The Leader Unmasked Podcast

The Leader Unmasked: Lee Robinson on Leading with Authenticity   Tired of running from your true self to prove your worth? Wondering if slowing down could lead to something better?   In this episode of The Leader Unmasked, host Angela Cox chats with Lee Robinson, Acting Enterprise Change Director at Compass Group, about his journey from masking with extreme running to embracing a purposeful life. Lee opens up about using ten marathons in ten days as a shield from personal and professional challenges, only to discover stillness was the real strength. From high-pressure roles to mentoring with honesty, his story shows how letting go of the mask transforms leadership. If you’re in the “silent middle” quietly battling stress, this is a down-to-earth listen to inspire change.   Tune in and subscribe for more real stories on leading as yourself.Here are three reasons to give it a listen: Hear how Lee turned running ten marathons into a lesson about masking, not resilience. Get insights on finding purpose by stepping back from the grind, even in tough roles. Learn Lee’s thoughts on guiding others—especially the next generation—through uncertainty. Resources: Contact Angela Cox on LinkedIn Visit The Leader Unmasked Podcast Explore coaching at Paseda360 Episode Highlights: [00:01:42 - 00:02:33] The Running Mask: Lee reveals how running ten marathons was a way to avoid facing deeper issues, using it as a badge of honour. [00:03:24 - 00:04:31] The Shift to Stillness: He reflects on realising extreme efforts stemmed from a scarcity mindset, and how pausing helped him find value. [00:04:53 - 00:05:20] Home Challenges: Lee hints at personal struggles at home, adding depth to his journey of unmasking over the past year. [00:35:31 - 00:37:13] Looking Ahead: Lee shares advice for young people to be generalists, embrace AI’s impact, and find purpose in a changing world.   Three Powerful Quotes:   [00:02:08] “Running was the mask for me… it was more about what I was running from.” [00:04:06] “I was never just really taking enough time to be still… you need to understand what you really value.” [00:35:56] “The need for authenticity in human humanness is going to be a prized asset in the future.”   Enjoy This Podcast?   Authenticity changes everything. If Sue Wesby’s story on The Leader Unmasked struck a chord, subscribe and share it with someone who might need it. Leave a review and tell us how finding your passion has helped—your words help others find us. Got questions? Reach out to Angela on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.   Thanks for listening! For more episodes, check out theleaderunmaskedpodcast.podbean.com.   Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean.   To unmasking your brilliance, Angela.

The Leader Unmasked: Sue Wesby on Embracing Authenticity   Feeling boxed in by a corporate career that doesn’t fit? Wondering if midlife can bring a fresh start?   In this episode of The Leader Unmasked, host Angela Cox chats with Sue Wesby, CEO and founder of Sandacre, a property investment firm built on ethics and values. Sue opens up about her 15 years at Barclays Bank, where progression was rigid and impersonal, and her later stints in pharmaceuticals, contrasting that with her leap into property investing in 2021. She shares how shedding corporate expectations let her flourish, finding passion and purpose later in life.   For leaders in the “silent middle” wrestling with burnout or self-doubt, Sue’s story is a nudge to chase what lights you up. Tune in and subscribe for more real insights on leading as your true self.Here are three reasons to give it a listen: Hear how Sue left behind corporate constraints to build a values-driven property business with Sandacre. Pick up ideas on rediscovering passion and purpose, even in midlife, to beat burnout. Learn from Sue’s experience inspiring others, especially young people, to carve their own path. Resources: Contact Angela Cox on LinkedIn Visit The Leader Unmasked Podcast Explore coaching at Paseda360 Episode Highlights:   [00:01:25 - 00:03:30] Corporate Roots: Sue recalls her time at Barclays, where career steps were pre-set, offering solid training but little personal freedom. [00:04:19 - 00:05:03] A New Outlook: She reflects on how age and passion helped her care less about others’ views, sparking the courage to try property investing. [00:30:34 - 00:31:21] Inspiring Others: Sue talks about challenging the education system’s limits, encouraging young people to explore entrepreneurship over traditional paths. [00:32:06 - 00:32:37] Open Doors: Sue mentions her approachable nature, inviting people to her property open days for a cuppa and a chat.   About the Guest:   Sue Wesby is the CEO and founder of Sandacre, a property investment firm grounded in ethics and values, where she’s become a leading light in the industry. After 15 years at Barclays Bank—where progression was automatic but impersonal—she moved into pharmaceuticals and later ran her own commercial vehicle business. Post-2008 financial crash, she left corporate life in 2021 to dive into property, a passion that now defines her. Sue’s journey from corporate rigidity to authentic leadership speaks to the “silent middle”—leaders quietly pushing through pressure—and her open, inspiring approach motivates others, especially younger generations, to rethink their paths.   Enjoy This Podcast?   Authenticity changes everything. If Sue Wesby’s story on The Leader Unmasked struck a chord, subscribe and share it with someone who might need it. Leave a review and tell us how finding your passion has helped—your words help others find us. Got questions? Reach out to Angela on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.   Thanks for listening! For more episodes, check out theleaderunmaskedpodcast.podbean.com.   Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean.   To unmasking your brilliance, Angela.

