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“How do you define success? If you lose yourself in the process, is it really worthy of you?” – Bernadette

Choose to Thrive

“How do you define success?
If you lose yourself in the process,
is it really worthy of you?”
– Bernadette

Choose
to Thrive

The reality right now

Are you finally frustrated enough to change?

You're already successful — yet burning out. Opportunities arise and you're still the one being overlooked. Along the way, you've slipped to the bottom of your own list — your energy, your joy, your voice. Always "later."
You were built for more than this.

You've been taught to shrink — by outdated rules and your own internal doubt

The risks you need to take are the exact ones fear keeps talking you out of

You're isolated in your ambition — and that loneliness is slowing you down

You know you're meant for more — and settling is becoming unbearable

It's time to shift.

Book Cover

You're Meant for MORE.
Choose COURAGE over Comfort.

Join Lead and Thrive for bold ideas, practical strategies, and thought-provoking reflections that challenge your thinking, strengthen your leadership, and help you turn courage into action so you can thrive in every dimension of your life.

    🔒 No spam. Unsubscribe any time.

    Who I am

    I don't teach theory. I've lived it.

    I've been in the room where decisions are made. I've navigated uncertainty and ambiguity. I've led teams across three continents, built ventures from scratch, and navigated the kind of pressure that doesn't show up in textbooks. Born in France of Vietnamese heritage, shaped by Europe, Asia, and North America — I bring a global lens to everything I do.

    And then I made a choice most executives don't talk about. I stepped away — eight years to raise my children. I came back stronger.
    That's not a gap in my story. That's reinvention. That's power.

    • TEDx Speaker — The Power of Being Seen
    • 25+ years in global executive leadership & entrepreneurship
    • Senior roles at L'Oréal & BNP Paribas
    • Founder, SPARK Women Leaders Forum
    • Partner at CoSuccess

    Bernadette McBurnie

    "I will challenge you. I will stretch you.
    I will support you with unwavering belief."

    Who I am

    I don't teach theory. I've lived it.

    Bernadette McBurnie

    "I will challenge you. I will stretch you.
    I will support you with unwavering belief."


    I've been in the room where decisions are made. I've navigated uncertainty and ambiguity. I've led teams across three continents, built ventures from scratch, and navigated the kind of pressure that doesn't show up in textbooks. Born in France of Vietnamese heritage, shaped by Europe, Asia, and North America — I bring a global lens to everything I do.

    And then I made a choice most executives don't talk about. I stepped away — eight years to raise my children. I came back stronger.
    That's not a gap in my story.
    That's reinvention. That's power.

    • TEDx Speaker — The Power of Being Seen
    • 25+ years in global executive leadership & entrepreneurship
    • Senior roles at L'Oréal & BNP Paribas
    • Founder, SPARK Women Leaders Forum
    • Partner at CoSuccess

    I choose to empower women
    not because it's a trend — because it's a necessity.

    Since my mid-30's, I've championed women around the world – in corporate, in business, and in life transitions.
    I see it everywhere: brilliant women taught to shrink by outdated rules, internal doubt, and the fear of being "too much" or "not enough."
    Too many feel stuck, isolated, and unsure how to move forward.

    I know that story — because I lived parts of it myself.

    That's why everything I do exists.

    I choose to
    empower women
    not because it's a trend — because it's a necessity.

    Since my mid-30's, I've championed women around the world – in corporate, in business, and in life transitions.
    I see it everywhere: brilliant women taught to shrink by outdated rules, internal doubt, and the fear of being "too much" or "not enough."
    Too many feel stuck, isolated, and unsure how to move forward.

    I know that story — because I lived
    parts of it myself.

    That's why everything I do exists.

    Three levels of transformation

    SPARK is an ecosystem.

    Each level meets you where you are — for individuals and organizations alike.
    Together, they take you where you're meant to go.

    01
    Membership
    SPARK Women Leaders Forum

    SPARK Forum is a high-touch leadership space — founded on courage, ambition and integrity — where growth is continuous, expected, and collective.

    Members come from diverse industries, backgrounds and experiences — corporate leaders, business owners, entrepreneurs, educators, and nonprofit changemakers.

    For individual women leaders.

    02
    Speaking & Keynotes
    Activation at Scale

    Bernadette tailors every keynote to your audience, context, and goals.

    Each talk combines real storytelling, strategic insight, and a direct challenge — leaving audiences activated, not just inspired.

    For organizations ready to move.

    03
    Coaching Leaders and Teams
    Executive Coaching & Exceptional Teams

    A high-impact, personalized coaching partnership for leaders. Transformation through sustained challenge, relentless honesty, and unwavering accountability.

    A pathway to High Trust High Performance High Collaboration – so your teams deliver exceptional results, and thrive in constant change.

    What women say

    Real transformation.Real voices.

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    What women say

    Real transformation.Real voices.

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    On stage

    Our voice is ourgreatest superpower.

    Bernadette speaks to audiences around the world — from intimate leadership circles to keynote stages at major global conferences.
    High energy, powerful storytelling, and strategies leaders can apply immediately.

