- Learn how to break free from conformity and lead authentically, no matter the corporate pressure.
- Understand the “silent middle” and how to overcome burnout by embracing your true self.
- Gain insights from Thera Prins on staying visible as a woman in midlife through authentic leadership.
Resources:
- Contact Angela Cox on LinkedIn
- Visit The Leader Unmasked Podcast
- Explore coaching at Paseda360
Episode Highlights:
- [00:02:22 – 00:04:22] Conforming to Fit In: Thera shares how she adopted a conformist persona—wearing navy suits and suppressing her vibrant personality—to succeed in banking, only to realize it dulled her true self.
- [00:04:51 – 00:06:17] The Enough Moment: Thera recounts her devastating redundancy at Lloyds and personal collapse, which forced her to confront how conformity led to a loss of authenticity and happiness.
- [00:08:17 – 00:08:53] Becoming a Role Model: Thera reflects on the shift from emulating others to being a role model by leading authentically, inspiring others to do the same.
- [00:35:10 – 00:45:23] Staying Visible in Midlife: Thera discusses staying visible as a woman in midlife by rejecting corporate constraints and embracing her energy, wisdom, and authentic leadership.
Three Powerful Quotes:
- [00:06:18] “I slowly separated myself from the true person that I am… My mum would say to me, ‘You’ve lost your color.’”
- [00:06:39] “The big turning point for me was, well, you know, sod all this… I’d spent all this time adjusting to what I thought everybody else expected of me.”
- [00:45:23] “I’ve got nothing to lose anymore… I’ve got all that learning and all that confidence, plus a big network of people that I love. So let’s go and do something good with it.”
About the Guest: Thera Prins, a dynamic CEO, embodies the power of authentic leadership after a transformative journey through corporate conformity. With a career spanning banking and leadership roles, Thera once molded herself to fit expectations—wearing “boring” navy suits and suppressing her vibrant personality to climb the ranks. A devastating redundancy at Lloyds and personal challenges became her “enough moment,” prompting her to reject conformity and rediscover her true self.
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