The Leader Unmasked: Hayley Heath on Shedding the Corporate Mask   Feeling trapped in a role that drains you, even if it looks successful from the outside? Ready to let go of the pressure to perform?   In this episode of The Leader Unmasked, host Angela Cox sits down with Hayley Heath, an IT leader turned transformational coach, to explore her journey from hiding behind a mask to embracing her true self. Hayley opens up about 24 years in corporate life—leading teams in male-dominated settings—where she masked her unhappiness with a smile, battling anxiety and exhaustion daily.   Training with Paseda360 sparked her shift, and now she’s thriving as a coach, planning retreats and courses on self-trust. If you’re a leader in the “silent middle” juggling stress and self-doubt, this chat offers hope and practical steps to live authentically.   Tune in and subscribe for more stories that inspire you to lead as your real self.Here are three reasons to give it a listen: Hear how Hayley moved from corporate burnout to finding joy by dropping her mask. Pick up insights on managing anxiety and overthinking as a leader in a tough environment. Learn about Hayley’s plans to help others build self-awareness and trust through coaching. Resources: Contact Angela Cox on LinkedIn Visit The Leader Unmasked Podcast Explore coaching at Paseda360 Episode Highlights: [00:01:48 - 00:02:47] The Hidden Struggle: Hayley reveals how she hid her unhappiness behind a smile, feeling pressured to achieve and suppress her personality in corporate roles. [00:03:44 - 00:05:12] Daily Masking: She describes the anxiety of putting on a mask each morning, dreading meetings, and holding back her true voice while leading teams. [00:05:37 - 00:06:26] Exhaustion and Relief: Hayley shares how her passion for teams kept her going, but the drive home was her only decompression, leaving her with little social life. [00:37:00 - 00:38:17] A New Path: Hayley talks about her exciting future—retreats, a self-trust course, and moving to full-time coaching—embracing the unknown with enthusiasm.   Three Powerful Quotes: [00:02:12] “I was very unhappy inside… I didn’t really feel like I experienced a lot of joy in life.” [00:04:48] “I would feel a lot of anxiety… I would often hold back, and it became draining.” [00:35:30] “Knowing that you’ve got a choice and it’s your choice to make has made a massive difference.”   About the Guest:   Hayley Heath is an IT leader turned transformational coach who’s turned her corporate struggles into a force for good. After 24 years in senior management and C-suite roles, often in male-dominated settings, Hayley masked her true self—smiling through anxiety and exhaustion—until training with Paseda360 opened her eyes. Now, she facilitates Paseda courses and is building a coaching career, with plans for retreats and a self-trust course. Her journey from corporate burnout to authenticity speaks to the “silent middle”—leaders quietly battling pressure—and her wisdom helps others find their voice. As a soon-to-be master practitioner, Hayley’s passion for empowering people shines through.   Enjoy This Podcast?   Authenticity is the key to great leadership. If you learned something new from Rob Regan’s story on The Leader Unmasked, hit subscribe and share it with your colleagues and friends! Post a review and share your thoughts online—tell us how embracing authenticity has inspired you.   Your feedback helps more leaders find us.   Have questions? Contact Angela through LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.   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

The Leader Unmasked: Coral Horn on Authenticity and Empowering Women in Business   Struggling to fit into a male-dominated corporate world? Tired of putting on a front just to get by? In this episode of The Leader Unmasked, host Angela Cox chats with Coral Horn, founder of Pink Link Ladies and the Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs). Coral opens up about her time in sales, where she felt out of place amid football chats and being left out at lunch, and how she left it all behind to start her own business 16 years ago. Now, she creates spaces where women can connect, collaborate, and support each other without pretending to be someone they're not. It's a down-to-earth conversation about finding your tribe, staying true to yourself, and why authenticity makes everything easier. If you're a leader feeling the quiet strain of the "silent middle," this one's for you. Listen in and see how dropping the mask can change things for the better. Don't forget to subscribe for more real talks on leading as yourself. Here are three reasons to give it a listen: Hear how leaving a toxic corporate setup let Coral build something genuine and supportive for women in business. Get tips on overcoming isolation and burnout by surrounding yourself with people who lift you up. Learn from Coral's experience running Pink Link Ladies and the EVAs, where belonging and real connections are key. Resources: Contact Angela Cox on LinkedIn Visit The Leader Unmasked Podcast Explore coaching at Paseda360 Episode Highlights: [00:02:24 - 00:04:20] Corporate Struggles: Coral talks about feeling like an outsider in sales teams, where male colleagues dominated conversations and left her on the sidelines. [00:05:14 - 00:06:20] Undermined Moments: She recalls being publicly challenged on ideas that had been agreed upon, just for laughs, and how it made her realise she needed to leave. [00:06:20 - 00:07:16] Making the Leap: Coral explains the decision to quit corporate life for her own business, knowing it wasn't good for her mental health long-term. [00:32:35 - 00:35:54] Lifting Others Up: Coral shares advice on letting go of the mask to find your people, plus updates on the EVAs finalists and upcoming events.Three Powerful Quotes: [00:03:09] “It was quite male-dominated… the conversations were all about football and golf… you just didn’t feel part of it.” [00:05:38] “Why are you doing that? They thought it was funny… it was difficult trying to fit into that environment.” [00:33:11] “Just let it go. Be yourself. People will love you more for that… you’ll find your right tribe.” About the Guest: Coral Horn, founder of Pink Link Ladies and the Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs), is all about helping women in business be themselves and support each other. After years in corporate sales feeling like she didn't fit in—dealing with exclusion and undermining—she started her own ventures 16 years ago. Today, Pink Link Ladies connects women for collaboration, and the EVAs celebrate their achievements in a welcoming space. Coral's path from isolation to building real communities hits home for leaders in the “silent middle” who are pushing through unseen struggles. Her focus on sustainability and inclusivity shines through in events like the upcoming House of Commons gathering. Enjoy This Podcast?   Authenticity is the key to great leadership. If you learned something new from Rob Regan’s story on The Leader Unmasked, hit subscribe and share it with your colleagues and friends! Post a review and share your thoughts online—tell us how embracing authenticity has inspired you.   Your feedback helps more leaders find us.   Have questions? Contact Angela through LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.   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

