JULY 10, 2025
Steven Bartlett’s FlightStory appoints Guardian International CEO Claire Blunt as Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Alex Hales
Tech leadership & mentoring
Steven Bartlett has announced that industry veteran Claire Blunt is joining FlightStory as Chief Financial and Operating Officer.
As CFOO, Claire brings her multidisciplinary expertise across media, finance, technology, and innovation, as FlightStory continues to strengthen its position as a leading marketing and growth company. Claire has over 25 years of experience in senior leadership roles at The Guardian, Hearst, and Bauer Media, where she led major transformation initiatives and drove significant global growth.
In times of emotional strain or constant giving, caregivers often face a difficult balance: how do you keep caring deeply without losing yourself in the process? Traditional self-care advice can feel shallow or disconnected — but ignoring your own limits leads to burnout, fatigue, and emotional exhaustion that affect not only you, but also the people you care for. Caring smarter isn’t about doing less — it’s about caring with more awareness and purpose. It’s the ability to give energy where it truly matters, without losing your center or your strength.
WHY CARE SMARTER?
“This is a pivotal time for FlightStory,” said Bartlett. “Having Claire on board marks a new chapter in our journey toward scaling globally and building world-class marketing infrastructure.”
— Dr. Mark Ropeleski, Physician and Host of The Caregivers Podcast
SUSTAINABLE CARE, STEP BY STEP
True resilience doesn’t come from pushing harder — it comes from pacing smarter. The most compassionate caregivers take a mindful approach, learning to recognize emotional warning signs, delegate when needed, and restore balance through routines that replenish rather than deplete.
This might mean setting clearer boundaries, asking for help without guilt, or creating daily recovery rituals that anchor your energy. The goal isn’t to withdraw — it’s to sustain your ability to show up with presence, empathy, and strength for the long term.
Hidden costs of over-caring
Over-commitment may feel like love in action — but when it becomes constant, it can quietly erode the foundations of well-being. Without conscious rest and self-support, caregivers can face emotional and physical consequences that go unnoticed until they become overwhelming.
Some of the hidden risks include:
Compassion fatigue, when empathy turns into exhaustion and numbness.
Loss of identity, as personal needs and boundaries disappear behind the caregiving role.
Emotional depletion, leading to irritability, guilt, or a sense of emptiness.
Physical stress, from lack of rest, nutrition, or regular recovery time.
These outcomes don’t appear overnight — but over time, they reduce joy, presence, and emotional capacity. That’s why “care smarter” isn’t about doing less; it’s about protecting what allows you to keep giving with love and intention.
REAL-WORLD STORIES OF BALANCED CAREGIVING
Across our episodes, we meet extraordinary people who have redefined what healthy caregiving looks like. From nurses and parents to founders and doctors, they share practical ways to care with endurance — building systems of rest, support, and renewal that make their compassion sustainable.
One guest spoke about creating micro-moments of calm during hospital shifts. Another described learning to say no without guilt, transforming her relationships and energy levels. These stories remind us that sustainable care isn’t selfish — it’s strategic.
Caring smarter means redefining strength not as endless giving, but as mindful endurance — where love and longevity grow together.
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