In this moving and deeply human conversation, Jean welcomes  Elaine Robinson, Principal of Sir Manasseh Meyer International School in Singapore. With over 25 years in education, Elaine has led schools across the UK and internationally with vision, courage, and compassion.

Elaine shares openly about her leadership journey, from navigating the complexities of leading a school community through COVID-19 to facing her own profound personal loss while continuing to lead with authenticity, grace, and care.

Together, Jean and Elaine explore what it truly means to be a compassionate leader  - one who holds space for both accountability and humanity, structure and softness, courage and vulnerability.

In This Episode

You’ll hear about:

• The power of compassionate leadership and how it transforms school cultures.
• How to hold people accountable with kindness and clarity.
• The importance of creating safe and bold spaces for teachers, students, and staff to bring their whole selves to work.
• The role of community and teamwork in sustaining leadership through challenge.
• Elaine’s deeply personal story of leading through her husband’s illness and loss, and what it taught her about resilience, faith, and compassion for self.

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In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Katie Best, a leadership coach, consultant, and author whose career has been shaped by asking one central question: what are the problems leaders struggle with most — and how can we solve them?

Katie is the founder of Katie Best Associates, she teaches on the MBA Essentials Programme at the London School of Economics, and is a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London. Most recently, she became an author with her new book The 10 Toughest Leadership Problems.

Her journey into writing the book began, not in a quiet academic office, but in the middle of the pandemic. Katie began mapping out the recurring challenges she’d seen across decades of coaching and executive education. What she noticed was powerful: no matter the industry or seniority, leaders kept coming with the same tough problems. Out of that work, the SOLVE framework was born.

In This Conversation we trace Katie’s journey from consultant and educator to author, and explore the big themes in her book:

• Personal Effectiveness  -  Why leaders today are carrying jobs that are simply “too big,” and how to tell the difference between organizational overload and self-imposed pressure.
• Influence  - How the art of influence has shifted in flatter, matrixed organizations, and why relationships and trust are more persuasive than data alone.
• Managing Performance  - Reframing those dreaded “difficult conversations” as an act of service and growth, rather than conflict.
• Culture and Values  - What it means to “just be a good human” in pressured workplaces, and how to recover when leaders get derailed.

Leadership is hard -  and yet it can also be deeply fulfilling. Katie reminds us that fulfillment comes when leaders find roles and organizations where they can bring their authentic selves to work, and be valued for what they uniquely contribute.

Her book is both a handbook for solving problems and a guide to building resilience. By working through the challenges, leaders don’t just fix what’s broken — they grow skills that carry into every part of their work and life.

Resources

• Dr. Katie Best’s book: The 10 Toughest Leadership Problems 
• Learn more about Dr Katie Best

👉 Subscribe to The Fulfilled Leader wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you enjoy this episode, share it with a colleague or friend navigating their own leadership journey.

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Influencing others at work can often feel like one of the most challenging parts of leadership. Whether it’s navigating difficult relationships, persuading colleagues to collaborate, or aligning a team around a new direction, influence is at the heart of how leaders get things done. In this episode, Jean explores what it really means to influence others with respect and integrity.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why influencing is a core leadership skill that extends beyond formal authority.
• The shift from command-and-control leadership to today’s matrixed, collaborative workplaces.
• A three-step framework for influencing effectively:
  1. Clarify your goal – create a vision that inspires, not just a process-focused objective.
  2. Understand the current state – stand in the shoes of the person or group you’re seeking to influence.
  3. Choose the right action – select an influencing strategy that fits the context and respects others.
• Seven practical strategies for influence, from using logic and data to building relationships, creating impact, bargaining, and even knowing when to (carefully) lean on authority.
• How to approach influencing as a human skill rooted in empathy, respect, and adaptability.

Why This Matters
Too often, leaders approach influence by pushing their own agenda. This episode reframes influence as a relational process, one that can reduce sleepless nights, improve collaboration, and help you achieve outcomes while strengthening trust.