The Leader Unmasked: Rob Regan on Finding Balance Through Authenticity   Are you chasing external validation, only to feel unfulfilled?  Caught in a cycle of striving that leaves you drained?   This episode of The Leader Unmasked is your moment to pause and reflect. Host Angela Cox, a Master Coach for Executives and Founder of Paseda360, sits down with Rob Regan, Chief Operating Officer of Principality Building Society, who shares his journey from a “needy” corporate mask to authentic leadership. From relentless striving in financial services to coping with personal tragedies—losing his brother, mother, and sister, and facing his wife’s cancer diagnosis—Rob used work as a crutch, hiding his true self. A pivotal break from corporate life and a return to a values-driven role helped him find balance.   Perfect for senior leaders and aspiring professionals in the “silent middle,” this episode will inspire you to seek internal fulfilment and lead authentically.   Tune in to discover how unmasking can transform your leadership and life.   Subscribe now for more insights to be brilliant by being you!   Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Discover how to move beyond external validation and lead with authenticity, finding true fulfilment. Learn about the “silent middle” and how to break the cycle of relentless striving and burnout. Gain insights from Rob Regan on balancing corporate leadership with personal authenticity and purpose. Resources: Contact Angela Cox on LinkedIn Visit The Leader Unmasked Podcast Explore coaching at Paseda360 Episode Highlights: [00:02:03 - 00:03:55] The Needy Mask: Rob reflects on craving external validation in his early career, seeking recognition and popularity, which left him unfulfilled and exhausted. [00:11:00 - 00:12:54] Personal Tragedies and Coping: Rob shares how the loss of his brother, mother, and sister, and his wife’s cancer diagnosis pushed him to use work as a mask to avoid emotional pain. [00:17:44 - 00:21:56] A Pivotal Break: Rob discusses taking a break from corporate life, which taught him about self-worth beyond external validation and status. [00:29:39 - 00:32:52] Embracing Vulnerability: Rob explains how sharing his struggles openly, despite initial fears, inspired others and reduced his need for external approval. Three Powerful Quotes: [00:03:38] “The more I tried to please others, probably the less fulfilled… everything I was doing was about me giving the impression to others that I was successful.” [00:13:25] “Work was like almost my mask… all my validation, particularly external validation, and all my self-worth came through work.” [00:32:52] “I don’t worry about [negative opinions] as much as I might have 5 or 6 years ago… if one person makes a different decision, it’s worth it.” About the Guest: Rob Regan, Chief Operating Officer of Principality Building Society, is a leader who transformed relentless striving into authentic leadership. With a career spanning manufacturing, financial services, and executive roles at Legal & General and Royal London, Rob once hid behind a “needy” mask, craving external validation to feel successful. Personal tragedies—losing his brother, mother, and sister, and facing his wife’s cancer diagnosis—pushed him to use work as a coping mechanism. A break from corporate life and a return to a values-driven role at Principality helped him find balance and self-worth. Rob’s journey resonates with the “silent middle”—leaders quietly struggling under pressure—offering a path to lead with vulnerability and purpose.   Enjoy This Podcast?   Authenticity is the key to great leadership. If you learned something new from Rob Regan’s story on The Leader Unmasked, hit subscribe and share it with your colleagues and friends! Post a review and share your thoughts online—tell us how embracing authenticity has inspired you.   Your feedback helps more leaders find us.   Have questions? Contact Angela through LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.   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

