There's a moment many leaders experience.

The role that once gave you energy, purpose and identity starts to feel heavier. Not because you've stopped caring or lost your capability — but because something no longer fits.

In this episode of Leading You, I sit down with Susan Simon — educator, former principal of three independent Queensland schools, and author of debut novel The Secrets of St Jude's — for a deeply honest conversation about what happens when your leadership identity starts to disconnect from who you're becoming.

After more than four decades in Australian school communities, Susan brings an insider's perspective on the emotional complexity of leadership: the joy of building empowered teams, the weight of competing stakeholder expectations, the politics, the pressure — and eventually, the grief of leaving a role that once defined her.

This conversation goes far beyond education. It's for anyone in leadership, corporate, or business who has quietly wondered: Is this still who I am?

What we cover:
Why strong leadership often feels invisible to the person doing it
The emotional load of leading complex organisations with competing expectations
The quiet warning signs that something has shifted — before crisis hits
Why leaving a leadership role can feel like grief, not just a career change
The risk of letting work become your entire identity
How to reconnect with yourself outside of your title
Why grounding practices aren't a luxury — they're a leadership necessity
Susan's debut novel and the psychological complexity of elite school communities

 

Timestamps
00:00 Life Components First
00:43 Meet Susan Simon
02:16 Leadership In Flow
08:09 Stakeholders And Pressure
11:05 When Identity Shifts
17:37 Leaving And New Paths
20:22 Grief And Attachment
24:34 Advice For Stuck Leaders
28:53 Inside The Debut Novel
33:11 Wrap Up And Reviews

 

Links:
Learn more about my group coaching program here
Get the Clarity Compass here

 

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram:@juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au


Connect with Susan:
Website:https://susan-simon.com/
Instagram:@susan.simon_author
Purchase link:https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/The-Secrets-of-St-Judes/Susan-Simon/9781922190154

There's a moment many leaders experience.
The role that once gave you energy, purpose and identity starts to feel heavier. Not because you've stopped caring or lost your capability &mdash; but because something no longer fits.
In this episode of Leading You, I sit down with Susan Simon &mdash; educator, former principal of three independent Queensland schools, and author of debut novel The Secrets of St Jude's &mdash; for a deeply honest conversation about what happens when your leadership identity starts to disconnect from who you're becoming.
After more than four decades in Australian school communities, Susan brings an insider's perspective on the emotional complexity of leadership: the joy of building empowered teams, the weight of competing stakeholder expectations, the politics, the pressure &mdash; and eventually, the grief of leaving a role that once defined her.
This conversation goes far beyond education. It's for anyone in leadership, corporate, or business who has quietly wondered: Is this still who I am?
What we cover:
<ul>
<li>Why strong leadership often feels invisible to the person doing it</li>
<li>The emotional load of leading complex organisations with competing expectations</li>
<li>The quiet warning signs that something has shifted &mdash; before crisis hits</li>
<li>Why leaving a leadership role can feel like grief, not just a career change</li>
<li>The risk of letting work become your entire identity</li>
<li>How to reconnect with yourself outside of your title</li>
<li>Why grounding practices aren't a luxury &mdash; they're a leadership necessity</li>
<li>Susan's debut novel and the psychological complexity of elite school communities</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Timestamps 00:00 Life Components First 00:43 Meet Susan Simon 02:16 Leadership In Flow 08:09 Stakeholders And Pressure 11:05 When Identity Shifts 17:37 Leaving And New Paths 20:22 Grief And Attachment 24:34 Advice For Stuck Leaders 28:53 Inside The Debut Novel 33:11 Wrap Up And Reviews
&nbsp;
Links: Learn more about my group coaching program&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au/leadher-mastermind">here</a> Get the Clarity Compass <a href="https://programs.juliehyde.com.au/programs/claritycompass/">here</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Julie: LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/" data-href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/</a> Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/" data-href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/"> @juliehydeleads</a> Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au">https://juliehyde.com.au</a>
 Connect with Susan: Website: <a href="https://susan-simon.com/">https://susan-simon.com/</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/susan.simon_author/">@susan.simon_author</a> Purchase link: <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/The-Secrets-of-St-Judes/Susan-Simon/9781922190154">https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/The-Secrets-of-St-Judes/Susan-Simon/9781922190154</a>

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?

Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.

There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.

I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.

Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.

Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?
Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.
There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.
I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.
Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.
Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.

A Podcast dedicated to business owners and leaders to inspire you to make it count

Leading You

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?
Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.
There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.
I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.
Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.
Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.

Leading You | Self-Leadership for High Achievers

When the Title Stops Feeling Like You

What does a cereal box have to do with leadership, reputation and career progression?

More than most people realise.

In this solo episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde unpacks one of the most powerful metaphors she uses with clients when discussing identity, leadership positioning and professional reputation.

Because just like products on a supermarket shelf, people make decisions about you long before they understand the full picture.

Your reputation is your packaging.
Your behaviours are your ingredients panel.
And whether intentional or not, you are constantly training people how to see you.

This episode explores why highly capable leaders often become trapped inside outdated perceptions, how behaviours reinforce professional identity over time, and why visibility alone will not move you into your next level of leadership.

Julie also explores research from organisational psychologist Dr Tasha Eurich around self-awareness and why the gap between how we see ourselves and how others experience us often widens at senior levels.

In this episode, we cover:
Leadership identity and reputation
Why behaviours shape positioning
The danger of becoming known only as “the doer”
Strategic positioning vs visibility
Self-awareness and executive perception
How leaders accidentally reinforce outdated identities
Repositioning yourself for future leadership opportunities
Why delivering more is not always the answer

If you have ever wondered why you continue being seen for the same type of work despite wanting more influence, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership growth.

Because your reputation is already speaking for you.

The question is… what is it saying?

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to Leading You
00:29 The Cereal Box Identity Hook
01:30 Positioning Like Special K
03:10 The Self-Awareness Reality Check
04:01 How Reputations Get Built
05:27 Reposition Without Changing Who You Are
06:47 Clarity Compass Break
07:40 Three Reputation Questions to Ask Yourself
08:37 Why Doing More Can Keep Leaders Stuck
09:23 COO Case Study: The Shift That Changed Perception
11:40 Rewrite Your Leadership Promise
13:05 Final Reflection and Next Steps

 

Links:
Learn more about my group coaching program here
Get the Clarity Compass here

 

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram:@juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

What does a cereal box have to do with leadership, reputation and career progression?
More than most people realise.
In this solo episode of&nbsp;Leading You, Julie Hyde unpacks one of the most powerful metaphors she uses with clients when discussing identity, leadership positioning and professional reputation.
Because just like products on a supermarket shelf, people make decisions about you long before they understand the full picture.
Your reputation is your packaging. Your behaviours are your ingredients panel. And whether intentional or not, you are constantly training people how to see you.
This episode explores why highly capable leaders often become trapped inside outdated perceptions, how behaviours reinforce professional identity over time, and why visibility alone will not move you into your next level of leadership.
Julie also explores research from organisational psychologist Dr Tasha Eurich around self-awareness and why the gap between how we see ourselves and how others experience us often widens at senior levels.
In this episode, we cover:
<ul>
<li>Leadership identity and reputation</li>
<li>Why behaviours shape positioning</li>
<li>The danger of becoming known only as &ldquo;the doer&rdquo;</li>
<li>Strategic positioning vs visibility</li>
<li>Self-awareness and executive perception</li>
<li>How leaders accidentally reinforce outdated identities</li>
<li>Repositioning yourself for future leadership opportunities</li>
<li>Why delivering more is not always the answer</li>
</ul>
If you have ever wondered why you continue being seen for the same type of work despite wanting more influence, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership growth.
Because your reputation is already speaking for you.
The question is&hellip; what is it saying?
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Leading You 00:29 The Cereal Box Identity Hook 01:30 Positioning Like Special K 03:10 The Self-Awareness Reality Check 04:01 How Reputations Get Built 05:27 Reposition Without Changing Who You Are 06:47 Clarity Compass Break 07:40 Three Reputation Questions to Ask Yourself 08:37 Why Doing More Can Keep Leaders Stuck 09:23 COO Case Study: The Shift That Changed Perception 11:40 Rewrite Your Leadership Promise 13:05 Final Reflection and Next Steps
&nbsp;
Links: Learn more about my group coaching program&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au/leadher-mastermind">here</a> Get the Clarity Compass <a href="https://programs.juliehyde.com.au/programs/claritycompass/">here</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Julie: LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/" data-href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/</a> Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/" data-href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/"> @juliehydeleads</a> Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au">https://juliehyde.com.au</a>

What a Cereal Box and Your Identity Have in Common

If your mind hasn’t switched off in a while, this episode is for you.