Takeaway
Influence is not about forcing or persuading, it’s about listening, connecting, and shaping outcomes in ways that benefit everyone involved. With practice, you can become a more confident and effective influencer, no matter your role.

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In this episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean Balfour explores one of the most common challenges leaders face, negative thinking, rumination, and self-doubt. Whether it shows up as imposter syndrome, constant worry, or replaying conversations in your head, these thought patterns can drain your energy and undermine your confidence.

Jean explains why our brains are wired to focus on the negative, how this evolutionary mechanism once kept us safe, and why it so often works against us in the modern workplace. She shares insights from neuroscience, personal stories from her own journey with anxiety and rumination, and practical strategies you can use to shift your relationship with negative thinking.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why small triggers at work can send us spiraling into self-doubt.
• The three evolutionary drivers behind our brain’s negativity bias.
• How constant rumination impacts our energy, confidence, and leadership.
• The role of the amygdala in amplifying worry and fear.
• Why awareness is the first step to change—and how to practice it.
• Practical tools for “unhooking” from negative thoughts, including writing them down, reframing them, and even playful strategies like singing them out loud.
• How to hold onto the positive and let go of what doesn’t serve you.

Resources and References

• The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
• Rick Hanson’s work on the “Velcro for negatives, Teflon for positives” brain metaphor
• Practices for mindfulness, distraction, and self-compassion

Takeaway
Negative thinking never fully disappears—it’s part of being human. But you can change your relationship with it. By learning to observe, unhook, and reframe your thoughts, you free up energy and confidence to lead with greater calm and fulfillment.

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Have you ever thought about how your school experiences continue to shape you as a leader today? From the sound of the classroom bell to the sting of a teacher’s red ink, our memories from school and college often run deeper than we realise.

In this reflective episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean invites you to pause and explore the surprising connections between your early educational experiences and how you now show up at work, in leadership, and in life.

Drawing on her own journey of revisiting childhood schools in New Zealand, Jean shares stories that reveal how formative those years still are. She then guides you through questions and practical reflections to help uncover your own patterns, strengths, and stories that may still be influencing your leadership today.

In this episode, you’ll explore:

• How early experiences of belonging or exclusion affect the way you connect with colleagues.
• The power of a teacher’s words, both encouraging and discouraging, and how they echo into adulthood.
• Why hidden stories from school can hold you back or quietly propel you forward.
• Ways to reframe old narratives so they serve your leadership now.
• Journaling prompts and practices to loosen the hold of unhelpful memories.

This episode is an invitation to reflect gently on your past. By bringing awareness to how your school years shaped you, you gain the freedom to choose what stories to keep, what to reshape, and what to finally release.

Because while our early experiences matter, they don’t have to define us forever. With awareness, compassion, and curiosity, you always have the power to choose anew.

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Overwhelm seems to be everywhere right now. In fact, LinkedIn’s Chief Economist Karin Kimborough recently shared that posts mentioning overwhelm have increased by 82% this year. With so many leaders and professionals struggling, Jean revisits this topic with fresh eyes and shares practical ways forward.

In this episode, Jean Balfour explores:

• Why overwhelm is so widespread right now, including the impact of AI, workload, and hidden fears at work.
• The less obvious causes of overwhelm that I often see in coaching, like perfectionism, people-pleasing, emotional overload, unfinished projects, and constant task-switching.
• Her own journey with overwhelm, what drained her energy, and what restored it.
• A range of practical strategies to help you move from stuck and stressed into energy and enjoyment.

You’ll hear about:

• The hidden stories we tell ourselves that fuel overwhelm.
• The role of unfinished tasks and “cognitive shifting” in draining our focus.
• How to identify what feeds you and what depletes you at work.
• The power of completion, time blocking, and building in breaks.
• Why connecting with “glimmers” those small moments of joy, matters.
• The surprising link between creativity and reducing anxiety.
• How to scale your sense of overwhelm and track progress over time.
• Simple team practices that can make overwhelm an acceptable and solvable conversation at work.