The Leader Unmasked: Tiffany Willcox on Embracing Authenticity and Building Belonging   Struggling to show up as your true self in leadership? Feeling weighed down by the need to be perfect?   This episode of The Leader Unmasked is your invitation to break free. Host Angela Cox, a Master Coach for Executives and Founder of Paseda360, sits down with Tiffany Willcox, a senior technology leader and host of the National Coaching Awards, who shares her journey from layers of conformity to authentic leadership. From boarding school at age seven to projecting confidence at Specsavers while battling self-doubt, Tiffany built a “perfectionist mask” to prove her worth. Through deep self-awareness, she shed these layers, learning to embrace mistakes and lead with vulnerability.   Perfect for senior leaders and aspiring professionals in the “silent middle,” this episode will inspire you to foster belonging, trust your authentic self, and lead with ease. Tune in to discover how unmasking can transform your leadership and life. Subscribe now for more insights to be brilliant by being you!Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Discover how to shed the perfectionist mask and lead authentically by embracing your true self. Learn about the “silent middle” and how self-awareness can ease burnout and overthinking. Gain insights from Tiffany Willcox on fostering belonging and empowering teams through vulnerability. Resources: Contact Angela Cox on LinkedIn Visit The Leader Unmasked Podcast Explore coaching at Paseda360 Episode Highlights: [00:02:16 - 00:03:49] Layers of the Mask: Tiffany reflects on how childhood experiences, like being left at boarding school at age seven, built layers of independence and conformity, shaping her perfectionist mask. [00:05:20 - 00:06:57] The Perfectionist Facade: Tiffany shares how projecting confidence at Specsavers hid inner self-doubt, leading to exhaustion from worrying about others’ perceptions. [00:09:43 - 00:12:34] Unmasking Through Self-Value: Tiffany discusses her struggle to list things she loved about herself, revealing a need to prove her worth, and how self-awareness transformed her perspective. [00:27:16 - 00:30:16] Hosting with Humanity: Tiffany describes hosting the National Coaching Awards authentically, connecting with speakers and the audience to foster belonging, creating a memorable sense of community. Three Powerful Quotes: [00:06:57] “I was so worried about what everyone else thought, I’d never considered what it felt like to be me.” [00:15:43] “The more honest I am about me, the more I inspire more people around me. It’s the most amazing thing.” [00:32:10] “I can breathe lighter. I can stand taller. And I feel like I can love even more people.” About the Guest: Tiffany Willcox, a senior technology leader and host of the National Coaching Awards, is a beacon of authentic leadership. With over 25 years in technology, including a senior role at Specsavers, Tiffany once hid behind a “perfectionist mask,” projecting confidence while battling self-doubt rooted in childhood experiences like boarding school at age seven.   Her journey of self-discovery, sparked by working with Angela Cox, led her to shed layers of conformity and embrace vulnerability. Now, Tiffany leads teams by fostering belonging, empowering others to be themselves, and admitting when she doesn’t know something. Her authentic approach shone at the National Coaching Awards, where she created a sense of community that left attendees feeling they belonged. Tiffany’s story resonates with the “silent middle”—leaders quietly struggling under pressure—offering a path to lead with ease and joy.   Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn to learn more about her inspiring journey.Enjoy This Podcast? Authenticity is the key to great leadership. If you learned something new from Tiffany Willcox’s story on The Leader Unmasked, hit subscribe and share it with your colleagues and friends!   Post a review and share your thoughts online—tell us how embracing your authentic self has inspired you. Your feedback helps more leaders find us. Have questions?   Contact Angela through LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.   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.

The Leader Unmasked: Andrew Bird on Authentic Leadership and Breaking Free   Ever feel trapped by the pressure to conform as a leader? Burnt out from wearing a mask that doesn’t feel like you?   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 Andrew Bird, CEO of W A Chump and Sons, who shares his journey from a “perfectionist mask” in banking to leading authentically.   From being labelled “mental” as a child for his creativity to chasing corporate success at the cost of happiness, Andrew’s “enough moment” in India—witnessing true joy in a community—changed everything. Now, he leads a values-driven company, rejecting jargon and prioritising outcomes over time.   Perfect for senior leaders and aspiring professionals in the “silent middle,” this episode will inspire you to trust your gut, shed inauthentic behaviours, and live every day with purpose.   Tune in to discover how authenticity can transform your leadership and life. Subscribe now for more insights to be brilliant by being you!Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Learn how to break free from conformity and lead with authenticity, no matter the corporate pressure. Understand the “silent middle” and how to overcome burnout by trusting your gut. Gain insights from Andrew Bird on building a values-driven business that prioritises outcomes over time. Resources: Contact Angela Cox on LinkedIn Visit The Leader Unmasked Podcast Explore coaching at Paseda360 Episode Highlights: [00:01:48 - 00:06:29] Conformity from Childhood: Andrew shares how being labelled “mental” for a creative essay at age five led to decades of suppressing his true self to conform to societal and corporate expectations. [00:16:44 - 00:19:24] The Enough Moment in India: Andrew recounts his pivotal realisation at a barbecue in India, seeing the joy of a community despite their lack of wealth, prompting him to quit banking and seek authenticity. [00:30:33 - 00:34:28] Building W A Chump and Sons: Andrew discusses founding W A Chump and Sons with a values-led charter, rejecting industries like weapons and mining, and focusing on delivering outcomes, not time. [00:44:43 - 00:47:21] Advice for Authentic Living: Andrew shares his advice to his children and others: “Be yourself, trust your gut,” emphasising living every day authentically over chasing financial success. Three Powerful Quotes: [00:18:17] “Everybody’s looking at you because they want to be like you… And I said, that’s really odd because I’m looking at all of you and you’ve got everything that I want.” [00:34:28] “What you see is what you get… There’s no jargon. There’s no bias. And that’s direct. I hope it’s authentic because it’s authentic to me.” [00:53:18] “We die once. We live every day… Every day’s an adventure. What are we going to do today? Whose life are we going to improve today?” About the Guest:   Andrew Bird, CEO of W A Chump and Sons, is a trailblazer in authentic, values-driven leadership. With a career spanning banking and consultancy, Andrew once wore a “perfectionist mask,” climbing corporate ranks as the youngest branch manager and area manager while hiding his true self.   His “enough moment” came in India, where a community’s joy despite poverty inspired him to quit banking and reject conformity. Now, Andrew leads W A Chump and Sons, a company focused on delivering outcomes, not time, with a strict values charter excluding industries like weapons and mining.   His journey from burnout to fulfilment resonates with the “silent middle”—leaders quietly struggling under pressure. Andrew’s mission is to leave a non-financial legacy, from maternal healthcare in Kenya to accessible e-learning, proving success lies in authenticity. Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn to learn more about his transformative approach.   Enjoy This Podcast?   Authenticity is the key to great leadership. If you learned something new from Andrew Bird’s story on The Leader Unmasked, hit subscribe and share it with your colleagues and friends!   Post a review and share your thoughts online—tell us how breaking free from conformity has inspired you.   Your feedback helps more leaders find us. Have questions? Contact Angela through LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.   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.

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. Resources: Contact Angela Cox on LinkedIn Visit The Leader Unmasked Podcast Explore coaching at Paseda360 Episode Highlights: [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. Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!  For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean.    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.

