{"id":19709,"date":"2025-10-02T06:30:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-02T05:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/?p=19709"},"modified":"2025-11-11T14:12:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T14:12:43","slug":"how-to-divorce-like-a-ceo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/how-to-divorce-like-a-ceo\/","title":{"rendered":"How to divorce like a CEO"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #064239;color:#064239\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #064239;color:#064239\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/how-to-divorce-like-a-ceo\/#what_is_a_ceo\">What is a CEO?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/how-to-divorce-like-a-ceo\/#its_not_about_how_wealthy_you_are_its_about_how_you_conduct_yourself\">It\u2019s not about how wealthy you are, it\u2019s about how you conduct yourself<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/how-to-divorce-like-a-ceo\/#michaelas_story\">Michaela\u2019s story<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/how-to-divorce-like-a-ceo\/#so_how_do_you_divorce_like_a_ceo\">So how do you divorce like a CEO?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/how-to-divorce-like-a-ceo\/#want_the_support_of_a_trauma_responsive_divorce_strategist\">Want the support of a trauma responsive divorce strategist?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/how-to-divorce-like-a-ceo\/#10_tips_to_divorce_like_a_ceo\">10 Tips to divorce like a CEO<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/how-to-divorce-like-a-ceo\/#about_emma\">About Emma<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\nNot all of us are CEOs at work, but every one of us can become a CEO in our divorce. What does that mean? In <em>How to divorce like a CEO<\/em> I\u2019ll talk about the qualities of a CEO, and what that looks like for divorce. Plus the exact steps to take now to ensure you\u2019re not throwing away your power in this huge life transition. In short, read on for everything you need to know to divorce like a CEO!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_is_a_ceo\"><\/span><b>What is a CEO?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First of all, take a second. Close your eyes and think of all the words you associate with a CEO. Write them down if you can. Take a moment now and give it a go.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What did you write? Chances are your responses will reveal something about your relationship with the term \u2018CEO\u2019. Maybe it tells you something about your feelings around power and money &#8211; whether you feel comfortable with it or not. Whether you are excited by it or not. It\u2019s worth noticing your response, without judgement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the simplest ways to think about the role of a CEO when it comes to divorce is to break it down into its constituent words: Chief Executive Officer.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chief: most senior, the buck stops here<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Executive: someone with the power to make decisions and put them into effect<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Officer: someone who holds an office of trust.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And when I talk about you being the CEO of your divorce, that\u2019s what I\u2019m talking about. It\u2019s your divorce &#8211; so the buck needs to stop with you. You are the one who needs to make the decisions and see that they happen. And you need to have trust in yourself to dispense your duties effectively. You need to be a CEO.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"its_not_about_how_wealthy_you_are_its_about_how_you_conduct_yourself\"><\/span><b>It\u2019s not about how wealthy you are, it\u2019s about how you conduct yourself<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Divorcing like a CEO is a mindset. And it\u2019s relevant to everyone: whether it\u2019s a high or low wealth marriage, whether you have shared assets or children or not.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of my clients are experienced in C-Suite roles at work &#8211; but they play a very different role at home. They had given up their autonomy, and deferred to their spouse when it came to decisions within the marriage. I\u2019ve worked with other clients whose\u00a0 husbands \u2018took care of the finances\u2019, so when it came to divorce they felt out of their depth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And I\u2019ve worked with clients who\u2019ve had very little resources at their disposal &#8211; there wasn\u2019t a lot of money in the marriage and their spouse made life as difficult as possible\u2026 but they still were able to divorce like a CEO. It doesn&#8217;t matter what your status or background is. Divorcing like a CEO is for everyone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"michaelas_story\"><\/span><b>Michaela\u2019s story<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take Michaela, for example. Michaela was expecting an amicable divorce, but she hadn\u2019t counted on the pettiness of her husband, once he knew she wanted to leave. She was blindsided by his behaviour, and blindsided by how he had mismanaged the money during divorce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She faced a future very different to the one she was expecting, and her husband was determined to make it as difficult as possible for her to get anything she wanted and needed. She realised her hope of staying in the marital home was futile; her husband blocked that possibility, and did as much as possible