You Have the Right to Dream and Change: Andrea Sullivan on Identity, Success & Doing the Damn Thing

What happens when you finally achieve everything you thought you wanted, only to realize it doesn't feel like enough? Andrea Sullivan shares why your next chapter may begin when you give yourself permission to dream again.

Personal growth can require letting go of the identity that made you successful. Andrea Sullivan, CEO and Co-Founder of vYve and former Chief Marketing Officer of VaynerX and Interbrand, joins Jaime Taets for a candid conversation about identity, success, and the courage to become someone new. Andrea shares her journey from the Midwest to New York City, through nearly two decades in corporate leadership and into entrepreneurship. Along the way, she discovered that titles, achievements, and external validation can become so closely tied to our identity that they eventually keep us from seeing what could come next.

Together, Andrea and Jaime explore identity shifts, imposter syndrome, community, resilience, intuition, and why what got you here won't get you where you're going next. They also talk about finding the right rooms, creating space for reflection, and becoming more human in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Whether you're navigating a career transition, redefining success, or wondering what's next, this conversation will give you permission to dream again.

Timestamped Chapters

0:00 Introduction to Andrea Sullivan
6:04 From corporate leadership to building vYve
7:30 When success looks right but doesn't feel right
10:39 You have the right to dream and change
13:50 Why the rooms you're in shape your growth
14:47 Letting go of titles, achievement, and external validation
17:09 Discovering who you are beyond serving others
19:44 Redefining success and releasing the CMO identity
22:15 What got you here won't get you there
25:29 Finding grounding through running and active meditation
28:16 You don't have to navigate your next chapter alone
32:06 Trusting your intuition
33:26 Andrea's message for leaders

Guest Bio

Andrea Sullivan is the CEO and Co-Founder of vYve, a company focused on helping entrepreneurs and C-suite leaders become their best and happiest selves. She previously served as Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerX and Interbrand, building a career around branding, leadership, and helping organizations and leaders grow. Through vYve, Andrea helps high-performing leaders explore where they may be stuck, identify what is holding them back, and design their next chapter with greater clarity and authenticity.

Quotes from the Episode

"You have the right to dream and to realize those dreams."

"What got us here is definitely not going to be getting us to wherever it is that we're going."

"We're not in this alone."

Leadership Insights

Q: What is personal growth for leaders?

A: Personal growth is the ongoing process of becoming more self-aware, resilient, and intentional about who you are and what you want next. Andrea's story shows that growth can mean letting go of an identity built around titles, achievements, and external expectations so you can make room for a more authentic version of yourself. It often requires stepping into new rooms and surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to evolve.

Q: Why can identity hold successful leaders back?

A: When titles, achievements, reputation, and external validation become part of how leaders define themselves, letting go of them can feel like losing part of who you are. Andrea experienced this firsthand when she wanted to hold onto her CMO title even after launching vYve. Releasing that identity created space to dream again, trust her intuition, and step into a new chapter she never imagined for herself.

Resources

• Learn more about vYve and its community for entrepreneurs and leaders.
• Learn more about Jaime Taets and her leadership work.
• Explore Jaime's Women's Executive Retreats.
• Explore Keystone Group International and its leadership, culture, and organizational growth work.
• Follow Jaime on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

If this conversation challenged the way you think about personal growth, identity, or success, share it with another leader who could benefit from these insights.

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Jaime Taets