Leading You

Why do so many capable women do the work of leadership every single day but hesitate to call themselves leaders? In this episode, Julie Hyde explores the Identity Paradox: the gap between how we see ourselves and the leadership we’re already living.

Julie unpacks why this paradox matters, the hidden costs of not owning your leadership identity, and how shifting your perspective can change everything - from confidence and career opportunities to legacy and impact.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What the Identity Paradox is and why it keeps women from claiming leadership
• How outdated leadership models shape our self-perception
• The cost of waiting for recognition instead of creating it
• Why the “balcony view” beats firefighting on the dancefloor
• Three reflection questions to help you step into your leadership identity today
• Julie’s personal story of rebuilding her leadership brand in just one year

 

Episode Timestamps

• 00:00 Welcome and why this episode matters now
• 02:08 “Hands up if you identify as a leader” (what happened next)
• 05:10 The myths that keep women from claiming leadership
• 10:40 The Identity Paradox explained
• 16:20 My corporate wake-up call: from expert support to leader
• 20:35 Dancefloor vs balcony—how to rise above the noise
• 24:18 Three daily questions that shift your leadership trajectory
• 29:40 Reflection prompts and invitation to step forward
• 32:10 Lead.Her Collective: building the CEO of you

 

Resources and Links

• Join the Lead.Her Collective™ Mastermind – Unstoppable You 
• Connect with Julie Hyde on LinkedIn

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde speaks with Anita Siek, founder of Wordfetti and brand strategist, about the power of words to transform your life, business, and legacy.

Anita shares her journey from corporate lawyer to building a global brand rooted in storytelling, personality, and connection. She opens up about overcoming fear, embracing her quirks, and why professional doesn’t have to mean boring.

We also unpack the role of AI in business and copywriting—including how Anita built Fetti Bot, her own AI tool, to save 60+ hours a month while still protecting the human creativity that makes content connect.

If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out in a noisy world, this episode will show you why your voice, quirks, and story are your biggest competitive edge.

 

Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & Anita’s intro
03:15 – From law to words: career shift
10:40 – Why “sounding good” doesn’t equal connecting
16:50 – Owning your quirks and weirdness
25:20 – Embracing AI in copywriting
34:00 – What Fetti Bot is and how it works
41:15 – Protecting IP in the AI era
49:00 – Final thoughts on courage & connection

 

Links:

Get the Clarity Compass Mini Program
Join the Lead.Her Mastermind coaching program

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

 

Connect with Anita:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitasiek/
Wordfetti: https://wordfettigroup.com/
Fifi the Fetti Bot (join the club to get access to FiFi GPT): https://juliehyde--wordfetti.thrivecart.com/club/

 

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the courage you're avoiding is the key to everything you're chasing?

In this episode, Julie Hyde unpacks the one shift that’s no longer optional for leaders—especially high-performing women who still feel unseen, stuck, or burnt out despite all they’re doing.

This isn’t about doing more. It’s about showing up differently with courage, clarity, and intention.

Julie shares the real cost of playing small (spoiler: it’s not just your confidence - it’s your legacy), and offers a powerful reframe on what it means to lead now. If you’ve ever felt like you’re waiting for permission, this is your wake-up call.

Drawing from her personal story—walking away from corporate, reshaping her business, and facing down cancer—Julie reveals how courage became her through line. And how it can be yours too.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why courage, not confidence, is the new standard of leadership
• The silent cost of staying in misaligned roles and relationships
• How to recognise where you’re still waiting for permission
• 3 small but bold moves you can take today to lead and live with intention

 

Episode Timestamps:

[00:00] Intro: The moment that sparked this conversation
[02:45] When being brilliant at your job isn’t enough
[05:12] Why women stay in misaligned roles or relationships
[07:30] The real cost of waiting to be chosen
[10:20] The legacy gap: What you leave behind vs. what you intended
[13:08] A personal story: Cancer, corporate, and choosing differently
[17:40] Why courage—not confidence—is the new standard
[20:00] How to recognise when you’re playing small
[22:15] 3 small bold moves to shift your leadership today
[26:00] Final message: You don’t need permission to choose yourself

Whether you're mid-career, at a crossroads, or ready to stop blending in, this episode will help you choose yourself - unapologetically.

