She Is Courageous Podcast with Shelley Bosworth

What if the opportunity in front of you isn’t the hard part? What you choose to do with it might be.

In this episode, Shelley revisits her conversation with Joyce Nicole Rogers, whose life has taken her from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia, the UK, Abu Dhabi, Prague, Milan and now Cairo.

Joyce shares what she’s learned about stepping into the unknown, building community in new places, changing direction and continuing to learn. From finding your people to investing in yourself, there’s plenty here that applies far beyond moving countries.

You’ll hear Joyce and Shelley explore how to:

• Step outside your comfort zone even when the butterflies are there
• Build a support network when everything around you feels new
• Recognise that changing direction doesn’t mean throwing away everything you’ve built

Most importantly, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to know what the next ten years looks like. You can take the opportunity in front of you and see where it leads.

If you’re a teacher considering an international move, connect with Joyce and find out more about 49 Thirty Two through the links in the show notes.

Joyce Nicole Rogers

Joyce was born in Lebanon and grew up between the Middle East and the UK, where she completed her schooling, university education, and PGCE. She began her teaching career in London before moving overseas with her family, living and working in Abu Dhabi, Prague, and most recently, Milan.

While in Milan, Joyce co-founded 49 Thirty Two, a not-for-profit agency created by teachers, for teachers. The organisation supports schools with recruitment and helps teachers find meaningful roles internationally. It now operates across Europe and the MENA region, and Joyce takes great pride in the community they are building.

In summer 2023, Joyce relocated to Cairo to continue expanding 49 Thirty Two’s presence in the region. Outside of her work with schools and educators, she enjoys staying active and can often be found at a Zumba class—dancing and doing her best to keep up. She believes in people, purpose, and doing things with heart (and a little rhythm).

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY

Shelley Bosworth is a Business Leadership & Mindset Expert for founders and senior leaders who look successful on the outside and feel the pressure on the inside. She helps ambitious women stop overthinking, stop second-guessing decisions they're qualified to make, and start leading from who they actually are, not who they think they should be.

She works 1:1 with founders and executives, delivers keynote talks, and runs leadership development for corporate teams.

Based in the UAE, working globally.

Join Courageous Connections

Shelley's free monthly international networking community for women in business

Got a question, or thinking about working together?

Email [email protected]

Media, speaking, or podcast enquiries: [email protected]

Follow along:

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Or Watch episodes on Youtube

What if you’re doing everything “right” but still feel like you don’t know what you’re doing?

In this episode, Shelley chats with Maya, founder and CEO of Plan B VA Services, about building a successful business from a young age and learning to trust yourself along the way.

Maya shares the realities of being a young entrepreneur, from feeling like you lack credibility to navigating growth, building a team and finding your own leadership style.

You’ll hear how she:

• Trusts her own judgement instead of getting pulled around by everyone else’s advice
• Creates the capacity for growth before waiting for the business to catch up
• Builds confidence through action, even when she doesn’t have all the answers

Whether you’re 26 or 49, there’s a lot here about resilience, self-belief and choosing to do things your own way.

Connect with Maya on LinkedIn or find Plan B VA Services at planbva.co.uk.

Maya Vertigans Bio

Maya Vertigans is the 26-year-old founder of Planner Bee VA Services, an award-winning eco virtual assistant (VA) agency dedicated to helping purpose-led businesses thrive.

After starting her business as a freelance VA in 2021, Maya has grown her agency into a collaborative team of five, which has now supported over 60 ethical entrepreneurs to find more time, reduce stress and create an even bigger impact.

Named one of Scotland’s most inspiring young businesswomen, Maya empowers sustainable brands with expert executive assistant support, marketing, and carbon accounting.

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY

Shelley Bosworth is a Business Leadership & Mindset Expert for founders and senior leaders who look successful on the outside and feel the pressure on the inside. She helps ambitious women stop overthinking, stop second-guessing decisions they're qualified to make, and start leading from who they actually are, not who they think they should be.

She works 1:1 with founders and executives, delivers keynote talks, and runs leadership development for corporate teams.

Based in the UAE, working globally.

Join Courageous Connections

Shelley's free monthly international networking community for women in business

Got a question, or thinking about working together?

Email [email protected]

Media, speaking, or podcast enquiries: [email protected]

Follow along:

Instagram

Linkedin

Shelley's TikTok

Or Watch episodes on Youtube

Do you understand yourself better than ever, but still feel stuck?

Self-awareness can be powerful. But there’s a point where labels like procrastinator, perfectionist, ADHD brain or imposter syndrome can stop helping and start becoming reasons not to move.

In this episode, Shelley explores the difference between understanding your patterns and using them to lead yourself. Because insight alone doesn’t change your life. What you do with that insight does.

