Hey Trailblazers! Welcome back to another episode of "Women in Tech Trailblazers." Tiffany Benitez here, and today's guest is going to change the way you think about your own mind. Meet Paula Guilfoyle, the leadership expert behind the Claim Leadership program, whose neuroscience-based work with Microsoft, Lowe's, and Coca-Cola Consolidated has driven higher engagement and teams that actually hit their goals.

We go straight to the real talk: gender bias. Paula does not pretend it doesn't exist; she has lived it. But she introduces something called your Reticular Activating System, the part of your brain that finds whatever you tell it to look for, like when you buy a car and suddenly see that car everywhere. She admits she once flew to Nashville expecting a male leader to be difficult, and guess what, he was. "What we resist persists, and what we look for, we will find." Her fix for a hard boss is not what you would expect.

Paula gets into the beliefs that quietly hold us back. She calls them "BS," belief systems, and explains why your brain completely ignores the word "don't." She proves it live with a purple elephant. Tell yourself not to think about a purple elephant, and now it is all you can think about. That is exactly why "I don't want to be nervous today" backfires every single time, and she shows you what to say instead.

The moment that stole the episode? Paula teaches visualization, the same mental rehearsal Olympic athletes use, where you picture the outcome you want before you walk in. She sent two Coke leaders into a four o'clock meeting picturing the exact result they wanted, and they walked out twenty minutes later with a six-figure check. You have to hear how they pulled it off.

Here are the key takeaways:

(3:30) Letting your true self lead

(5:08) Dropping the pressure to be perfect

(8:24) The neuroscience behind gender bias

(13:47) Winning over a difficult boss

(15:15) Limiting beliefs are just "BS"

(17:31) Affirmations and the purple elephant trick

(21:27) Why self-awareness is step one

(22:10) Deciding the leader you want to be

(25:56) The people who give you energy

(28:29) When it's okay to walk away

(30:50) Only kindness to yourself and others

Paula is proof that your mind is the most powerful tool you own, and she closes with a line that will stick with you. "It's not your business whether or not you make people uncomfortable." Tune in, subscribe, share, and go follow Paula on LinkedIn. See you next time, Trailblazers!

About Paula Guilfoyle

Paula Guilfoyle is the President and Founder of Claim Leadership, where she helps leaders and teams improve mindset, productivity, engagement, and self-awareness. Her work uses neuroscience-based tools to help people stay calm, focused, and effective during change. With experience across companies including Coca-Cola, Lowe’s, Microsoft, KPMG, and Collins Aerospace, Paula brings a practical view of leadership shaped by earlier roles in Human Resources and Sales at GE and Aventis.

Connect with Paula:

LinkedIn

About Tiffany Benitez

Tiffany Benitez leads Data Governance at Compass Group USA, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across all business units. She is passionate about driving data excellence and advancing women in tech and STEM.

Connect with Host:

Tiffany’s LinkedIn

Disclaimer

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The content should be considered other than professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with professionals regarding specific situations or concerns.