Have you ever experienced that moment when life suddenly brings your authentic inner voice into sharp focus? When my father passed away suddenly at age 60—after spending his life waiting for a retirement he never got to enjoy—something cracked wide open inside me. That thunderbolt moment stripped away all the noise and conditioning about how I “should” lead and who I “should” be. In this episode, I share how these profound wake-up calls can transform your authentic leadership journey and why finding your true voice isn’t just nice-to-have—it’s essential for meaningful impact.
I’ve spent decades watching leaders (myself included) hide behind masks of perfection, agreeableness, and expertise. Today, we’re pulling back those layers to examine what’s underneath. I’ll walk you through the exact process I used to rediscover my voice after years of shape-shifting to meet others’ expectations, including the personal manifesto technique that helped me declare “I am the alchemist here to help people transform their lives to gold.” This episode isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about the soul work that will reconnect you with the leader you’re truly meant to be.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why thunderbolt moments (like unexpected loss) can be powerful catalysts for authentic leadership development
- How to identify the masks you’re still wearing that feel safe but no longer serve your true leadership voice
- The step-by-step process for creating your own personal manifesto that grounds you in your deepest values
- A powerful question your 90-year-old self would want you to answer about what truth you’re avoiding right now
- The surprising way solitude and self-reflection can help you distinguish between conditioned responses and your genuine inner voice
What mask have you been wearing in your leadership journey that no longer feels true to who you are? I’d love to hear your reflections on this deeply personal work of uncovering your inner voice. For more resources on authentic leadership and to continue this important conversation, join me on LinkedIn where I share weekly leadership insights.
Leadership Presence | Mastering the Inner Work of Leadership is your guide to leading with less ego and more soul. Your host is Janet Ioli, leadership and human development expert, sought-after coach, advisor to global executives, and former executive with experience in four Fortune 200 companies. In this podcast, she digs into the real deep work and empowers leaders to show up with authenticity, build emotional intelligence, and lead in a way that leaves a lasting impact.
Noteworthy Quotes from This Episode
“What would your 90-year-old self say you should speak up about right now? What truth have you been avoiding?”
“Who am I? What do I believe in? What am I committed to? Write it out. And then come up with a soul statement. And what I mean by a soul statement is something that really embodies the energy that you bring to the world that’s beyond human.”
“Approval and validation kill us. It’s a soul killer because that approval we can keep chasing for the rest of our lives and you’ll never be able to find yourself.”
“Finding your voice isn’t a one-time event. It’s a return. It’s a remembering. You know that voice, but it requires solitude. It requires time. It requires self-reflection, it requires honesty and a whole lot of self-compassion.”
Resource Links:
Connect with Janet Ioli:
Website: janetioli.com
Linkedin: Janet Ioli
Instagram: @janetioli
Janet is the founder of Power Presence Academy. She helps leaders ground themselves with confidence, connection, and purpose and lead with Less Ego, More Soul.
If you want to become more grounded, confident, and aligned with your deeper values in just 21 days. Check out Janet Ioli’s book Less Ego, More Soul: A Modern Reinvention Guide for Women.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Recent Comments