In this episode, Sarah talks about a topic that every leader faces but few like to discuss -failure. She explores why it feels so uncomfortable, what’s really going on in your brain when you fail, and four practical ways you can reframe, recover, and grow stronger from failure -so it becomes fuel for your success, not a roadblock.

[00:00:00] – Welcome to Unstuck and Unstoppable

[00:02:30] – Why We Struggle with Failure

• The higher you rise, the greater the perceived risk.
• Failure feels more personal and visible for women in leadership.
• Internal fears (imposter syndrome, self-doubt, confidence dips).
• External factors (organizational culture, risk aversion).
• The impact of gender conditioning — women are socialized to “get it right.”
• The double bind: be strong but not too strong; warm but not weak.
• The representation pressure women feel when there are fewer female leaders at the top.

[00:07:30] – Sarah’s Personal Failures and Lessons Learned

From HR initiatives that didn’t land, to failed business launches and missed job opportunities -Sarah shares how she’s learned to view failure as part of growth rather than something to avoid.

[00:08:30] – The Benefits of Failing

Failure can:

• Build resilience and risk tolerance
• Offer powerful learning and clarity
• Strengthen leadership authenticity
• Model a growth mindset for your team and organization

[00:10:00] – Four Ways to Get More Comfortable with Failure

1. Rewrite Your Failure Narrative
2. Understand the Neuroscience of Failure
3. Use Positive Psychology to Reframe Failure
4. Build Self-Compassion

[00:16:30] – Start Small & Build Your Risk Resilience

Experiment with low-stakes risks to grow your confidence over time. Failure tolerance is a muscle - the more you stretch it, the stronger it gets.

[00:17:00] – Quote to Inspire You

[00:17:30] – Final Thoughts & Coaching Invitation

Sarah encourages listeners to see failure as an essential part of leadership growth.If you’d like to explore your own relationship with failure and unlock your next level of confidence and success, book a Career Breakthrough Call with Sarah.

Useful Links

Free Break Free From Imposter Syndrome Webinar

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Join The Love What You Do Facebook Group

Connect with Sarah on...

In this episode, Sarah dives into how to confidently sell yourself in your next leadership interview, without feeling fake, boastful, or uncomfortable.

Drawing on her extensive experience coaching senior leaders, Sarah shares practical mindset shifts, communication strategies, and evidence-based techniques to help you move from self-doubt to self-assurance. Whether you’re interviewing for a director or CEO role, this episode will help you show your true value with confidence and impact.

[00:00:00] Welcome & Introduction

[00:01:00] Why This Topic Matters

Inspired by a client’s recent success in securing a director-level role, Sarah explains why interview confidence is a crucial skill for senior leaders and why “selling yourself” doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable.

[00:02:30] The Challenges of Leadership Interviews

How senior-level interviews differ from earlier career ones - more stages, more scrutiny, and higher expectations - and how preparation and mindset make all the difference.

[00:04:00] What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How to shift your mindset from “Am I good enough?” to “How can I show the value I bring?”
• What interviewers really want to know about you
• How to convey your strengths without downplaying them
• How to communicate with impact and authenticity

[00:05:00] Reframing ‘Selling Yourself’

Instead of thinking of interviews as sales pitches, Sarah reframes them as opportunities to present evidence-based data about your value and achievements.

[00:06:00] Managing Your Inner Critic

Practical ways to silence self-doubt and build a positive mindset before interviews - from affirmations to perspective shifts. Includes real client examples of how mindset work leads to interview success.

[00:08:00] Defining Your Unique Value

How to identify your unique selling points and demonstrate how you make a measurable difference to an organisation - whether through growth, people, innovation, or efficiency.

[00:10:00] Understanding the Interview Panel

How to tailor your responses based on who’s on the panel - your future boss, HR, peers, or board members - and what each is looking for in a candidate.

[00:12:00] Communicating Your Strengths with Ease

Why humility can hold leaders back - and how to practice talking about your achievements naturally so it feels authentic, not boastful.

[00:13:00] Balancing Strategy and Delivery

A reminder that senior roles require both operational experience and strategic thinking and how to showcase both effectively.

[00:14:00] Creating Personal Impact

How to let your enthusiasm and authenticity shine through, show your human side, and build rapport with the panel. How small moments of honesty can create connection.

[00:16:00] Be Intentional About Your Impact

Tips for being deliberate about how you want to come across - whether as a visionary leader, safe pair of hands, or collaborative people person.

[00:17:00] Recap & Key Takeaways

Summary of the five key areas to focus on for your next leadership interview:

1. Reframe selling as sharing evidence.
2. Manage your inner critic and mindset.
3. Know your unique value and what the panel needs to hear.
4. Communicate your strengths with ease and authenticity.
5. Create personal impact through presence and enthusiasm.

[00:18:00] Closing & Resources

Sarah encourages listeners to connect for 1:1 interview coaching

Useful Links

Do you ever feel like your hard work is going unnoticed? Or that your peers are getting promoted while you’re left behind? In this episode, Sarah shares practical strategies to help you raise your visibility, get the recognition you deserve, and move your career forward without feeling like you’re bragging or selling out.

I’ll walk you through:

• Why visibility matters for your career growth.
• The mindset shifts you need to stop playing small.
• Authentic ways to showcase your impact.
• How to create a strategic visibility plan.

If you’re ready to step into the spotlight, amplify your influence, and get noticed for all the right reasons, this episode is for you.

• Why “just doing your job well” isn’t enough anymore.
• How to reframe visibility so it feels authentic, not arrogant.
• The three mindset and strategy shifts to help you shine.
• A simple audit to check how you’re showing up in meetings.
• How to create a plan for long-term visibility and recognition.

[00:00:00] Welcome to Unstuck and Unstoppable & Sarah’s mission

[00:01:00] The challenge of balancing leadership with career aspirations

[00:02:00] Listener shoutout + free resource announcement

[00:03:00] Why visibility matters: career advancement, growth & recognition

[00:05:00] Common challenges: fears, beliefs & mindset blocks

[00:07:00] The perception gap: why saying “it’s fine” holds you back

[00:08:00] Why your voice matters for your organization’s success

[00:09:00] Top Tip #1 – Shift your mindset about visibility

[00:10:00] Top Tip #2 – Be authentic in your own style

[00:12:00] Case study: Creating a visibility strategy in financial services

[00:13:30] Top Tip #3 – Be strategic & intentional with your plan

[00:14:30] How to do a visibility audit (meetings & contributions)

[00:15:30] Free resource: Five Steps to Powerful Presence as a Female Leader

[00:16:30] How coaching can support your visibility journey

[00:17:00] Closing message: Shine brightly, lead boldly, be unstoppable

Useful Links

Free resource: Five Steps to Powerful Presence as a Female Leader

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Join The Love What You Do Facebook Group

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

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