Listen now and start building the legacy you actually want.

 

Links:
Get the Clarity Compass Mini Program

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is not a story about foolishness. It’s a story about sophisticated betrayal and the courage to rebuild.

In this deeply human and confronting episode of Leading You, I’m joined by Tracy Hall, advocate, author, and survivor of intimate fraud.

Tracy’s story begins with a Crime Stoppers video. A blurry arrest. A name she didn’t recognise. And the sickening realisation that the man she had loved for 18 months was not who he said he was.

Together, we unpack how grooming really works, not through loud red flags, but through subtle, believable beige ones. From carefully crafted details to plausible stories, Tracy helps us understand how even the most intelligent, capable people can be caught in a web of deceit. She also challenges the victim-blaming narratives still dominating headlines and explains why words like “lost money” completely erase the crime.

This conversation isn’t just about financial loss. It’s about grief, shame, reclaiming your voice, and the quiet strength it takes to speak out. Tracy’s journey from devastation to advocacy is a masterclass in resilience and truth-telling and a reminder that prevention starts with compassion, not judgment.

In this episode, we cover:

• How grooming really happens and why “beige flags” are harder to spot than red ones
• The emotional and psychological toll of intimate fraud
• Why victim-blaming language causes harm and what to say instead
• How men in their 60s and teens are being increasingly targeted
• Practical steps to take if your gut says something is off
• How Tracy reclaimed her voice through Who the Hell is Hamish?, her memoir The Last Victim, and advocacy work

Actions & Insights:

• If your gut says “something’s off,” pause and talk to someone you trust
• Use direct, respectful questions if you're worried about someone you care about
• Report even if you never go public, it helps build the data that protects others
• Review how you discuss fraud within your team, at home, or in the workplace. Language matters

 

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome and intro to Tracy Hall
02:10 – The morning everything changed: the Crime Stoppers video
05:20 – Shock, denial, and the first call with detectives
08:45 – The layered toll: financial, emotional, and psychological
12:30 – Grooming and the “beige flags” that add up
17:40 – Why friends’ perspectives matter—and how to use direct language safely
22:15 – Reclaiming voice: Who the Hell is Hamish?, writing The Last Victim
27:50 – Changing narratives: media framing, reporting, and advocacy
32:10 – Who’s being targeted now (yes, men in their 60s and teens)
36:00 – Practical steps if something feels wrong
39:40 – Tracy’s message for anyone feeling powerless
41:50 – Wrap-up

 

Resources & Support:

📘 The Last Victim by Tracy Hall
🎧 Podcast: Who the Hell is Hamish?
🛠️ Support Services:

• IDCARE (cyber & identity support)
• 1800RESPECT (coercive control, safety & counselling)
• Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7 mental health support)

Join the Courage to Be You masterclass here. Happening on Tuesday, 23rd September

Share this episode:

• Tag @juliehyde and @tracyhall on LinkedIn or Instagram
• Use the hashtag #LeadingYouPodcast
• Rate, review & subscribe if this story moved you

 

Because sunlight is the antidote to shame.
And truth-telling is its own form of leadership.

Links:
Get the Clarity Compass Mini Program

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

Connect with Tracy:
Website: https://tracyhall.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracyleehal

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being excellent is no longer enough. Visibility takes courage.

In this solo episode of Leading You, I unpack a conversation I hear far too often:
“I’m brilliant at what I do… so why am I invisible?”

Flawless execution won’t get you promoted. Long hours and loyalty won’t make you unmissable. And burnout isn’t always a result of doing too much - it’s often a sign of overfunctioning and “pushing too hard”.