This episode is both compassionate and practical. It’s about understanding that overwhelm has many causes,not just workload, and about finding hope, small shifts, and strategies that really make a difference.

May you find rays of sunshine in these overwhelming times.

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In this episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean is joined by senior HR leaders Vanessa Iloste and Vanessa Teo, co-hosts of the Career Transitions podcast. Together, they share insights from five seasons of conversations with leaders and experts on navigating the uncertainty of change.

We explore the habits that help leaders thrive in transitions, from listening and observing first, to building trust one step at a time. Vanessa and Vanessa also reflect on the challenges of cross-cultural moves, the importance of empathy in the future of work, and strategies for reinventing yourself without losing confidence.

Whether you’re stepping into a new role, changing industries, or simply rethinking your career, this conversation will help you approach transitions with curiosity, courage, and humanity.

Career Transitions on Spotify

Career Transitions Podcast on Apple

Career Transitions Podcast on LinkedIn

Vanessa Teo on LinkedIn

Vanessa Iloste on LinkedIn

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Discover how to bridge the gap between who you are today and the leader you aspire to be - with practical tools, inspiring research, and the courage to follow your bliss.

We often think about our future selves as strangers rather than as an extension of who we are today, which makes it harder to achieve our goals and create the lives we want. By learning to see our future selves in the first person and taking consistent action in the present, we can more effectively bridge the gap between who we are and who we want to become.

• Research shows we think about our present selves in first person but our future selves in third person
• This psychological distance makes it difficult to empathize with our future selves and take action today
• Following your bliss requires discipline and consistent effort, not just passive waiting
• Visualization helps you feel into your future self today rather than seeing it as distant
• Using first-person language about your future identity creates stronger connection
• Create a detailed picture of your future self and embody those qualities now
• Take small daily actions that align with your future identity, no matter how minor
• Observe leaders you admire and incorporate their behaviors into your own practice
• Write a retirement letter or use FutureMe.org to connect with your future self
• Focus on becoming the person you want to be rather than just achieving goals

https://www.halhershfield.com/yourfutureself

https://jamesclear.com/

https://www.futureme.org/

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In this episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean revisits a powerful and often misunderstood topic - ambition. Prompted by recent coaching conversations and personal reflections, she challenges conventional notions of ambition and invites you to rethink what it really means for you.

Jean explores how ambition isn't just about promotions, titles, or relentless striving. It's about discovering what you truly desire to achieve - whether that’s launching a passion project, being fully present with your family, or becoming exceptional at what you do now. With rich storytelling from her own journey - from a young teacher in New Zealand to founder and coach, Jean shows how ambition evolves with us.

This episode is an invitation to reclaim your ambition and align it with your values, season of life, and deeper sense of purpose.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• Why ambition is often misunderstood - and why it’s time to redefine it.
• How early experiences and societal messages shape your beliefs about ambition.
• The difference between internal ambition and external expectations.
• Why ambition has seasons - and how to navigate those transitions with self-trust.
• What to do when your ambition hits a roadblock or feels unachievable.
• How to explore your own ambition with honesty, curiosity, and compassion.

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How does our early life shape the leaders we become?
What role does fear play in our ambition?
And how can we lead with more wholeness and warmth -  especially when work feels hard?

In this episode of The Fulfilled Leader, I’m joined by psychologist and executive coach Dr. Jonathan Marshall for a deeply thoughtful and expansive conversation about the inner world of leaders.

Jonathan supports high performers who look like they're thriving on the outside but feel stretched and burnt out underneath. His work brings together leadership development, psychological depth, and meaningful change - and in this conversation, he shares some of the powerful patterns he sees in the leaders he works with.

We talk about:

• How childhood experiences and attachment styles influence our leadership
• The role of fear in driving performance - and what happens when we heal it
• Why likability matters more than we think in leadership
• The importance of self-awareness and working with our narcissism
• And how we can create warmth and emotional inclusion in our teams

Jonathan also shares stories from his rich and varied background - including the time he helped change how we think about email “attachments” in the early days of Yahoo Mail, and what it was like moving from clinical psychology into leadership coaching at Harvard Business School.

