• The moment Sophie realized she was the one she’d been waiting for
• Why external “fixes” don’t create internal peace
• Using self-awareness and stillness as leadership tools
• The trap of performing leadership vs. being a leader
• What “being it” looks like day to day, especially under pressure
• How to take back agency when you're spiraling
• Why naming things out loud is a neuroscience-backed power move
• Claire’s GLOW method as a daily self-command tool
• Real examples of shifting out of reactivity using the brain's rewiring process
• The role of clarity, compassion, and choice in leadership

00:00 – Introduction and the real question: who are you waiting for?

03:45 – Sophie’s moment of realization and how it changed her leadership

07:10 – The illusion of external fixes and why real peace is internal

11:22 – Neuroscience of naming and reclaiming power

14:35 – Claire introduces GLOW as a brain-based leadership model

19:05 – Leadership as an act of agency, not performance

22:48 – Daily choices that rewire the brain and build self-command

27:30 – Embracing clarity, compassion, and courage

30:40 – Practical tools to pause, shift, and lead from the inside out

What You'll Learn 

• The moment Sophie realized leadership is claimed, not handed
• How to override your brain’s freeze response in high-pressure moments
• Why waiting to be “chosen” holds back your career (and your team)
• The real cost of low-energy leadership—and how to reset your state fast
• How to lead from calm, even when everything feels chaotic
• The 80/20 rule Sophie uses to stay energized and avoid burnout
• A neuroscience-backed strategy to instantly refocus and rewire motivation
• How to stop living in loops—and take control of your impact

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Diary of a CEO Podcast
• SoulCycle NYC
• RocketRez
• Mental Fitness and brain rewiring strategies
• The concept of the “comfort loop” and prefrontal cortex override

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Sophie on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-lammers/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You (#1 bestseller book) is out now. Order it here.

Ready to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire's Mental Fitness Masterclass here

Use code: NLEdgePodcast for 50% OFF exclusive to my podcast listeners

For free resources, assessments, and everything else: https://clairehayek.com/book-resources

(Pressure Archetype, PP Scorecard, Reset Scripts, and more all live here)

Follow Claire Hayek on LinkedIn

Read Claire's newsletter on Substack here

Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. clairehayek.com/podcast

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek,bestselling author. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit clairehayek.com

• How martial arts shaped Michael Gizzi’s leadership philosophy
• The “Theory–Action–Result” loop explained
• Why discipline beats motivation for long-term leadership success
• Leading during high-stress moments (like layoffs and team tension)
• How to build real trust that scales
• The link between humility, clarity, and power in leadership
• People-first HR that actually drives results
• Balancing systems with empathy
• What most leaders get wrong about company culture
• How to stay grounded when you’re not at 100%
• Designing leadership practices that are repeatable under pressure
• Creating cadence, structure, and sustainable growth in teams

00:00 – Intro: Claire sets the tone on brain-based leadership
03:12 – Michael’s story: from martial arts to HR executive
06:29 – The origin of the Black Belt Formula
09:47 – Discipline vs motivation in real-world leadership
12:58 – Leading through layoffs, chaos, and team tension
16:42 – Building trust that scales
20:50 – How to show up when you're not 100%
24:11 – The balance between head and heart in leadership
29:02 – What leaders get wrong about 'fixing' culture
34:16 – The importance of cadence and structure in people ops
37:00 – Final thoughts: clarity, humility, and continuous growth

• The “Theory–Action–Result” loop and how to apply it in real leadership situations
• Why self-discipline is more powerful than motivation
• How to lead people through chaos without losing yourself
• Tactical ways to increase trust and ownership in your team
• What martial arts teaches us about humility, adaptability, and clarity under pressure

• The “Theory–Action–Result” loop
• VetStrategy (Michael’s organization)
• Martial arts philosophy in leadership
• Synchros HR Advisory Services
• Trust, ownership, and scaling culture
• Strategy Institute’s Employee Experience Summit

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Michael on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgizzi/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You (#1 bestseller book) is out now. Order it here.