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. [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. Connect with Angela on LinkedIn or visit https://paseda360.com/ to learn more about her coaching programs. 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. Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!  For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean.  To meeting inspiration, Angela  

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.  Resources Contact Tim Davies on LinkedIn Visit ivolve Group Coaching with Angela Cox Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets Episode Highlights [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!  Connect with him on LinkedIn. 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 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. Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!  For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean.  To meeting inspiration, Angela

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. Resources Contact Tony Humberstone on LinkedIn Visit Vooba  Coaching with Angela Cox Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets Episode Highlights [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. Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!  For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean.  To meeting inspiration, Angela  

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. Resources  Meditations with Tara Brach Connect with Lucy ChamberlainAWS Summit London C&C Search LinkedIn Email Coaching with Angela Cox Listen to The Mindset Mentor MeetsThe Mindset Mentor Meets: Episode 5 with Lucy Chamberlain Episode Highlights  [02:03] What Has Changed in Lucy’s Life? 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. Enjoy this Podcast? 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 find their self-trust. Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!  For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean.  To meeting inspiration, Angela  

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. Resources  Contact Stephen through LinkedIn Visit the EF Group Website Coaching with Angela Cox Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets Read The Mother of All Jobs by Christine Armstrong Episode Highlights  [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. Connect with Stephen through LinkedIn, or read more about the EF Group on their website. Enjoy this Podcast? 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. Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!  For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean.  To meeting inspiration, Angela  

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. Find out more about Paseda360 Courses.https://paseda360.com/courses/advanced-practitioner/

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 Resources  Contact Kelly on LinkedIn or follow her on Instagram and X. Visit The Advantage Travel Partnerships Coaching with Angela Cox Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets Read The Mother of All Jobs by Christine Armstrong Episode Highlights  [02:34] Kelly’s First Proudest Moment: Her Family 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. Connect with Kelly through LinkedIn, or follow her on Instagram or X. 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 find out who they need in their support network. Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!  For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean.  To meeting inspiration, Angela

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. Resources  Contact Tarinee on LinkedIn See what Tarinee has to say about her company on their website. Coaching with Angela Cox Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets Episode Highlights  [02:39] Tarinee's First Proudest Moment: A Great Company 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. Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!  For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean.  To meeting inspiration, Angela  

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. Resources  Contact Rob on LinkedIn Coaching with Angela Cox Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets Episode Highlights  [01:43] Rob’s Balancing Act 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. 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. You can connect with Rob through LinkedIn. Enjoy this Podcast? 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. Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!  For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean.  To meeting inspiration, Angela  