I share a raw story from my own corporate career - a moment where, despite being the go-to, high-performing support for a senior leader, I was passed over for a promotion. Not because of lack of skill. But because I’d positioned myself as the support act, not the star.

This episode is a wake-up call for high-performing women who’ve been quietly waiting to be noticed. Because in today’s leadership landscape, recognition doesn’t come from hard work alone. It comes from positioning, visibility, and the courage to own your edge.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why being excellent isn’t the same as being visible
• How to recognise when you’re blending in - and what it’s costing you
• The trap of over-functioning and waiting to be chosen
• Why positioning and courage matter more than flawless delivery
• How to shift from being the option to being the standard
• A powerful call to own your story, voice, and leadership identit

 

Actions & Reflection Prompts:

• Where are you still blending in — and what would it look like to stand out?
• Stop waiting for permission to use your voice. Speak now.
• Anchor yourself with a personal “Who I Am” statement — not a résumé.
• Ask: Am I positioning myself as a leader, or someone who supports one?

 

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Why “being good” is no longer enough
03:15 – The lie we’re told early in our careers
06:40 – A story of being overlooked despite excellence
12:20 – The cost of staying invisible
16:05 – Why positioning changes everything
19:50 – Practical steps to own your edge
24:10 – Final reflections: courage is the new standard

Links:
Join the Courage To Be You Masterclass
Get the Clarity Compass Mini Program

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your personal brand isn’t what you post — it’s what you carry.

In this episode of Leading You, I’m joined by Vinisha Rathod, founder of P3 Studio and author of The Briefcase Effect, for a powerful and refreshing conversation about personal brand as a form of self-leadership — not performance.

Vinisha introduces her signature framework: Unpack → Carry → Amplify, guiding us to take stock of the habits, relationships, and mindset we bring into every room. Instead of building a brand for others, she shows us how to curate what supports you, so you become a magnet for aligned opportunities — and a gentle deterrent to what no longer fits.

We explore the role of boundaries, friendship audits, and even your internal “hormone squad” — dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins — as part of the energy and presence you carry. From how you introduce yourself, to how you show up online, this episode is a call to rethink the signals you send — and take back ownership of how you lead.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why personal brand is really about self-leadership, not polish
• The Briefcase Effect framework: Unpack, Carry, Amplify
• How to audit your habits, friendships, and support systems
• The science of the “hormone squad” and how it affects your energy
• A powerful reframe for answering the question: “What do you do?”
• Why consistency, relatability, and intention matter more than perfection
• How to attract aligned opportunities by being who you already are

 

Actions & Reflection Prompts:

• What are you currently carrying in your “briefcase”?
• Which habits, people, or beliefs are supporting you — and which are draining you?
• How are you showing up online, and does it reflect who you really are?
• Try this intro: What I’m good at → What I do → Why it matters

 

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome and the idea of “what’s in your briefcase?”
02:10 – Meet Vinisha Rathod and her book The Briefcase Effect
04:00 – Becoming a magnet for aligned opportunities
06:30 – The framework: Unpack → Carry → Amplify
09:10 – Friendship audits and curating support systems
12:05 – Why relatability beats polish in modern leadership
15:00 – Your online presence as your 24/7 résumé
17:30 – Habits that help vs habits that hinder
20:40 – The hormone squad and your leadership energy
24:10 – Connection, loneliness and memory-making
27:00 – The empty house problem: success without relationships
29:15 – Reframing how we answer “What do you do?”
33:30 – Hiring A-players and building inclusive cultures
37:10 – Becoming the person who adds to the room
40:00 – Closing reflections and invitations

 

Links:
Get the Clarity Compass Mini Program

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

Connect with Vinisha:
Book: The Briefcase Effect 
Website: https://thebriefcaseeffect.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinii_shar/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinisharathod/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you couldn’t mention your job, your title, or your LinkedIn bio - how would you describe yourself?

