How many opportunities have you delayed because you were waiting for permission?

In this episode Sarah talks to Natalie Nielson, Programme Director at Barclays Corporate, to explore the leadership lessons that have shaped her career and helped her thrive in complex, high-pressure environments.

Natalie shares how she learned to stop waiting for someone else to tell her she was ready, navigate the inner voice of self-doubt, and develop a leadership style grounded in trust, authenticity and reflection.

We also discuss the coaching journey we undertook together following her promotion into a senior leadership role, and the powerful mindset shifts that helped her become more confident, influential and intentional in her career.

If you've ever questioned your readiness for the next step, struggled with visibility, or found yourself getting in your own way, this episode will leave you with practical insights and plenty of encouragement.

In This Episode

• Why waiting for permission can hold your career back
• How to get out of your own way and quiet self-doubt
• The relationship between confidence and experience
• Navigating the transition into senior leadership
• Why reflection is an underrated leadership superpower
• The importance of asking for help and building support networks
• Creating trust and meaning within teams
• Developing an authentic leadership style
• Learning from role models and increasing your influence
• Reflection before reaction as a leadership habit
• What it really means to be unstuck and unstoppable

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to the episode and Natalie Nielson

03:45 – Natalie's role as Programme Director and leading complex transformation

05:00 – The leadership challenge of waiting for permission

06:00 – Why confidence is a by-product of experience

06:40 – Getting out of your own way and managing self-doubt

08:30 – Why senior leaders still experience uncertainty

09:30 – The promotion that led Natalie to seek coaching

10:45 – Stepping into a new leadership identity

11:00 – Reflection as a leadership superpower

12:00 – Why asking for help is underrated

13:00 – Building trust, meaning and connection within teams

14:00 – Creating a high-performance culture through authentic leadership

15:00 – Aligning leadership with personal values

16:00 – Why your identity is bigger than your job title

16:45 – Possibility, potential and opening unexpected doors

17:20 – What Natalie wishes she'd known earlier in her career

18:30 – Managing worry and learning through experience

19:00 – Building visibility and influence at senior levels

19:45 – Learning from role models and observing successful leaders

21:00 – The importance of practice and confidence building

21:30 – Advice for anyone considering coaching

22:30 – Natalie's experience of coaching

23:30 – A leadership habit Natalie swears by: Reflection before reaction

24:15 – What being unstuck and unstoppable means to Natalie

25:00 – Key takeaways and closing reflections

Useful Links

Episode 40 How to Get Your Voice Heard in the Leadership Space

Connect with Natalie on LinkedIn

Sign up for Weekly Career Inspiration

Learn about Leadership & Advancement Coaching Programmes

Book a Free 121 Clarity Call

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

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If you're kind enough to leave a review, please do let Sarah know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected]