Leadership Within

Navigating Success

What does success actually mean if the old corporate ladder is gone? In this episode, we get properly honest about it. Vanessa shares what she’s been working on with her therapist around joy and self-worth. TK talks about learning piano just because it’s fun, not because it leads anywhere. We dig into how easy it is to chase a version of success that was handed to us by someone else. And what happens when we stop and ask: what actually lights me up? We also talk about how leaders can create the space for these kinds of conversations at work. Spoiler: it starts with being a bit vulnerable yourself. 🎹 If you’ve ever caught yourself turning every hobby into a goal, or wondering “is this really it?”, this one’s for you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com [https://leadershipwithin.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Secret Room: Do You Really Want In?

Have you ever been invited into the inner circle? The group that knows things others don’t? 🤔 In this episode, we dig into something we see a lot in organisations: using information as power. Sharing secrets with some, keeping others in the dark. It feels like trust. It feels like status. But what does it actually do to a team? We talk through the real impact. The gossip it creates. The anxiety it breeds. And the way it quietly erodes trust over time. We also get honest about our own moments of being pulled in. That feeling of “ooh, I’m in the club” and then the yuck that follows. 😬 Because sometimes the bravest thing isn’t joining. It’s pausing and asking yourself: do I actually want to be in there? If you’ve ever felt the pull of the inner circle, or the burden of knowing too much, this one’s for you. 🎙️ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com [https://leadershipwithin.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Energy We Bring Into the Room

In this episode, we talk about the energy we bring into work, meetings and leadership. It started with one line: “I want to steal your energy.” Sounds like a compliment, right? But it opened up a bigger question for us. What does our energy do to a room? When is it helpful? When does it become too much? And what happens when positivity starts to feel fake? We talk about presence, confidence, masks at work, and the quiet pressure to be “the right amount” of yourself. Not too flat. Not too much. Just acceptable enough. We also get into the difference between sharing energy and draining it. Because good leadership is not about performing. It is about being real, reading the room, and still making space for other people to bring their own energy too. A simple one. But a useful one. 🎈 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com [https://leadershipwithin.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The Hard Choice Leaders Face in Toxic Cultures

What do we do when the culture around us is not helping us do our best work? In this episode, we talk about a tough choice many leaders face. Do we stay and try to improve things? Do we leave and use our energy somewhere better? Or do we stay, complain, and slowly lose ourselves in the process? We explore how easy it is to blame the culture, the politics, or other people, while missing our own part in what is happening. We also talk about energy, agency, scarcity, and why poor culture can follow us if we do not stop and notice our own patterns. This is an honest chat about leadership, self-awareness, and the small choices that shape culture every day. And yes, there is also a surprisingly lovely lesson from geese🪿 If you’d like, I can also give you 3 shorter description options with slightly different tones, like more thoughtful, more direct, or more LinkedIn-friendly. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com [https://leadershipwithin.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Do you have a preference for an Ask or a Guess Culture?

In this episode, we talk about something that quietly shapes how we lead and work with others: ask culture vs guess culture. We explore why some of us ask directly for what we need, while others hint, soften, or wait to be read. We share real examples from coaching and client work, and we look at how power, pace, fear, and past experiences can all affect how we communicate. We also talk about why directness can feel uncomfortable, but still bring relief. Clarity helps. Guessing often creates stress. We reflect on performance conversations, “powerful questions”, and the reality that not everyone can answer big questions on the spot. Sometimes people need time. Sometimes we do too. This is a practical and honest chat about communication, leadership, and self-awareness. We end with a simple reminder: notice when we are guessing, forgive ourselves, and try a clearer ask next time 😊 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadershipwithin.substack.com [https://leadershipwithin.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]