What does authentic leadership really look like in practice?

In this episode Sarah sits down with former client Helen Cook, an experienced People Director, to discuss her career journey from hospitality into HR leadership, the lessons she's learned about confidence and career progression, and how coaching helped her gain clarity at an important point in her career.

Helen shares a refreshingly honest perspective on leadership, including navigating self-doubt, balancing ambition with family life, and staying true to yourself in senior roles. This is a thoughtful conversation for anyone who wants to lead with confidence without feeling they need to become someone they're not.

• Finding a career that aligns with your strengths and values
• Building a successful career in HR and people leadership
• Navigating self-doubt and imposter syndrome
• Leading authentically rather than copying others
• Balancing career ambitions with family responsibilities
• Lessons learned from stepping into senior leadership roles
• Why leadership isn't a race
• The value of coaching during career transitions
• Developing confidence and self-awareness as a leader
• What it means to be unstuck and unstoppable

00:00 – Introduction to Helen and her career journey

02:15 – From hospitality into HR: finding the right career path

04:30 – Key career turning points and leadership progression

07:00 – Discovering a leadership style that feels authentic

09:45 – Navigating self-doubt and imposter syndrome

12:20 – Balancing leadership responsibilities and family life

14:50 – Why leadership isn't a race

17:10 – The challenges of stepping into senior leadership

19:40 – Reaching a career crossroads and seeking coaching

22:15 – What coaching helped Helen uncover

24:30 – Building confidence and trusting yourself

27:00 – Lessons learned from leading people through change

29:45 – Advice for others considering coaching

32:15 – What being unstuck and unstoppable means to Helen

33:30 – Final reflections and key takeaways

Useful Links

Connect with Helen on LInkedIn

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Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]

How many opportunities have you delayed because you were waiting for permission?

In this episode Sarah talks to Natalie Nielson, Programme Director at Barclays Corporate, to explore the leadership lessons that have shaped her career and helped her thrive in complex, high-pressure environments.

Natalie shares how she learned to stop waiting for someone else to tell her she was ready, navigate the inner voice of self-doubt, and develop a leadership style grounded in trust, authenticity and reflection.

We also discuss the coaching journey we undertook together following her promotion into a senior leadership role, and the powerful mindset shifts that helped her become more confident, influential and intentional in her career.

If you've ever questioned your readiness for the next step, struggled with visibility, or found yourself getting in your own way, this episode will leave you with practical insights and plenty of encouragement.

• Why waiting for permission can hold your career back
• How to get out of your own way and quiet self-doubt
• The relationship between confidence and experience
• Navigating the transition into senior leadership
• Why reflection is an underrated leadership superpower
• The importance of asking for help and building support networks
• Creating trust and meaning within teams
• Developing an authentic leadership style
• Learning from role models and increasing your influence
• Reflection before reaction as a leadership habit
• What it really means to be unstuck and unstoppable

00:00 – Introduction to the episode and Natalie Nielson

03:45 – Natalie's role as Programme Director and leading complex transformation

05:00 – The leadership challenge of waiting for permission

06:00 – Why confidence is a by-product of experience

06:40 – Getting out of your own way and managing self-doubt

08:30 – Why senior leaders still experience uncertainty

09:30 – The promotion that led Natalie to seek coaching

10:45 – Stepping into a new leadership identity

11:00 – Reflection as a leadership superpower

12:00 – Why asking for help is underrated

13:00 – Building trust, meaning and connection within teams

14:00 – Creating a high-performance culture through authentic leadership

15:00 – Aligning leadership with personal values

16:00 – Why your identity is bigger than your job title

16:45 – Possibility, potential and opening unexpected doors

17:20 – What Natalie wishes she'd known earlier in her career

18:30 – Managing worry and learning through experience

19:00 – Building visibility and influence at senior levels

19:45 – Learning from role models and observing successful leaders

21:00 – The importance of practice and confidence building

21:30 – Advice for anyone considering coaching

22:30 – Natalie's experience of coaching

23:30 – A leadership habit Natalie swears by: Reflection before reaction

24:15 – What being unstuck and unstoppable means to Natalie

25:00 – Key takeaways and closing reflections

Useful Links

Episode 40 How to Get Your Voice Heard in the Leadership Space

Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn

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Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

