Dahlia is joined by Dr Kerstin Brehm to discuss everything from diagnosis to dressing to making tough decisions.

Kerstin shares her journey from cardiac surgeon to leadership coach and why she is continuously challenge herself to learn in new ways.

Dahlia and Kerstin discuss how easy or difficult it is to diagnose what does and doesn't feel right in your career, why we don't always need to seek passion in our work and why we need to stop living for the weekend and enjoy our everyday.

Kerstin gives advice on the balance between inner confidence in your own ability and also knowing when to have confidence in the views of those around you.

Dr. Kerstin Brehm is a former heart surgeon turned corporate leader and founder of The Leadership Clinic™. Today she’s an outspoken advocate for ambitious women 40+, helping them reinvent success on their own terms. A strategist, podcaster, and fashion lover, Kerstin brings bold ideas, sharp insights, and a touch of style to everything she does.

Dahlia is joined by journalist Marianne Jones to discuss the importance of identity and how to retain a sense of self as life circumstance's change.

Marianne reflects on the moments of change across her career and how stress meant that she had to prioritise her health and take a change in direction - and what that meant for her identity.

Marianne is honest about the challenges that life can bring but offers advice on the link between confidence, resilience and finding joy in the everyday.

Dahlia and Marianne also discuss the work that Marianne does for Dementia UK and Marianne shares how vital clothing was to helping her Mum retain a sense of self as she lived with dementia.

Marianne Jones is a multi award-winning journalist, editor and broadcaster. Currently joint features director of YOU magazine, she has edited the Sunday Telegraph’s Stella Magazine, the Saturday Telegraph Magazine, andGrazia. She has co-hosted a number 1 podcast,  Been There Done That Got the Podcast, and is an ambassador for the charity Dementia UK. 

Dahlia is joined by Zena Everett Speaker, Leadership Coach and Author of 'The Crazy Busy Cure' and 'Badly Behaved People'.

Zena and Dahlia discuss the link between clothes and culture with Zena sharing her reflections from her time in recruitment and her research for her writing.

The discussion explores questions such as whether organisations should provide a clothing allowance for junior new starters, whether imposter syndrome is really a thing and whether you can be stressed and well dressed all at oncce.

The conversation centres around the fact that clothes can be used strategically to either build your confidence or to create an image where you are over or underestimated (listen carefully to Zena's favourite fashion moment) and Dahlia and Zena discuss the role clothes can play in shaping a corporate culture. There is a very clear shared view of the fact that there is no room for 'bad behaviour' in the workplace and that everyone deserves respect whatever they choose to wear.

Listen to reflect on how workplace culture has influenced your clothing choices and how you have used clothes to build your confidence and improve your mindset.

Dahlia is joined by Sam Parker, Site Director of British GQ and author of 'Good Anger' a book about how to 'rethink rage.'

Dahlia and Sam discuss what anger can do for our stress levels and the difference between keeping 'anger in' and 'anger out' - how you choose to express your emotion.

Sam talks about the inspiration behind his book and how his own mental health journey inspired him to look deeper into the different emotions we feel and understand the 'why'.

Sam also unpicks stereotypes about who society deems as 'allowed to be angry' and why this matters.

Clothes, confidence and a little bit of rage all in one!

Sam Parker is author of Good Anger: How Rethinking Rage Can Change Our Lives. He has been an editor and writer for 15 years for publications such as the Guardian, Times and Telegraph. He works as a senior editor at British GQ. He runs the weekly newsletter Good Anger on Substack.

Dahlia is joined by Monica Hanouka, Nutritional Therapist to discuss the link between Clothes, Confidence and Cortisol.

Monica unpacks what 'cortisol' is, how we regulate our nervous system and how this influences our stress. She explains how what we eat can directly influences our stress levels and our confidence. Her focus isn't food but the whole wellness journey and how we create more awareness around our choices and how they make us feel.

In a world where there is so much 'noise' around food Monica gives us the science to better understand how to create a sensible approach to nutrition.

Monica has long been fascinated by health and genetics, leading her to study Biology at University College London. She went on to train as a broadcast journalist with a specialism in health and spent a fast-paced decade in television news.

After the birth of her third child, Monica took a step back from her career to focus on raising her family. During this time, she faced two major surgeries within six months, which triggered a significant decline in her gut health, energy, and overall wellbeing. Slowly, she began to restore her health through food and lifestyle changes.

This personal journey sparked a deep passion for nutrition and inspired Monica to undertake a four-year professional diploma at the renowned Institute for Optimum Nutrition. Since then, she’s been dedicated to helping others transform their health from the inside out.

Monica takes a highly personalised, root-cause approach to every client, focusing on sustainable change rather than quick fixes. She supports people with a range of issues, including hormonal imbalances, IBS, weight concerns, food intolerances, poor sleep, and low energy.