to seize financial control while the divorce was in progress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But Michaela was determined to do what she could with what she had. She didn\u2019t lose sight of her vision of the future. Her husband was determined that she have as little money as possible, including during the tailend of their marriage. (In hindsight, there were many red flags about his behaviour that she\u2019d normalised). But Michaela was in charge of the household shopping. Her husband didn\u2019t get involved in that. So she thought about her future life, and her future home, and over a period of many months, as the divorce was going through, she started to add items to the weekly shop. Items for her future, independent life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, many months later, despite not getting the settlement she\u2019d originally wanted, both in terms of money and in terms of an amicable co-parenting relationship, she\u2019s made the most of what was possible. She was able to furnish her new flat with items she\u2019d chosen.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michaela\u2019s story is about more than having a nice table lamp. It\u2019s about deploying the resources you have effectively, and taking the long view. Both of which are CEO traits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"so_how_do_you_divorce_like_a_ceo\"><\/span><b>So how do you divorce like a CEO?\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To divorce like a CEO you need to remember three things:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be strategic<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use your resources<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Own your decisions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>Be strategic <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by looking after your future self. One common thing I see is women sacrificing their pension rights for the marital home. Obviously, all cases are different, but in most cases you are robbing from your future self when you do this. As CEO of your divorce you need to think of your long term future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Use your resources<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; and be prepared to draw in help. A CEO doesn\u2019t run an organisation all alone. They have HR, Finance, technical support. They know when they aren\u2019t the best person for the job, and they go to the best person for the job. The same is true in divorce. If you have a complicated, high wealth divorce, you need professional advice. If you want to ensure you are making smart decisions for your future, enlist a divorce coach (this will likely SAVE you thousands in the long run).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Own your decisions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; one of the things I remind members of The Absolute Academy, and that I say to all of my clients is that you need to focus on yourself. It\u2019s fine to vent about what a tool your soon-to-be-ex is &#8211; but you need to draw a line and start focussing on what you can control now and in the future. And then you need to act accordingly. Otherwise you risk your ex-spouse taking the reins in divorce and you\u2019re on the back foot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"want_the_support_of_a_trauma_responsive_divorce_strategist\"><\/span><b>Want the support of a trauma responsive divorce strategist?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What makes me different to other divorce coaches? I specialise in trauma responsive coaching. Which means I\u2019m not only trauma-informed, but can work with you, where you\u2019re at now, to get to a point where you feel and act like the CEO of your divorce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And I\u2019m not just a coach, I\u2019m a strategist. We pay as much attention to your long term future as we do to making sense of the day-to-day realities of divorce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I can help with one-off calls, or support you all the way through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/contact\/\">book a free consultation <\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with me today and let\u2019s get you divorcing like a CEO.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_tips_to_divorce_like_a_ceo\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #064239;\">10 Tips to divorce like a CEO<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You don&#8217;t need to be a CEO, a boss or even a business woman to divorce like a CEO. These 10 Tips will get you started.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_accordion open_toggle_text_color=&#8221;#064239&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; toggle_text_color=&#8221;#064239&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;Q: What does it mean to \u2018divorce like a CEO\u2019?&#8221; open=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><strong data-start=\"432\" data-end=\"481\">Q: What does it mean to \u2018divorce like a CEO\u2019?<\/strong><br data-start=\"481\" data-end=\"484\" \/>A: Divorcing like a CEO means taking ownership of your process\u2014just as you would in business. It\u2019s about leading with clarity, confidence, and strategy rather than reacting to circumstances. You\u2019re the decision-maker, setting direction and taking responsibility for outcomes, so your divorce unfolds on <em data-start=\"787\" data-end=\"793\">your<\/em> terms.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;Q: Is this approach only for high-net-worth or business-owning women?