Ready to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire's Mental Fitness Masterclass here

Use code: NLEdgePodcast for 50% OFF exclusive to my podcast listeners

For free resources, assessments, and everything else: https://clairehayek.com/book-resources

(Pressure Archetype, PP Scorecard, Reset Scripts, and more all live here)

Follow Claire Hayek on LinkedIn

Read Claire's newsletter on Substack here

Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. clairehayek.com/podcast

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek,bestselling author. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit clairehayek.com

• Burnout and stress signals in leadership
• Neuroscience of self-regulation under pressure
• Human-centered leadership models
• Empathy and team performance
• Self-awareness and identity beyond titles
• Purpose-driven work cultures
• Simple tools to check in with your team
• Rewiring leadership habits

00:00 – Welcome & Claire's introduction
01:00 – Meet Ronan Massez: human-centric growth leader
02:30 – The burnout moment that changed everything
04:15 – Physical symptoms and emotional toll
05:00 – Brain Tip: Label + Zoom (practical reset for pressure)
07:00 – Reframing leadership around human needs
08:30 – “Prove your worth” vs. “Find their worth”
10:00 – Leading through complexity with empathy
12:30 – Ronan's personal ritual to beat burnout
14:00 – Claire on grounding, energy, and mental fitness
16:00 – Weekly listener challenge: The 2:1 check-in
18:00 – Rapid Fire with Ronan (burnout tells, rituals, books)
20:00 – Ronan’s upcoming book: Human-Centric Marketing
21:00 – Final thoughts + subscribe + CTA

• A simple neuroscience trick to steady yourself under pressure (Label + Zoom)
• The exact mindset shift Ronan used to recover from burnout
• Why trying to "prove your worth" is sabotaging your team
• How to uncover your team’s “unfair advantage” and build on it
• The key ritual every leader should adopt before meetings
• How self-awareness becomes a strategic tool for performance
• A fast burnout tell to use with your team today
• Why “leading human” is your best asset in times of change

• The neuroscience tool “Label + Zoom”
• “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek
• Ronan's upcoming book Human-Centric Marketing (in Spanish)
• The “2:1” check-in (Red/Yellow/Green + 1 line)
• Mental Fitness practices
• Unfair Advantage framework
   

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Ronan on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronan-massez/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You (#1 bestseller book) is out now. Order it here.

Ready to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire's Mental Fitness Masterclass here

Use code: NLEdgePodcast for 50% OFF exclusive to my podcast listeners

For free resources, assessments, and everything else: https://clairehayek.com/book-resources

(Pressure Archetype, PP Scorecard, Reset Scripts, and more all live here)

Follow Claire Hayek on LinkedIn

Read Claire's newsletter on Substack here

Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. clairehayek.com/podcast

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek,bestselling author. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit clairehayek.com

• Boss vs. Leader: What’s the difference?
• The power of humility in leadership
• How Celso lost his team—and got them back
• Neuroscience of fear, safety, and clarity
• Leading organizational change with empathy
• How to help people transition through uncertainty
• From classroom to executive room: building partnership
• Rapid-fire: What rewired Celso’s leadership mindset

00:00 – Intro: From boss to real leader
01:00 – Meet Celso Sawaia: Engineer, teacher, UN leader
03:00 – The moment leadership hit hard
06:00 – Dollar-store wallets & real connection
08:00 – Recognition & reward: what the brain needs
10:00 – Switching roles: from CEO to civil servant
13:00 – Bosses are obeyed, leaders are followed
15:00 – What Celso’s students taught him about authority
17:00 – Transformation without panic: Leading people through change
22:00 – How neuroscience explains resistance
24:00 – Resetting the brain: Claire’s Say It Out Loud Rule
26:00 – Final wisdom: servant leadership, empathy, and clarity
27:00 – Celso’s rapid-fire rewire moment
28:00 – Wrap-up & CTA

• The subtle (but critical) differences between managing and leading—and how to shift into true leadership.
• Why emotional safety and self-awareness are essential to performance and culture.
• How Celso transformed a disengaged team into a thriving culture of ownership.
• A behind-the-scenes look at the personal courage it takes to own your blind spots as a leader.
• Why neuroscience backs the shift from control to connection in leadership.
• How to build high-performance by becoming less reactive and more intentional.
• Tactical self-leadership tools for navigating team conflict, resistance, and change.

• ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization)
• Claire’s Say It Out Loud Rule
• The neuroscience of change and amygdala hijack

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Celso on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjsawaia/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You (#1 bestseller book) is out now. Order it here.