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Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]

In this episode, Sarah explores a career experience many ambitious women silently struggle with: looking successful on the outside while feeling disconnected, exhausted, or emotionally flat on the inside.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this really it?” despite having the title, salary, or career others admire, this episode will help you understand why smart, capable women often stay stuck in roles they’ve outgrown - and what to do about it.

This episode is for you if:

• You feel successful externally but unfulfilled internally
• Your work no longer feels meaningful or energising
• You’re questioning your next career move but don’t know where to start
• You’re stuck between security and wanting something more

The hidden experience of feeling disconnected from a career that looks successful on paper.

Why reaching a senior leadership role didn’t bring the fulfilment she expected.

Common indicators including:

• Emotional flatness
• Chronic overthinking
• Loss of confidence
• Sunday dread
• Feeling underutilised
• Burnout and exhaustion
• Fantasising about escape

Sarah references Episode 77 and explains how high performers often need more than just time off.

The deeper reasons women struggle to move on, including:

• Identity attachment
• Responsibility to others
• Fear of regret
• Financial pressure
• Perfectionism
• Waiting for certainty
• Loyalty
• Confidence erosion
• Fear of disappointing others

Why you do not need to have everything figured out before making a move.

Sarah explains:

• The Shift
• The Pivot
• The Leap

Including real client examples of successful career transitions.

Questions and exercises to help you explore what needs to change:

• Notice your energy patterns
• Reconnect with your values
• Explore possibilities without pressure
• Have career conversations
• Increase confidence and visibility
• Consider what kind of life and work you want now

Outgrowing your role does not mean you’ve failed - it means you’ve changed.

Information about booking a free career clarity call with Sarah.

Useful Links

Episode 77 Rethinking Rest - What High Performers Need Beyond Time Off

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Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]

What happens when your career looks successful on paper… but no longer feels aligned?

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Sarah Warrington, Head of Marketing at a private higher education institution, who shares her honest and inspiring career journey - from leaving accountancy after just 18 months, to building a meaningful leadership career in higher education marketing.

We explore the realities of career progression, navigating values misalignment, asking for what you really want, and why compassionate leadership can be a powerful advantage rather than a weakness.

Sarah also opens up about the coaching process that helped her gain clarity, confidence and the courage to make a career move while protecting the flexibility and family balance that mattered most to her.

This episode is full of reassurance and practical insight for anyone feeling stuck, professionally unfulfilled, or ready to redefine success on their own terms.

• Knowing when a career path no longer fits
• Leaving a “safe” profession early in your career
• Building a meaningful career in higher education marketing
• The importance of values alignment at work
• Why visibility and asking for opportunities matters
• Negotiating flexible working successfully
• Career coaching and building confidence
• Managing your inner critic
• Compassionate leadership and emotional intelligence
• Leadership in fast-paced startup environments
• Balancing ambitious work with family, wellbeing and personal growth

00:00 – Introduction to Sarah Warrington and her current role

01:00 – Leaving accountancy and finding the right career path

02:00 – Moving through higher education roles and discovering marketing

03:15 – Stepping into leadership for the first time

04:10 – The challenge of asking for progression and opportunities

05:40 – Why working hard alone doesn’t guarantee promotion

06:10 – Feeling stuck and discovering coaching

07:20 – Realising something was no longer aligned

08:10 – The fear of losing flexibility and work-life balance

09:10 – How coaching created clarity and self-awareness

10:10 – Managing the inner critic and building confidence

11:15 – Trying new things, networking and exploring possibilities

12:00 – “Rejection is redirection” and navigating the job search

12:45 – Negotiating compressed hours in a new role

13:10 – Discovering compassionate leadership as a strength

14:20 – Leadership in a startup-style environment

15:40 – Balancing leadership, family and wellbeing

16:30 – Why hobbies and volunteering create perspective and energy

17:20 – Sarah’s reflections on the impact of coaching

18:20 – What “unstuck and unstoppable” means to Sarah

Useful Links

Connect with Sarah Warrington on LinkedIn

Flexible Working People FaceBook Group

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]

What really changes when you step into senior leadership?

