Quietly Visible

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Quietly Visible podcast, Carol Stewart shares her journey from denying her introversion to becoming unapologetically introvert and proud.

She reflects on her childhood experiences with shyness and self-doubt, the societal misconceptions that shaped her early understanding of introversion, and the pivotal moments that led her to embrace her quiet strengths.

Carol also discusses how her professional evolution—from senior leader to award-winning executive and leadership coach—helped her specialise in supporting introverted women to lead with confidence, influence, and impact.

She dives into her academic research on belonging and psychological safety for introverted women in the workplace and how workplace culture often overlooks introverted strengths.

Whether you're early in your career or an experienced leader, this episode will inspire you to own your introversion, see it as a superpower, and lead authentically and proudly.

🎧 Tune in to discover:

✔️ Why introversion is often misunderstood

✔️ How introverted women can thrive in leadership

✔️ The importance of psychological safety and belonging

✔️ What led Carol to create The Impact Club, a supportive community for introverted leaders

Take Carol's free assessment to improve your confidence, impact, and influencehttps://aboundingsolutions.com/taketheimpactassessment/

🎵 - ©️Julie Anne Smith

#introvert #Empowerment #IntrovertedWomenLeaders

In this powerful episode of Quietly Visible, Carol Stewart speaks with Joanne Lockwood, inclusive culture specialist, speaker, and founder of SEE Change Happen. Joanne shares her personal and professional journey of transitioning as a transgender woman at 52, and how embracing her true identity led to not only a new career in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), but a more meaningful, authentic life.
Joanne opens up about the lifelong challenges of masking her true self, the impact of alcohol as a coping mechanism, and the process of rebuilding relationships during and after transition. She also explores how resilience is developed—not through ease, but by getting things wrong, learning from setbacks, and choosing to move forward.
💡 Topics include:
Masking, introversion, and the pressures of conforming
Building resilience through lived experience and self-reflection
What it means to lead and live inclusively
The changing face of DEI in business—and why belonging still matters
Practical advice for anyone at a crossroads of personal transformation
Joanne's insights are relevant to anyone navigating change, identity, or seeking to create more inclusive environments—whether at work or within themselves.
🔗 Connect with Joanne Lockwood:
🌐 Website: seechangehappen.co.uk
💼 LinkedIn: Joanne Lockwood
🎙️ Podcast: Inclusion Bites (Available on Spotify, Apple & more)
Take Carol's Free Assessment to improve your impact and influence
https://aboundingsolutions.com/taketheimpactassessment/
🎵 - ©️Julie Anne Smith

“Presence is not about performing louder—it's about taking up space intentionally and managing your energy with grace.” — Salvatore Manzi
In this episode of Quietly Visible, Carol Stewart is joined by Salvatore Manzi, a communications coach and author of the upcoming book Clear and Compelling. Together, they explore how introverted professionals can manage their energy and presence during high-stakes situations—whether that's leading meetings, giving presentations, or being put on the spot.
Salvatore, an introvert himself, shares practical and neuroscience-backed techniques for staying grounded and confident, especially when the spotlight suddenly turns on you. From using intentional pauses and breathing techniques, to subtle posture shifts and pre-meeting rituals like “box breathing” or movement resets, this episode is packed with powerful tools that support clarity, composure, and authentic communication.
💡 Topics include:
Why traditional communication training often overlooks introverts
How to reset your nervous system in seconds
Using body language to command a room without overperforming
Hacks for responding confidently when put on the spot
The power of metaphors, frameworks, and strategic pauses
How slowing down boosts both clarity and presence
Whether you're preparing for a big presentation or navigating fast-paced meetings, this conversation will leave you equipped, energised, and empowered to show up as your most authentic self.
Connect with Salvatore Manzi:
Website: salvatoremanzi.com
LinkedIn: Salvatore Manzi https://www.linkedin.com/in/salvatorejmanzi/
Coming Soon: Clear and Compelling (June release)
Take Carol's Free Assessment to improve your impact and influence
https://aboundingsolutions.com/taketheimpactassessment/
🎵 - ©️Julie Anne Smith
#introvert #Empowerment #IntrovertedWomenLeaders

Being able to influence helps you to convey your ideas and inspire others to buy into them. It helps build strong relationships, fosters better teamwork, drives productivity, guides and eases the process of change, and much more. People who can influence tend to have more significant career opportunities, but not everyone knows how to influence with impact. In this episode of the podcast, I discuss how you can develop your influencing skills.Take Carol's Free Assessment to improve your impact and influencehttps://aboundingsolutions.com/taketheassessment🎵 - ©️Julie Anne Smith#introvert #Empowerment #introvertedwomenleaders

Host Carol Stewart is joined by Sandra Stocks—motivational speaker, coach, and co-host of the Living a Hell Yes podcast. Together, they explore the quiet yet powerful voice within us—the one we often ignore in favour of people-pleasing, fear, and the expectations of others.
Sandra shares her deeply personal journey of navigating inauthentic choices, like going through with a wedding she knew wasn’t right, and how these experiences ultimately led her to a life of radical authenticity and self-worth. She offers heartfelt, relatable insights into why so many introverted women feel the pressure to be someone they’re not—and how tuning into your inner guidance can change everything.
Connect with Sandra Stocks:
Website: contrastcoaching.co.uk (relaunching soon)
https://contrastcoaching.co.uk/

Book: Sixteen Seconds: Debunking the Myths Surrounding Manifestation

Podcast: Living a Hell Yes
https://www.livingahellyes.com/

Instagram: @sandrastockscoach
https://www.instagram.com/sandrastockscoach

Take Carol's Free Assessment to improve your impact and influencehttps://aboundingsolutions.com/taketheimpactassessment/