This episode is full of both insight and heart. Jonathan invites us to reflect more deeply on who we are as leaders - and reminds us that the more whole we become, the more powerfully we can lead.

Follow Jonathan on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/1marshall/

Jonathan's website: https://www.marshall.com.sg/

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How many times today have you been triggered? A sharp email, an offhand comment, a meeting that left you spiralling. Sometimes it’s a small internal shift, sometimes it leads to a reaction we regret.

In this episode, I explore what it really means to be triggered at work - why it happens, how it affects us, and most importantly, what we can do about it. I share personal stories, emotional regulation models, and a toolkit of strategies to help you return to calm, grounded leadership in the heat of the moment.

Whether you’re navigating team dynamics, difficult feedback, or simply the daily tension of leadership, this episode offers compassion, perspective, and practical ways to strengthen your emotional resilience.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What it really means to be triggered at work  - and how to spot it
• Common workplace triggers (some might surprise you)
• How your nervous system and ego states influence your reactions
• The role of values, unconscious memory, and emotional patterns
• Practical, in-the-moment strategies to pause and reset
• Reflective practices to learn from difficult moments without shame
• Why self-compassion is the most powerful tool of all

Takeaway:
Being triggered is part of being human  -  and part of being a leader. With the right tools, awareness, and kindness to yourself, you can turn these moments into powerful growth opportunities.

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Welcome back to The Fulfilled Leader! In this second refreshed episode, we’re diving deep into a subject that so often surfaces in coaching sessions - organizational politics.

For many leaders, politics at work can feel murky, manipulative, or downright toxic. It’s something we often wish would just go away. And yet, it’s a reality in every workplace. In this episode, I offer a fresh perspective: what if we replaced the idea of organizational politics with relational savvy?

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why all organizations are inherently political, and why ignoring this can stall your career.
• How to engage in politics ethically and effectively, without compromising your values.
• The difference between Fox-like, Sheep-like, and Wise Owl behavior at work.
• Why relational savvy is a leadership superpower.
• My two personal stories of getting it wrong - and what they taught me about political maturity.
• A 9-part strategy to help you build influence, understand power, and drive impact without playing dirty.

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Are you feeling stuck in your work or leadership, wishing for a breakthrough moment that never seems to come?

In this reflective and encouraging episode, Jean shares a personal story that begins with a jigsaw puzzle and unfolds into a powerful reminder: meaningful change often doesn’t arrive in sweeping transformations. but in slow, steady, sometimes invisible steps forward.

Drawing inspiration from her own creative process and insights from James Clear and Martha Beck, Jean invites you to think differently about your journey. Whether you’re seeking more fulfillment, navigating challenging relationships, or hoping for career growth, she offers a simple yet profound shift: focus on your inputs, not just the outcomes.

This episode is an invitation to:

• Rethink how real change happens - in your leadership, career, and life.
• Identify the areas where you're frustrated or feeling stuck.
• Explore how 1% improvements or "one-degree turns" can get you back on track.
• Embrace the power of small, sustainable actions each day.

Key Takeaway: You don’t need a grand plan or a giant leap. Just one piece at a time. That’s how transformation begins.

We'd love to know: What small shift will you make today?

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After four years and over a hundred episodes, I’m taking a moment to revisit some of the most loved conversations on this podcast. And what better place to start than the very first topic we ever explored  -purpose.

This refreshed episode of Finding Your Purpose brings new insights, reflections, and practical strategies to help you reconnect with what truly matters in your work and leadership.

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of purpose, both as a coach and in my own journey through leadership, burnout, and back to alignment. For many of us, work is a central part of our lives, and we long to feel fulfilled and grounded in what we do. And yet, finding our purpose, and staying aligned with it, isn’t always simple.

