The Leader Unmasked is the podcast where leaders strip away the persona and share the turning points that changed everything.
Hosted by Angela Cox, Paseda360 Founder and award-winning coach, each conversation goes beneath the surface to uncover what happened when they retired the pretender and chose to lead as their true selves. These are the stories behind the success—the brave decisions, the uncomfortable truths, and the defining moments that shaped who they are today.
This is leadership unfiltered.
Real people. Real turning points. Unmasked.
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Données mises à jour le 04/07/2026
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The Leader Unmasked: Thera Prins on Breaking Free from Conformity
Ever feel like you’re hiding your true self to fit corporate expectations?
Burnt out from pretending to be someone you’re not?
This episode of The Leader Unmasked is your wake-up call. Host Angela Cox, a Master Coach for Executives and Founder of Paseda360, sits down with Thera Prins, CEO of Equiniti, who broke free from the shackles of conformity. Thera shares her journey from dull navy suits and suppressed vibrancy in banking to rediscovering her "colour" after devastating setbacks, redundancy at Lloyds and a marriage breakdown. Through her "enough moment," she learned that conforming didn’t bring success; authenticity did.
Perfect for senior leaders and aspiring professionals, this episode dives into the "silent middle", high-functioning leaders quietly unraveling and how to shed the mask of conformity. Thera’s story will inspire you to embrace your true self, stay visible in midlife, and lead with resilience.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Learn how to break free from conformity and lead authentically, no matter the corporate pressure.
Understand the "silent middle" and how to overcome burnout by embracing your true self.
Gain insights from Thera Prins on staying visible as a woman in midlife through authentic leadership.
[00:02:22 - 00:04:22] Conforming to Fit In: Thera shares how she adopted a conformist persona—wearing navy suits and suppressing her vibrant personality—to succeed in banking, only to realize it dulled her true self.
[00:04:51 - 00:06:17] The Enough Moment: Thera recounts her devastating redundancy at Lloyds and personal collapse, which forced her to confront how conformity led to a loss of authenticity and happiness.
[00:08:17 - 00:08:53] Becoming a Role Model: Thera reflects on the shift from emulating others to being a role model by leading authentically, inspiring others to do the same.
[00:35:10 - 00:45:23] Staying Visible in Midlife: Thera discusses staying visible as a woman in midlife by rejecting corporate constraints and embracing her energy, wisdom, and authentic leadership.
Three Powerful Quotes:
[00:06:18] “I slowly separated myself from the true person that I am… My mum would say to me, ‘You’ve lost your color.’”
[00:06:39] “The big turning point for me was, well, you know, sod all this… I’d spent all this time adjusting to what I thought everybody else expected of me.”
[00:45:23] “I’ve got nothing to lose anymore… I’ve got all that learning and all that confidence, plus a big network of people that I love. So let’s go and do something good with it.”
About the Guest: Thera Prins, a dynamic CEO, embodies the power of authentic leadership after a transformative journey through corporate conformity. With a career spanning banking and leadership roles, Thera once molded herself to fit expectations—wearing "boring" navy suits and suppressing her vibrant personality to climb the ranks. A devastating redundancy at Lloyds and personal challenges became her "enough moment," prompting her to reject conformity and rediscover her true self.
Now, as a leader, Thera inspires others to shed inauthentic masks and lead with courage and authenticity. Her story resonates with the "silent middle"—leaders quietly struggling under pressure, offering hope and strategies for resilience. Passionate about empowering women in midlife to stay visible, Thera combines her wisdom, energy, and colorful personality to foster human-centric leadership. Her insights make her a role model for executives and aspiring leaders seeking to lead well and live well.
Enjoy this Podcast?
Failure is not the end of things. What makes leaders great is their ability to embrace them and be more open to admitting them. If you learned something new from today's episode hit subscribe and share it with your friends!
Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online and tell us your stories of how innovative thinking boosted your business or improved your life. You can also share it to help your family and friends.
Thanks for listening!
For more updates and episodes, visit theleaderunmaskedpodcast.podbean.com. Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean. To unmasking your brilliance, Angela.
#1 The Leader Unmasked: Stop Pretending & Find the Real You
Épisode 100
jeudi 3 juillet 2025 • Durée 28:01
The Leader Unmasked: Stop Pretending & Find the Real You
Feel like you’re leading with a mask to hide your struggles?
Stuck in a cycle of perfectionism or people-pleasing that’s burning you out?
This solo episode of The Leader Unmasked is your wake-up call. Host Angela Cox, a Master Coach for Executives, Founder of Paseda360 and creator of the Paseda360 coaching approach dives deep into the "silent middle"—high-functioning leaders quietly unraveling under pressure.
She unveils the four "Pretender Masks" (Perfectionist, People Pleaser, Persecutor of Self, Persecutor of Others) that keep you from leading authentically. Through her "The Pretender Model," Angela reveals how these masks, rooted in limiting beliefs, harm your health and leadership. Whether you’re a senior leader or an aspiring professional, this episode will inspire you to shed inauthentic behaviors and embrace your true self.
Get ready to discover how vulnerability can transform your leadership into a source of resilience and connection. Tune in to learn why unmasking is the key to leading well and living well.
Subscribe now for more insights to be brilliant by being you!
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
1. Uncover the "Pretender Masks" holding you back and learn how to lead with authenticity.
2. Understand the "silent middle" and how to break free from burnout’s hidden toll.
3. Gain insights into the beliefs and values shaping your leadership for lasting change.
Episode Highlights:
[00:00:03 - 00:00:56] Why the Podcast Rebranded: Angela shares the evolution from Mindset Mentor Meets to The Leader Unmasked, explaining her shift to focus on the deeper stories and beliefs beneath mindset that shape leadership.