🎵 - ©️Julie Anne Smith

#introvert #Empowerment #IntrovertedWomenLeaders

In this deeply grounding episode of Quietly Visible, host Carol Stewart is joined by Tiki Paige, a transformation coach, energy and sound healer, and founder of Soulful Tiki. Together, they explore why introverted women often feel energetically drained—and how to protect and restore your energy in a world that doesn’t always cater to your quiet strengths.
Tiki shares her personal journey from burnout in high-pressure corporate roles to healing and supporting others through holistic practices. You’ll hear why setting boundaries, honouring solitude, and protecting your energy body are essential—not optional—for introverted leaders.
She also offers simple but powerful techniques to help you recharge, such as her “pink bubble” visualisation for daily protection and her heart-centred breathwork practice for instant calm.
Free Resource for Listeners:
Download Tiki’s Grounding and Protection Meditation and End-of-Day Reflection & Release Workbook – Download your free Grounding and Protection Meditation and End-of-Day Reflection & Release Workbook—your daily rituals to begin with clarity and protection, and end with peace and gentle self-connection—a sacred rhythm to support your soul, every day.
👉 Get it here
This episode is a must-listen for any introverted woman ready to lead from a place of wholeness, calm, and clarity.
🔗 Connect with Tiki:
🌐 soulfultiki.com
Take Carol's Free Assessment to improve your impact and influence

🎵 - ©️Julie Anne Smith

In this episode, I explore the question: 'Is your career still working for you at this stage in your life?' I share personal stories and client experiences that highlight the importance of aligning your career with your current life circumstances, priorities, and values.

Using the Kaleidoscope Career Model, I discuss how women often seek challenge in early career, balance in mid-career, and authenticity later on. But these stages aren’t fixed—your needs can shift at any time, and that's perfectly valid.

Whether you're feeling out of sync with your current path, considering a transition, or navigating family responsibilities while leading in your career, this episode will prompt you to pause and reflect: What do I really want now?

🔑 Key Talking Points:

• Why it's important to define success for yourself—not based on others’ expectations

• The Kaleidoscope Career Model and how your needs change over time

• My personal career decisions, including choosing security over risk during single parenthood

• The myth of 'having it all at once' and how to create balance on your own terms

• How mum guilt, family dynamics, and life stages shape our leadership and career journeys

• Stories of women I have coached through redundancy, reinvention, and renewal

💬 Quote to Remember:

"We can have it all, but not necessarily all at the same time."

🔗 Resources:

✅ Take my free Confidence, Influence & Impact Assessment: https://aboundingsolutions.com/taketheimpactassessment/
✅ Follow me on LinkedIn for more insights on introverted leadership https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolstewart1/
✅ Subscribe to the Quietly Visible newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6600753811223035905/

🎵 - ©️Julie Anne Smith

In this episode of Quietly Visible, Carol Stewart is joined by Alison Coward, founder of Bracket and author of Workshop Culture. Alison shares her insights on building creative, productive team environments using workshop principles. As an introverted leader herself, Alison also opens up about her personal journey and the strategies she’s developed to thrive in leadership.

Alison explains how embedding workshop techniques into daily team routines can boost creativity, collaboration, and productivity. She highlights the importance of balancing idea generation with structured decision-making to achieve impactful outcomes.

Connect with Alison & Get Her Book:

• Website: BracketCreative.co.uk
• LinkedIn: Alison Coward
• Book Discount Code: Use WRKCULT30 for 30% off Workshop Culture via Practical Inspiration Publishing. www.practicalinspiration.com







🎵 - ©️Julie Anne Smith

Before you can lead others you need to be able to lead yourself, and self-awareness is key.

In this episode of the Quietly Visible Podcast, I talk about the importance of self-awareness for introverted women leaders.

Take the confidence, influence, and impact assessment at https://aboundingsolutions.com/taketheimpactassessment

🎵- ©️ Julie Anne Smith

"Once you understand your purpose and lead yourself first, everything else begins to align." — Julie Perkins

In this inspiring episode of Quietly Visible, Carol Stewart welcomes Julie Perkins, founder of Wyseminds, a platform dedicated to empowering female entrepreneurs.

Julie shares her journey from expanding Specsavers in the Netherlands to founding Wyseminds, where she supports women navigating the challenges of business growth. Julie’s personal journey — including overcoming cancer — has deepened her commitment to helping others succeed.

Julie discusses the importance of leading yourself first before leading others. She shares how early in her leadership journey she tried to emulate others, which proved exhausting. Learning to align her leadership with her core values brought clarity, authenticity, and confidence.
Julie reflects on her experience expanding Specsavers in the Netherlands, starting with no brand recognition. She emphasises the value of reflection and recovery in maintaining energy and clarity as a leader.
Julie’s strong belief that "everybody’s story should be told" became her guiding purpose.
Julie champions introverted women, encouraging them to see their quiet strengths as powerful tools for leadership. By leveraging their clarity, focus, and authenticity, introverts can excel in fast-moving business environments.
Julie’s book, The Wyse Way, Purpose Led Business Growth, guides women in transforming their passion into a structured, purpose-driven business model.

Wyseminds offers online resources and virtual guidance to help founders take ownership of their growth journey.

Find out more here https://wyseminds.com/

If you are looking to increase your influence and impact then why not take Carol's free impact assessment at ⁠aboundingsolutions.com⁠

🎵 - ©️Julie Anne Smith