You’ll learn how to:

• Notice the labels you’re using to describe yourself
• Shift those labels from identity into patterns you can work with
• Choose one small action you can take, even when the pattern is still present

The label might shape how you do things, but it doesn’t get to decide whether you do them.

Take the Self-Leadership Style Quiz mentioned in the episode to understand your patterns and discover what you can do with that insight. The link is in the show notes.

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY

Shelley Bosworth is a Business Leadership & Mindset Expert for founders and senior leaders who look successful on the outside and feel the pressure on the inside. She helps ambitious women stop overthinking, stop second-guessing decisions they're qualified to make, and start leading from who they actually are, not who they think they should be.

She works 1:1 with founders and executives, delivers keynote talks, and runs leadership development for corporate teams.

Based in the UAE, working globally.

Join Courageous Connections

Shelley's free monthly international networking community for women in business

Got a question, or thinking about working together?

Email [email protected]

Media, speaking, or podcast enquiries: [email protected]

Follow along:

Instagram

Linkedin

Shelley's TikTok

Or Watch episodes on Youtube

You know you’re capable of more. But what if the thing holding you back isn’t your strategy, your effort or your confidence?

In this episode, Shelley is joined by Louise Fernando, business energy strategist, to explore the hidden beliefs, past experiences and nervous system patterns that can influence the decisions you make in business.

You’ll hear why:

• Recognise the unconscious promises you may have made to yourself and how they can shape your behaviour.
• Learn how to tell the difference between your intuition warning you away from something and the discomfort of genuine growth.
• Practise listening to your body and intuition without abandoning logic, strategy or common sense.

Louise also shares her own experience of becoming more visible, the courage it took to start her podcast, and why resistance can be worth paying attention to.

Your challenge? Do the thing that scares you, and have the conversation you’ve been putting off.

Because sometimes the next level is on the other side of the thing you’re resisting.

Louise Fernando Bio

Drawing on over 25 years of experience in human behaviour, leadership and trauma informed practice, Louise Fernando helps leaders uncover the hidden patterns influencing how they think, lead and make decisions. Her work focuses on developing the person behind the Business, creating the clarity and self-trust needed for sustainable growth, stronger leadership and lasting impact

Links for Louise

Linkedin

Instagram

Podcast - The House Of Expansion

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY

Shelley Bosworth is a Business Leadership & Mindset Expert for founders and senior leaders who look successful on the outside and feel the pressure on the inside. She helps ambitious women stop overthinking, stop second-guessing decisions they're qualified to make, and start leading from who they actually are, not who they think they should be.

She works 1:1 with founders and executives, delivers keynote talks, and runs leadership development for corporate teams.

Based in the UAE, working globally.

Join Courageous Connections

Shelley's free monthly international networking community for women in business

Got a question, or thinking about working together?

Email [email protected]

Media, speaking, or podcast enquiries: [email protected]

Follow along:

Instagram

Linkedin

Shelley's TikTok

Or Watch episodes on Youtube

Have you ever looked at the business you worked so hard to build and thought, “Do I still want this?”

Shelley gets honest about questioning her own business after six years. Not because she stopped loving coaching, but because she became exhausted by the way she was trying to make the business work.

If you’re an ambitious woman who’s tired of pushing harder, this episode will help you step back and get curious before making any big decisions.

• Notice what gives you energy and what consistently drains you.
• Question whether you’re tired of the goal or simply the route you’re taking to get there.
• Explore what needs to change before you decide you need to quit.

You don’t necessarily need a new business, career or life. You might need a different way of creating what you want.

If you’re struggling to see what needs to shift, reach out. This is exactly the kind of conversation Shelley has with women in her coaching container.

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY

Shelley Bosworth is a Business Leadership & Mindset Expert for founders and senior leaders who look successful on the outside and feel the pressure on the inside. She helps ambitious women stop overthinking, stop second-guessing decisions they're qualified to make, and start leading from who they actually are, not who they think they should be.

She works 1:1 with founders and executives, delivers keynote talks, and runs leadership development for corporate teams.

Based in the UAE, working globally.

Join Courageous Connections

Shelley's free monthly international networking community for women in business

Got a question, or thinking about working together?

Email [email protected]

Media, speaking, or podcast enquiries: [email protected]

Follow along:

Instagram

Linkedin

Shelley's TikTok

Or Watch episodes on Youtube

You know the conversation you need to have. So why haven’t you had it?

Instead, I bet you're overthinking, dropping hints, changing your behaviour, talking to everyone except the person involved, or creating processes to avoid addressing the real issue.

In this episode, Shelley explores why we avoid difficult conversations and challenges you to look at what you’re really afraid of: the conversation itself, or what might happen afterwards.