In this episode, I’ll take you through:

• Why purpose matters for our energy, wellbeing and leadership
• My own story of misalignment, burnout, and rediscovery
• How to know when you’re “in your lane”  and what it feels like when you’re not
• Practical exercises to help you explore your purpose and reconnect with what energises you
• Ways to find moments of alignment, even if your current role isn’t quite right

Whether you're early in your career, in a moment of transition, or just feeling a little out of sync - this conversation is for you. It’s for the leaders, the coaches, the caregivers, and the quietly curious - all of us trying to find our way back to what matters most.

Let’s get back in our lane.

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Why do so many smart, capable people hold themselves back from stepping into their potential? In this episode, I’m joined by leadership expert, bestselling author, and global speaker Dr Margie Warrell to explore the essential role of courage in navigating today’s uncertain world.

Margie shares her personal journey from rural Australia to global leadership advisor, and how her lifelong relationship with fear and self-doubt led her to develop a framework for courageous living.

Whether you’re facing a career crossroads, struggling with self-doubt, or simply feeling stuck, this conversation will inspire you to take braver action — even in the midst of fear.

Margie is an award-winning author of six books, including her latest: The Courage Gap: 5 Steps to Braver Action. With a PhD in Human Development and a Master’s in Leadership & Organisational Change, she combines research and lived experience to empower people to step through fear and into their potential.

A sought-after speaker, media contributor, and women’s leadership advocate, Margie has lived and worked across four continents and brings deep wisdom, compassion, and clarity to the topic of courage.

In this episode we cover 

• The surprising way Margie defines courage (hint: it’s not about being fearless)
• Why fear is wired into us – and how understanding the brain helps us move through it
• Margie’s powerful formula for courage
• How to take charge of your self-talk and inner narratives
• An overview of the 5 steps to closing the courage gap:
  • Intention – focusing on what you want, not what you fear
  • Belief – rewriting limiting stories about your capabilities
  • Connection – regulating your nervous system and leaning on community
  • Action – embracing discomfort as a path to growth
  • Learning – mining failure for gold, not shame
• How to create a culture of courage in the workplace and at home

Margie’s Website: https://margiewarrell.com/

Book: The Courage Gap: 5 Steps to Braver Action

Free Courage Gap Assessment: Take it here

Live Brave Podcast with Margie

Follow Margie on LinkedIn

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Welcome to the 100th episode of The Fulfilled Leader! In this heartfelt milestone episode, Jean Balfour reflects on the journey that began in December 2021 with Making Sense of Work and evolved into The Fulfilled Leader. 

Jean shares three powerful lessons she's learned through podcasting and how her long-standing journalling practice has not only sustained the show, but also shaped her career and personal growth. This episode is part memoir, part masterclass in personal leadership tools, and a rich encouragement for anyone navigating self-doubt, lack of feedback, or the challenge of staying consistent.

🪄 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The three unexpected leadership lessons learned from podcasting 100 episodes
• Why doing what energizes you helps you stay consistent, even during burnout
• How to manage imposter syndrome by simply showing up and making space
• Why not receiving feedback doesn’t mean your work doesn’t matter
• How journalling became Jean’s secret weapon for clarity, courage, and creativity
• Practical journalling tips and prompts to help you start or deepen your own practice

Here is a link to a journaling guide - Journalling Guide

You might also enjoy Julia Cameron. 

💬 Join the Conversation:

Do you journal? What has it helped you uncover? 

Jean would love to hear your thoughts on this episode, ideas for future topics, and guest suggestions for The Fulfilled Leader.

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In this episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean Balfour shares a deeply personal and practical exploration of emotional resilience at work. From the subtle emotional triggers we experience in a single day to the more overwhelming waves of stress and anxiety that can derail us, Jean explores how leaders can strengthen their ability to stay grounded amidst pressure.

Jean recounts her own journey - including a difficult piece of feedback that changed the trajectory of her leadership - and outlines five powerful, research-backed strategies for managing emotional triggers and building lasting emotional strength. This episode is a supportive guide for leaders navigating complex challenges while wanting to stay calm, compassionate, and focused.