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>A: Not at all. \u201cCEO\u201d is a mindset, not a financial status. It\u2019s for any woman who wants to approach her divorce with intention and leadership\u2014whether she\u2019s managing a company, a team, or her own household. The same principles apply: strategy, self-trust, and informed decision-making.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;Q: What are the core principles of divorcing like a CEO?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1174\" data-end=\"1258\">A: There are three:<\/p>\n<ol data-start=\"1259\" data-end=\"1560\">\n<li data-start=\"1259\" data-end=\"1359\">\n<p data-start=\"1262\" data-end=\"1359\"><strong data-start=\"1262\" data-end=\"1278\">Be strategic<\/strong> \u2013 think long-term and plan around your future self, not your current emotions.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1360\" data-end=\"1452\">\n<p data-start=\"1363\" data-end=\"1452\"><strong data-start=\"1363\" data-end=\"1385\">Use your resources<\/strong> \u2013 build a strong team of professionals to guide and support you.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1453\" data-end=\"1560\">\n<p data-start=\"1456\" data-end=\"1560\"><strong data-start=\"1456\" data-end=\"1478\">Own your decisions<\/strong> \u2013 take full responsibility for the actions you choose and the boundaries you set.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;Q: What does it mean to \u2018be strategic\u2019 in my divorce?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>A: Think about where you want to be in five or ten years\u2019 time, not just how you feel today. This might mean pausing before agreeing to a quick settlement or ensuring your pension rights are properly valued. CEOs make data-driven decisions\u2014apply the same principle to your personal finances and legal arrangements.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;Q: Who should be on my \u2018divorce team\u2019?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1948\" data-end=\"2063\"><br data-start=\"1990\" data-end=\"1993\" \/>A: A smart CEO doesn\u2019t do everything herself. Your team may include:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2064\" data-end=\"2462\">\n<li data-start=\"2064\" data-end=\"2149\">\n<p data-start=\"2066\" data-end=\"2149\">A <strong data-start=\"2068\" data-end=\"2099\">divorce coach or strategist<\/strong> to help you plan and stay emotionally grounded.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2150\" data-end=\"2208\">\n<p data-start=\"2152\" data-end=\"2208\">A <strong data-start=\"2154\" data-end=\"2167\">solicitor<\/strong> who understands your values and goals.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2209\" data-end=\"2304\">\n<p data-start=\"2211\" data-end=\"2304\">A <strong data-start=\"2213\" data-end=\"2256\">financial planner or pension specialist<\/strong> to secure your long-term financial stability.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2305\" data-end=\"2462\">\n<p data-start=\"2307\" data-end=\"2462\"><strong data-start=\"2307\" data-end=\"2340\">Therapeutic or trauma support<\/strong> if needed, to help you navigate emotional or abusive dynamics.<br data-start=\"2403\" data-end=\"2406\" \/>Your team exists to protect your clarity and confidence.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;Q: How can I \u2018own my decisions\u2019 when emotions are running high?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>A: Allow yourself space to feel\u2014but don\u2019t let feelings run the show. Create a decision-making process: list your options, consider the impact, and act on what aligns with your goals. Ownership doesn\u2019t mean perfection\u2014it means consciously choosing and moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;Q: My ex is being difficult or controlling. How do I stay in charge?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>A: A CEO doesn\u2019t hand over control to someone behaving badly. Keep your focus on what you <em data-start=\"2977\" data-end=\"2982\">can<\/em> influence\u2014your communication, boundaries, and financial protection. Document everything, use calm, factual language, and rely on your professional team to manage legal or emotional volatility.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;Q: I\u2019m confident at work but struggle with money decisions at home. Where do I start?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>A: Begin with visibility. Gather your financial information\u2014income, assets, debts, pensions\u2014and understand your numbers. Then, seek expert advice. Financial clarity transforms anxiety into confidence. Remember, informed is empowered.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;Q: How do I balance today\u2019s demands with planning for the future?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>A: Create a vision for your post-divorce life\u2014professionally, financially, and personally\u2014and let that vision steer your decisions. Even small, consistent steps toward that future are powerful. CEOs don\u2019t fix everything overnight\u2014they lead with focus and resilience.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=&#8221;Q: Where can I get strategic, trauma-informed support?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; open=&#8221;off&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>A: A trauma-responsive divorce coach and strategist helps you think and act like a CEO even when emotions are intense. You\u2019ll gain clarity, practical steps, and steady leadership for the months ahead\u2014so you remain calm, informed, and in control.