Unstuck & Unstoppable

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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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

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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]

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

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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 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

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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 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

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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]

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything right in your leadership role - delivering results, working hard, supporting your team - yet still being overlooked for promotion?

In this episode, Sarah lifts the lid on the unwritten rules of leadership that shape career progression at senior levels. Many ambitious female leaders are told that hard work and strong performance will naturally lead to advancement but in reality, leadership decisions are often influenced by visibility, relationships, strategic thinking, and perception.

Through a powerful coaching story and practical reflection questions, this episode explores why brilliant women sometimes get passed over and, more importantly, what they can do differently to position themselves for the leadership roles they deserve.

• Why working hard isn’t always enough to get promoted
• The hidden leadership dynamics many organisations don’t talk about
• The 4 unwritten rules that shape career advancement
• How visibility, relationships, and perception influence leadership decisions
• Practical actions you can take this week to position yourself for your next role

00:00 – Welcome to Unstuck & Unstoppable

01:00 – Episode introduction: The leadership rules nobody talks about

02:00 – Coaching story: “It feels like there’s a game being played and nobody told me the rules”

A real-life example of a senior female leader being overlooked for promotion.

03:30 – The myth of hard work leading to promotion

Why performance alone doesn’t guarantee career advancement.

05:00 – Leadership advancement is about more than delivery

Understanding the gap between doing a great job and being seen as ready for senior leadership.

05:45 – Rule 1: Visibility matters more than effort

Why leaders can’t promote what they can’t see and how to create strategic visibility.

Reflection question: Where might you be working hard but staying invisible?

08:00 – Rule 2: Relationships shape opportunities

The importance of networks, sponsors, and trust in career progression.

Reflection question: Who are the key people who need to know and trust you?

10:00 – Rule 3: Strategic thinking gets rewarded

Moving from operational excellence to future-focused leadership thinking.

Reflection question: Are you spending most of your time delivering or thinking about the future?

11:45 – Rule 4: Perception drives promotion

How executive presence and leadership perception influence decisions.

Reflection question: How do senior leaders currently perceive you?

13:00 – One practical action to take this week

Choose one conversation with a senior leader to increase visibility, influence, or strategic contribution.

14:00 – Key takeaway: Understand the system and position yourself within it

Visibility, relationships, strategic thinking, and perception are the keys to leadership advancement.

14:30 – How to get support and access free resources

Information on coaching support and additional resources.

Useful Links

Episode 66 Strengthening Your Strategic Thinking

Episode 31 How to Develop Executive Presence

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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]

Shine brightly. Lead boldly. Be unstoppable.

In this episode Sarah explores the powerful but often overlooked role of weak ties in career growth and job searching.

If you're an ambitious woman looking to advance your career, increase your visibility, or access new opportunities, this episode will change how you think about networking. Sarah explains why the people you barely know may be the ones who open the biggest doors, and shares practical strategies to help you build and leverage these connections in a way that feels natural and authentic.

• What weak ties are and why they matter in your career
• Why most job opportunities come from people outside your inner circle
• How weak ties increase visibility and career mobility
• Simple and practical ways to build and maintain weak ties
• A quick exercise to start leveraging your network this week

00:00 – Welcome to Unstuck & Unstoppable

02:00 – What Are Weak Ties?

Understanding second and third-order connections and why acquaintances matter in career growth.

03:00 – Why Weak Ties Open More Doors

How weak ties access different networks and opportunities that your inner circle may not see.

04:00 – The Spiderweb Analogy

A powerful visual explanation of how networks work and where opportunities really come from.

05:00 – Research and Career Mobility

Why people who leverage weak ties find jobs faster and access hidden opportunities.

05:30 – How to Leverage Weak Ties (Practical Steps)

Intentional outreach during job search and asking for advice or connections.

05:50 – Using Introductions Strategically

Getting insider information and increasing your chances in recruitment processes.

06:00 – Maintaining Light Contact

Simple ways to stay visible through LinkedIn and quick check-ins.

06:30 – Networking Coffee Conversations

How short, informal conversations can strengthen weak ties.

07:00 – A Simple Networking Exercise

Identify one or two weak ties and reach out this week.

07:30 – Weak Ties as Part of Your Visibility Strategy

Why career growth is about who knows you and what you can do.

08:00 – Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Nurturing weak ties to open unexpected career doors.

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]

Your next career opportunity may not come from your closest contacts - it may come from someone you’ve only spoken to once. Nurture your weak ties and watch new doors open.

Have you been in your role for five years or more? Are you there because you love it… or because you feel a bit stuck?

In this episode, Sarah unpacks the difference between healthy staying and career stagnation, the subtle signs you might be stuck (even if things look “fine” on the surface), and practical steps to help you regain momentum, confidence, and clarity in your career.