You’ll learn how to:

• Recognise the respectable stories you tell yourself to justify avoidance
• Separate facts, feelings and assumptions before starting a difficult conversation
• Take responsibility for what you need to say without trying to control the other person’s response

Because you cannot hold someone else accountable for a conversation you’ve only had with yourself.

Your courageous challenge: identify one conversation you’ve been avoiding and ask yourself what you’re really afraid might happen if you have it.

Then go have the courageous conversation.

She is courageous. And she is you.

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY

Shelley Bosworth is a Business Leadership & Mindset Expert for founders and senior leaders who look successful on the outside and feel the pressure on the inside. She helps ambitious women stop overthinking, stop second-guessing decisions they're qualified to make, and start leading from who they actually are, not who they think they should be.

She works 1:1 with founders and executives, delivers keynote talks, and runs leadership development for corporate teams.

Based in the UAE, working globally.

Join Courageous Connections Shelley's free monthly international networking community for women in business

Got a question, or thinking about working together?

Email [email protected]

Media, speaking, or podcast enquiries: [email protected]

Follow along:

Instagram

Linkedin

Shelley's TikTok

Or Watch episodes on Youtube

Do you rehearse conversations in your head, overthink what you said, or avoid saying what you really mean?

In this episode, Shelley is joined by Sophie Jane Lee, author of Beyond Palatable: A Manifesto for Unapologetic Women, to explore why courageous communication starts long before the words leave your mouth.

You’ll hear how the stories you tell yourself shape the way you communicate, why people-pleasing can be a nervous system response, and why courage comes before confidence.

• Understand how your internal stories influence the space you allow yourself to take up.
• Recognise when fear, people-pleasing and overthinking are keeping you stuck.
• Practise courageous communication in small steps, rather than waiting to feel confident first.

The biggest conversation you need to have might be the one you’re having with yourself.

Find Sophie on LinkedIn, Instagram @ElectricPeachStudios, or explore Beyond Palatable at beyondpalatable.com.

Sophie Jane Lee is an author, journalist, and founder of Electric Peach, an award-winning brand storytelling agency working with social impact organisations and SMEs. An NCTJ-qualified journalist with bylines in The Guardian, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and Huffington Post, she was named one of the UK's top 100 inspiring female entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain. Her debut book, Beyond Palatable: A Manifesto for Unapologetic Women (Luath Press, 2026), dismantles the conditioning that teaches women to shrink and calls them to take up space without apology. She speaks internationally on power, voice, and courageous communication.

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY

Shelley Bosworth is a Business Leadership & Mindset Expert for founders and senior leaders who look successful on the outside and feel the pressure on the inside. She helps ambitious women stop overthinking, stop second-guessing decisions they're qualified to make, and start leading from who they actually are, not who they think they should be.

She works 1:1 with founders and executives, delivers keynote talks, and runs leadership development for corporate teams.

Based in the UAE, working globally.

Join Courageous Connections Shelley's free monthly international networking community for women in business

Got a question, or thinking about working together?

Email [email protected]

Media, speaking, or podcast enquiries: [email protected]

Follow along:

Instagram

Linkedin

Shelley's TikTok

Or Watch episodes on Youtube

AI is everywhere, but what happens when you stop using it to save time and start using it to make decisions for you?

In this episode, Shelley explores the growing trend of using AI as a coach, sounding board or source of reassurance. She explains why a confident, coherent response isn’t necessarily the same as a useful answer, and why trusting yourself still matters.

You’ll hear Shelley:

• Recognise when you’re using AI to support your thinking versus outsourcing your judgement
• Use AI to identify patterns, challenge assumptions and prepare for difficult conversations
• Question whether you’re asking AI for information, perspective, reassurance, permission or a decision

AI can be an incredible tool. But it only knows the version of you that you put into the box. It doesn’t live with the consequences, and it doesn’t get to decide your life.

The question is: are you asking AI to help you think differently, or asking it to take responsibility for what you do next?

Listen now, and remember: she is courageous, and she is you.

Check out the episodes I mentioned here:

Is AI gradually replacing your voice?

Youtube Episode

You're Not Using AI Wrong, But You Are Thinking About It Wrong with Abha Malpani Naismith

Youtube Episode

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY

Shelley Bosworth is a Business Leadership & Mindset Expert for founders and senior leaders who look successful on the outside and feel the pressure on the inside. She helps ambitious women stop overthinking, stop second-guessing decisions they're qualified to make, and start leading from who they actually are, not who they think they should be.

She works 1:1 with founders and executives, delivers keynote talks, and runs leadership development for corporate teams.

Based in the UAE, working globally.

Join Courageous Connections

Shelley's free monthly international networking community for women in business

Got a question, or thinking about working together?

