Interview with Marchem Pfeiffer, Author of Navigating Leadership

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Navigating Leadership: From Toxicity to Triumph?

After surviving a deeply toxic work environment where emotional exhaustion, power games, and silence were the norm, I realized how many people quietly carry similar wounds. I wrote this book to help others name what they experienced, rebuild their leadership from a place of truth, and realize they were never the problem; the system was.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Navigating Leadership: From Toxicity to Triumph, what would they be?

“Resilient” by Rising Appalachia, “The Man” by Taylor Swift, “Unstoppable” by Sia, “High Hopes” by Panic! At The Disco.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love reading narrative nonfiction and emotionally grounded memoirs. I write in that same space where real stories meet transformative insight.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté, Bittersweet by Susan Cain, The Creative Act by Rick Rubin, and Real Self-Care by Pooja Lakshmin.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The moment I describe being diagnosed with workplace PTSD and realizing how deep the harm had gone, it felt raw and real, but also like a turning point in reclaiming my voice and redefining what leadership could mean.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I write in bursts, always with instrumental music in the background. My “lucky” item is a black mug with the words: You’re not asking for a seat at the table. You’re bringing your own damn table.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

“I never stopped building. I just started telling the truth in my voice and trusted it would reach the people who needed it.”

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

You’re not crazy. Your workplace was. Leadership begins with emotional clarity, not a title, and you don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to lead well.

Marchem Pfeiffer is the author of the new book Navigating Leadership: From Toxicity to Triumph

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