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][et_pb_code _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<script type=\"application\/ld+json\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->{<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  \"mainEntity\": [<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"What does it mean to \u2018divorce like a CEO\u2019?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"Divorcing like a CEO means taking ownership of your process\u2014just as you would in business. It\u2019s about leading with clarity, confidence, and strategy rather than reacting to circumstances.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"Is this approach only for high-net-worth or business-owning women?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"Not at all. \u2018CEO\u2019 is a mindset, not a financial status. It\u2019s for any woman who wants to approach her divorce with intention and leadership.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"What are the core principles of divorcing like a CEO?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"Be strategic, use your resources, and own your decisions. These three principles help you lead your divorce with clarity and control.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"Who should be on my divorce team?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"A divorce coach, solicitor, financial planner or pension expert, and therapeutic or trauma support. The right team keeps you informed, supported, and strategic.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"How can I own my decisions when emotions are running high?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"Create a decision-making process and act on what aligns with your goals. Ownership doesn\u2019t mean perfection\u2014it means conscious, strategic choice.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    },<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"@type\": \"Question\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"name\": \"Where can I get strategic, trauma-informed support?\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      \"acceptedAnswer\": {<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"@type\": \"Answer\",<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        \"text\": \"Work with a trauma-responsive divorce coach to help you stay clear, calm, and strategic throughout the divorce process.\"<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->      }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    }<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->  ]<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->}<!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] --><\/script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"about_emma\"><\/span>About Emma<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/about-me-emma-heptonstall\/\" data-abc=\"true\"><b>Emma Heptonstall,<\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0the Divorce Alchemist is the author of the Amazon best-selling book\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/How-Be-Lady-Who-Leaves\/dp\/1999631501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-abc=\"true\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>How to be a Lady Who Leaves, the Ultimate Guide to Getting Divorce Ready<\/b><\/span><\/a>. A former lawyer, Emma is a family mediator and founder of Get Divorce Ready, the online self-study programmes, and the newly released \u2018Should I be a Lady Who Leaves?\u2019. For More Information on Should I be a Lady Who Leaves?\u00a0<strong><a class=\"ProsemirrorEditor-link\" href=\"https:\/\/emmaheptonstall.com\/yes\">click here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Emma has been featured on BBC Radio, The Telegraph, the iPaper and in Marie Claire Magazine. Emma is also the host of\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/gb\/podcast\/the-six-minute-divorce-podcast-with-emma-heptonstall\/id1547792197\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-abc=\"true\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>The Six Minute Divorce Podcast<\/b><\/span><\/a>. To find out more visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/\" data-abc=\"true\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>www.emmaheptonstall.com<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_social_media_follow follow_button=&#8221;on&#8221; icon_color=&#8221;#064239&#8243; icon_color_tablet=&#8221;#064239&#8243; icon_color_phone=&#8221;#064239&#8243; icon_color_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#064239&#8243; button_bg_color=&#8221;#f9ecec&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; global_module=&#8221;19816&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=&#8221;facebook&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thedivorcealchemist&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#C899A5&#8243; background_enable_color=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; follow_button=&#8221;on&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221;]facebook[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=&#8221;instagram&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/divorcealchemy&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#ea2c59&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; follow_button=&#8221;on&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221;]instagram[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=&#8221;linkedin&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/emmaheptonstall&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#007bb6&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; follow_button=&#8221;on&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221;]linkedin[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=&#8221;pinterest&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.pinterest.co.uk\/thedivorcealchemist\/&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#cb2027&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; follow_button=&#8221;on&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221;]pinterest[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][\/et_pb_social_media_follow][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In How to divorce like a CEO, I\u2019ll talk about the qualities of a CEO, and what that looks like for divorce. Plus the exact steps to take now to ensure you\u2019re not throwing away your power in this huge life transition. In short, read on for how to divorce like a CEO! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":19710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[ez-toc]Not all of us are CEOs at work, but every one of us can become a CEO in our divorce. What does that mean? In <em>How to divorce like a CEO<\/em> I\u2019ll talk about the qualities of a CEO, and what that looks like for divorce. Plus the exact steps to take now to ensure you\u2019re not throwing away your power in this huge life transition. In short, read on for everything you need to know to divorce like a CEO!<\/span><\/p><h2><b>What is a CEO?<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First of all, take a second. Close your eyes and think of all the words you associate with a CEO. Write them down if you can. Take a moment now and give it a go.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What did you write? Chances are your responses will reveal something about your relationship with the term \u2018CEO\u2019. Maybe it tells you something about your feelings around power and money - whether you feel comfortable with it or not. Whether you are excited by it or not. It\u2019s worth noticing your response, without judgement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the simplest ways to think about the role of a CEO when it comes to divorce is to break it down into its constituent words: Chief Executive Officer.<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chief: most senior, the buck stops here<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Executive: someone with the power to make decisions and put them into effect<\/span><\/li><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Officer: someone who holds an office of trust.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And when I talk about you being the CEO of your divorce, that\u2019s what I\u2019m talking about. It\u2019s your divorce - so the buck needs to stop with you. You are the one who needs to make the decisions and see that they happen. And you need to have trust in yourself to dispense your duties effectively. You need to be a CEO.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h2><b>It\u2019s not about how wealthy you are, it\u2019s about how you conduct yourself<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Divorcing like a CEO is a mindset. And it\u2019s relevant to everyone: whether it\u2019s a high or low wealth marriage, whether you have shared assets or children or not.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of my clients are experienced in C-Suite roles at work - but they play a very different role at home. They had given up their autonomy, and deferred to their spouse when it came to decisions within the marriage. I\u2019ve worked with other clients whose\u00a0 husbands \u2018took care of the finances\u2019, so when it came to divorce they felt out of their depth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And I\u2019ve worked with clients who\u2019ve had very little resources at their disposal - there wasn\u2019t a lot of money in the marriage and their spouse made life as difficult as possible\u2026 but they still were able to divorce like a CEO. It doesn't matter what your status or background is. Divorcing like a CEO is for everyone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Michaela\u2019s story<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take Michaela, for example. Michaela was expecting an amicable divorce, but she hadn\u2019t counted on the pettiness of her husband, once he knew she wanted to leave. She was blindsided by his behaviour, and blindsided by how he had mismanaged the money during divorce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She faced a future very different to the one she was expecting, and her husband was determined to make it as difficult as possible for her to get anything she wanted and needed. She realised her hope of staying in the marital home was futile; her husband blocked that possibility, and did as much as possible to seize financial control while the divorce was in progress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But Michaela was determined to do what she could with what she had. She didn\u2019t lose sight of her vision of the future. Her husband was determined that she have as little money as possible, including during the tailend of their marriage. (In hindsight, there were many red flags about his behaviour that she\u2019d normalised). But Michaela was in charge of the household shopping. Her husband didn\u2019t get involved in that. So she thought about her future life, and her future home, and over a period of many months, as the divorce was going through, she started to add items to the weekly shop. Items for her future, independent life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, many months later, despite not getting the settlement she\u2019d originally wanted, both in terms of money and in terms of an amicable co-parenting relationship, she\u2019s made the most of what was possible. She was able to furnish her new flat with items she\u2019d chosen.