Dahlia is joined by Alexandra Shulman, journalist, author and former Editor in Chief of Vogue magazine.

The conversation centres around reflections from Alexandra's book 'Clothes and other things that matter', which was written as a way to capture her time at Vogue, sharing stories and experiences through the outfits she owns.

Alexandra describes the role clothes have played for her over time and some of the outfits that she has owned that are the most meaningful to her. Dahlia and Alexandra also discuss the wider topic of identity with Alexandra giving her view on how she felt leaving Vogue, how she knew she was ready to step into something new and how she sees her writing now.

Alexandra also shares her tips on building confidence, how she approached leadership at Vogue and what getting dressed everyday means to her.

Alexandra Shulman was brought up in London. She attended St. Paul’s Girls’ School and gained a BA in Social Anthropology from Sussex University.

She started her career working in the music industry and then moved into magazines as a secretary on Over21 magazine. She began working as a journalist on Tatler magazine in 1980, leaving in 1986 to become Women’s Editor on The Sunday Telegraph. She returned to magazines as Features Editor of Vogue in 1988, becoming the first female editor of a monthly men’s magazine when GQ launched in the UK in 1990. In 1992 she became Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue where she stayed for 25 years leaving in June 2017.

During that time she launched an annual Vogue Festival, oversaw the launch of Vogue’s digital programme including Vogue.co.uk and Vogue Video and took the sales of the magazine both domestically and internationally to a record high.

In 2007 she was awarded an OBE for services to fashion journalism and in 2018 a CBE for services to magazines

She has also written two novels, Can We Still Be Friends, and The Parrots both published by Fig Tree/Penguin, and a memoir of the Centenary year preparations for British Vogue, Inside Vogue: A diary of my 100th year. Her book Clothes….and other things that matter was published in Spring 2020 by Octopus books and was a Sunday Times Bestseller. She also wrote the introduction to Elizabeth11 –Queen, Princess, Icon – published in 2022.

She is a contracted writer for the Mail on Sunday and Daily Mail and contributes other papers and magazines. She is known as a commentator on female leadership, fashion, and contemporary style

She was a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery for eight years, and a Trustee of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity for eight years. She is currently a Vice President of The London Library and Trustee of The Wallace Collection

She is now working as a journalist, consultant, speaker and author.

Alexandra has a son, Samuel and lives with her partner David Jenkins in London

Dahlia is joined by Alicia Drabble Castellano to discuss the a business journey born out of PTSD recovery. As the founder of 'Single Swan' a wellness-focused clothing brand, Alicia explains how her personal struggle with mental and physical health became the inspiration that fuelled her creative journey.

Dahlia and Alicia discuss what it takes to start a brand from scratch when you don't have former business/industry knowledge or VC funding to support you, and how Alicia decided 'not knowing' would be her super power to help her discover her way.

The conversation looks at what it takes to be a founder in terms of mental mindset and resilience - whilst Alicia champions kindness she recognises that she has had to grow a thick skin to persevere at times.

Alicia's advice includes understanding how to 'find your tribe' and know where to seek out light in the most vulnerable moments and to have the wisdom to know what you can change and adjust to what you can't.

Prepare to be inspired...

Single Swan is a wellness-focused clothing brand founded byAlicia, a former teacher who had to step away from education due to health challenges. After a period of uncertainty, she found a new purpose—creating a brand rooted in kindness: kindness to ourselves, to others, and to the planet.

With no formal training in design but a deep passion for style and a fascination with how clothing impacts well-being, Alicia channelled her vision into something truly innovative. Her hero piece, the 7SWAN, is a revolutionary wellness jumpsuit redefining activewear. Designed forversatility, longevity, and effortless elegance, it offers a premium alternative to traditional Lycra-based options.

A proud member of the Buy Women Built community, supporting and championing female-founded businesses, Alicia has built Single Swan into a platform for empowerment. Her clothing is gaining recognition including a sell-out event at Fearne Cotton's Happy Place Festival, where her designs connected deeply with audiences looking for wellness and mindful living.

Proudly made in London, the 7SWAN empowers women to move freely,embracing both sustainability and style.

Dahlia is joined by Rosie Nixon to discuss what it means to choose a moment of reinvention. Rosie shares her story from Editor in Chief of Hello Magazine to an author, broadcaster and coach, detailing the defining moments that have shaped where she is in her career (and her life) now.

Dahlia and Rosie discuss the fact that change is inevitable but sometimes we need to make a choice to take control of that change, aware that actually there is greater fear of sitting in the same space for a prolonged period of time rather than choosing to grow and evolve.

Rosie gives an honest account of what made her choose to make a change in her life, the impact of burnout and the work she did to reset, reinvent and how she is paying that forwards.

The conversation also includes an in depth exploration of how Rosie has used clothes for confidence and self expression, what it means to take time out for a retreat and why it is vital to spread your 'status' in life.