[00:01:52 - 00:02:59] Introducing the Silent Middle: Angela defines the "silent middle"—leaders who function well but are quietly unraveling—and highlights the harm of masking struggles in leadership.
#99 Tim Davies - CEO of ivolve Group
Épisode 99
lundi 18 mars 2024 • Durée 38:50
Breaking the Perfection Myth:
Tim Davies on the Power of Innovative Thinking
Ever feel like success means never messing up? Stuck in a dead-end job and dreaming of something more? This episode of the Mindset Mentor Meets Podcast is your wake-up call. Host Angela Cox chats with Tim Davies, the forward-thinking CEO of ivolve Group. Together, they bust the myth of flawlessness and show you the power of embracing your mistakes and innovative thinking.
This episode is your roadmap to redefining success. Whether you're a student, an entrepreneur, or somewhere in between, Angela and Tim will inspire you to ditch the masks and lead with authenticity.
Get ready to discover how vulnerability can be your superpower, not your weakness. This episode is all about unlocking your true potential and turning your stumbles into stepping stones. Plus, Tim shares his incredible journey – from navigating different careers to leading with a pioneering spirit. Tune in to be inspired to lead with innovative thinking and more.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Discover how embracing failure can be a powerful tool for growth.
Learn how authenticity and vulnerability in leadership can transform your professional relationships and organizational culture.
Gain insights into the innovative thinking fostered by embracing DIY projects and other hands-on activities.
The Power of Habits and a Positive Mindset: How Tony Humberstone Built a Thriving Business
Being rejected hurts — and even if it happens again and again, it doesn't get any easier. The pain of getting doors slammed to your face, receiving rejection emails to your job applications, or being ignored scars a person.
But that doesn’t have to be the end of your story.
In this episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, Angela Cox meets with Vooba Founder and CEO Tony Humberstone to talk about his journey from being a humble door-to-door salesman to building a successful digital marketing agency, all the while maintaining a close relationship with his family.
Having braved multiple rejections and even falling into a health slump, Humberstone shares how he overcame all the obstacles in his life through a positive mindset and building good habits. It might sound cheesy, but this episode details how he applied that in his life and how that changed everything for him.
Change starts from that one positive thought. Passion fuels it, and discipline allows it to go on. Let's dive into Tony Humberstone's story and learn all about his journey toward success.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Learn how a positive mindset can influence your actions and drive you to do better.
Understand how combining hard work, discipline, and a positive mindset makes all the difference.
Discover how balancing your work with your health and family relationships makes life worth living.
How Self-Trust Can Change Your Life with Lucy Chamberlain
Five, ten, or twenty years in the future, you will undoubtedly be different from who you are today. However, all of us have a future we want to pursue and an idea of who we want to be. The best way to make these goals come true is to grow and start doing small things that can change your life in the long run — and it starts with self-trust.
Lucy Chamberlain’s life is not the same as it was five years ago. In this episode, she returns as a guest to The Mindset Mentor Meets to share how her life has changed so far. She talks about her proudest moments in the past years and how they symbolized her growth.
Lucy has faced challenges and developed true self-trust to become the person she’s proud to be today. From her achievements as a founder of a company to tapping into her authentic and confident self, she places herself where she wants to be. Even now, she continues to do the small things that can bring her to the future she strives for.
You, too, can take the steps towards the future you want, no matter where you are in life. You’ll learn the importance of confidence and authenticity and find out what it means to tap into your courage to change your life. Join us in this enlightening conversation with Lucy as we learn from her proudest moments and how they transformed her life.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Discover how validation and approval can help keep you on the right track.
Learn the importance of working from a place of authenticity and self-trust in the value that you bring to the world
Find out how self-care and small everyday actions can create a domino effect that changes your future.
#96 Stephen Gallagher - Executive Director - EF Group
Épisode 95
lundi 12 février 2024 • Durée 32:00
The Executive Edge: Why You Should Believe in Yourself with Stephen Gallagher
When you're at the bottom, there's nowhere to go but up. But going upward from there isn't as easy as it sounds. Rising out of your darkest moments requires a lot more than just grit. It's all about being able to believe in yourself — believing that you can pull yourself up and learning to be vulnerable enough to allow other people to help you rise.
In this episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, Angela Cox interviews Stephen Gallagher, Executive Director of EF Group. Stephen describes his journey from the lowest point in his life to create the success he enjoys today with his wife and daughter and how he tries to raise the bar on being a better person in both his life and those around him.
From overcoming a debilitating injury that threatened his mobility to achieving remarkable success in both personal and professional realms, Stephen's story is a testament to the power of self-belief and resilience. He shares invaluable insights into how embracing vulnerability and integrity has been pivotal in his journey, offering listeners practical advice on cultivating a mindset geared towards growth and success.
Where are you now? Is it a dark moment in your life, or do you think you’re at the heights of your success? There’s always something you can improve — whether in yourself, your organization, or someone around you. No matter where you are in your life right now, Stephen’s journey is something you can definitely learn from.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Understand why believing in yourself is the key to overcoming any odds.
Learn how having unshakable integrity empowers your self-belief and helps strip away self-doubt.
Understand how transparency and honesty help get everyone on the same page when it comes to striving for a goal.