In this honest and insightful conversation, Sarah speaks with Maria Norowzian, Group & UK Hospitality Director at ATG Entertainment, about the realities of career growth, leadership transitions and learning to lead beyond your technical expertise.

Maria shares her journey from starting out in marketing at McDonald’s in Australia to leading innovation and hospitality strategy for one of the world’s largest theatre companies. Together, they explore the steep learning curves that come with ambitious career progression, the mindset shifts required at senior level, and why leadership is far more about influence, relationships and vision than having all the answers.

This episode is packed with valuable insights for managers, heads of department and aspiring senior leaders navigating growth, confidence and career progression.

• Moving from functional expert to strategic leader
• The leap from “Head Of” to Director level leadership
• Why curiosity and growth mindset accelerate career success
• Learning through mistakes, failure and discomfort
• Building confidence in a bigger leadership role
• Leading teams and managing cross-functional relationships
• How coaching supports leadership growth
• The importance of vision, calm and clarity in leadership
• Ambition, hard work and finding flow in your career
• Creating success and freedom on your own terms

00:00 – Introduction to Maria and her role at ATG Entertainment

01:00 – Maria’s early career journey and passion for marketing

03:00 – Why steep learning curves drive career growth

04:00 – The transition into leadership and building teams

06:00 – Why moving from Head Of to Director felt so different

07:00 – Leadership mindset shifts and learning through mistakes

08:00 – Expanding beyond marketing into commercial leadership

10:00 – Why Maria sought coaching support

11:00 – Transferable skills, confidence and navigating fear

13:00 – Leadership blind spots and executive presence

14:00 – Maria’s definition of great leadership

15:00 – Career advice for ambitious professionals

17:00 – Working hard, ambition and finding flow

18:00 – The value of coaching for leaders

20:00 – What “Unstuck and Unstoppable” means to Maria

Useful Links

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn

Your First 100 Days by Niamh O'Keeffe

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Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]

In this episode, Sarah explores how toxic stakeholders and difficult bosses can quietly erode confidence, visibility, and influence at work. She shares personal experiences, client stories, and practical strategies to help ambitious female leaders navigate challenging workplace dynamics without shrinking themselves or losing credibility.

[00:00] Welcome & Introduction

Sarah introduces the episode and explains why navigating difficult bosses and toxic stakeholders is a critical leadership skill.

[01:20] Why This Topic Matters

How workplace dynamics can quietly impact confidence, credibility, and career progression.

[02:15] The Confidence Impact of Difficult Stakeholders

Why toxic interactions linger long after meetings end and can lead to overthinking and self-doubt.

[03:40] Sarah’s Personal Leadership Story

Sarah shares her experience working with an unpredictable CEO and how it affected her confidence and behaviour.

[05:00] The Hidden Behaviour Changes Leaders Make

How high-performing leaders unconsciously shrink themselves through hypervigilance, over-preparing, and holding back.

[06:10] The 3 Types of Toxic Stakeholders

• The Controller
• The Political Operator
• The Inconsistent Leader

[07:40] Client Coaching Story

A real-life example of how one senior leader regained her confidence and influence by changing the dynamic.

[09:45] The Turning Point

Why managing the relationship differently matters more than trying to “handle” the person better.

[10:05] Strategy 1: Stop Personalising It

How separating yourself from the behaviour creates clarity and emotional distance.

[10:55] Strategy 2: Understand the Dynamic

Learning what drives difficult behaviour so you can respond strategically.

[11:35] Strategy 3: Change How You Show Up

Practical ways to communicate with more calmness, clarity, and authority.