Rosie Nixon is an author, broadcaster and coach. She is the author of three novels, TheStylist, Amber Green Takes Manhattan, Just Between Friends, plus the Be Kind book, which was recently republished in paperback (all Harper Collins). Her new novel Bad Influence will be published on 14 August. Bad Influence tackles issues around image in the online world and how vulnerability could be a super power, as Rosie’s protagonist, stylist Amber Green works with one of her trickiest celebrity clients yet.

After a long career in women’s magazines, latterly as the award-winning Editor and Editor in Chief of HELLO! magazine, where she worked for 16 years, Rosie super-charged her career for the next chapter and is a qualified life coach, speaker and experienced podcast host. In 2024 she launched Rosie’s Reinvention Retreats - a series of day retreats for midlife women, to support navigating changes in career, business and wellbeing.

Rosie enjoys working with brands including Marks & Spencer and Microsoft UK, as part of her portfolio career. Most recently, Rosie has taken on the role of Editor of The Column, Corinthia London's new bi-annual luxury magazine focused on lifestyle, cuisine, style and travel.

Rosie previously held senior positions at women's glossies including Grazia, Glamour and Red. She is a proud ambassador for the women’s health charity Wellbeing ofWomen, Wellchild and anti-FGM charity, Educate Not Mutilate.

Rosie is a keen believer in the power of kindness and a master of reinvention. Havingcome close to burnout in 2022, she is on a path of personal growth and loves peaking on this subject. Ultimately, she thrives in communities with a common goal to inspire and spread joy.

Rosie lives with her family in Surrey, is passionate about keeping her mind and body fit and healthy and in any spare time can be found getting out into nature or running around after her two lively sons.

 Rosie's next Reinvention Retreat is happening in Manchester on Monday 13th October - see the link in herbio @rosiejnixon for tickets

More info can be found here: www.RosieNixon.co.uk

Dahlia is joined by Sophie Neary, MD of Retail at Google, to discuss why confidence is contagious. Sophie shares how she has built her career since the first days of a role on 'The Internet' and the role models that have influenced her to believe in herself and helped her build her confidence.

She shares the role she has in building the confidence of those around her in her position as a leader but she's also shares the link between confidence and resilience at times when things haven't quite gone to plan.

Listeners obviously get insight into what 'well dressed' means to Sophie - a story of a pink suit that everyone needs to hear.

Finally Sophie shares her top tips on how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, learning the way on the way and accepting failure and mistakes as part of the journey - but not letting them define who you are.

Sophie is a highly respected executive within the retail andtechnology industries. As Managing Director, Retail and FMCG at Google, she brings over 30 years of executive leadership experience from giants including Asda, Tesco and Meta. A digital pioneer since 1995, Sophie was instrumental in driving Boots' online transformation where, as a member of the Executive Committee, she led their critical digital response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond her commercial acumen, she's a multi-award winning, lifelong feminist, and a clear voice advocating and championing women in the workplace. Her highly regarded podcast "Courage is Contagious," and status as a LinkedIn "Top Voice" on Gender Equity cement her reputation.

Dahlia is joined by Louise Sleightholm, accountant, creator and owner of sustainable fashion brand Mode Workwear.

Lou shares the frustrations she had when she tried to find workwear that made her feel good upon qualifying as an accountant. Identifying a gap in the market she launched a social media platform sharing ideas on how to build a capsule workwear wardrobe (check out her instagram page @louscorporatelife) which has grown to a 300k strong community with which she shares ideas on what to wear for work in a corporate role each week.

Dahlia and Lou discuss how important it is to feel comfortable with who you are at work as a part of being able to do your best work and how to set yourself up for success from day one.

Lou shares the purpose behind her workwear brand Mode (which Dahlia and Lou are wearing in the show) and why she wants to raise the stakes on sustainable workwear creating a one stop shop to build a capsule corporate wardobe.

Lou reflects on how the confidence to wear what she wants at work has grown in line with an inner confidence in her ability to do a great job. She shares how she is paying her work forwards with a shoutout to Smart Works Leeds (part of Smart Works Charity which has previously been part of a collaboration with Stressed But Well Dressed Podcast).

If you are starting out in your career, starting a new job or just looking to up the stakes on what you wear to work each day this conversation is perfect for inspiration.

Louise Sleightholm is a Chartered Accountant working at the Big 4.

In her spare time, she creates workwear clothing content under @louscorporatelife to an audience of over 300,000. She also helps style women and launched her very own workwear brand, Mode.

Lou co-founded Leeds Young Professionals one of Yorkshire's fastest growing networking groups with over 3500 members.

Lou is a proud mum to a very cute 1 year old!

Check out Louise's weekly content here:

Instagram:

@louscorporatelife

@modeworkwear

TikTok:

Louscorporatelife