About Nina.

 NINA SOSSAMON-POGUE

“I want to be in a room full of smart, hard-working people who are facing a challenge or change and embolden them to keep going, then give them the tools to handle anything that gets in their way.” ~Nina

Nina Sossamon-Pogue is an inspirational thought leader who reframes resilience and empowers audiences to create successful futures.

With a diverse background as a former USA gymnast, Emmy-winning television news anchor, tech executive, and now a sought after speaker and author, Nina shares a unique framework for resilience and emboldens audiences to envision their futures in new and innovative ways.

Nina left her role as a Vice President at a publicly traded SaaS company to embark on a mission to empower hardworking individuals to keep raising the bar, and thrive through challenges.

Drawing from her own experiences at the highest levels of sport, television, and corporate America, Nina focused her research on other high achievers to understand why some businesses and individuals thrive during adversity while others get stuck or fail.

Her findings culminated in her first book, "THIS is Not The End," in 2019 and then the creation of her science-based, stoic philosophy-infused resilience framework.

Nina now dedicates herself full-time to writing, speaking, and sharing her message of resilience. Her dynamic blend of science, stoicism, and storytelling is igniting people around the globe to achieve new levels of success.

Experienced, Intelligent, Authentic

Her Mission:

‘Helping Hardworking Humans Thrive Through Tough Times’

We’re in a Mental Health Crisis that is crippling individuals and organizations across the globe, and we need our best and brightest to keep reaching new heights. Nina’s message can help during this unprecedented time. “I want to make the world a better place by motivating and equipping our best and brightest to tackle challenges and navigate change.” - Nina

New in 2024:

Nina introduced the term ‘Excellent Exhaustion’, to describe the new paradigm in our workplace.

Excellence Exhaustion: A condition characterized by the relentless drive to surpass previous achievements, exacerbated by the perpetual demands of modern technology and constant connectivity, leading to diminished productivity and well-being, ultimately resulting in anxiety and decreased motivation.

Excellence Exhaustion is a unique condition affecting today’s high achievers. This condition leads to chronic stress, anxiety, and diminished productivity, undermining even the most dedicated professionals. Unlike traditional burnout, Excellence Exhaustion specifically impacts those striving to maintain exceptional performance in an ever-evolving competitive landscape.

In today's fast-paced world, the pressures of constant innovation and connectivity have pushed high achievers to their limits. Excellence Exhaustion captures the unique struggles of these individuals, who face relentless demands to excel while navigating an environment that never slows down. This condition not only affects their mental health but also impacts overall productivity and job satisfaction. Addressing Excellence Exhaustion is crucial for sustaining long-term success and well-being in any organization.

Why Now?

Today’s work environments can feel relentless - constantly changing at an unprecedented pace, with an expectation to not only keep up, but to continuously level up. Working to be successful today is a very different process than it was a decade ago. It’s a non-stop pressure cooker fueled by data-driven KPIs, KROs, global project management, quarterly targets, and aligned corporate goals. The result? An epidemic of stress, anxiety, burnout, and disengagement that threatens both individual and organizational success.

‘THIS’ Framework

Nina’s Framework

THIS framework is designed to help high achievers navigate change and confidently keep raising the bar:

1. T - Timeline: Putting current challenges in the broader context of life, reducing their overwhelming nature.

2. H - Humans: Leveraging support and wisdom from others to overcome obstacles collaboratively.

3. I - Isolate the Problem: Focusing on present challenges without the baggage of past and future worries.

4. S - Story: Transforming internal dialogue with optimistic and empowering self-talk.

Resilience Personified

Background:

1. 1980s: Member of the USA Gymnastics Team; Olympic hopeful; awarded "Miss Congeniality" at the USA Gymnastics Championships.

2. 1985-1986: Competed for Louisiana State University’s gymnastics team (SEC powerhouse); athletic career ended by a knee injury, featured in The Reveille with the headline “Another One Bites the Dust.”

3. Post-College: Began journalism career as a reporter at WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, LA.

4. 1992-2007: Became an Emmy-winning journalist and television news anchor in Charleston, SC, receiving the Emmy Award for Best News Anchor in the Southeast and being voted Charleston’s Favorite News Anchor for 10 consecutive years.

5. 2007-2019: Transitioned to the tech industry, joining the leadership team of SaaS company Benefitfocus. Played a pivotal role as VP of Marketing and Communications during its highly successful IPO, recognized by Forbes as a top ten tech IPO of 2013.

6. 2019-Present: Published two best-selling books:

   • This Is Not The End: Strategies to Get You Through the Worst Chapters of Your Life (2019).

   • But I Want Both: The Working Mom’s Guide to Creating a Life She Loves (updated edition, Fall 2023).

7. 2020s: Full time speaker, and Host of the podcast This Seriously Sucks: The Right Podcast When Life Goes Seriously Wrong (two seasons available).

8. Non-Profit Work: Executive Advisor with the Alzheimer’s Association; focuses on Alzheimer’s advocacy in memory of her father (passed in 2017); serves on several non-profit boards.

9. Present Day: Lives in Charleston, SC, with her husband Ben and their three adult children. Travels the United States as a motivational speaker, empowering audiences with tools to navigate change, adapt to adversity, and thrive.

 BIO

Nina Sossamon-Pogue is a highly sought-after motivational speaker, renowned for her expertise in resilience, change management, and mental wellness. With a dynamic career spanning elite athletics, broadcast journalism, and executive leadership, Nina empowers audiences to navigate today’s unprecedented era of constant change, fueled by evolving technologies, vast data influxes, and machine learning.

As a USA Gymnast (1982–1984), Emmy-winning television news anchor (1992–2007), and hyper-growth tech executive (2007–2019, Benefitfocus), Nina has experienced success at the highest levels in sports, media, and corporate America. She is also no stranger to life’s most challenging moments, including an injury that ended her athletic career, a very public layoff, and a tragic car accident that thrust her into the headlines and tested her mental fortitude. Through these trials, she not only rebuilt but reached even greater heights, fueling her passion for helping others do the same.

Nina is the author of two best-selling books:

• This Is Not the End: Strategies to Get You Through the Worst Chapters of Your Life (2019, Morgan James Publishing), which provides a proven approach to overcoming devastating life events and reclaiming control of your future.

• But I Want Both: The Working Mom’s Guide to Creating a Life She Loves (revised and updated edition releasing Fall 2023), offering actionable strategies for high-achieving parents to thrive in both work and family life.

She also hosts the podcast This Seriously Sucks: The Right Podcast When Life Goes Seriously Wrong, where she shares actionable strategies and invites successful individuals to reflect on their journeys through trauma and growth.

Recognizing the need for a clear, science-based framework to navigate life’s toughest challenges, Nina left her corporate career to research and develop tools that strengthen resilience, foster productivity, and improve workplace culture. Her unique blend of storytelling, neuroscience, and stoicism ignites audiences, equipping them with the mindset and strategies to thrive in adversity and embrace change with confidence.

Beyond the stage, Nina serves as CEO of her communications company, contributes to several non-profit boards, and passionately advocates for the Alzheimer’s Association. She was honored as a ‘Woman of Distinction’ by the state of South Carolina. Nina and her husband are proud parents of three adult children. Based in Charleston, SC, she travels the globe, inspiring people to overcome challenges, take control of their narratives, and achieve their greatest potential.