[12:20] Strategy 4: Decide Your Boundaries

Knowing when to address behaviour, escalate concerns, or leave an unhealthy environment.

[13:20] Leadership Reflection Exercise

Sarah shares one powerful question to help you notice where you may be adapting yourself to manage others.

[13:55] Final Thoughts

Why strong leadership is about staying intentional and grounded in difficult dynamics — not becoming harder or more aggressive.

[14:35] Closing & Resources

Where to connect with Sarah and access additional career and leadership resources.

Useful Links

Episode 76 How To Position Yourself For Promotion In The Next 6 Months

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

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Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]

Are you doing everything “right”- sleeping, exercising, pushing through your workload yet still feeling drained?

In this episode, Sarah challenges the way we think about rest. For high-performing female leaders, exhaustion isn’t always about doing too much - it’s often about recovering in the wrong way.

You’ll learn why traditional ideas of rest fall short, and how to restore your energy more effectively using seven powerful (and often overlooked) types of rest.

• Why sleep alone isn’t enough to restore your energy
• The hidden reason high performers still feel exhausted
• The 7 types of rest and how to recognise what you’re missing
• Simple, practical ways to build recovery into your working day
• Why rest isn’t a reward - it’s essential maintenance for performance

00:00 – Welcome to Unstuck and Unstoppable

01:00 – Why rest needs a rethink for high performers

02:00 – Energy check: where are you right now?

03:00 – The real problem: under-rested, not burned out

03:30 – Default habits: pushing through, scrolling, switching off

05:00 – Why high performers struggle with recovery

05:30 – Mental rest: calming an overactive mind

06:30 – Physical rest: micro-recovery during the day

07:30 – Emotional rest: managing the invisible load

08:30 – Reflection: which type of rest are you missing?

09:00 – Social rest: balancing interaction and energy

10:00 – Sensory rest: reducing constant stimulation

11:30 – Creative rest: bringing in new input

12:30 – Spiritual rest: reconnecting with meaning and values

13:00 – Personal example: using values to shift energy

14:00 – Why rest is not a reward but maintenance

14:30 – Client story: rebuilding energy after promotion

15:00 – How to choose the one type of rest to focus on

15:30 – Final thoughts and next steps

You don’t need to push harder - you need to recover better.

When you identify the right type of rest your body and mind need, everything from your energy to your confidence and performance becomes easier.

Want more ideas for each type of rest? Send Sarah a message for her free guide

Request the Emotions Wheel to help you better identify and process how you feel

Useful Links

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]

In this episode, Sarah challenges a common belief about promotion: that it’s purely based on performance. Drawing on her experience in HR leadership and executive coaching, she reveals why promotions are often blocked by hesitation, not capability, and what you can do to change how decision-makers see you.

If you’re aiming for your next senior role, this episode will show you exactly how to position yourself so that promotion feels like the obvious next step.

What You’ll Learn

• Why performance alone doesn’t get you promoted
• The real reason senior leaders hesitate in promotion decisions
• The 4 key signals that show you’re ready for the next level
• How to shift perception in the next 6 months
• A simple but powerful communication shift that changes how you’re seen

Timestamps

[00:00:00] Introduction to the podcast and who it’s for

[00:01:00] A powerful mindset shift: imagining the promotion discussion happening without you

[00:02:00] Why promotions are blocked by hesitation - not performance

[00:03:00] The hidden gap: “certainty of perception”

[00:04:00] Case study: why Client B got promoted over Client A

[00:05:00] Overview of the 4 signals that get you promoted

[00:05:30] Signal 1: Thinking beyond your function

[00:06:30] Signal 2: Handling ambiguity and pressure

[00:07:30] Signal 3: Stepping out of the operational “weeds”

[00:08:00] Signal 4: Already operating at the next level

[00:09:00] Why making your ambition visible matters

[00:09:45] The risk of silence: being seen as “content” where you are

[00:10:00] One strategic shift: stop reporting, start interpreting

[00:10:30] Final takeaway: promotion is about perception, not just performance

Key Takeaway

You don’t get promoted because you’ve done a great job—you get promoted when people can already see you operating at the next level. Your role is to remove any doubt that you’re ready.