What Every Aspiring Entrepreneur Needs to Hear with Daniel Priestley Once you’ve hit rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up. Today’s world is rife with opportunity — technology has opened the gateway for every aspiring entrepreneur to make an impact on the planet, no matter how small their start is. Not every successful enterprise starts with a million-dollar loan. Sometimes, it's just a college student sleeping in a garage. In this episode, Daniel Priestley takes us through the three proudest moments of his entrepreneurial journey. Daniel’s journey started when he was 15, working in McDonald's — a job he takes pride in — to being flat broke at 18, and where he is now: running multiple 7-figure companies at 42. We dive deep into his secret to running multiple successful businesses (hint: low expectations), his secret to consistent success, and what it takes to build a dream team. There's never been a better time than now to start a business. If you're an aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is definitely for you.  Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Learn from Daniel’s proudest moments as a successful entrepreneur, best-selling author, and international speaker making an impact. Find out how Daniel’s secret to success applies to every aspect of life, not just business. Discover the kind of impact that a small business can make in today’s world. Resources  Find out more about the Paseda360 Coach Training Academy and Angela’s latest plans for the academy. ScoreApp Dent Accelerators Rethink Press August Awards Jammy Digital Book Magic to launch this January 2024 Grab a copy of Daniel Priestley’s books:Key Person of Influence Scorecard Marketing What’s Your Business Worth?  How to Raise Entrepreneurial Kids Oversubscribed Read The E-Myth, the book that pushed Daniel to be an entrepreneur. Connect with Daniel Priestley on his website Coaching with Angela Cox Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets Episode Highlights  [03:04] Daniel’s First Proudest Moment: His First Success Daniel vividly remembers his first proudest moment — putting together a nightclub party for teenagers–and as a teenager himself! At 18, Daniel was, in a nutshell, broke. He was sleeping in a garage, working until almost dawn, and doing everything he could to make ends meet. He had a marketing assignment at university to identify a market need: a party for teens. As he thought about it, he realised he could turn the assignment into reality. Daniel had no confidence in his plans but was determined to put one foot in front of the other. He managed to pull off everything from partnering with a venue and getting sponsors to successfully marketing the event. Daniel filled the event with over 1,000 teens. He made ten thousand dollars in a single night — a life-changing amount of money for him. [09:38] Creating ScoreApp Daniel wrote a book titled The Key Person of Influence, which included a scorecard that readers could fill out to determine if they were a key person of influence. Readers loved the interactivity of the scorecard coupled with reading the book. Lots of business owners liked to fill out the scorecard even without reading the book. Daniel turned the scorecard into an opportunity. He found out that people who filled out the scorecard were diagnosing themselves with a problem. Being self-aware of this problem led people to sign up for coaching packages. They ended up making over 15 million pounds after pivoting into this model. Daniel was later able to fill another market niche — the need for people to have their own proprietary quizzes and scorecards, leading to the development of ScoreApp. [13:52] Daniel’s Second Proudest Moment: Speaking with Impact After releasing his book and the online scorecard, Daniel held a whole-day event in the NIDA theatre in Sydney. The event had several influential guest speakers and volunteers and earned over half a million dollars in sales. Daniel’s proudest moment wasn’t in how much money the event made. It was in the applause he received as he went on stage — before he had even said a word. He realised in that instant just how powerful an impact he had made on thousands of people from the book and the online scorecard. [17:17] The Beginning of Daniel’s Dreams Daniel was in the Boy Scouts and loved its philosophies of serving others and improving yourself. He knew from his early teens that he wanted to be an entrepreneur, especially after reading a book titled the E-Myth. While working at McDonald’s as a teen, Daniel wrote to the McDonald’s CEO about how he wanted to run a branch of his own. The CEO sent Daniel a franchise pack. Working at McDonald’s taught Daniel a lot about the systems the business used to succeed. Everything in a McDonald’s branch has an SOP — even for sneezing. Although working at McDonald's has a negative reputation today, Daniel views it as a formative time and takes pride in the job. [21:11] Daniel’s Third Proudest Moment: A Romantic Proposal Daniel's third proudest moment was when he proposed to his now-wife after taking her on a short adventure. Daniel’s wife wanted to go to Lake Como — so he organised a trip elsewhere while orchestrating ‘mishaps’ that would lead to staying in a hotel near Lake Como. Daniel proposed to his wife on a balcony under a full moon: a classic, proper romantic moment. They're now happily married with three children and a cat. Daniel's running several companies and businesses, and his first two proudest moments are about work. But there's more to a person than their career–just like this romantic proposal he pulled off. [27:23] One Hundred Good People Angela called Daniel a one-person miracle, but the truth is that there are around a hundred people on his team who make his miracles happen. There are several ways to get good people on your team. Daniel began by working with anyone he could find who had the motivation to work hard and learn how the ropes work. But later, he moved on to going through recruiters. Sometimes, the best people to work with aren't the fans of the company who already know the ins and outs of the brand. It’s better to work with skilled individuals who can give a fresh perspective on how they can grow the company. There’s value in hiring people with lots of positivity who like your company, but Daniel needed to balance that against hiring for skills and experience. [29:29] Daniel’s Views on Business Daniel aims to reach £100 million in valuation for ScoreApp and then sell it. Daniel views a business as either built for his desired lifestyle or for pure performance. Business as a lifestyle focuses on being free, having fun, and being flexible. The end goal is not to sell later on but to build and grow the business to suit your desired lifestyle. Conversely, performance businesses take on debt from investors to grow the bottom line exponentially. The end goal is to sell the business as the exit plan. You’ll benefit from having a partner who can take your business after you exit and take it to greater heights. Although he's looking to exit ScoreApp, Daniel doesn't plan to retire yet. He might be 42, but he feels he's only in the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. [32:21] Daniel’s Secret to Success Daniel believes the secret to success is setting low expectations.  Having high expectations will make you feel unsuccessful if you fall short, regardless of your actual performance. Daniel knows how it feels to start from the bottom — and the only way is up from there. Success is subjective; ultimately, the final basis of success is asking if you feel successful or not. This secret applies to all aspects of life, not just business. [38:06] The Age of the Aspiring Entrepreneur Daniel wants to emphasise that this is the greatest time in history to be an entrepreneur. Historically, businesses were limited by their physical location. Being in business for yourself meant affecting, at most, your local community. We now live in a time when a small business can serve almost anyone on the planet if it can leverage technology and media. 5 Powerful Quotes [16:23] “I realised that it was only me that was experiencing them as a crowd — they were experiencing me as a one-to-one. They're sitting in their chairs, looking at someone on the stage, and I'm having a one-to-one interaction with them.” [27:44] “If you ever see a tortoise on top of a fence post, you can be guaranteed that it didn’t get there on its own. It had some help. I’m that tortoise. Think about it like this: if you’ve got a hundred people on a team, you’ve got eight hundred hours a day, so there’s eight hundred hours a day going into the business. You can accomplish a lot with a hundred people.” [30:39] “You need to find a partner that you would exit to who can take it bigger and brighter than ever before so that they're well equipped to go to that next level.” [32:24] “If you want the feeling of what success feels then have low expectations. Because if you have high expectations, you're never going to experience the feeling of success.” [39:07] “I don't think there's ever been a better time where you could just simply build the business of your dreams in record time and make a huge impact doing it.” About Daniel Daniel Priestley is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, and renowned international speaker. Starting with nothing, he is now the founder of multiple successful businesses, including Dent Global and ScoreApp. As an entrepreneur and author, his mission is to help other business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs solve meaningful problems in remarkable ways through technology, innovation, and influence.  Learn more about Daniel and his work by visiting his website.   Enjoy this Podcast? Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Daniel Priestly shares his secret to success — and several other insights about how he got to where he is today. If you enjoyed today's episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, hit subscribe and share it with your friends!  Po