If you’ve been questioning your next move or avoiding the question altogether - this episode will give you a powerful reset.

[00:00:00] Welcome & Podcast Overview

[00:01:00] Why This Topic Matters

A real client story sparks the question: are you staying because you’re thriving or stuck?

[00:02:00] The Big Question: Why Have You Stayed?

Exploring the difference between loving your role and feeling unable to leave.

[00:02:30] What “Healthy Staying” Looks Like

1. Ongoing learning and development
2. Expanding influence and impact
3. Increasing responsibility and stretch
4. Feeling energised and engaged at work

[00:04:00] When Staying Becomes Stagnation

1. Repetitive work with no growth
2. Lack of progression opportunities
3. Declining confidence
4. Comfort replacing challenge

[00:06:00] The Hidden Risk of Being Too Comfortable

Why growth requires “optimal anxiety” (not stress, but not stagnation either).

[00:07:00] 5 Signs You Might Be Stuck

1. Your learning curve has flattened
2. You’ve stopped advocating for yourself
3. You’re known for what you used to do
4. You feel invisible or overlooked
5. You keep saying “maybe next year”

[00:08:30] Why We Stay Too Long

1. Comfort and security
2. Eroded confidence
3. “Golden handcuffs” (salary, flexibility, benefits)
4. The busyness trap
5. Identity lock (“this is just what I do”)

[00:10:30] The Real Cost of Staying Stuck

How stagnation shrinks your confidence, identity, and sense of possibility.

[00:11:00] 3 Ways to Get Unstuck

1. Run a Career Audit: Ask yourself:

1. What am I learning?
2. What impact am I having?
3. Where am I growing?

2. Expand Before You Exit

1. Seek stretch projects
2. Increase your visibility
3. Redesign aspects of your role

3. Explore New Possibilities

1. Internal moves or secondments
2. New environments or industries
3. Reimagining your career direction

[00:13:30] A Personal Turning Point

Why staying in the same type of senior role no longer felt inspiring and what that revealed.

[00:14:00] The Wake-Up Call Question

“If nothing changed in your role for the next 3 years, would you feel excited or quietly disappointed?”

[00:14:30] Reflection & Next Steps

Encouragement to pause, reflect, journal, and seek support if needed.

[00:15:00] Closing Thoughts

You don’t need to blow up your career - but you do need to wake it up.

1. t
2. Explore the Strategic Visibility episode for practical ways to raise your profile
3. Reach out for coaching support if you’re ready to move from stuck to unstoppable

Useful Links

Take the Career Clarity Audit for personalised insight

Episode 47 How to get noticed in your career

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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 why the inner critic exists and how it often tries to protect us from perceived risks like rejection, failure, or judgement. The challenge is that while it may have good intentions, it can also keep us stuck, holding back from the opportunities we truly want.

Sarah shares three practical strategies to help you quieten your inner critic and strengthen your inner coach so you can move forward with more confidence and self-trust.

00:00 – Welcome to Unstuck and Unstoppable

01:17 – Episode introduction: The inner critic

Why this topic comes up frequently in coaching sessions and how it affects confidence, career progression, and leadership.

02:15 – What the inner critic sounds like

Common thoughts that trigger self-doubt and prevent action.

03:20 – Why we actually have an inner critic

Understanding the brain’s role in protecting us from physical and emotional risk.

05:00 – How limiting beliefs fuel the inner critic

Where these beliefs come from and how they become ammunition for self-doubt.

06:10 – Your inner narrative and the story you tell yourself

How unconscious scripts shape what you believe is possible for you.

07:10 – Strategy 1: Notice and rewrite the narrative

Becoming aware of the story you’re telling yourself and consciously editing it.

08:05 – Flipping the script

Using the perspective of how you would speak to a friend to create a more empowering narrative.

08:40 – Strategy 2: Evidence-based reframing

Using real achievements and experiences to challenge the inner critic.

09:25 – Client example: Recovering confidence after burnout

How reframing helped a client rebuild trust in herself and pursue leadership again.

11:20 – Strategy 3: Create distance from your inner critic

Naming and externalising the inner critic to reduce its power.

12:20 – Real client example: Visualising and managing the inner critic

How one creative technique dramatically quietened a client’s inner critic.

13:10 – Strengthening your inner coach

Why self-trust is essential for leadership growth.

14:05 – Reflection exercise for listeners

A simple question to help you challenge your inner critic this week.

Useful Links

Episode 51: How to Change Your Inner Critic into Your Inner Coach

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

Your inner critic isn’t trying to sabotage you - it’s trying to protect you. But when you learn how to rewrite the story it’s telling and strengthen your inner coach, you create the confidence and self-trust needed to step into bigger opportunities.

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]