Email [email protected]

Media, speaking, or podcast enquiries: [email protected]

Follow along:

Instagram

Linkedin

Shelley's TikTok

Or Watch episodes on Youtube

Ever feel like you have to be the loudest person in the room to succeed in business?

In this conversation, Shelley sits down with branding and marketing expert Vaishali Shah, founder of Creative ID and Ananya Cards, to explore why courage, consistency and relationships matter far more than being the most visible voice online.

With more than 25 years in business, Vaishali shares honest lessons on resilience, building trust, embracing introversion and staying true to your values, even in a world that rewards constant noise.

You'll hear how she persevered for three years to win Harrods as a client, why relationships still outperform algorithms, and what it really takes to build a business that lasts.

In this episode you'll learn how to:

• Reframe introversion as a genuine business strength.
• Build trust through relationships instead of chasing visibility alone.
• Persevere through rejection and create opportunities that align with your values.

Connect with Vaishali and learn more about Creative ID and Ananya Cards using the links below.

Vaishali Shah: Founder, Creative ID and Ananya Cards

Vaishali Shah is an international award-winning entrepreneur running two successful businesses across Dubai and London. In 2025 she celebrated 25 years in business.

With Creative ID, she brings 25 years of marketing expertise and a deep understanding of global cultures to food, hospitality and lifestyle businesses worldwide. Her clients range from Michelin star chefs and international hotel chains to homegrown concepts in the UAE and UK. The work spans branding, marketing, packaging and visual storytelling.

As a natural introvert who has built two businesses across two continents, she knows firsthand what it takes to show up visibly when it doesn't come naturally.

Giving back is part of who Vaishali is. She donates 10% of profits to charity and has served as an advisor to several charities worldwide.

For the last 20 years her second business, Ananya Cards, has created bespoke wedding and event stationery for celebrations rich in personality and culture.

Vaishali is a regular voice on branding, marketing and global business culture, with features in Forbes, Khaleej Times, Gulf News, the BBC, Huffington Post and The Sunday Times. She is a frequent podcast guest, speaker and commentator and the kind of person who notices the details everyone else walks past.

When not working, you will find Vaishali at a spa, art gallery or latest restaurant.

Connect or follow on social media: @creativeidsocial @ananyacards

Connect with Vaishali on Linkedin here

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY

Shelley Bosworth is a Business Leadership & Mindset Expert for founders and senior leaders who look successful on the outside and feel the pressure on the inside. She helps ambitious women stop overthinking, stop second-guessing decisions they're qualified to make, and start leading from who they actually are, not who they think they should be.

She works 1:1 with founders and executives, delivers keynote talks, and runs leadership development for corporate teams.

Based in the UAE, working globally.

Join Courageous Connections

Shelley's free monthly international networking community for women in business

Got a question, or thinking about working together?

Email [email protected]

Media, speaking, or podcast enquiries: [email protected]

Follow along:

Instagram

Linkedin

Shelley's TikTok

Or Watch episodes on Youtube

Have you ever told yourself you're "fine" because you kept going?

When life throws something difficult your way, it's easy to focus on getting through it. You keep working. You keep showing up. You keep everything moving. But handling something isn't the same as dealing with it and thats wht todays episode is about.

In this solo episode, Shelley shares a personal story that sparked a powerful realisation about how many of us postpone dealing with life's biggest challenges. She explores why your brain encourages you to keep moving, how that shapes the beliefs you hold about yourself, and why true self-leadership starts with self-awareness.

You'll discover how to stop simply surviving difficult seasons and begin processing them in a way that supports the woman you're becoming.

In this episode, you'll learn how to:

• Recognise the difference between handling a situation and truly dealing with it.
• Challenge the beliefs you've created while trying to stay strong.
• Use the Catch, Challenge, Change framework to move through difficult experiences with greater awareness.

If this episode has brought something up for you, reach out. My inbox is always open, and if you need support, find the right person to help you work through it.

Remember: She is courageous. And she is you.

CONNECT WITH SHELLEY

Shelley Bosworth is a Business Leadership & Mindset Expert for founders and senior leaders who look successful on the outside and feel the pressure on the inside. She helps ambitious women stop overthinking, stop second-guessing decisions they're qualified to make, and start leading from who they actually are, not who they think they should be.

She works 1:1 with founders and executives, delivers keynote talks, and runs leadership development for corporate teams.

Based in the UAE, working globally.

Join Courageous Connections Shelley's free monthly international networking community for women in business

Got a question, or thinking about working together?

Email [email protected]

Media, speaking, or podcast enquiries: [email protected]

Follow along:

Instagram

Linkedin

Shelley's TikTok

Or Watch episodes on Youtube