Michelle is joined by the brilliant Barbara Nixon - success and leadership coach for senior execs and founder-led businesses - for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about growing up, breaking free from the corporate world, and reclaiming the confidence we had as kids before life slowly eroded it.

Barbara shares how she went from mischievous youngest child (who once just changed schools without really asking permission) to corporate high-flyer, to jumping off the career ladder mid-recession with zero plan and a lot of midnight panic in a Welsh cottage. They also get into the magic of talking to strangers on trains, why the rebel might just be part of the good girl story, and the one question Barbara thinks every woman should ask herself right now.

Funny, honest and genuinely thought-provoking - this one will have you thinking about your childhood self long after it's finished.

Show Notes:

Guest: Barbara Nixon — success and leadership coach and consultant working with MDs, directors and senior leaders in founder-led businesses. She helps executives elevate and grow, both in and out of work.

What we talk about:

0:00 — Intro & how Michelle and Barbara met (spoiler: Covid, the internet, and a mystery matchmaker)

2:40 — Did Barbara feel pressure to be a good girl growing up? The youngest child advantage — and changing schools without telling anyone

5:50 — When the confidence started to erode: A-levels, university, first child, and stepping onto the conveyor belt

7:00 — 13 years in corporate retail: what she loved, why she was known for asking the questions nobody else would, and why she eventually walked away

10:30 — Jumping into business with no plan, midnight panic in a Welsh cottage, and the loneliness nobody warns you about

28:00 — The conversation that's blowing Michelle's mind: is the rebel actually part of the good girl? Plus Barbara's one question every woman should ask herself

Barbara's question to sit with:"What do you need to learn from your younger self that you can use now?"

Connect with Barbara:

Find Barbara:

Website: ⁠www.barbaranixon.co.uk⁠

 Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaranixon1/⁠

 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iambarbaranixon

 Confident Leaders Scorecard: https://barbara-dn4exwq0.scoreapp.com/ 

Follow Michelle 

Website - https://www.michelleminnikin.com/ 

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mminnikin/  

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goodgirldeprogramming  

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@michelleminnikin

Buy Good Girl Deprogramming

Ebook and Paperback available at all good bookshops (and Amazon - https://amzn.to/3AQHuFf) 

Audible - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B0D9MKBDBW/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-406719&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_406719_rh_uk 

Take the Good Girl Roles Assessment

Find out if you’re a Good Girl at https://goodgirlroles.com/ 

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