#97 - Escaping the Imposter - Special Episode with Angela Cox
Épisode 96
lundi 5 février 2024 • Durée 26:08
Escaping the Imposter with Angela Cox
In this special episode Mindset Mentor Meets host, Angela Cox shares her thoughts on taming the imposter. It’s a heartfelt download in which she shares how it felt to be in her shoes when she worked at senior levels in corporate, versus how she feels now in her role as coach, and founder of Paseda360 Coach Training Academy.
Angela shares the steps she took to leap from corporate to coaching to inspire those who might feel like doing it to.
#95 - Kelly Cookes - CCO The Advantage Travel Partnership
Épisode 94
lundi 29 janvier 2024 • Durée 35:08
Achieving More: Kelly Cookes on Success in Work and Life
What does it take to achieve a harmonious blend of a high-flying career and a fulfilling personal life? For Kelly Cookes, it’s about embracing the challenges with humility, having a great support network, and taking pride in each triumph, big or small. In a world of constant high stakes and personal commitments, finding equilibrium is an art in itself. Every experience, be it a professional milestone or a personal journey, contributes to this delicate balance.
In this episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, Angela Cox interviews Kelly Cookes, CCO of The Travel Advantage Partner Group. Kelly offers invaluable insights into her journey, discussing her proudest moments both at home and in the corporate world. She addresses the challenges and triumphs of reaching the C-suite in a predominantly female-led industry, while also opening up about her role as a mother, wife, and leader.
Kelly's approach to success wasn't straightforward; it was filled with many sideways movements and roles she never expected to take on. But her family, team, and network were always there to keep her going — because she invests in her support network just as much as they help her.
Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a seasoned executive, or someone trying to juggle professional ambitions with personal commitments, listening to Kelly's experiences can empower you to navigate your path with confidence and grace.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Discover the art of juggling a top-tier career and a rich personal life
Determine how to embrace resilience in the face of adversity
Learn why a support network is critical to success
Authentic Guide to Building a Fulfilling Life with Tarinee Pandey
What does it take to find success? For Tarinee Pandey, it was a twofold lesson of learning to come from a place of humility in all things and to take pride in what you've accomplished. While there's something to be said for bringing something to an extreme, there's also a lot of value in finding balance. All the life lessons you learn have their place.
In this episode, Tarinee Pandey, the Chief People Officer of Puma Capital Group, describes the lessons she learned from the three valuable moments in her life. The first is the journey Puma Capital Group embarked on to become one of the Top 100 Greatest Places to Work despite its not-so-perfect beginnings. The second and third are her personal stories of running the London Marathon and learning to accept a wonderful life — even if it's not perfect.
Sometimes, the life lessons taught to us can seem conflicting. Should we be humble? Or should we take pride in all that we do? In the end, it's about being able to use all these life lessons at once.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Learn what it takes to become part of the Top 100 Greatest Places to Work
Understand the humility of pushing yourself to the limits when pursuing a goal.
Discover how an imperfect life can still be one of the most wonderful things.
[02:39] Tarinee's First Proudest Moment: A Great Company
#93 -Rob Regan COO Principality Building Society
Épisode 92
lundi 15 janvier 2024 • Durée 39:36
Working to Live: Finding the Balance with Rob Regan
What's the most important thing to you in life? Most people would say something like friends, family, or living comfortably. But how much of your time goes to those things? More often than not, 'successful' people spend almost all their days in their careers, unable to be with the things they say are the most important.
This episode delves into the concept of "working to live" as we explore Rob Regan's journey. He describes the three most powerful years in his life and how they all involve the most important things to him: family, rugby, and work. Most executives get completely stuck at the office, but Rob has found the balance between work and the rest of his life.
As for how he did it, sometimes we really have to take a terrifying step away from what we've been doing all our lives. If you're wondering how to get back to what you love the most while still managing your career — and, frankly, the rest of your life — then this episode is for you.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Discover the art of working to live.
Learn what it means to be genuinely vulnerable — no matter how tough you seem.
Uncover what it means to become who you are and return to what’s most important to you, even if you’ve lost touch for a while.
Rob tries to balance his life around family, rugby, and work. His wife, Nicola, might disagree on his priorities, but he does his best to keep things equal.
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[00:03:52 - 00:08:49] The Pretender Masks: Angela breaks down the four "Pretender Masks" (Perfectionist, People Pleaser, Persecutor of Self, Persecutor of Others), detailing their exhausting impact on leaders’ health and effectiveness.
[00:23:56 - 00:26:44] A Call to Authentic Leadership: Angela urges listeners to share their struggles, align with their true values, and lead vulnerably to inspire others and build resilience.
Three Powerful Quotes:[00:08:49] “These are not your identity… They’re behaviors, protective behaviors that you have tried on earlier in your life. And it fitted, the mask fitted. And so you’ve just kept it on.”
[00:22:06] “If you’re feeling like you mask in some way, it is just something that has happened throughout your life to keep you safe… But you get to a point in life where you think, this just doesn’t work for me anymore.”
[00:26:44] “The most powerful leaders that I know have done the work, have taken the mask off. They’re not the loudest in the room. They’ve stopped performing. They’ve stopped pretending, and they’ve started showing up as themselves.”
About the Host:
Angela Cox, a Master Coach for Executives, Founder of Paseda360 and creator of the Paseda360 coaching approach is on a mission to help leaders unmask their true potential. Having worked with hundreds of leaders worldwide, Angela brings a unique blend of empathy and insight to her coaching, guiding executives and aspiring leaders to shed inauthentic behaviors like perfectionism and people-pleasing.