Ready to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire's Mental Fitness Masterclass here

Use code: NLEdgePodcast for 50% OFF exclusive to my podcast listeners

For free resources, assessments, and everything else: https://clairehayek.com/book-resources

(Pressure Archetype, PP Scorecard, Reset Scripts, and more all live here)

Follow Claire Hayek on LinkedIn

Read Claire's newsletter on Substack here

Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. clairehayek.com/podcast

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek,bestselling author. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit clairehayek.com

• Mental fitness in the face of uncertainty
• Reframing ego, fear, and status drops
• Team leadership through unexpected change
• Habit stacking: meditation, sticky notes, and self-talk
• Manifestation vs discipline: how belief + action rewires your brain
• Emotional regulation under stress

00:00 – Why “step downs” are often level-ups
02:45 – Karan’s story: from India to Canada to McDonald's to executive leadership
06:20 – When COVID crushed the plan—and what came next
08:55 – Neuroscience reset: double inhale + floor grounding
10:45 – Positive self-talk and sticky note mindset hacks
13:20 – What to do when your brain spirals
14:40 – Why the mind only needs certainty + control
17:10 – Leadership under pressure: how Karan leads his team through change
19:30 – Claire’s 3-step neuroscience hack for managing change
20:10 – Rapid fire Qs: habits, podcasts, and leadership influences
22:15 – Listener challenge: reframe your own “step down”
24:00 – Final words from Claire and Karan

What you’ll learn:

• How to reframe career “setbacks” as strategic stepping stones
• Neuroscience-based resets to shift your mindset under pressure
• What to say to your team when plans change unexpectedly
• Karan’s personal story of moving countries, surviving COVID job loss, and turning it all around
• How daily meditation, positive reinforcement, and sticky notes helped him train his brain for success
• Claire also shares a 60-second neuroscience reset tool and challenges listeners to reframe their own “step down” moments.

• McDonald's (Karan’s transitional role)
• Uber Eats (Karan’s former company)
• George Brown College (post-grad)
• Podcast by Mo Gawdat: “Transforming Yourself Starts With Your Thoughts”

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Karan on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karanmehta22/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You (#1 bestseller book) is out now. Order it here.

Ready to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire's Mental Fitness Masterclass here

Use code: NLEdgePodcast for 50% OFF exclusive to my podcast listeners

For free resources, assessments, and everything else: https://clairehayek.com/book-resources

(Pressure Archetype, PP Scorecard, Reset Scripts, and more all live here)

Follow Claire Hayek on LinkedIn

Read Claire's newsletter on Substack here

Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. clairehayek.com/podcast

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek,bestselling author. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit clairehayek.com

• Identity activation: why your brain listens when you speak
• The neuroscience of affirmations and “the production effect”
• Claire’s story from engineer to confident speaker
• The Scan–Shrink–Shift method for nervous system resets
• How to activate the “leader” network in your brain
• Mirror work, breathwork, and verbal cues for instant state change
• Why resilience starts with micro-moments of mental fitness

00:00 – The sentence that changed Claire’s life
02:45 – The meeting where everything shifted
04:00 – What happens to the brain when you speak out loud
06:00 – Identity activation and why it matters
08:00 – Mirror work, posture, and leadership presence
10:00 – Claire’s TEDx: “The Say It Out Loud Rule”
11:30 – The neuroscience behind the “Triple S” method
12:00 – SCAN: Label your physical state
13:00 – SHRINK: Shrink the reaction through breath
14:00 – SHIFT: Say a new belief out loud to redirect your brain
15:00 – Why saying it out loud matters
16:00 – Mental Fitness Masterclass & Live Labs
17:00 – Final note: lead boldly, stay human

What you’ll learn:

• The neuroscience of affirmations that actually work
• Why saying it out loud triggers identity-level change
• How to use the Scan–Shrink–Shift method
• A 10-second ritual to reset your nervous system under pressure

• Claire’s TEDx talk: The Say It Out Loud Rule (Will be live on Youtube next week)

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You (#1 bestseller book) is out now. Order it here.

