Why does talking about what we do feel so uncomfortable, and what is it really costing us?
In this episode of Lessons Not Yet Learnt, host Kiran Kachela is joined by leading voice coach and author Susie Ashfield to unpack the âickâ so many leaders feel when it comes to selfâpromotion, public speaking and visibility.
From downplaying job titles to avoiding the spotlight altogether, Kiran reflects on her own journey with selfâadvocacy - and the realisation that staying quiet doesnât just limit leaders, it sets a ceiling for their teams and future generations.
Drawing on her work with senior leaders across industries, Susie explores why cultural conditioning, imposter syndrome and perfectionism hold people back - and how shifting the focus from âmeâ to âthemâ transforms confidence, clarity and impact.
Together, they challenge the myth that selfâpromotion equals ego and show how storytelling, practice and purpose can help leaders speak up - without losing authenticity.
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In this episode, we cover:
¡      Selfâpromotion without the âickâ
¡      The English problem
¡      From cringe to confidence
¡      The opportunity cost of staying quiet
¡      Storytelling over selfâselling
¡      Voice, visibility and vulnerability
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About Our Guest
Susie Ashfield - Voice Coach, Speaker, Author & Founder of Speak2Impact
Susie Ashfield is one of the UKâs leading voice coaches and the founder of Speak2Impact, a communication and publicâspeaking company that helps leaders, founders and teams share their ideas with clarity, confidence and impact.
Trained as an actor, Susie brings a deep understanding of audience psychology, storytelling and performance to herwork. Through Speak2Impact, she delivers oneâtoâone coaching, group workshops, keynote talks and an online academy - helping people move from being unclear or uncomfortable to sounding credible, authentic andcompelling when it matters most.