Imposter syndrome. Hustle culture. Burnout. We hear these words often, but what do they really mean for high-performing leaders who constantly push themselves to the limit? In this episode, I sit down with Eva Valovska, CEO of Trust Women, to explore the hidden challenges behind success and the complex emotions that accompany it.

We start with imposter syndrome—something many leaders experience, but few openly discuss. Eva and I talk through the different ways men and women feel it, with men often seeing it as a sign of humility, while for women, it can be a much deeper issue tied to societal pressures and biases. We dig into how these feelings of inadequacy can be driven not just by our own internal thoughts, but by the very structures and environments we work in.

How does hustle culture tie into all this? We explore how the push to always achieve more, to work harder, and to be perfect often leads us down a dangerous path. It's a journey many of us have been on, including myself. We often confuse constant output and perfection with success, but as Eva so insightfully points out, this mindset only leads to exhaustion and feelings of unworthiness. The more we chase, the further we feel from true happiness.

Whether you’re a CEO, a leader in transition, or someone feeling the weight of imposter syndrome, this conversation will challenge the way you think about success. Are you chasing someone else’s definition of achievement? Are you listening to the "shoulds" that society places on you, or are you carving out your own path?

Show Links:

• Read more about how imposter syndrome might actually be a feature, not a bug: Imposter Syndrome Is A Feature, Not A Bug
• BBC article: Are You an Insecure Overachiever?
• Harvard Business Review: Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome
• The Confidence Gap: How to Overcome the Confidence Gap in Men and Women
• Book Recommendation: How to Do Less by Kate Northrup

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Here’s how you can take things deeper with me…

- I only work with 6 CEOs every year, I have one spot available. If you want to work with me, Start Here

- Mindset and Skillset Shifts, video playlists for:

• Enterprise CEOs
• Founders
• New CEOs

- Are you a Founder CEO planning your Exit? Join me and 6 other founders next quarter where we plan, prepare and work together for a successful exit. Join the Waitlist

Videos for all these episodes are on my YouTube channel.

If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at:

My LinkedIn Page

Or you can drop me an email.

In this episode, I sit down with Alison Coward, founder of Bracket, to talk about how to transform offsites and workshops from mere team-building events into crucial strategic tools that drive real results. Many leaders may see offsites as an expensive exercise with little return, but Alison shares how a well-structured workshop can turn that perception upside down.

We explore the common mistakes leaders make with workshops, like trying to achieve too much in too little time, and how to avoid the trap of unproductive sessions. Alison talks through her process for designing workshops that deliver – from setting the right objectives to ensuring follow-up leads to actual business change.

Curious to learn more about how you can turn your next offsite into a growth-driving, culture-shaping moment? Tune in to find out.

Show Links:

https://bracketcreative.co.uk/

My article about team offsites: https://bracketcreative.co.uk/team-time-together-designing-impactful-offsites-for-a-new-era-of-work/

Humble Inquiry: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Humble-Inquiry-Instead-Telling-Leadership/dp/1609949811

Ideational Facilitation Leadership: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-09486-004

Offsites that work: https://hbr.org/2006/06/off-sites-that-work

Off to plan or off to lunch: https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/publications/off-to-plan-or-out-to-lunch-relationships-between-design-characte

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Here’s how you can take things deeper with me…

- I only work with 6 CEOs every year, I have one spot available. If you want to work with me, Start Here

- Mindset and Skillset Shifts, video playlists for:

• Enterprise CEOs
• Founders
• New CEOs

- Are you a Founder CEO planning your Exit? Join me and 6 other founders next quarter where we plan, prepare and work together for a successful exit. Join the Waitlist

Videos for all these episodes are on my YouTube channel.

If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at:

My LinkedIn Page

Or you can drop me an email.

Mastering the Inner Game: The Key to Transformational Leadership

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of the 'inner game' versus the 'outer game.' The outer game encompasses all the external factors such as resources, strategies, and results that shape a business environment. However, it is the 'inner game,' which includes your capabilities, values, beliefs, and identity, that truly drives your behaviors and, in turn, influences the outer game.

For CEOs and leaders, understanding and mastering this inner game can provide a significant edge in improving business outcomes. We explore the elements that make up the inner game, from deeply ingrained values and beliefs to the identity you craft for yourself. We'll discuss how questioning and understanding these elements can lead to transformational leadership.

As a coach, my role involves helping leaders lift the lid on their inner game to ensure their beliefs and values are in service of their success and happiness. Stay tuned to learn actionable insights and homework exercises designed to help you master your inner game and elevate your leadership performance.

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Here’s how you can take things deeper with me…

- I only work with 6 CEOs every year, I have one spot available. If you want to work with me, Start Here

- Mindset and Skillset Shifts, video playlists for:

• Enterprise CEOs
• Founders
• New CEOs

- Are you a Founder CEO planning your Exit? Join me and 6 other founders next quarter where we plan, prepare and work together for a successful exit. Join the Waitlist

Videos for all these episodes are on my YouTube channel.

If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at:

My LinkedIn Page

Or you can drop me an email.