I feared that if I expressed myself fully—honestly and authentically—I would be judged or even lose people in my life. So, I learned to say yes, to shape myself around what others wanted, and to gain approval through being accommodating.
For a long time, this worked. It made me easy to get along with, opened doors for me, and helped me grow quickly in my career. But when the company I worked for went through massive growing pains, I started questioning everything. I felt undervalued and unappreciated, unsure of how others truly saw me. That led me to ask bigger questions: Where are these feelings coming from? How have they shaped my life?
What I realized was that my lifelong people-pleasing tendencies and my hesitancy to set boundaries—or even recognize my own inner boundaries—were the perfect recipe for burnout. I had spent my entire life living through the eyes of others, and it was draining me. No matter how much I accomplished, I still felt like I wasn’t enough. My self-worth was tied to achievement, approval, and perception, and it was never fulfilling.
That was my wake-up call. I made the decision to heal, to give a voice to the parts of me I had silenced, and to start truly expressing myself. I committed to finding my voice and living in my authenticity. That journey led me to the work I do today—helping women overcome and prevent burnout, expand their capacity to live fully, and own their voice and authenticity.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not… I ran into my biggest fears in my internal reality and in my external reality.
The idea that stepping into my truth could lead to rejection or disconnection was terrifying. Every time I set a boundary, spoke up for myself, or chose a path that felt more aligned, I felt an internal battle—one part of me craving freedom and self-expression, while another feared the consequences of change.
One of the hardest challenges was untangling my self-worth from external validation. I had built an identity around being the person everyone could rely on, the one who said yes, who made things easy for others. Letting go of that meant facing the discomfort of not always being liked, of disappointing people, and of no longer measuring my value by how much I could do for others.
Burnout was another major struggle. Because I had spent years ignoring my own needs, I didn’t know how to recognize when I was overextending myself until I had already hit a wall. Learning to honor my limits, listen to my body, and trust that I was still worthy even when I wasn’t “proving” my value was a deep and necessary lesson.
But through all of it—the discomfort, the fear, and the moments of doubt—what kept me going was the undeniable truth that I couldn’t go back. Once I saw how much of my life I had lived for others, I knew I had to keep moving forward, even when it felt hard. And in doing so, I found deeper connections, more meaningful work, and, most importantly, a sense of self-trust that I had never experienced before.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a speaker and workshop facilitator dedicated to helping high-achieving women overcome and prevent burnout by understanding, honoring, and expanding their capacity to live fully expressed lives. My work centers around the Four Steps to Recalibrating Capacity, a framework designed to meet each individual where they are and equip them with the tools to manage their energy, emotions, and responsibilities in a way that aligns with their unique vision for life.
What sets my work apart is that I don’t just teach women to say “no” more, take vacations, or step away from their ambitions. Instead, I help them create the capacity to hold and sustain the life they truly desire—whether that’s building a thriving business, nurturing a fulfilling family life, deepening relationships, or pursuing personal passions. It’s not about choosing between success and well-being; it’s about learning how to manage, distribute, and expand your capacity efficiently so you can have it all without burnout.
Through my speaking engagements and workshops, I empower women to reclaim their voices, break free from survival mode, and step into a life that feels both expansive and sustainable.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
During the COVID crisis, I learned some valuable and sometimes hard lessons about myself. Despite having a solid mental health and wellness routine before the pandemic, I realized how burnt out and tired I truly was when everything shifted. With so many aspects of life taken away or changed, I was forced to confront how little I had been optimizing my capacity—physically, mentally, and emotionally. The quiet and isolation that came with lockdowns illuminated how much I had been running on empty. It became clear that while I had thought I was maintaining balance, I hadn’t fully understood the importance of building sustainable practices for my health and well-being. That period pushed me to deepen my self-awareness and develop strategies to truly honor my capacity, not just in times of crisis, but every day.
It also fast-tracked me to a place of real clarity about how important it is to prioritize self-care, nutrition, and set clear boundaries to prevent burnout.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karennasoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkarennasoto/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karennasoto
- Other: https://thefullyexpressedpodcast.com/
Image Credits
Danary Barrena