You’ll learn:

• Why emotional resilience matters more than ever for leaders today
• The surprising power of naming emotions
• How values and purpose can anchor us in tough moments
• A simple 3-step technique to “unhook” from reactive thoughts
• Why small recovery rituals throughout the day are essential

Whether you're leading through crisis, juggling demands, or quietly wrestling with internal doubts, this episode is your reminder that strength doesn’t mean never feeling - it means knowing how to come back to centre.

Resources mentioned:

• The "mad, sad, glad, bad, scared" emotion check-in
• Box breathing and grounding techniques
• Journaling and diffusion practice

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In this powerful opening episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean Balfour shares the personal and professional journey behind the podcast's transformation. After nearly four years of Making Sense of Work, Jean saw a shift - both in herself and in the leaders she coaches. The focus is no longer just on performance or organizational outcomes, but on fulfillment, emotional wellbeing, and resilience at work.

Jean openly reflects on closing her successful coach training business to focus more on one-to-one coaching, retreats, and creating content that supports leaders in leading from their inner strength. She introduces her new Fulfilled Leader model: a six-part framework designed to help leaders cultivate deeper purpose and satisfaction in their work lives.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• Why fulfillment and emotional resilience are becoming central to effective leadership
• The myths we hold about what leaders are “supposed” to feel
• Jean’s six core components of a fulfilled leader:
  1. Deep Satisfaction
  2. Aligned Clarity
  3. Grounded Confidence
  4. Centred Calm
  5. Relational Connection
  6. Intentional Growth
• The personal story behind Jean’s decision to shift her career focus
• What’s next for Jean’s work with leaders - including 1:1 coaching and retreats

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Guest: Danny Dagan – Author of The Game

Episode Summary:

In this episode, I sit down with Danny Dagan, author of The Game, a gripping thriller that has just hit the shelves to glowing reviews. Danny’s journey to publication was anything but overnight—The Game is his seventh novel, following years of writing, rejection, and relentless persistence.

We dive deep into the discipline of writing, the mindset needed to keep going despite setbacks, and the surprising role of delusional self-belief in long-term success. Danny also shares how his corporate and legal background helped him navigate the business of publishing and how his community—both online and on his remote North Sea island—played a pivotal role in launching his book.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Danny transitioned from corporate life to full-time writing
✅ The daily habits and discipline that fuel his creative process
✅ Why rejection is part of the journey—and how to push through
✅ The power of community and network in launching a creative career
✅ The ethical dilemma at the heart of The Game

About The Game

The Game is a high-stakes thriller with a chilling premise: the children of five billionaires are kidnapped by a self-styled Robin Hood group, and only one will survive—the child whose parent pays the highest ransom. The ransom money? Destined for good causes. But is it justified?

A page-turner from start to finish, The Game is both a thriller and a thought-provoking exploration of ethics, wealth, and power.

Links & Resources:

📖 Grab your copy of The Game – https://dagan.co.uk/the-game-by-danny-dagan/

 🎙️ Follow Making Sense of Work for more inspiring conversations

💡 Enjoyed the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!

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In this inspiring episode of Making Sense of Work, I sit down with the incredible Punita Lal, a distinguished business leader, board director, and executive coach. With a career spanning over 35 years in leadership, strategy, and marketing, Punita has held executive roles at PepsiCo and Coca-Cola and now serves on multiple global corporate boards, including DBS Bank and Carlsberg.

Punita shares her zigzag career journey, from her early days in advertising to leading teams in multinational corporations, navigating boardrooms, and eventually embracing coaching. She reflects on the power of curiosity, creativity, and adaptability, offering insights into how we can future-proof our careers in an ever-changing world.

We explore:
✨ The importance of curiosity and continuous learning in leadership
✨ How taking career risks can lead to greater fulfillment
✨ The role of creativity in problem-solving and business leadership
✨ Why mentors and sponsors are essential for professional growth
✨ How to navigate career transitions with courage and resilience
✨ The value of diverse interests in shaping an innovative mindset

Punita also shares her thoughts on balancing work and life, why we should all be mentoring and sponsoring others, and how a simple habit—reading outside your field—can spark creativity and breakthrough ideas.