Ready to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire's Mental Fitness Masterclass here

Use code: NLEdgePodcast for 50% OFF exclusive to my podcast listeners

For free resources, assessments, and everything else: https://clairehayek.com/book-resources

(Pressure Archetype, PP Scorecard, Reset Scripts, and more all live here)

Follow Claire Hayek on LinkedIn

Read Claire's newsletter on Substack here

Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. clairehayek.com/podcast

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek,bestselling author. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit clairehayek.com

Topics Covered:

• The myth of “leadership equals title”
• How to lead across teams without formal authority
• A real-time conflict de-escalation story
• Ego vs. trust: how identity can hijack influence
• Regulating your own nervous system first
• The science of perception and credibility in teams

00:00 – Intro: Leadership without hierarchy
03:50 – Lance’s story of de-escalating conflict mid-meeting
07:20 – How to lead across without stepping on toes
11:00 – Labels, identity, and internalized pressure
14:15 – Claire on neuroscience of ego and threat response
18:45 – Co-regulation and leading nervous system-first
23:10 – Building influence through micro-behaviors
27:00 – Lance’s closing insight: “Trust is the real title.”

What you’ll learn:

• What neuroscience says about authority, perception, and influence
• How to regulate your own system before leading others
• How Lance stopped a tense meeting from spiraling—without taking sides
• Daily actions that build trust without the badge of a title

• Claire on the Default Mode Network (DMN) and how identity loops hijack calm
• Lance on resolving tension in distributed teams

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Lance on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-robbins/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You (#1 bestseller book) is out now. Order it here.

Ready to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire's Mental Fitness Masterclass here

Use code: NLEdgePodcast for 50% OFF exclusive to my podcast listeners

For free resources, assessments, and everything else: https://clairehayek.com/book-resources

(Pressure Archetype, PP Scorecard, Reset Scripts, and more all live here)

Follow Claire Hayek on LinkedIn

Read Claire's newsletter on Substack here

Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. clairehayek.com/podcast

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek,bestselling author. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit clairehayek.com

• How emotional triggers hijack your brain
• The neurobiology of fight, flight, freeze (and fawn)
• The “loop” cycle and how to recognize it
• Claire’s Triple S Method: Scan, Shrink, Shift
• Why calm is not the goal—command is
• The science of self-regulation in high-stakes leadership
• Why mental fitness rewires your team as much as yourself
• How to interrupt default patterns and rewire your neural circuits

00:00 – The real reason you feel stuck in the same loop
01:00 – Claire’s story: being cut off in a room full of senior leaders
03:00 – Why your brain goes offline during emotional hijacks
04:30 – What the loop looks like: Trigger → Reaction → Rumination
05:00 – Step 1: Scan
06:30 – Step 2: Shrink (and what your vagus nerve has to do with it)
08:00 – Step 3: Shift
10:30 – How Claire applies this in real time
13:00 – The leadership myth about always being calm
14:00 – The real goal: recovery time, not perfection
15:30 – Training your brain like a muscle
17:00 – Practical examples to train your command muscle
18:00 – Mental fitness explained: why it matters for real leaders
20:00 – Join the Mental Fitness Masterclass
21:00 – Final thoughts: your trigger doesn’t define you—your response does

What you’ll learn:

• Why your brain goes offline when you're triggered—and how to bring it back
• What the “loop” really is and how to break it
• How physical cues like jaw tension or sweaty palms are not random
• What most people get wrong about meditation, composure, and leadership
• The practical tool that builds mental muscle daily (hint: it’s not a journal)

Mentioned in this episode:

• Claire’s Triple S Method → Scan, Shrink, Shift — a neuroscience-based way to interrupt emotional loops and reclaim command
• Mental Fitness Masterclass → https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass
• Leadership Insight: Calm isn’t the goal—command is.
• Brain Science Breakdown: Why your prefrontal cortex goes offline under pressure
• Listener Challenge: Notice one loop you’ve repeated this week—and try using “Scan” to name what you’re feeling in the moment

Follow Claire on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You (#1 bestseller book) is out now. Order it here.