In this solo episode of Leading You, I explore the identity crisis that so many high-performing leaders quietly experience. We’ve spent years defining ourselves by roles, achievements, and external success. But when the titles fall away… who’s left?

Inspired by a powerful moment in another podcast where CEOs and board members struggled to answer the question “Who are you as a person?” without listing their career history, I unpack why this question is so confronting, and why your answer matters more than ever.

This episode is a wake-up call for anyone stuck in proving, striving, or living out of alignment with their core. You’ll learn how to reconnect with your true identity, why it’s a leadership superpower, and a practical tool to anchor yourself during times of change.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why “Who are you?” is so often answered with a job title and what that reveals
• How burnout, misalignment, and non-stop striving disconnect us from ourselves
• Why your résumé is not your worth
• The power of writing a Who I Am statement
• How remembering who you are changes how you lead and live

 

Actions & Reflection Prompts:

• Pause and ask: Who are you without your title or achievements?
• Write your own Who I Am statement - your values, passions, and what truly matters
• Revisit it regularly, especially during change or when you feel off-track
• Share this episode with someone who needs to be reminded: you are more than what you do

 

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome to Leading You
01:15 – The question every leader should ask
04:10 – What CEOs said when asked “Who are you as a person?”
06:45 – My own experience of losing and reclaiming identity
09:20 – When proving yourself becomes your identity
13:30 – Misalignment, burnout, and forgetting who you are
17:00 – Prompts to reconnect with your true self
21:15 – Using your Who I Am statement as an anchor
25:00 – Final reflections and an invitation to pause

 

Want more? 

📖 Explore Lead.Her Collective Mastermind
🎧 Listen to more episodes: Leading You Podcast
📘 Read: You Always Have a Choice

 

Share this episode:

• Tag @juliehyde on LinkedIn or Instagram
• Use the hashtag #LeadingYouPodcast
• Rate, review & subscribe if this resonated with you

Because when you remember who you are, you lead from truth - not from titles.

 

Links:
Get the Clarity Compass Mini Program

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Energy is your most powerful leadership asset. So… how’s your battery?

In this episode of Leading You, I’m joined by Tim Jack Adams, founder of GreenX7 and global voice in wellbeing and connected leadership, for a powerful conversation on energy, burnout and sustainable success.

We explore the question that’s shifting workplace culture around the world: How’s your battery?
It’s not just a check-in. It’s a radical reframe of what it means to thrive in leadership and life.

From high-functioning burnout to the science of grounding, Tim shares his personal story and practical tools for building energy-aware cultures—ones where people perform without burning out.

This isn’t a fluffy wellbeing chat. It’s a call to rethink how we work, lead and live.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why “How’s your battery?” unlocks more honesty than “Are you okay?”
• The four types of energy every leader must protect: physical, mental, emotional, social
• Why success without energy is a silent crisis in leadership
• How high-performing leaders hide burnout behind achievement
• The science behind nature, grounding and nervous system reset
• Why movement, breath, and connection are your best leadership tools
• How to build cultures that are high-performing and human

 

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Meet Tim Jack Adams and the origin of GreenX7
01:50 – The story behind “How’s your battery?”
04:30 – Black swan syndrome: burnout in high achievers
06:30 – Signs your battery is running low
08:45 – Self-leadership as the foundation of wellbeing
10:00 – Debunking the productivity = hours myth
12:00 – Energy-first leadership: a new lens on performance
13:30 – The 4 energy dimensions that fuel sustainable leadership
16:00 – The loneliness epidemic and why “busy” isn’t a badge
18:00 – Nature, breath, and the biology of clarity
21:30 – Leadership presence, play and cultural shift
24:00 – Grounding and barefoot science
27:00 – Tim’s daily recharge rhythm
28:45 – Final reflection: what’s really worth your energy?

Links:
Get the Clarity Compass Mini Program

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

Connect with Tim:
Check your Battery Here
Weblink: http://www.greenx7.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-jack-adams-75727111/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenx7/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mindset reframe for leaders navigating self-doubt

What if your self-doubt isn’t a flaw, but a sign you’re growing?

