In this episode, I welcome back international career and leadership expert Kathy Caprino to explore the concept of finding brave - why bravery is essential for breaking through personal and professional barriers, and how vulnerability can be a pathway to authentic power.

Episode Highlights:

Kathy's Journey to Finding Brave

• From an 18-year corporate career to becoming a therapist and coach
• The pivotal moment of being laid off after 9/11, when her therapist asked: "Who do you want to be in the world?"
• Training as a therapist and discovering that helping women bypass her own painful experiences became her calling
• The realisation in 2018 that clients across different backgrounds were bringing the same core problems

The Seven Power Gaps

Research with over 20,000 women revealed seven critical gaps that prevent people from thriving:

1. Not recognising your special talents, abilities and gifts
2. Communicating from fear, not strength
3. Reluctance to ask for what you want and deserve
4. Isolating from influential support
5. Acquiescing instead of saying stop to unfair behaviour or mistreatment
6. Losing sight of the thrilling dream you had for your life
7. Allowing the past to continue to shape and define you

• 98% of women surveyed and 90% of men had at least one of these gaps
• 75% of people had three or more gaps, indicating they weren't truly thriving

Redefining Power and Agency

• Why many people resist the word "power" - associating it with control over others rather than personal agency
• True power means the ability to shape yourself and what's in front of you through thinking, mindset, beliefs, and energy
• The importance of understanding that we have agency - we always had it, but often weren't taught how to recognise or use it
• How fear can create self-fulfilling prophecies through the energy we project

The Role of Vulnerability in Finding Brave

• Kathy's definition of vulnerability: uncertainty, risk, and exposure (following Brené Brown's work)
• Personal story about confronting her dentist about not wearing her retainer - choosing courage over comfort
• How masks we wear are often shaped by early family dynamics and societal conditioning
• The liberating conversation with her Greek mother about challenging authority

Practical Tools for Building Personal Agency

• Career Path Self-Assessment: 13 pages of questions Kathy wishes someone had asked her at 22
• The importance of recognising talents beyond just learned skills
• Reaching out to 10 people for LinkedIn recommendations to see yourself through others' eyes
• Using personality assessments and alternative frameworks (numerology, astrology, human design) as mirrors for self-discovery

The Power of Animals as Teachers

• Horse therapy example: how animals mirror our energy and leadership styles
• Kathy's experience volunteering at a horse rescue - how sensitive animals reflect our authentic selves
• The importance of collaborative leadership styles and knowing when to lead from different positions

Final Thought

Nothing is wasted - even struggles and detours serve a purpose. Personal growth work is essential for career and leadership success. The key is to reclaim small pieces of joy and creativity that may have been "squashed out" over time.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bravery and Personal Growth

03:00 Kathy's Journey: From Corporate to Coaching

08:53 The Concept of Finding Brave

12:00 Defining Bravery: Personal Experiences and Growth

17:10 Understanding Masks: Why We Hide Our True Selves

19:47 Power Gaps: Identifying and Overcoming Barriers

25:11 Personal Agency: Claiming Your Power

29:51 The Role of Family and Social Conditioning

31:11 Mitigating Challenges and Personal Growth

34:50 Recognizing Unique Talents and Abilities

40:53 Exploring Self-Validation and External Resources

46:43 Understanding Leadership Styles and Personal Power

53:01 Embracing Personal Growth and Future Aspirations

Resources:

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Get Kathy's Book - The Most Powerful You: 7 Bravery-Boosting Paths to Career Bliss