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Michaela\u2019s story is about more than having a nice table lamp. It\u2019s about deploying the resources you have effectively, and taking the long view. Both of which are CEO traits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h2><b>What do you need to do to divorce like a CEO?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To divorce like a CEO you need to remember three things:<\/span><\/p><ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be strategic<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use your resources<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Own your decisions<\/span><\/li><\/ol><p><b>Be strategic <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by looking after your future self. One common thing I see is women sacrificing their pension rights for the marital home. Obviously, all cases are different, but in most cases you are robbing from your future self when you do this. As CEO of your divorce you need to think of your long term future.<\/span><\/p><p><b>Use your resources<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> - and be prepared to draw in help. A CEO doesn\u2019t run an organisation all alone. They have HR, Finance, technical support. They know when they aren\u2019t the best person for the job, and they go to the best person for the job. The same is true in divorce. If you have a complicated, high wealth divorce, you need professional advice. If you want to ensure you are making smart decisions for your future, enlist a divorce coach (this will likely SAVE you thousands in the long run).\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b>Own your decisions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> - one of the things I remind members of The Absolute Academy, and that I say to all of my clients is that you need to focus on yourself. It\u2019s fine to vent about what a tool your soon-to-be-ex is - but you need to draw a line and start focussing on what you can control now and in the future. And then you need to act accordingly. Otherwise you risk your ex-spouse taking the reins in divorce and you\u2019re on the back foot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h2><b>Want the support of a trauma responsive divorce strategist?<\/b><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What makes me different to other divorce coaches? I specialise in trauma responsive coaching. Which means I\u2019m not only trauma-informed, but can work with you, where you\u2019re at now, to get to a point where you feel and act like the CEO of your divorce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And I\u2019m not just a coach, I\u2019m a strategist. We pay as much attention to your long term future as we do to making sense of the day-to-day realities of divorce.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I can help with one-off calls, or support you all the way through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/contact\/\">book a free consultation <\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with me today and let\u2019s get you divorcing like a CEO.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2 class=\"p1\">About Emma<\/h2><p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/about-me-emma-heptonstall\/\" data-abc=\"true\"><b>Emma Heptonstall,<\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0the Divorce Alchemist is the author of the Amazon best-selling book\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/How-Be-Lady-Who-Leaves\/dp\/1999631501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-abc=\"true\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>How to be a Lady Who Leaves, the Ultimate Guide to Getting Divorce Ready<\/b><\/span><\/a>. A former lawyer, Emma is a family mediator and founder of Get Divorce Ready, the online self-study programmes, and the newly released \u2018Should I be a Lady Who Leaves?\u2019. For More Information on Should I be a Lady Who Leaves?\u00a0<strong><a class=\"ProsemirrorEditor-link\" href=\"https:\/\/emmaheptonstall.com\/yes\">click here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p><p class=\"p2\">Emma has been featured on BBC Radio, The Telegraph, the iPaper and in Marie Claire Magazine. Emma is also the host of\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/gb\/podcast\/the-six-minute-divorce-podcast-with-emma-heptonstall\/id1547792197\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-abc=\"true\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>The Six Minute Divorce Podcast<\/b><\/span><\/a>. To find out more visit\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/\" data-abc=\"true\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>www.emmaheptonstall.com<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,13],"tags":[2767,2768,2769],"class_list":["post-19709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-divorce-support","category-the-divorce-process","tag-divorce-like-a-ceo","tag-divorce-support","tag-mindset"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/How-to-divorce-like-a-CEO.jpg?fit=1000%2C516&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6aDhr-57T","jetpack_sharing_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19709"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19709\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19710"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.emmaheptonstall.com\/divorce-coaching\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}