From Burnout to Breakthrough: Redefining Success Through Play, Purpose, and Personal Power

After two decades climbing the corporate ladder in media, marketing, and advertising, working with powerhouse clients like Walmart and Target, Corean Canty had seemingly reached the top. But beneath the accolades and executive titles, something wasn’t right.

“I had done everything I was supposed to do,” she reflects. “But I was burning out…again. My body was whispering, and I ignored it until it roared.”

That roar came in the form of a full-body health crisis that forced her to pause, reevaluate, and ultimately reimagine what life and leadership could look like.

Today, Corean is a leadership coach, TEDx speaker, and the co-founder of Shift to Play, a consultancy that uses improv and play to transform workplaces. Her journey from corporate COO to creative entrepreneur is a powerful reminder that success isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about designing a life you actually get to live.

Q: You spent over 20 years in the corporate world. What sparked your transition?

Corean: I spent over 20 years in corporate, most of it in media, marketing, and advertising. The first half was all client strategy, leading big accounts like Walmart and Target. Then I moved into leadership and built out entire agency functions, which eventually led to me becoming a COO.

But I did it differently—I was a very people-first COO. I was passionate about creating workplaces where everyone could thrive. I believed that when you put people first, the numbers follow.

Still, I burned out. Hard. I had a health crisis where I was literally writing my passwords and will for my kids. That was my wake-up call. I realized I couldn’t keep going like that. Around the same time, I became a caregiver to my mom and her partner and knew I needed to take care of myself.

Shortly after I left, people started reaching out for coaching. They no longer had access to me, and that organically led to the next chapter.

Q: As a coach, who do you typically work with, and what do you help them achieve?

Corean: A lot of people come to me when they’ve hit a point in their career or life where they’re saying, “I’ve done all the things I was supposed to do… but now what?” They’ve checked the boxes, climbed the ladder, maybe even reached the top, but something still feels off. They want more joy, more meaning, more impact.

I work with a lot of women, but not exclusively. I also coach TEDx speakers and leaders who are ready to share their voice in a bigger way. A big part of my work is helping people find their voice, build a thought leadership platform, and get really clear on their story, what they stand for, and how they want to show up in the world.

But we don’t just dive into branding and visibility. We zoom out and look at life as a whole. What kind of life do you want to live? What kind of days do you want to have? I help people reconnect with themselves, redesign their lives around their values, and show up more fully—both personally and professionally.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what actually matters to you. That’s where the real transformation happens.

Q: You also co-founded Shift to Play, where you bring improv into the workplace. What inspired that, and how does play create real change at work?

Corean: I’ve been an improviser for over 15 years. I trained at a local theater in Atlanta, performed with my team, Red Pill Players, and we traveled all over the country. While I was still working in corporate, I actually used improv with my teams. It made a huge difference in team culture and communication.

One of my teammates at Red Pill Players, who also had a corporate background, left around the same time I did, and we both finally had the space to go all in. We had talked for years about how we needed to bring improv to the workplace on a bigger scale. That’s how Shift to Play was born.

Q: What does it look like when Shift to Play comes into a company? What can people expect?

Corean: It’s always custom—we tailor the experience to what the company is trying to achieve—but at the core, it’s about using improv and play to spark real connection, creativity, and culture shifts.

We’ll come in and run interactive sessions that include improv games, creative exercises, and what we call “power discussions.” Some people get nervous at first, especially if they think improv means performing. But it’s not about being funny or being on stage. It’s about listening, building on each other’s ideas, and letting go of perfection.

We’ve seen people go from arms crossed at the start to full-on belly laughing by the end. And the best part? Those walls come down, and suddenly there’s more trust, more openness, and better collaboration. Because play isn’t fluff—it’s how we learn, how we create, and how we become better leaders and teammates.

Q: What do you tell women who are facing burnout or feeling stuck?

Corean: Our bodies whisper before they scream. And we’ve been programmed to ignore those whispers. We hustle, we push, we think we’ll enjoy life later. But sometimes “later” never comes. I learned that firsthand as a caregiver.

One of the most powerful practices I teach is creating “sacred brackets”—those moments when you wake up and when you go to sleep. Those are times you can control. Check in with yourself. Breathe. Reflect. That alone starts to regulate your nervous system.

Also, remember: it’s not about giant life overhauls. Small, conscious choices throughout the day make a massive difference.

Q: If you could go back and give your younger self advice, what would you say?

Corean: I’d say: Know your value. Ask for what you’re worth earlier.

Also, keep your receipts. I tell all my clients to do this. Every week, jot down your wins, what you learned, what you felt good about. We remember our mistakes, but we forget the moments we crushed it. Keeping track helps fight imposter syndrome and builds confidence when it’s time to advocate for yourself or pitch your business.

Q: What’s your take on community and connection in entrepreneurship?

Corean: When I left corporate, I realized my network was tiny; it was mostly coworkers and industry people. I started reaching out to women in different spaces, and suddenly I had this beautiful, diverse tribe.

Community is essential. Especially now. There’s so much uncertainty in the world. Having a circle that understands you, supports you, and challenges you—that changes everything. I always say: community is what’s going to get us through.

Q: For someone about to make the leap into entrepreneurship, what’s your best advice?

Corean: There’s so much noise out there. So much advice. And we forget to listen to ourselves.

Start by taking inventory of your past work. What filled you up? What drained you? Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you should keep doing it.

And give yourself permission to play. You won’t get it perfect on the first try. You need time to test, evolve, and figure out what aligns. It’s not about the big leap. It’s about the little ones you take consistently.

Q: With everything on your plate—TEDx coaching, improv workshops, writing a book—how do you stay grounded?

Corean: I’m super clear on my boundaries and how I design my days. I don’t take calls before 10 a.m. My mornings are mine. I’ve learned to organize my time around my energy, not the other way around.

We’re conditioned to fill our schedules to feel productive. But rest is productive. Play is productive. When you know yourself, you stop trying to fit into someone else’s structure—and start building your own.

Q: What’s something you’re really proud of?

Corean: Raising two amazing kids as a single mom, while growing my career. There were so many moments I thought I was failing—at work, at parenting. But now they’re both thriving adults, and I can say, “I did something right.”

Also, recognizing that I didn’t have to keep climbing someone else’s ladder. I could build my own.

Q: Final words for someone standing on the edge of something new?

Corean: Know your real core needs. What do you actually need, not what you’ve been told you should want?

If you have the chance to take a break, take it. If not, carve out small windows to play, explore, and start building something in the margins.

You don’t need to leap all at once. Tiny steps create big change.