Overcoming Adversity: The Accidental Birth of Entrepreneurs Circle with Nigel Botterill Adversities can either break or make you. They can bring out your worst, but they can also lead you to become the best version of yourself. The choice is entirely yours. One thing’s certain: avoiding the issue will not bring you success.  In this episode, Nigel Botterill talks about his journey and how he ‘accidentally’ built Entrepreneurs Circle. He shares how he overcame losing £600,000 of his business’s funds to build a business that has made dozens of millionaires. Nigel also lets us in on the importance of using a values-based approach to business decisions and keeping your staff aligned with your vision. He then shares the 90-minute morning habit that makes his personal and business success possible.  Tune in to this episode to learn how you can turn life’s adversities to personal and business advantage! Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Discover the power of overcoming adversities.  Learn the importance of a values-driven approach to adversities.  Find out how to use your time properly for personal and professional success. Resources  Botty’s Rules: Success Secrets of the Business in the 21st Century by Nigel Botterill Get your early bird ticket now to the Getting & Keeping Customers Convention 2023 on 2-3 October 2023 at The ICC, Birmingham UK.  Join the Entrepreneurs Circle and discover how you can get more customers, make more sales, and grow your business! Learn more about Entrepreneurs Circle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |  YouTube Connect with Nigel: LinkedIn | Twitter  You’re Better than you think you are by Angela Cox Always Enough Collective with Angela Cox Coaching with Angela Cox Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets Episode Highlights [03:09] Getting to Know Nigel Nigel is a business growth expert in the UK.  He is the CEO and founder of the Entrepreneurs Circle  He is also the author of Botty’s Rules, which sold over 100,000 copies in 2012.  Outside his business, Nigel is a husband and father of four.  [05:40] Nigel’s First Proudest Moment Nigel’s first proudest moment is winning the Wind Cup. It’s the first trophy he won as an aspiring football player. Growing up, he wanted to be a professional football player. He was so proud when he was invited to the Saturday soccer at his primary school.  Experiences like these shaped him as he grew to do bigger and better things. Now, he helps other people become entrepreneurs.  [08:42] The Beginning of Entrepreneurs Circle The Entrepreneur’s Circle was created in 2010 through an accident.  After losing his business to the economic turndown in 2008, Nigel wanted to help other franchisees prepare for challenging times through recession training. His team mistakenly sent a video meant for the franchisees to the franchisees’ customers. After seeing the learning gap and ‘appetite’ of the email recipients, Nigel offered training for the customers of the franchisees.  The Entrepreneurs Circle now has over 1,000 members from all over the world who are living more fulfilled, more comfortable, and happier lives. [15:14] Nigel’s Second Proudest Moment All businesses need a team that works together towards the same goal. The biggest challenge is building and keeping the team.  Nigel is grateful and proud that he could do this with his team at Entrepreneurs Circle.  His team’s dedication energises and inspires him. [19:31] Making the Most Out of Life Attack every day with gusto and find things that energise you. Life is too short to spend it doing things that do not make you feel better about yourself. Always be prepared so you can overcome adversity, including those that are not of your own doing. Nigel used to work for large corporations and abide by policies and decisions that did not align with him.  Having his own business allowed him to ‘do things the right way.’ Money will flow if your business is doing the right thing. [22:58] Nigel’s Third Proudest Moment In 2015, Nigel’s business lost £600,000 to a ‘systematic management of accounts and bookkeeping.’  This forced him to take the Entrepreneurs Circle to a Creditors Voluntary Agreement (CVA). CVAs often end in the company closing and people losing money. However, with hard work, Nigel cleared the CVA a year early.  Nigel considers the exit certificate as his single proudest moment as a business owner. He displays the exit certificate in his office as a reminder of his triumph. [31:42] Lessons from Major Adversities Major adversities will change you for the better and teach you the biggest lessons.  Doing the right thing and using a values-driven approach to any adversity will create trust between you and your clients.  The only way out is through.  No matter how empathetic you are, you can never understand a situation as well as somebody who experienced it. [33:22] Business and Numbers You can never avoid numbers as a business owner.  Any business owner can learn to drive their numbers with focus and guidance. [34:58] Nigel’s Secret to Success  The secret to success all comes down to how you use your time.  People have built businesses bigger than themselves by spending time on the right things.  Get away from the daily tasks and work on moving the business forward. Mistakes are normal. Just make sure to spend enough time on the things that will make a difference. Nigel uses the first 90 minutes of his day to do things that will make his business more successful and move him and his family to where he wants it to be. 5 Powerful Quotes [16:11] ‘There's not a business that's traded that can't generate an extra 10 or 12 grand a margin in the next 12 months if the business owner really wants to do it.’ [20:12] ‘Life is really short to spend it doing things that don't make you feel better about yourself.’ [22:34] ‘[When] you do the right things, the money then flows.’ [31:27] ‘There are many things in life that impact you and shape you, and we are who we are and what we are to a large extent because of [these things].’ [32:43] ‘No matter how empathetic you are or how much you try, if you’ve never actually had to face the situation, you can never understand it quite as well as somebody that has gone through it.’ About Nigel Nigel Botterill is the founder and CEO of Entrepreneurs Circle where he mentors UK business owners and entrepreneurs to grow their business dramatically. Since 2010, he was able to start nine brands from scratch and grow them into million-pound businesses within a few years.  He also authored the Sunday Times bestseller Botty’s Rules in 2011, which became the biggest selling business book of the year. Outside his business, Nigel is a family man. He is a husband to his wife, Sue, and a father to his four kids.  You can learn more about Nigel on his LinkedIn and Twitter.  Enjoy this Podcast? If you enjoyed today's episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, 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. Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!  For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Podbean.  To meeting inspiration, Angela  