Useful Links

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]

In this episode, Sarah breaks down how executive recruiters actually operate - and why the typical “send your CV and wait” approach doesn’t work at a senior level. If you’re aiming for leadership roles, you’ll learn how to position yourself strategically, build strong recruiter relationships, and stand out as a credible, low-risk candidate.

What You’ll Learn

• The biggest misconception about executive recruiters
• How recruiters assess senior candidates
• Why positioning matters more than your CV
• 5 practical ways to work with recruiters effectively
• How to make recruiters a powerful part of your job search strategy

Timestamps

[00:00] Welcome & podcast introduction

[01:00] Global reach milestone + episode overview

[02:00] Client story: feeling stuck and overlooked by recruiters

[03:00] The biggest misconception about recruiters

[04:00] Why a passive job search strategy fails

[05:00] Case study: shifting positioning and strategy

[06:00] How executive recruiters actually think

[07:00] What makes you “easy to place”

[07:30] 5 practical strategies to work with recruiters

[07:30] 1. Be specific about what you want

[08:00] 2. Lead with value, not your CV

[08:30] 3. Build relationships, not transactions

[09:00] 4. Prepare properly for recruiter conversations

[09:30] 5. Don’t rely on recruiters alone

[10:00] The mindset shift: recruiters are part of your strategy

[11:00] Final thoughts + how to get support

Key Takeaway

Recruiters don’t find you a job - you position yourself so they can confidently place you. When you get clear, strategic, and visible, they become valuable allies rather than a frustrating dead end.

Useful Links

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]

In this episode, Sarah explores the powerful concept of strategic hope and why it is a critical leadership skill for ambitious female leaders who want to prevent burnout and create real momentum in their careers.

Many high-performing women find themselves working hard while quietly hoping something changes - hoping for recognition, hoping for opportunities, hoping for better leadership or culture. But hope, in its most powerful form, isn’t wishful thinking.

Drawing on the work of positive psychologist C.R. Snyder, Sarah introduces Hope Theory and explains how hope is actually a practical leadership strategy built on three key elements: goals, pathways, and agency.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, flat, or unsure about your next step, this episode will help you shift from passive wishing to actively designing your future.

• The difference between passive hope and strategic hope
• Why high-performing female leaders lose hope in their careers
• The link between hope, motivation, and burnout prevention
• The three essential skills that build strategic hope
• How to create clear goals, practical pathways, and real agency
• Reflection questions to help you start designing your next move

00:00 – Introduction to Unstuck and Unstoppable and episode overview

01:30 – Why hope is the focus of this episode

02:00 – Passive hope vs strategic hope in female leadership

03:30 – Introduction to Hope Theory and C.R. Snyder’s research

04:30 – Reflection: Where are you hoping for change instead of designing it?

05:00 – Why female leaders lose strategic hope:

• 05:10 – Effort without progress and declining energy
• 05:45 – Immovable systems and limited pathways
• 07:00 – Over-responsibility and burnout risk

08:15 – The three strategic hope skills:

08:30 – Skill 1: Clarity and defining your goal

• Getting specific about what you want next in your career

10:45 – Skill 2: Creating pathways and designing your strategy

• Examples of pathways (networking, visibility, role design, internal and external opportunities)
• Planning for obstacles and contingencies

13:00 – Skill 3: Building agency through small actions

• Evidence-building and confidence through action

14:15 – Hope amplifiers

• Why power: connecting to meaning and purpose
• We power: support, accountability, and social connection

15:30 – Three reflection questions to build strategic hope

16:30 – Moving from wishing to designing your career

17:00 – Coaching support and closing message

1. What am I currently wishing would change in my career?
2. What goal sits behind that wish?
3. What is one pathway I could start this week?

Useful Links

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Rate & Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of Unstuck & Unstoppable helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]