Description:
When everything that defines us falls away, what remains? Susan Miele had a life she loved-career, marriage, stability-until unexpected events shattered it. Stripped of everything she once knew, she faces a deeper question: who is she now?
Brief description: Susan A. Miele is a writer, scholar, and former Chief People Officer whose work explores how identity is dismantled and redefined through life's transitions. Drawing from her own experience and her PhD in Human and Organizational Systems, she writes at the intersection of personal transformation, theory, and leadership, challenging how we think about belonging, success, and change.A lifelong learner and dedicated yogi, Susan infuses her writing and speaking with mindfulness and compassion. Her work invites readers and organizations alike to see disruption not as loss, but as a profound opportunity for growth. She lives in Portland, Maine.
Review Quotes:
"Beautifully written and deeply relatable, Susan is an amazing storyteller that gets to the heart and gives you pause, to think about yourself and your own identity. 'Paused reminds us that we are not our titles or our roles, we are more. It's a book that meets you wherever you are in your own becoming." - Nettie Nitzberg, MEd, Co-author of Arrive, Drive, and Thrive
"Reading 'Paused feels like a conversation with a wise friend, compassionate, candid, and deeply human. Susan Miele shows that even when certainty disappears, we can still find meaning and begin again." - Jami M. Debrango-Palumbo, President, Strength in Heels
"'Paused reveals how true transformation begins when we bravely interrogate and redefine our sense of identity. Miele's compelling journey shows that growth emerges by letting go of old stories and embracing the opportunity to rebuild ourselves." - Don Khouri, PhD, Author, When To Say Yes
"This is a psychologically rich and profoundly human book. 'Paused brings to life the concepts of identity, embodiment, and authenticity with both intellectual precision and heart." - Dr. Dohrea Bardell, Director, Mature Peace Research Institute
"One of the central challenges of midlife is re-defining our identities. In 'Paused, Susan Miele offers up the depths of her own navigation to light the way for us all." - Edi Pasalis, MBA, MTS, Certified Menopause Coaching Specialist