Resources & Mentions:
📖 Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg – A book that changed Punita’s approach to supporting women in leadership
🎧 GetAbstract – A tool for quick insights on business books
💡 Reverse mentoring – The value of learning from different generations

💬 “We need to upskill, reskill, and sideskill—traditional careers are no longer enough.” – Punita Lal

Enjoyed this episode?
💡 Share it with a friend who’s navigating career transitions!
⭐ Leave a review and let us know your biggest takeaway.

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In this episode of Making Sense of Work, Jean Balfour explores the role of accountability in helping us achieve our goals—both in our personal and professional lives. Initially uncertain about the topic, Jean embarked on a journey of discovery, engaging with her LinkedIn and Instagram communities to understand how others view accountability. The results were surprising: the vast majority found it motivating and helpful.

Through personal reflections, expert insights, and practical frameworks, Jean delves into why accountability matters, how it differs from responsibility, and how we can frame it to be a positive force. She also shares tools and techniques, including the Stages of Change model, accountability structures, and the power of small wins to keep us moving forward.

Key Topics Covered:

• Jean’s personal journey from accountability ambivalence to advocacy
• The difference between responsibility and accountability
• How external accountability can be supportive rather than patronizing
• The role of accountability in coaching and leadership
• The Stages of Change model and how it supports accountability
• Tools for self-accountability and supporting others
• The power of small wins in habit formation and personal growth

Resources & References:

• The Conscious Leadership Group: Jim Dethmer on accountability vs. responsibility 
• Prochaska and DiClemente’s Stages of Change Model
• Atomic Habits by James Clear – the impact of small, consistent actions

Takeaways & Reflection Questions:

• How do you currently view accountability in your life?
• Are there areas where accountability could support you in achieving your goals?
• What structures or accountability partners could help you stay on track?

Join the Conversation: Jean would love to hear your thoughts on accountability! Share your insights and experiences by reaching out on LinkedIn or Instagram. And if you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it with someone who might benefit.

Subscribe & Stay Connected: Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to Making Sense of Work on your favorite podcast platform and stay updated with the latest insights on coaching, leadership, and workplace dynamics.

Thank you for listening!

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Relational leadership is a transformative concept focusing on building trust and connection within teams, especially crucial in our tech-driven work environments. Leaders are encouraged to foster relationships, create open communication, and support team members to navigate the complexities of modern work effectively.

In this episode, join Jean Balfour as she shares the meaning of being a relational leader.

• Explore the essence of relational leadership
• The vital role of trust and communication in leadership
• Balancing task focus and relational engagement
• Real-world examples illustrating the need for relational practices
• The power of informal connections in building strong workplace relationships

Explore more episodes on Relational Leadership: 

• Episode 66: Helen Sanderson on compassionate leadership.
• Episode 44: Mairead McCormack on leading a hospital through COVID.
• Episode 41: Building a Mindset of Servant Leadership with Dr Maria Pressentin.

Join Our Leadership Reset Challenge 2025!

Kickstart the year with our Leadership Reset Challenge and take your leadership skills to the next level: https://baileybalfour.com/leadership-reset-coaching-challenge-2025/

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In this inspiring episode, Jean Balfour welcomes Sas Petherick, an internationally renowned coach and expert in healing self-doubt. Sas shares her remarkable journey from a fast-paced corporate career in London to becoming a leading voice in helping people build self-belief. 

With over a decade of coaching experience, a master's degree from Oxford, and groundbreaking research published in the International Journal of Coaching and Mentoring, Sas brings unparalleled expertise to the conversation.

Sas's trauma-informed, evidence-based coaching methodology has supported countless women in transforming their professional and personal lives. She's also the host of the Courage and Spice podcast, a top-rated show on self-doubt, with over half a million downloads.