Her journey from a corporate role to founding The Leader Unmasked stems from her own "enough moment" in 2018, when she left behind the masks that fueled burnout. Angela’s "Pretender Model" and focus on the "silent middle" empower leaders to uncover the beliefs and values shaping their leadership, fostering emotional intelligence and resilience.
As the host of The Leader Unmasked, she shares stories and strategies to help leaders lead well, live well, and stay well by being their authentic selves.
Failure is not the end of things. What makes leaders great is their ability to embrace them and be more open to admitting them. If you learned something new from today's episode hit subscribe and share it with your friends!
Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online and tell us your stories of how innovative thinking boosted your business or improved your life. You can also share it to help your family and friends.
[2:37] Tim's First Proudest Moment: When Failure Became Tim's Greatest Teacher
Tim shares that openness about failures and challenges can strengthen personal and professional connections.
He discusses a specific instance, "Leaders Unplugged," where he openly talked about his failures, leading to an unexpectedly positive response from the audience.
Tim observed that this openness about failures and vulnerabilities led to an outpouring of gratitude from listeners, who felt more seen and understood.
[12:47] Tim's Second Proudest Moment: Transitioning to CEO and Changing Sectors
Tim narrates his journey of becoming CEO of ivolve Group and the challenges of entering a new sector with a fresh perspective.
He emphasizes the importance of being commercially sensible without compromising on quality care.
Discussing the integration of businesses within Ivolve Group, Tim explains the importance of developing a new team and culture focused on transparency, vulnerability, and error admission to foster psychological safety.
Tim discusses the impact of organizational trauma and the importance of reassurance, innovative thinking, and calm leadership in times of transition and uncertainty.
[22:15] Tim's Third Proudest Moment: Personal Growth Through a DIY Project
Tim shares his experience of renovating a static caravan, which served as a metaphor for personal growth and the value of investing effort into a project.
He describes how hands-on activities, like DIY projects, can be an exercise in innovative thinking and provide a sense of achievement.
Tim reflects on the importance of such activities for balancing professional responsibilities and personal well-being.
[28:30] Overcoming Perfectionism and the Value of Authentic Leadership
Tim and Angela delve into the pitfalls of perfectionism, discussing how striving for flawlessness can hinder personal and professional development rather than foster it.
They touch upon the challenge of public speaking and the realization that perfection in communication is less important than authenticity and connection with the audience.
Tim advises against overpreparation and stresses the importance of being relatable and human in professional settings.
We must understand the role of EQ (emotional intelligence) over IQ in leadership success and the continuous journey toward personal and professional growth.
5 Powerful Quotes
[3:03] “I realized that [to] be more open about one's failures, or the challenges that have happened over your career or over your life, rather than being something that you need to hide and push down… if you have the confidence and courage, and it does take some to be a bit more open about is something that actually can connect you to people and takes a lot of anxiety away from you as well.
[7:21] “…there was a really fine line between being so overly open, that you actually discredit yourself and being vulnerable enough and human enough or grounded enough to make people feel relatable to you. And that you also are not perfect, and you've [never had been] perfect to get that position.”
[9:59] “I do think that you only really learn with it when things are bad. No, of course, you do some learning and some developing when things are all right, and things are going okay. But it's tiny in comparison to when things are tough… or things are going wrong or something's failed, that is where the real development happens.”
[28:43] “...perfectionism gets in the way of a lot of things…I think it is to some extent, a strength because you meet people who've got high standards. They put lots of pressure on themselves. They want to deliver things and that's great, but when it tips over, and often it does, I think it really is an inhibitor.”
[31:45] “There are some technical roles where actually it's all about IQ…you have to have enough IQ to be competent. Beyond that, more and more and more IQ does not equal more and more and more performance. Yeah. But EQ is what it's about.”
About the Guest
Tim Davies, a healthcare leader with over 20 years of experience, stands at the forefront of modern leadership. He brings a unique blend of emotional intelligence and innovative thinking to complex, regulated environments.
As CEO of ivolve Group, Tim has redefined leadership within the care sector. He spearheaded transformative changes, including significant rebranding and integrating diverse operations under the ivolve Care and Support banner.
Tim's passion for digital innovation and human-centric management and his proven track record of success positions him as a thought leader in modern healthcare. Don't miss his insights on embracing failure and leading with authenticity!
Failure is not the end of things. What makes leaders great is their ability to embrace them and be more open to admitting them. If you learned something new from today's The Mindset Mentor Meets episode, hit subscribe and share it with your friends!
Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online and tell us your stories of how innovative thinking boosted your business or improved your life. You can also share it to help your family and friends.
[03:19] Tony’s First Proudest Moment: His Sales Journey
Tony started as a service engineer obsessed with sports, but he admits he didn't have a career mindset.
He landed a job at BT Phonebooks through a friend in his squash club and began his career in sales.
He didn't get good responses at first, but he kept going until he chanced upon Mortgage Search UK and got his first big sale.
He eventually moved to London and got a job at a Google Adwords agency called REACH Local, but his passion called him to start his own business.
He began PPC Stars, which eventually evolved into Vooba over the decades
[13:56] Tony’s Second Proudest Moment: His Journey of Shaping Up
His busy London lifestyle made it difficult to stay in shape. He wasn't sleeping enough and felt burned out.
Tony wanted to change, so he challenged himself by entering a half Ironman: a triathlon event involving swimming, biking and a marathon.
He loved the event and continued doing them, relishing in his proud moment of crossing the finish line each time.
Being physically active helped him in his business as well.
