006 - Suzette Escobar

From office to platform, Suzette Escobar went from “not a sports kid” to a national-level USA Powerlifting athlete in her 40s, all while working as an engineering program manager at Google. In this episode, she shares how she discovered her strength, built a 360 lb squat in just a few years, balances elite lifting with a demanding tech career, and why lifting weights is the best long-term investment you can make in your future self. This one is for every woman who thinks it’s “too late” or “too intimidating” to step into the weights area—Suzette will change your mind.

Follow her on instagram @travelersuz

00:00 – Intro, who Suzette is, and how she and Ania met

00:32 – Career journey: from event planner to Google engineering program manager

02:11 – Discovering powerlifting at Google and qualifying for Regionals and Nationals

05:59 – Powerlifting 101: what squat, bench, and deadlift look like in competition

06:14 – Breaking her toe, falling in love with bench, and technical bench tips

11:54 – Balancing powerlifting with a demanding tech job and life outside the gym

13:41 – Working with a remote coach, communication, and navigating stress and recovery

18:15 – The inclusive powerlifting community and being a Masters lifter over 40

30:07 – Strength progress: from a 75 kg squat to 165 kg and big bench/deadlift gains

34:58 – Meet-day strategy, attempt selection, weight cuts, and big future goals

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