Leading from Within: How Pavla Križman-Lavrič Redefines Empowerment

Pavla Križman-Lavrič’s story unfolds like many ambitious women’s, a rise through research, corporate success, and global leadership, yet it takes a profoundly different turn. Behind the milestones and accolades, she found herself confronting the quiet cost of success: burnout, imbalance, and disconnection from self. Instead of ignoring that voice, she chose to rebuild her life and leadership around authenticity and well-being.

Today, Pavla blends the discipline of science with the intuition of empathy, empowering women to embrace leadership that feels grounded, confident, and sustainable. Her approach, shaped by experience, curiosity, and compassion, invites women everywhere to lead with purpose while staying true to who they are. Her journey is both a lesson and an invitation: that empowerment begins not when we achieve more, but when we become more ourselves.

From Innovation to Inner Transformation

Tell us about your background and journey so far.

My story begins in research, where I was deeply curious about solving problems and creating new knowledge. That curiosity earned me a PhD and eventually led me abroad into the corporate world, where I spent more than a decade building a career in innovation. I transitioned from R&D into leadership roles, and over time, became Group Innovation Director for a multinational company, leading projects and strategies across countries.

I spent fourteen years abroad, living in a world of deadlines, major responsibilities, and constant pressure to deliver. On paper, it looked like a dream career, international roles, travel, leadership, and innovation projects spanning multiple markets. But the truth behind the scenes was different. I burned out once and came close more times than I like to admit. Those moments taught me where my limits are and how fragile the line can be between ambition and self-neglect.

Living and working abroad taught me resilience and adaptability, yet it also showed me how easily ambition can turn into exhaustion if we don’t pause to take care of ourselves. The turning point for me came when I realized that no achievement was worth sacrificing my well-being. I began peeling back the layers of who I had become and rediscovering who I truly was.

Today, all of those experiences flow into my work as a coach. Through my EMBRACED program, I support ambitious women who want to rise in leadership in a way that feels authentic and sustainable, without losing themselves in the process. When women honor their natural cycles, they stop fighting themselves and start leading from a place of power and wholeness.

Blending Structure with Soul

What makes your work or business unique?

What makes my work unique is the way I combine structure with empathy. I know what it feels like to push to the edge in demanding, high-pressure environments, and I also know the importance of slowing down, listening inward, and redefining what success really means. From that experience, I created my 3-6-9 Method, a six-month discovery journey built around three interconnected pillars: work-life integration, identity shift, and leadership.

This journey is designed especially for women, with deep respect for the natural female cycle, its energy, rhythms, and wisdom. I guide women to release the blocks that hold them back, reframe limiting beliefs, and equip themselves with tools to recharge and thrive. Along the way, I incorporate Human Design insights, mindset-shifting techniques grounded in neuroscience, and practical, sustainable methods that work in daily life.

The result is not just professional growth, but a transformation, women reconnect with their natural strengths, align with their cycles, and step into leadership that feels powerful, authentic, and whole.

Redefining Success Through Empowerment

Share one achievement you’re most proud of.

I’m proud of the strategies and projects that helped shape organizations, but what matters most to me are the women who’ve told me, “You helped me find the part of me I thought I had lost.” Hearing someone step out of doubt and into confidence means more to me than any award.

The most meaningful transformations happen when women realize they don’t need to fit into outdated molds, they can rise by being fully themselves.

Finding Strength in the Struggle

What challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them?

There were times when I felt overlooked. I’d walk into a meeting and realize that important decisions had already been made. It made me question whether my voice mattered. Over time, I learned to trust myself, invest in my own growth, and stay close to people who believed in me. Those experiences were painful, but they became the foundation for building something that truly fits who I am today.

Growth isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about releasing, shifting, and finding balance.

A Future Led by Authentic Women

What is your vision for the future?

I imagine a future where women lead with authenticity and purpose, not for titles or positions, not from the pressure of proving themselves, but by inspiring others through who they are and why they choose to lead.

Through EMBRACED, my vision is to nurture spaces where women can rise confidently, lead with strength and compassion, and build lives that feel whole and joyful while inspiring others to do the same.

Rooted in Curiosity and Connection

How do you stay motivated and relevant in your field?

Curiosity keeps me motivated. I’m always learning, reading, and seeking new perspectives. What keeps me grounded is listening to my intuition and to the real stories women share with me. Staying relevant isn’t about chasing every new trend, it’s about staying close to what people genuinely need.

Lead Authentically, Define Your Own Path

What advice would you give to aspiring women leaders and professionals?

Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” You already are. True leadership isn’t about titles or proving yourself, it’s about inspiring others through who you are and why you lead.

The most inspiring leaders are those who lead authentically, not by replicating what has been done before. Surround yourself with people who lift you, keep investing in yourself, and remember, your path doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. It’s yours to define.

Conclusion

Pavla’s story is one of courage, the courage to pause, to question, and to rebuild life on her own terms. In doing so, she has become a voice for a new kind of leadership: one rooted in empathy, awareness, and emotional intelligence. Her work continues to touch women across the world who are learning to honor their own pace, trust their intuition, and rise from a place of balance rather than burnout.

Her journey is proof that when women lead from within, they create ripples of change far beyond their own lives. Pavla’s vision is not just about empowering individuals, it’s about shaping a world where authenticity becomes the standard of leadership.

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