Tony is thinking of what he can do to challenge himself even more.
[18:59] Tony’s Third Proudest Moment: His Daughter
Tony’s proudest achievement is his daughter.
He and his wife love seeing her develop into a fine young lady.
He maintains a close relationship with her, and they communicate often.
Still, Tony hopes to travel more once his daughter leaves the nest.
[22:50] Tony’s Ultimate Secret to Success
Build up good habits through discipline
Keep an open and positive mindset regarding rejection. Don’t fear it.
This mindset helps run a business when many variables are outside your control.
5 Powerful Quotes
[02:13] 'I'm always glass half full and not a glass half empty. I'm a big believer in positive mindset.'
[10:57] ‘We all want to make money, but I still, to this day, get a buzz out of bringing a client on board and then helping them grow. And ultimately: if they grow, we grow, so that drives me to this day.’
[15:54] 'I ended up doing five [triathlons], but the first one I did, I mean, literally, I was crawling over the finish line. It wasn't a particularly amazing time, but it then inspired me to obviously get better at it and work a bit harder.'
[23:37] ‘Just going back to the story about knocking on doors: a lot of people hated it, because you would knock on a lot of doors and get a lot of rejection. But I'd always keep going, thinking this next door might be that golden ticket.’
[25:19] ‘You've just got to be positive all the time.’
About the Guest
Tony Humberstone is the Founder and CEO of Vooba, a digital marketing agency based in rural West Sussex in the UK. Serving for more than 20 years in the advertising industry since the Yellow Pages days, he had extensive experience in sales as a Field Sales Consultant and area Sales Manager, eventually climbing up the ranks to a Business Development Manager. He founded PPC Stars, which specialized in Google Ads. He grew that company into a team of 40 people with over 300 clients and later rebranded as Vooba.
Learn more about Tony and her work on the Vooba website and connect with him on LinkedIn.
Enjoy this Podcast?
Having the right attitude and habits changes everything. It can give you the strength and courage to move forward despite rejection and other obstacles. If you learned something new from today's The Mindset Mentor Meets episode, hit subscribe and share it with your friends!
Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online. You can also share it to help your family and friends.
Lucy's battle with COVID-19 was challenging, yet it served as a catalyst for her personal and professional growth, especially in her role as the founder of C&C Search
Following the pandemic, she dedicated herself to revitalizing and expanding her business, which has impressively grown from a small team of 5 to a vibrant group of 24 exceptional individuals.
[03:38] Lucy’s First Proudest Moment: Becoming a Certified B Corp
Lucy’s first proudest moment was achieving their B Corp certification as a company. The certification was an approval that their purpose-led business was on the right track.
B Corp companies are companies that operate with society, the environment, and the company in mind.
Every part of the process, from hiring to giving back to the community, is assessed. This difficulty encouraged Lucy to evolve and develop the company.
Approval and validation greatly matter to Lucy, but external validation won’t give her true self-worth and self-trust. It’s alright to seek external validation sometimes.
The B Corp certification isn’t about Lucy. Rather, it’s about taking care of the people who work for her and their clients.
[11:42] Lucy’s Second Proudest Moment: Growing Her Self-Trust
Lucy was invited as a host to AWS Summit London to talk about developing true self-confidence.
This achievement symbolizes how far she has come and her growth over the past few years.
Lucy once felt she had no value to share. Now, she’s able to accept the invitation without self-doubt and speak from a place of authenticity.
It was difficult to get to this part of her journey. She has always been an authentic person, but felt like she wasn’t enough.
Lucy no longer worries about what others think about her. Comfortably owning your power can change how you feel and connect with others.
[17:49] Lucy’s Third Proudest Moment: Making Time for Self-Care
Lucy finally went back to hot yoga this year. For Lucy, this is a significant step towards a healthier lifestyle and the future body she wants to live in.
By making time for yoga, she is also practicing the habit of finishing work on time and getting ready. These small actions connect to small good habits.
Hot yoga is a 90-minute moving meditation in an incredibly hot room. This challenge encourages Lucy to stop thinking and leaves her feeling peaceful and calm.
For many, work can be something you both love and resent. However, having these habits and non-negotiables can shift the way you feel about work and your body.
Micro changes such as these small things done regularly have a big impact on your life in the long run.
[24:59] The Secret to Success: Small Acts of Courage
Lucy’s secret to success is the small acts of courage and self-trust that can help you grow.
Start your day by thinking about what a good life would look like on that day.
Pick two to three things that would help you create that life, but would take courage to do. They can be big or small acts.
Lean into these small acts of courage and see them add up to a big change and growth.
This is what success means to Lucy today.
5 Powerful Quotes
[04:24] ‘I wanted to create a business with purpose. Having a purpose-led business has definitely been the aspect of what we do that’s got me through the biggest challenges.’
[12:11] ‘My ability to be comfortable in my own skin and know that what I have to share is of value is something that has felt very elusive for very well the vast majority of my life and my career. Instead of feeling anxious or nervous, I just was able to feel excited and proud and was able to grab the opportunity without second guessing myself.’
[13:02] ‘I can do that now from a place of knowing that I have really fantastic, kickass tools to share and also storytelling. I can do that from a place of authenticity. I think I have always been an authentic person, but I’ve always been an authentic person that has questioned whether or not who I really am is enough.’
[21:20] ‘Having those real, solid, non-negotiables slots in the diary, it’s just transformative in terms of how you feel about yourself, about your work. It shifts an awful lot of crap.’