In this solo episode of Leading You, I’m flipping the script on imposter syndrome.

We talk a lot about confidence, courage and mindset on this podcast, but what if what we call “imposter syndrome” is actually something else? What if that discomfort you’re feeling isn’t a red flag... but an invitation?

I share a personal story about the self-doubt that hit me hard while planning a women’s leadership event, and the tools I used to shift from stuck to showing up. We also explore why the labels we give ourselves (like “perfectionist” or “people pleaser”) can limit us, and how naming your inner critic might just be the most powerful move you make this week.

This episode is a mindset reframe, a call to action, and a deeply practical toolkit for any leader who’s felt not-good-enough, not-ready, or like they don’t belong.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why not all self-doubt is imposter syndrome
• The neuroscience of labels, and how they shape our identity
• What to do when confidence is nowhere to be found
• The surprising upside of naming your inner critic
• Three tools to help you shift out of fear and into aligned action
• Why “ready enough” is often the only kind of ready that matters
• How to anchor into your values when doubt creeps in

 

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome and a reframe of imposter syndrome
01:00 – Why imposter syndrome thrives in high-achievers
03:00 – What if doubt is growth in disguise?
04:00 – Behind the scenes: My leadership dinner doubts
06:00 – The danger of labels and over-identifying with them
08:00 – Why the brain clings to identity (even if it holds us back)
11:00 – Meet “Maude”: my inner critic
12:00 – The 3 mindset tools I rely on when I feel stuck
14:00 – You don’t need to feel 100% ready
15:00 – Final reframe and invitation to lead from growth, not fear

 

Tune in now for a powerful mindset shift that’ll move you from paralysis to progress.
Because the next version of you? She’s already on her way.

 

Links:
Join us for the Lead.Her Collective Dinner
Get the Clarity Compass Mini Program

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emotional intelligence in leadership isn’t optional anymore - it’s your edge.

In this episode of Leading You, I sit down with emotional intelligence expert, speaker, and author Amy Jacobson to unpack what EQ really looks like in today’s high-performing, fast-moving workplaces.

We explore why emotional intelligence is no longer just a “soft skill”- it’s a critical leadership advantage. From navigating difficult conversations to building trust and team culture, EQ is the key to leading with clarity, confidence and connection.

Amy shares a powerful 5-step framework for high-stakes conversations, how to stop over-preparing and start connecting, and what leaders can do today to improve emotional agility and self-awareness.

Whether you're avoiding tough conversations, reacting under pressure, or simply want to be a more effective and human leader, this episode delivers real tools for lasting impact.

What we cover in this episode:

• Why emotional intelligence is the new competitive edge in leadership
• How EQ transforms team performance, trust, and culture
• The biggest reason leaders avoid hard conversations
• Amy’s 5-step strategy for leading with clarity under pressure
• How your emotional wiring impacts your leadership style
• The link between EQ and self-leadership
• What emotionally intelligent leadership looks like in action
• Simple mindset shifts to lead more effectively today

 

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Meet Amy Jacobson: Emotional intelligence expert and author
01:00 – Why emotional intelligence is the new leadership edge
03:45 – The real reason leaders avoid hard conversations
05:30 – EQ’s impact on team trust, culture and performance
07:20 – Amy’s 5-step framework for emotionally intelligent conversations
10:00 – When over-preparing becomes a leadership liability
13:00 – Understanding emotional wiring and self-leadership
15:30 – Real-world examples of EQ in high-performing teams
18:00 – One small mindset shift that boosts EQ

EQ starts with you. And it starts now.

Tune in now to build trust, deepen connection, and lead with emotional agility.

 

Links:
Join the Lead.Her Collective Dinner Series
Get the Clarity Compass Mini Program

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

Connect with Amy:
Website: https://amyjacobson.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyjacobson_ei
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finding-your-y/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.