    The Power of Being Seen - TEDx
    THE POWER OF BEING SEEN
    is at the heart of all our fears
    Bernadette's TEDx Talk

    Through her journey of struggle and breakthrough, Bernadette inspires the quiet, unspoken voices to claim their inner power, rise stronger & confident.

    Entrepreneurship The Big Picture
    ENTREPRENEURSHIP
    THE BIG PICTURE
    ASPIRE. US Entrepreneurs Conference

    Rising as a successful entrepreneur isn’t luck. It’s clarity, courage, and consistent action. It’s about choosing to lead, even when it’s uncomfortable.

    ESSENTIALS TO THRIVE The Power of making a decision
    ESSENTIALS TO THRIVE
    The Power of making a decision
    Knopman Marks Financial

    True success—professional or financial—should never come at the expense of your happiness. That line is not up for debate.

    LEADING THROUGH CHANGE & COMPLEXITY IN HEALTHCARE
    LEADING THROUGH CHANGE & COMPLEXITY IN HEALTHCARE
    Children's Mercy Hospital

    Lead confidently through ambiguity across a dynamic healthcare system—while accelerating collaboration, performance and teams engagement.

    What event organizers say

    Bold, warm, and unforgettable.

    "Bernadette is totally outstanding as a keynote speaker. Her incredible delivery of valuable, meaningful and truly helpful experiences and content is exceptional."

    Ben Woodward
    Ben Woodward
    Founder-Director, Ragnar Circles Ltd

    "Bold, warm, and unforgettable. Bernadette created breakthrough moments — exactly what women leaders needed right now."

    Saori Osu
    Saori Osu
    Founder & CEO, Global Stage In

    "Bernadette doesn't just inspire — she equips. She engages her audience with high energy, warmth, and personal stories."

    Ron Visconti
    Ron Visconti
    Founder, Phase2Careers

    "A keynote that hit home and shifted mindsets instantly. The perfect blend of credibility, presence and practical strategy."

    Thomas Johnson
    Thomas Johnson
    CEO & Angel Investor

    "Powerful, magnetic, and deeply actionable. Bernadette moved the room — and moved us to act."

    Vivian Faustino-Pulliam
    Vivian Faustino-Pulliam
    Founder, CCSF Center for Entrepreneurship

    "Bernadette's transparency, compassion and authenticity makes her trustworthy on a level that is exceptional."

    Michael DiMuccio
    Michael DiMuccio
    Owner, Good Vibrations International Ltd
    SPARK
    Your next step

    This is your moment.
    Choose to thrive.

    Lead. Love. Thrive.


    Lead. Love. Thrive.

    TAKE THE NEXT STEP

    Join the SPARK Women Leaders Forum and rise with a community built for your growth.

    Book Bernadette for your next event or leadership summit.


    © 2026 Bernadette McBurnie • CoSuccess. All Rights Reserved.

    Bernadettemcburnie.com
    Bernadette McBurnie

    © 2026 Bernadette McBurnie. ® All Rights Reserved.

    Reinventing Yourself — The Leadership Upgrade

    Reinvention is not a detour. It is your next level.

    There is a moment every woman reaches — not a crisis, not a failure, but a quiet knowing. A restlessness. A sense that she has outgrown the chapter she is in. That moment is not a warning sign. It is an invitation.

    Reinvention is not about becoming someone different — it is about becoming more fully who you already are. It can happen at 30 or at 50. It can feel scary and unsettling — and exhilarating all at once. The women who thrive don’t wait for the world to redesign them. They take ownership of the trajectory of their life and their success — proactively, courageously, and on their own terms.

    In this keynote, Bernadette helps you recognize when it is time to reinvent, understand what reinvention truly demands of you, and build the clarity, courage, and strategy to make it happen — before the world makes it necessary.

    Trust — The High-Performance Accelerator
    TRUST IS NOT A SWITCH. IT’S A LEADERSHIP CAPABILITY.

    Most leaders think trust is something you either have or you don’t.

    They are wrong. Trust is dynamic. It’s situational. It is built—or broken—through every conversation, decision, and interaction. High-performing teams don’t succeed because trust simply exists—they succeed because leaders intentionally build it, measure it, and protect it.

    When trust declines, the cost is immediate. Innovation slows. Decisions are delayed. Accountability weakens. Talent disengages. Performance suffers.

    This keynote reveals why trust as a strategic leadership advantage—not a soft skill. Bernadette shares practical strategies to build high-trust cultures where difficult conversations happen sooner, feedback—one of the most avoided yet most powerful leadership practices—is a catalyst for growth, and people take ownership, feel safe to challenge ideas, and perform at their best.

    If trust is dynamic, every leader need to know.
    How do you intentionally build trust? And how do you know when it’s slipping before performance does?

    Key Takeaways

    • Learn the leadership behaviors that create trust, strengthen accountability, and create the conditions for high performance.
    • Transform feedback into a competitive advantage by creating a culture where honest conversations happen early often and in every direction.
    • Build psychologically safe teams where people challenge ideas, collaborate with confidence, and take ownership of results.