[26:29] 'Leaning in to those little acts of courage starts to add up to big change and that lovely sense of growth towards the person and the future you wanted to live it.'
About Lucy Chamberlain
Lucy Chamberlain is the Founder of C&C Search and C&C Academy, a socially-conscious business that aims to redefine and elevate the field of recruitment. She has more than 20 years of experience in the recruitment industry, where she specializes in EA/PA & Support, HR & Talent positions, and IR/Marketing / Communications roles. Lucy is also an ICF-certified coach, an award-winning speaker, and DEI advocate.
Learn more about Lucy and her work on the C&C website or connect with her on LinkedIn.
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The world always has new life lessons for you to learn — and in this case, it’s something we all know yet don’t necessarily apply: to believe in yourself! If you learned something new from today's The Mindset Mentor Meets episode, hit subscribe and share it with your friends!
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[03:31] Stephen’s First Proudest Moment: Recovering from the Impossible
In October 2019, Stephen fell and shattered his humerus, then contracted a rare condition that paralyzed his right arm.
It was his first time feeling vulnerable — there was very little he could do on his own, and he was reliant on both medication and his wife.
Although there was a surgery that could fix his arm, his surgeon told him that it was practically impossible that he would use his arm again. His surgeon said that Stephen had better odds of winning the lottery than regaining full mobility in his right arm.
Stephen was undaunted; he devoted himself to doing his exercises and physical therapy until, against all odds, he could do something we take for granted: pick up a bottle.
[10:08] Journeying Out from the Pit of Despair
Recovering from his paralysis was a massive journey. Stephen says he had PTSD and that his wife would wake him up when he had tremors.
At this low point in life, he started questioning the meaning of life: what was his purpose? What could he offer?
Seeing a therapist and taking medication were crucial in helping him on this journey.
Stephen emphasizes the need for greater awareness and open discussions about mental health in his community.
Instead of trying to return to who he was, Stephen aimed to move forward and change for the better.
[13:17] Stephen’s Second Proudest Moment: His Daughter
Stephen’s daughter has moderate hearing loss and now has hearing aids — but she’s adapted to it well and has shown remarkable positivity.
She embodies the values of generosity, thoughtfulness, and kindness, as instilled by Stephen and his wife.
One moment that makes him proud is when his daughter comforted her classmate when they were having a bad day.
Stephen and his wife were told that they wouldn’t be able to conceive naturally. But they defied the odds once again, being able to give birth to their beautiful daughter.
[18:13] Stephen’s Third Proudest Moment: Scaling Through Acquisition
Over eight years at EF Group, Stephen played a pivotal role in growing the company from 27 to 120 million, showcasing his leadership and strategic acumen.
Recognizing inflation's impact, Stephen and his team chose to scale through acquisition, aiming to secure the best future for their clients.
They had to find a company that aligned with their values. At the time, that was Compass Group.
The acquisition's success was significantly attributed to a commitment to total transparency and honesty, ensuring expectations were clear and aligned among all parties involved.
[23:09] Stephen Gallagher’s Secret to Success
Stephen recommends this: believe in yourself. He has a lot of self-belief and knows he can do anything for any role if he is dedicated.
He actively seeks and incorporates feedback from peers, colleagues, and superiors to foster continuous personal and professional growth.
Stephen prioritizes maintaining his integrity, recognizing its critical role in his success and decision-making process, no matter the consequences of doing so.
It’s vital to judge people by their actions to ensure alignment with core values — and that goes for clients as well.
Building strong relationships is key to identifying and nurturing talent within his network.
5 Powerful Quotes
[08:12] ‘They were saying, you know, we don't use the miracle word. But this defies everything, defies all the tests, I remember doing a lot more physio and hand therapy. I remember sitting down with my wife and my daughter, and I had a steak, and I had confidence to cut the steak. And I remember, I remember just crying.’
[11:28] ‘It was about me being the best version of myself, rather than comparing myself to yesterday.’
[15:04] ‘There are challenges in life. But there are also a lot more people in the world that are in more challenging circumstances and so I’m thinking of those people and helping those people where we can.’
[18:52] ‘For us, it was very much about finding a company that was the right fit for our organization that shared the right the same values, the same beliefs, and the same vision for the future for our clients and our employees as well.’
[23:18] 'I believe the secret of success is this: believing in yourself; I have a lot of self-belief, as my wife always tells me, and, you know, I've always believed that you can do pretty much anything for any role you apply yourself. But equally, I always seek and always have sought feedback from peers.'
About Stephen Gallagher
Stephen Gallagher is the Executive Director of EF Group, a company dedicated to providing solutions for clients in various sectors: healthcare, education, and more. It aims to raise the bar on what it means to be of service — not just to its clients but also to the people who work in the company.
The world always has new life lessons for you to learn — and in this case, it’s something we all know yet don’t necessarily apply: to believe in yourself! If you learned something new from today's The Mindset Mentor Meets episode, hit subscribe and share it with your friends!
Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online. You can also share it to help your family and friends.
Kelly shares her life as a happily married mother of two, emphasizing the journey more than a singular event.
Despite occasional imbalances, she prides herself on maintaining a dynamic balance between her professional and personal life.
Kelly points out some critical things that help her to improve her work-life balance: having good boundaries and a strong support network.
She highlights the reality of being unable to do it all - like missing some school pickups - but compensates with quality time when possible.
[10:46] Kelly’s Second Proudest Moment: Reaching the C-Suite
In a female-dominated industry with scarce senior female representation, Kelly's rise to the C-suite stands as a significant milestone.