Ready to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire's Mental Fitness Masterclass here

Use code: NLEdgePodcast for 50% OFF exclusive to my podcast listeners

For free resources, assessments, and everything else: https://clairehayek.com/book-resources

(Pressure Archetype, PP Scorecard, Reset Scripts, and more all live here)

Follow Claire Hayek on LinkedIn

Read Claire's newsletter on Substack here

Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. clairehayek.com/podcast

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek,bestselling author. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit clairehayek.com

• How to handle layoffs and reorgs with clarity
• The neuroscience behind career identity and fear of change
• Why your brain resists stepping into the unknown
• Aligning values with work: what Laureen learned post-exit
• What it really means to “future-proof” your career
• Leading others through transformation
• Claire’s brain tools to rewire fear-based thinking
• A reframe that helps leaders navigate difficult transitions

00:00 – Claire’s opener: your career is not your identity

01:02 – Meet Laureen Knudsen: transformation leader, systems thinker, author

03:12 – What happens when the reorg comes for you

06:40 – Letting go of title-driven identity

08:22 – “I didn’t know who I was without the job”

10:10 – Claire on the neuroscience of fear, uncertainty, and the frontal lobe

13:55 – Future-proofing starts with one hard question

16:40 – What to do when your values and job no longer align

18:32 – Rebuilding a new vision of success

20:14 – Advice for leaders navigating layoffs or team changes

22:00 – Listener challenge: the “identity gap” question

23:50 – Closing reflections from Claire

What you’ll learn:

The neuroscience behind career identity and resistance to change

How to navigate layoffs, reorgs, and life pivots with courage

The mindset shift that helped Laureen realign with her values

Brain-based tools to stay calm and focused in uncertainty

Mentioned in this episode:

• Laureen’s Insight: “When the role disappeared, I realized I didn’t know who I was without it.”
• Claire’s Brain Tip: Fear of change activates survival-based thinking—and blocks vision for the future.
• Listener Challenge: Ask yourself: “If I couldn’t use my job title, how would I introduce myself?”

Follow Claire on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/

Follow Laureen on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laureenknudsen/

🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?

Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠

📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠

📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

The Leadership Skill Nobody Taught You (#1 bestseller book) is out now. Order it here.

Ready to train your brain for resilience and high performance? Join Claire's Mental Fitness Masterclass here

Use code: NLEdgePodcast for 50% OFF exclusive to my podcast listeners

For free resources, assessments, and everything else: https://clairehayek.com/book-resources

(Pressure Archetype, PP Scorecard, Reset Scripts, and more all live here)

Follow Claire Hayek on LinkedIn

Read Claire's newsletter on Substack here

Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. clairehayek.com/podcast

The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek,bestselling author. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit clairehayek.com

• Why smart people fall into imposter syndrome
• How cancer became a gift for rewiring David’s mindset
• The neuroscience of fear and the negativity bias
• Why your brain says “you don’t belong” (even when you do)
• How action reprograms your self-belief
• The power of reframing challenges as growth triggers
• What to look for when imposter syndrome shows up in your team
• A tiny experiment to shift from fear to courage
• The #1 thing to remember when your brain tells you you're not enough

00:00 – Welcome + Claire’s neuroscience teaser: “Stop trying to be right. Focus on getting it right.”

01:08 – Meet David Brennan: from cancer to MBA courage

03:00 – How a life-threatening diagnosis changed everything

04:50 – Imposter thoughts: what held David back before chemo

06:30 – Rewiring begins: applying to top MBA programs step by step

08:15 – When imposter syndrome returned—inside the MBA classroom

09:50 – The neuroscience of fear: your brain sees ambition as threat

13:16 – “Even the brain surgeons felt it”: how David normalized imposter syndrome

17:00 – The self-doubt trap: “If I thought of it, everyone must know it”

18:30 – Action over anxiety: the brain's real rewiring mechanism

21:00 – How David thinks about doubt today—and what changed

24:00 – How to spot imposter syndrome in your team

25:45 – The book that rewired David’s leadership mindset

26:54 – Listener Challenge: Tiny steps to rewire self-belief

28:00 – Claire’s closing: “Your brain is neuroplastic. Rewire it.”

What you'll learn:

• The hidden survival instinct behind self-doubt
• A brain-based reframe to calm imposter thoughts
• A 1-minute pre-meeting move to boost clarity and confidence
• How tiny actions reprogram your brain for growth

Mentioned in this episode:

• Book: How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
• Claire’s Rule: “Stop trying to be right. Focus on getting it right.”
• Listener Challenge: Take one small action you’ve been avoiding due to imposter thoughts—within 48 hours
• David’s Confidence Reframe: “Action over anxiety. Do it before you believe it.”
• Brain Insight: How fear-based circuits distort self-worth and trigger imposter thoughts even in high performers

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The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek,bestselling author. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit clairehayek.com