    Challenge Imposter Syndrome
    It’s not about competence. It’s about courage.

    If you lead, manage, mentor, coach, or train others, you need to understand imposter syndrome. It has no gender, age, or experience, and it affects high-achieving leaders across every industry. It’s not a reflection of ability–it’s a pattern of thinking that causes talented people to question their value and hesitate when it matters most.

    The result? Individuals hold back. Organizations lose leadership potential, innovation, and performance.

    In this engaging keynote, Bernadette reveals why imposter syndrome persists, how to break the cycle, and how leaders can replace self-doubt with confidence, courage, and greater impact. Drawing on proven strategies and her certification as a facilitator with the Imposter Syndrome Institute, Bernadette shares practical strategies audiences can apply immediately.

    Key Takeaways

    • Recognize the hidden patterns and beliefs that fuel imposter syndrome.
    • Understand why competence alone does not eliminate self-doubt—and why courage is the catalyst for growth.
    • Strengthen confidence, voice and presence and reframe limiting thoughts into purposeful action for greater influence and impact.

    Lead Through Uncertainty
    The future belongs to leaders who choose courage over certainty.

    The world is changing faster than any leadership playbook anticipated. This session equips leaders to maintain clarity under pressure, make confident decisions in ambiguity, and master one of leadership’s greatest challenges—delivering results without losing the people delivering them. Performance with empathy. Urgency with trust.

    Bernadette reveals why building a Change-Positive Culture is no longer a competitive advantage—it is the defining capability of leaders and organizations that will thrive in an era of continuous disruption.

    Key Takeaways

    • Develop the mindset and leadership behaviors to communicate with confidence and lead change instead of reacting to it.
    • Keep teams focused and aligned when priorities shift, increasing accountability, ownership, adaptability, and sustainable performance.
    • Build psychological safety and trust, reduce overwhelm, strengthen engagement, and create the confidence people need to thrive through constant change.

    Send a message to Bernadette





      Bernadette Profile

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      Laura has a passion for arts and supporting arts in the Modesto community (Vice Chair on the Modesto Symphony Board).
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      Aisling Blake is a former professional athlete who has embarked on a life journey that reads like an inspiring novel:

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      Vivian founded the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at City College of San Francisco (CCSF) in 2018, with the mission of making entrepreneurship education experiential and inclusive. CCSF was awarded the 2021 Entrepreneurial College of the Year by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship.

      International Business Lecturer and Former Assistant Director, Center for Business Studies and Innovation, Asia-Pacific, University of San Francisco (USF).
      Award-winning educator who teaches entrepreneurship and international business at the University of San Francisco and City College of San Francisco.

      Vivian Faustino started as an entrepreneur while raising three kids as a single parent and building an 18y corporate career, in Asia and North America and serving in senior leadership roles.

      Vivian received the 2020 Canvas Educator-of-the-Year Award and 2023 Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award from USF and was selected as one of 2023 top five Female Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year by the Triple E Awards.

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      In her three years as a CEO, revenue has increased 87%, the number of full-time employees has tripled, and the company’s scope has expanded beyond exam prep to high-performance training.

      Liza Streiff is a high-performance expert, passionate about broadening access to the financial industry. She is excited to be launching a new product line that will give more people the tools and education to get into the industry.

      On a personal note, Liza is dedicated to her family and has 3 young children.

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      She’s currently a volunteer coach through Stanford Seed program, providing strategic business consulting and executive coaching for businesses in Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

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      TUCKER STINE

      Executive & Team Coach. Brand Architect.

      Tucker has worked with Fortune 100 companies, tech giants and global changemakers such as Microsoft, F5, Accenture, Azure, AWS and more.

      His career began in the advertising and marketing world through large agencies in Boston and San Francisco working on large consumer, food and beverage and technology brands, but ultimately life brought him back to Southern CA where he continued his love for helping companies tell great stories. In 2012, Tucker left the corporate world to taste the life of an entrepreneur and founded his own firm that focuses on helping leaders develop their purpose, create strategic action plans, and connect with their customers on deeper levels through transformational communication.

      Tucker holds a BS in Marketing and Business Management and an executive credential in Strategic Marketing Management from Stanford University. He resides in San Diego, CA with his wife of 22 years and their two teenage kids.

      BERNADETTE McBURNIE

      Executive & Team Coach. Women Leadership. TEDx Speaker.

      The first half of her career was with large multinational corporations, in cosmetics, banking and import-export industries, including L’Oréal, one of the largest Cosmetic companies in the world, BNP and Paris Indosuez Banks. She gained invaluable experience leading teams and successful projects in very diverse organizations and cultures, in Europe, Asia and North America.

      In the second half of her career, Bernadette became an entrepreneur and runs two businesses. She built an international health network and established her speaking and coaching practice, working with C-suite executives, professionals and business owners who are committed to take their overall success to the next level.

      Throughout her global travels and professional career, she has become passionate about empowering women around the world, diversity and equality, keeping our families healthy and protecting the beauty of our planet. Bernadette is blessed with an incredible husband and three beautiful children.