Senior roles in her industry looked far away and unachievable to Kelly when she began her career, but reaching the C Suite was always a goal.
Moving up was never a straight path. Kelly took several sideways moves, such as embracing developmental roles and navigating unexpected challenges, like the collapse of Thomas Cook.
Kelly sees her journey not as an end but as a stepping stone, with her sights set on a future CEO role.
[17:32] Kelly’s Third Proudest Moment: Becoming an Authentic Leader
Kelly invests substantially in her team, acknowledging the support she received on her journey.
She speaks about evolving into an authentic leader, comfortable in her own skin and leadership style.
She used to feel that she needed to pretend to like something or know something to fit in. Today, she’s just honest about who and what she is.
Kelly embraces honesty and authenticity, recognizing that inauthenticity is both uncomfortable and counterproductive to performance.
[22:51] Kelly and Impostor Syndrome
Kelly opens up about experiencing impostor syndrome, particularly in high-stakes meetings or when discussing unfamiliar topics.
Leaders tend to want to be the best person in the room. Not being the best creates a lot of self-doubt.
Kelly likens leadership to being a 'swan' - poised externally but paddling furiously beneath the surface.
[28:06] Kelly’s Secret to Success: Having A Support Network
Kelly attributes much of her success to the 'team' around her - family, friends, and professional colleagues.
Take the team perspective: never be afraid to employ people who are better than you.
Enjoy the ride — having a goal is great, but don't be too strict on how you get there. The path will never be what you think it will be.
5 Powerful Quotes
[06:29] ‘I think it's just about being really strict with yourself and knowing that you can't do everything all the time.’
[11:53] ‘I'll never stop wanting to develop and grow. There's always something new that you can learn and somebody that knows more than you about something.’
[04:36] ‘I invest a lot of time in my team, I'm very conscious of how I operate and how I put myself across as an individual in that I want to build those relationships. And I've also had a lot of people that have supported me along the way.’
[21:09] 'I've walked out of meetings thinking, I just didn't land that the way I wanted to. And nine times out of 10 It's been because I veered away from the way that I would have normally done it to try and deliver it in a way that I thought would get it across better.'
[28:48] ‘Never be afraid to employ people who are better than you, because that's where you'll learn and you shine through your people.’
About Kelly Cookes
Kelly Cookes is the CCO of The Advantage Travel Partnership. She dedicates her work to maintaining the balance between her work and family lives — and acknowledges that it’s not a solo job. In all things, having a support network is invaluable. Kelly puts a lot of effort into her team, both at work and at home, and shines through them.
The world always has new life lessons for you to learn. If you learned something new from today's The Mindset Mentor Meets episode, hit subscribe and share it with your friends!
Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online. You can also share it to help your family and friends find out who they need in their support network.
Tarinee's company was rated one of the Top 100 Great Places to Work within financial services.
It's not about the award — it's about the journey from an unpleasant company to a great one.
Their company initially hired people based on their skills rather than who they were. It eventually became a place that even Tarinee would want to avoid working in.
It took several difficult decisions to make the company what it is today — a company where people truly feel they belong.
[09:40] Tarinee's Second Proudest Moment: Running a Marathon
Tarinee trained hard for and ran the London Marathon — a run spanning over 26 miles.
Running the marathon taught her the value of setting a goal and seeing it through to the end, regardless of the obstacles.
Training for the marathon had difficult moments that Tarinee admits weren't enjoyable.
Tarinee admits that finishing the marathon doesn't change anything for anyone else but was a powerful personal journey.
[14:14] The London Marathon
At first, she thought she could stick to her time goals.
The second part of the run had her telling herself to stick to her plan. She had run this far before in training, so she would be okay.
The last part had her running with the strength of her heart — mind over matter, despite how her body hurt.
Tarinee described the whole experience as both emotional and meditative.
[18:29] Tarinee's Third Proudest Moment: Accepting the No
Tarinee's third moment is deeply personal — it's when she decided not to have a second child.
She has a thirteen-year-old son, but they struggled to have a second one.
Tarinee learned to let go of the fact that, even if life wasn't going the way she wanted, that didn't mean it wasn't a good life.
Tarinee admits that her entire life had been all about working and pushing hard enough for what she wanted.
One of the most powerful life lessons Tarinee learned was to be proud of what she has — even if it wasn't exactly what she wanted.
[27:47] Tarinee's Secret to Success
Success comes from building meaningful relationships.
The relationships can be personal or professional, but they underly everything.
However, building relationships is hard; it requires work and trust.
It's also important to have fun doing what you're doing.
[31:37] How to Connect
You won't want to connect with everyone, so recognise that you don't have to connect with everybody.
Find people to connect with who make you feel safe, value your views, and do the same for you.
[33:08] 2024 For Tarinee
Tarinee aims to be better at self-care.
Getting better at self-care means setting healthy boundaries.
It also means being more intentional about what she does instead of trying to do everything at once.
5 Powerful Quotes
[04:36] ‘If we don't like coming to work, surely no one else is having a great time at that.’
[07:25] ‘Ultimately, it is about human beings — and human beings feel proud and want to belong.’
[10:49] ‘I was really proud of it [The London Marathon] because it really taught me about the sort of impact of setting a goal and just seeing it through to the end — never mind the obstacles.’
[22:49] ‘It's pride in being able to understand when you just have to accept.’
[29:19] ‘If you achieve every single goal, but you're always doing it alone, it's lonely, right? It's lonely.’