Jean and Sas talks about:

• The impact of self-doubt in work and life.
• How modern workplaces often perpetuate self-doubt and ways to counteract it.
• The journey from self-doubt to self-belief, including the critical role of self-trust, self-worth, and self-acceptance.
• Practical strategies for understanding and overcoming resistance patterns like procrastination and perfectionism.
• How self-doubt can serve as a doorway to deeper self-awareness and growth.

This is a conversation packed with insights for anyone seeking to understand and navigate self-doubt, find fulfillment in work, and embrace a life rooted in self-belief.

Book Recommendation:

• Combining by Nora Bateson – A thought-provoking mix of poetry, art, and change theory that invites readers to think differently and explore the complexity of our world.

Connect with Sas Petherick:

• Website: https://selfbelief.school/
• Podcast: Courage and Spice (available on all major platforms)
• Social Media: Instagram

About Jean Balfour:
Jean is the host of the Making Sense of Work podcast and founder of Bailey Balfour, specialising in leadership coaching and ICF-accredited coach training.

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In this insightful episode of Making Sense of Work, Jean Balfour is joined by Dr. Saba Hasanie, Managing Director and Senior Partner of OSC Leadership Development.

Dr. Saba introduces Biographical Dimensions of Leadership using BDMM© – Level One, a framework designed to explore unconscious behavioral patterns rooted in the past that may hinder growth and development in coaching. 

With over 20 coaching and psychology certifications, a doctorate in coaching psychology, and her involvement with the prestigious Forbes Coaches Council, Saba brings a wealth of experience in executive coaching, leadership development, and coaching supervision. Originally from Canada and now based in Singapore, Saba shares her professional and personal journey spanning over 14 years in the APAC region.

Key topics covered in this episode include

• Saba’s career pillars: executive coaching, leadership development, coach training, and professional writing.
• The deep connection between our childhood experiences and how they influence our leadership styles and professional behavior.
• The importance of understanding “why I am” rather than just “what I do” as a leader.
• Saba’s unique Biographical Dimensions of Meaning Making (BDMM) model, which explores how past experiences, family dynamics, and personal history shape leadership tendencies.
• Ethical considerations in coaching, especially when exploring childhood influences and how to ensure clients are resourced to handle those conversations.

Coming Soon: Saba’s upcoming book on leadership development and the biographical dimensions of meaning-making. For more information about Dr. Saba Hasanie’s work, coaching, and upcoming book, visit OSC Leadership Development.

Books & Resources Mentioned:

• Bittersweet by Susan Cain
• Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability
  
  
  
  

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In this special episode of Making Sense of Work, released in honor of World Mental Health Day, Jean Balfour shares a deeply personal and reflective narrative on her journey with emotional wellbeing and resilience.  From the challenges of her early years as a young teacher through subsequent phases of depression and burnout, Jean speaks candidly about the ongoing process of managing her mental and emotional health.

Jean emphasizes the vital connection between personal wellbeing and professional effectiveness. With vulnerability and insight, she highlights the importance of creating safe spaces at work, the role of leaders in supporting their teams, and practical strategies for individuals to cultivate their own emotional resilience and self-compassion.

Jean’s story serves as a reminder that mental health is a continuum and that seeking support is an act of strength, not weakness. It’s a call to normalize talking about struggles in the workplace and to prioritize emotional wellbeing alongside professional success.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Sharing Stories: Jean’s own story illustrates how being open about mental health challenges can reduce stigma and create a culture of support.
2. Self-Compassion and Resilience: Resilience is not just about pushing through; it’s about acknowledging struggles, seeking help, and cultivating self-compassion.
3. Creating Supportive Work Environments: Leaders play a key role in supporting the mental health of their teams by creating safe, open spaces for dialogue.
4. Practical Strategies for Self-Care: Jean shares her go-to tools—therapy, journaling, mindfulness, and the support of trusted colleagues and friends—to maintain her wellbeing.
5. Redefining Resilience: Resilience is about perseverance and adapting through challenging times. It’s less about toughness and more about being open, vulnerable, and kind to oneself.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck
• The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris (based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

Connect with Jean:
LinkedIn: Jean Balfour

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