In the latest episode of From a Woman to a Leader, I had the privilege of speaking with Christine Spraker, a former health tech co-CEO, best-selling author of Unwinding Perfect, and founder of co-foundHer. Christine’s story is a powerful reminder that even when we’ve achieved success, the path to fulfillment requires us to shed perfectionism and embrace our authentic selves.
Here are some highlights from our conversation, but I encourage you to listen to the full episode for even more insights!
1. Letting Go of Perfectionism
Christine shared that perfectionism was one of the biggest things holding her back. She spent years striving to meet societal standards, only to realize that it was preventing her from achieving the life she truly wanted.
“I didn’t know it was okay to not be perfect. But once I stopped caring what people thought of me, I experienced real freedom.” – Christine Spraker
2. The Power of Negotiating with Confidence
We talked about the importance of knowing your worth and negotiating from a place of strength. Christine emphasized that negotiations aren’t just about salary—they’re about standing firm in what you deserve and what’s most important to you.
“You don’t need to shrink yourself or accept less than your value. When you know your levers, you can negotiate with confidence.” – Christine Spraker
3. Authenticity in Leadership
Christine and I discussed how being your authentic self, especially as a woman in leadership, makes all the difference. It’s not about fitting into a mold but about showing up as the real you, which not only helps you succeed but also inspires those around you.
“When you stand tall in who you are, you set the stage for others to do the same. Authenticity is the greatest gift you can give as a leader.” – Limor Bergman Gross
4. Flexibility Over Perfection
We both agreed that work-life balance isn’t about perfection—it’s about flexibility. Christine shared how stepping into a flexible mindset allowed her to better integrate her career and personal life, which made her not only a better leader but also a happier, more present mother.
“Flexibility is the key to finding your rhythm. When you give yourself that freedom, everything falls into place.” – Christine Spraker
Ready to dive deeper into Christine’s story?
There’s so much more to learn from Christine’s journey of self-discovery and leadership. If you’ve ever struggled with people-pleasing, perfectionism, or standing firm in negotiations, this episode is a must-listen.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here and discover how you can unlock your authentic self, step into your power, and lead with confidence.
What was your biggest takeaway from Christine’s story? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
About Christine:
In 2022, Christine Clyne-Spraker – health tech co-CEO, mother, and wife – decided to listen to the voice that had been not so gently nudging her and make drastic changes.
Despite her incredible personal and professional accomplishments, the accolades she had worked years to receive were no longer serving her the way her younger self had hoped.
Well-intentioned childhood patterning and years of chasing success defined by society standards pushed Christine to showcase perfectionism in every aspect of her life. But these realities were actually holding her back from the life she dreamed of and deserved. Christine began a self-discovery journey that empowered her to shed perfectionism and to then explore her individuality, truth, and authentic self.
Through this new lens, and after much deliberation and reflection, Christine made incredibly brave – and at times, misunderstood – life changes. The result unlocked her true Being – and Freedom. Christine is now the best-selling author of Unwinding Perfect, a personal memoir for anyone who is seeking more in life, and founder of co-foundHer, a boutique advisory and investment firm.
www.co-foundHer.com and www.unwindingperfect.com
IG: @christine_clyne_spraker
LI: Christine (Clyne) Spraker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-spraker-b363041/