The Winning Mindset: How to Break Free from Your Limiting Beliefs with Rob Birkhead The first step is always the hardest, but that first stride you take towards your goals will bring you places. The beginning of your journey will feel like a million miles away from success, and you may feel discouraged. But progress, no matter how small, is still progress. You can only accomplish your goals and visions through action. And if you focus on that first step, it becomes easier to take the next steps and move up to success. In this episode, Rob Birkhead talks about the winning mindset he developed at 16, working towards acing his GCSEs. He shares how he applied the realisations from that time later on in his life and career. Rob also lets us in on how constantly pushing himself to get better led to his proudest moments in his business and fitness journey. He then shares the three secrets to success that guide his every step. If you want to learn the winning mindset behind freeing yourself from limiting beliefs and achieving any goal you set for yourself, this episode is for you! Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Discover the power of breaking free from your limiting beliefs. Learn why taking a step back can be a big leap forward. Find out the importance of having a plan and vision in reaching goals. Resources  TRINITY Transformation Fit Over Forty for Women by Rob Birkhead Contact Rob: Website Enough by Angela Cox Angela’s Episodes on The Fit Over 40 Podcast:Ep 5 – How Angela Cox Lost 8.5 Stone (And Overcame 30+ Years Of Yo-Yo Dieting) Ep 19 – Angela Cox (Round 2) Ep 70 – Award-Winning Life Coach Angela Cox on Getting Unstuck, Conquering Self-Doubt & Fulfilling Our Full Potential Coaching with Angela Cox Listen to The Mindset Mentor Meets Episode Highlights  [03:09] Rob’s First Proudest Moment Rob had a lot of limiting beliefs academically until he completed his GCSE.  He wanted to buy a car back then. His dad promised him a certain amount of money or penalty payments, depending on his exam results. Rob revised for the first time to prepare for the exam. His hard work resulted in seven A*s and five As. Beyond being able to buy the car, he realised that there’s a lot more he can do than he thought. Working towards achieving the incentive made him realise his potential and the power of structure and planning. [09:49] Applying His Realisation to His Clients’ Success Rob helps clients see that believing they can do it is the biggest thing they can do on their journey. We need to question our beliefs because many of these stories are not factual. There is a narrative that women over 40 are naturally going to gain weight because of menopause. Rob’s programme is trying to change this. He wants these women to know that they can achieve results as long as they keep going and adapt. [13:42] Rob’s Second Proudest Moment His second proudest moment is having their first team get-together in April this year. In 2019, he and his partner had to let their whole team go due to tax issues caused by inexperience. They didn’t get paid for 9 months while sorting it out. Currently, they have 10 people on the team.  They went to an escape room, had lunch, wore matching TRINITY clothing, and did a team photoshoot. Rob realised they have grown and come a long way from the tough times they went through. [17:49] Grow with the Challenges Whatever path you take is hard. There will always be issues working with a team, but you have to grow with it. It’s about constantly pushing yourself to get better. Hard work is an element of success, but it’s not enough on its own. Otherwise, you will get burnt out. [20:10] Rob’s Third Proudest Moment The most complicated movement for Olympic weightlifting is the ‘snatch’. Rob’s goal when he started CrossFit was to do an 80-kilo bodyweight snatch. But he couldn’t increase the weight from 75 kilos for some time. Going through lockdowns sent him back even more. Thus, he went back to basics and refined his technique because he knew that was his issue. Weightlifting is not about strength; it’s all about technique. After five years, Rob was able to do the 80-kilo snatch this year at their gym’s weightlifting competition. Tune in to the full episode for the complete story! [25:54] Stress and Weight Loss for Women Over 40 Female hormones change as early as 10 years before menopause. The average age of menopause in the UK is 51. Overstressing the body around this age can cause chronically elevated cortisol levels.  Constant high-stress hormone levels trigger the weight gain triangle, involving leptin, insulin, and thyroid. Listen to the full episode to learn how it works! Rob doesn’t recommend CrossFit and intense training for clients because they’re very stressful on the body. They focus on LIST or low-impact strength training, which you can efficiently do at home or the gym. [30:03] Rob’s Three Secrets to Success You need to have a vision for where you’re going. Keep moving forward no matter what happens, and try not to put time pressure on yourself. Second, get help from people with a track record of your goals. Lastly, just be patient. It may take longer than you thought, but it will be worth it. If you don’t know what the next best step is, find someone knowledgeable who can help you. Tune in to the episode to hear more about Rob’s three secrets to success! 5 Powerful Quotes [05:47] “If you work hard in a structured way, and you make it enjoyable, and you have a reason to do it — there’s a strong goal — then it can all come together.” [10:38] “You should question everything you believe because, as you know, it’s all just stories; there [are] usually no facts to it.” [18:05] “Whatever path you take is hard. It not going well is hard. It also going well is hard.” [40:29] “It's having that vision and then going, ‘It's there. I don't know how we're going to do it, but we'll get there, and I'll just keep going no matter what.” [42:19] “If you don't know what the next step is, find someone who knows what the next step is because they will be able to tell you.” About Rob Rob Birkhead is the co-founder of TRINITY Transformation and is UK's #1 women's health coach and weight loss expert for working women over 40. Rob's weight loss expertise expands across the domains of nutrition, exercise, and mindset. In the last 6 years, he has transformed the lives of over 6,500 clients across the globe. Rob is also the Amazon bestselling author of Fit Over 40 For Women. You can learn more about Rob by visiting his website.   Enjoy this Podcast? You are more than your limiting beliefs — Rob Birkhead shows how you can live up to your potential by changing your mindset. If you enjoyed today's episode of The Mindset Mentor Meets, 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. Have any questions? You can contact me through LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!  For more updates and episodes, visit my website. You can also tune in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Podbean.  To meeting inspiration, Angela