Hello beautiful soul
Wow, WHAT A GIFT that was.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to stand on a TEDx stage and speak about a topic that has shaped so much of my life and work.
And honestly, it was such an incredible feeling.
The talk itself centred on imposter syndrome and my perspective on why I don’t think it’s quite what we’ve been told it is.
I can’t share the details of the talk yet — that will come later — but I can say this.
The topic resonated deeply with the women in the audience because it touches something so many women quietly carry.
That background hum (or SCREAM if you are luteal haha) of doubt.
The feeling that you might not be quite ready yet.
That you might need one more qualification, one more win, one more piece of validation before you can fully claim your place.
In my work with women in leadership, I see this allllllllllllllll the time.
Incredibly capable people second-guessing themselves.
Women who have built remarkable careers still wondering if they truly belong in the room.
Leaders who have delivered real impact quietly questioning whether they deserve the role they’re already doing brilliantly.
And what strikes me again and again is this:
The evidence of their lives rarely matches the story in their heads.
Which is why, over the years, I started experimenting with a tool I now call a Casefile of Excellence.
Not a CV.
Not a polished LinkedIn bio.
A living record of the truth about your career.
A place where you document the real evidence of who you already are.
Your achievements.
The impact you’ve had.
The feedback you’ve received.
The moments where your leadership genuinely made a difference.
And something fascinating happens when people build one.
When you actually look at the evidence of your life — written down clearly in front of you — the narrative in your head begins to change.
Not because you suddenly become more confident.
But because you stop accidentally lying to yourself about your own impact.
You start telling yourself the truth.
Which is why I was so grateful to partner with PepTalk to share a short talk about this idea.
In the video, I walk through the Casefile of Excellence exercise and how documenting the evidence of your leadership can help you see your career with far more clarity and ownership.
If you’ve ever had that quiet feeling that you’re somehow not quite enough — despite everything you’ve achieved — this might be the reminder you need.
Because the work isn’t about becoming someone new.
It’s about recognising who you already are.
You can watch it here:
https://youtu.be/RuusYauqv-s
And speaking of leadership…
There’s a moment many women experience that nobody really prepares you for.
You got the job.
The title changed.
The responsibility expanded.
People are suddenly looking to you for direction.
And yet something quietly shifts that nobody talks about.
Because stepping into a C-suite or leadership role isn’t just a promotion.
It’s a shift in power.
A shift in scope.
A shift in how your voice lands in the room.
The conversations are different.
The expectations are different.
The stakes are different.
And yet most women are left to figure that transition out alone.
Which is exactly why I’m hosting a conversation next week with the phenomenal Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker.
You got the job. Now it’s time to really lead.
Live — Wednesday March 19th
11am EST / 4pm UK
Hit reply and let me know if you want to be added to the invitation and join us.
Clarissa brings lived experience of operating at the top of organisations and navigating board-level dynamics. She’ll guide a practical and honest conversation about what actually matters in your first 90 days at senior leadership level.
Not polished theory.
The real work of stepping into the role with authority, clarity, and confidence. She’ll explore:
• how the role truly changes at C-suite level
• what boards expect (and what they rarely say out loud)
• how to move from functional excellence to enterprise leadership
• the common traps women fall into — even when they are highly capable
You’ll leave with:
• a clearer sense of how to approach your first 90 days
• sharper insight into board dynamics and influence
• language and perspective to lead at enterprise level
• reassurance that you don’t need to become someone else to step up
Because here’s the truth.
If you’re already carrying senior responsibility…
If you’re being trusted with complexity…
If you can feel that more is being asked of you…
You’re already in the transition.
And this conversation is designed to help you navigate it.
I would absolutely love to see you there. Hit reply and let me know if you want to be added to the invitation and join us.
Rooting for you always
Ruth x
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