About Tarinee
Tarinee Pandey is the Chief People Officer of Puma Capital Group, which is one of the Top 100 Greatest Places to Work. Tarinee joined the group in 2010 and has a powerful vision for making it the employer of choice for a diverse range of people. She aims to ensure that their company remains people-centric and does her utmost to make her corner of the world better every day.
Connect with Tarinee through LinkedIn, or find out more about her through the Puma Capital Group website.
Enjoy this Podcast?
The world always has new life lessons for you to learn. If you learned something new from today's The Mindset Mentor Meets episode, hit subscribe and share it with your friends!
Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online. You can also share it to help your family and friends achieve massive outcomes.
He admits that he doesn't do much outside those three things.
Rob also questions himself often: can he say he's proud of himself, or is he proud of what he's done?
[03:31] First of the Biggest Years: 2010
Rob's biggest years and proudest moments involve the birth of his daughter, Amy, in 2010.
Rob and Nicola had difficulty having Amy and needed to undergo IVF. But Amy came into this world successfully.
2010 was also a big year for him and rugby.
Rob admits that he doesn't have a talent for rugby, but his skill in the sport — like at work — comes from tremendous effort to build himself up rather than innate talent.
He captained the Bromley RFC's third team at 35, leading them to a big win over their rivals in a high-scoring game.
[08:56] A Story of Childhood Sweethearts
Nicola and Rob got together at 14 and stayed together for nine years.
Rob admits that he wasn't a good partner at the time — and even says that he ticked every box on how not to be a great boyfriend.
They eventually split up in their early twenties and got married to different partners but returned to each other much later on.
[10:32] Second of the Biggest Years: 2020
In 2020, Rob experienced the COVID lockdown. It was tough for Amy, as she had joined several clubs that required being physically at the club.
Rob is particularly proud of how his family, particularly Amy, worked together to overcome the challenges of being in a lockdown.
On his end, Rob was about to sell his company, which made his work life extremely difficult.
Rob didn't feel that he was working at home. Instead, he felt that he was living at work.
While his proudest moments in 2020 were the excellent outcomes for Amy, Rob is also glad that he learned to prioritise himself and his family over work.
[17:31] Becoming Who You Are, Again
2020 was a period of enormous changes for Rob, between leaving Royal London, selling the business, and the looming pandemic.
Rob said that he’d been struggling with a complete loss of identity.
His raison d'etre had been work for so long and nothing else.
[20:10] Third of the Biggest Years: 2023
In 2023, Amy played the part of Miss Honey in Matilda. On the last night of the performances, a little girl asked Amy for her autograph.
Amy was somewhat nervous and anxious growing up but being in theatre boosted her confidence.
2023 was also about mental health for Rob and Nicola.
Nicola’s healthier now after receiving a cancer diagnosis back in 2018.
On Rob's end, the Principality Building Society has a healthy culture that takes employee well-being seriously. He ended up telling his life story during a lunch and learn session.
[25:37] What It Means to Be Vulnerable
Many people, particularly executives, view vulnerability as a tick-box exercise. However, true vulnerability is raw honesty.
Being vulnerable, according to Rob, is unsettling and scary. He admits he's been a bit of a control freak all his life, so being vulnerable feels utterly alien.
2023 was a year of real enlightenment for Rob — it's taught him to recognise his flaws better.
He's always felt out of his depth when it comes to work. Rob describes himself as the electrician who, somehow, ended up running a £17b investment business.
[32:28] This Is What Matters
Your job, titles and promotions matter less than you might think.
Rob spent so much of his life chasing his career but found that his family was far more important than anything at his job.
Rob has a few regrets, one of them involving how he treated people.
He believes there's no excuse for that — you have to accept responsibility, even if you don't know how badly you acted at the time.
[35:22] The Definition of Success
Rob’s secret to success is about defining success for yourself first.
The environment most people live in is relentless, thankless, and in some work cultures, ruthless, making resilience a critical core trait.
However, Rob’s question about success is, ‘Are you comfortable with yourself and your own skin?’
Rob's advice is to learn to like yourself without sounding too arrogant — you won't always please everyone.
5 Powerful Quotes
[04:18] 'I'm not a great rugby player. My rugby life and my work life are very similar, which is: bags of effort, and no talent.'
[16:22] ‘I finally realised that doing the right thing for yourself and your family was much more important than work — and it was absolutely terrifying. But I stepped away and decided I was going to retire.'
[24:48] ‘I could never imagine me: thick-skinned, cauliflower ear, Welsh rugby bloke being able to say stuff that would help people and make a difference in our space.’
[27:06] 'Every day is still a school day. I've got all the same flaws I've always had, but I'm getting better at recognising them.'
[34:14] 'I wasn't always the best version of myself; I didn't always treat people the way that they deserve to be treated. I tried to correct some of that later on with some individuals, and they kind of look at you a bit, "Well, shame you didn't think of that 10, 15 years ago, but you can't change the past," and what I'll do is do a better job.
About Rob
Rob Regan is the CEO of the Principality Building Society, a multi-billion pound building society. Rob has worked as an executive in multiple companies, including the Lloyds Banking Group, Royal London, and Ascentric. However, at the end of everything, he discovered that family is the most important thing in life.
What's the most important thing to you? Defining success is all about what you want from life. Some people wish to have high-powered careers. Others might like a quiet life. Rob prefers his family. All these goals — and more — are valid gauges of success. If you learned something new from today's The Mindset Mentor Meets episode, hit subscribe and share it with your friends!
Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast episode, share your thoughts with us online. You can also share it to help your family and friends achieve massive outcomes.
