This episode continues our special miniseries, K to R Essentials Behind the Scenes, offering an inside look at our coaching calls. K to R Essentials is structured around four key themes—Vision, Leadership, Strategy, and Planning—and this series explores each one.

In this episode, we dive into the second theme: Leadership. One of the foundational principles we emphasize in K to R Essentials is that leadership starts with you. Before you can effectively lead others, you need to build confidence in your ability to make decisions and stand by them. Inside the program, students learn to connect with their inner wisdom and develop the self-trust needed to navigate their research careers with clarity and purpose.

In this episode:

• Why self-trust is the foundation of effective leadership—and how it influences your ability to lead others.

• The power of the inner mentor exercise and how it helps researchers connect with their inner wisdom.

• How overthinking and decision paralysis are often signs of lacking self-trust—and practical strategies to overcome them.

• Why outsourcing decision-making to others can hold you back—and how to reclaim your authority in your career.

• The role of self-reflection in becoming a confident, grounded leader in academia.

Join me in this episode as we explore how cultivating self-trust and tuning into your inner mentor can transform not only your leadership style but your entire research career.