In this solo episode of the Leading You Podcast, I’m talking about something I’m seeing everywhere right now. Not just physical busyness, but mental noise. The kind that keeps you switched on from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep. The kind that slowly becomes your normal without you even realising it.

Here’s the truth: being busy isn’t always the problem. Staying in that state for too long is.

Drawing on my own recent experience of stepping away for a short reset in Daylesford, I share what really happens when you create space. Why clarity, energy and perspective don’t come from pushing harder. They come from stepping away.

We tell ourselves we’ll slow down later. After this week. After this project. After this season. But clarity doesn’t live in the noise. And you don’t reset by doing more.

Sometimes, the most strategic thing you can do is pause.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why mental noise is the real problem, not your calendar
The difference between a busy season and a constant state of pressure
What a small reset in Daylesford reminded me about clarity and energy
Why you don’t need a big holiday. You just need intentional space.
How your environment directly shapes your thinking and decision-making
The one question to ask yourself when you’re running on empty
Why your energy is your responsibility, not your workload’s

 

This episode is your permission slip to rethink how you’re fuelling your energy, especially heading into the second half of the year. Because if you don’t create space intentionally, your body will eventually do it for you. And not in a way you choose.

 

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to Leading You
00:31 Busy Minds and Burnout
02:56 A Simple Daylesford Reset
04:18 Clarity After the Break
05:54 Relevance and Next Level
07:05 Step Away From the Noise
08:52 Mini Break Ideas
09:19 Mid Year Winter Reset
10:13 Refuel Before You Crash
12:14 Wrap Up and Review

 

Links:
Learn more about my group coaching program here

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram:@juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

If your mind hasn&rsquo;t switched off in a while, this episode is for you.
In this solo episode of the Leading You Podcast, I&rsquo;m talking about something I&rsquo;m seeing everywhere right now. Not just physical busyness, but mental noise. The kind that keeps you switched on from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep. The kind that slowly becomes your normal without you even realising it.
Here&rsquo;s the truth: being busy isn&rsquo;t always the problem. Staying in that state for too long is.
Drawing on my own recent experience of stepping away for a short reset in Daylesford, I share what really happens when you create space. Why clarity, energy and perspective don&rsquo;t come from pushing harder. They come from stepping away.
We tell ourselves we&rsquo;ll slow down later. After this week. After this project. After this season. But clarity doesn&rsquo;t live in the noise. And you don&rsquo;t reset by doing more.
Sometimes, the most strategic thing you can do is pause.
In this episode, you&rsquo;ll hear:
<ul>
<li>Why mental noise is the real problem, not your calendar</li>
<li>The difference between a busy season and a constant state of pressure</li>
<li>What a small reset in Daylesford reminded me about clarity and energy</li>
<li>Why you don&rsquo;t need a big holiday. You just need intentional space.</li>
<li>How your environment directly shapes your thinking and decision-making</li>
<li>The one question to ask yourself when you&rsquo;re running on empty</li>
<li>Why your energy is your responsibility, not your workload&rsquo;s</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
This episode is your permission slip to rethink how you&rsquo;re fuelling your energy, especially heading into the second half of the year. Because if you don&rsquo;t create space intentionally, your body will eventually do it for you. And not in a way you choose.
&nbsp;
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Leading You 00:31 Busy Minds and Burnout 02:56 A Simple Daylesford Reset 04:18 Clarity After the Break 05:54 Relevance and Next Level 07:05 Step Away From the Noise 08:52 Mini Break Ideas 09:19 Mid Year Winter Reset 10:13 Refuel Before You Crash 12:14 Wrap Up and Review
&nbsp;
Links: Learn more about my group coaching program&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au/leadher-mastermind">here</a>
Connect with Julie: LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/" data-href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/</a> Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/" data-href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/"> @juliehydeleads</a> Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au">https://juliehyde.com.au</a>

If You Feel Tired Right Now. Listen to This.

What if the most powerful work of your career is still ahead of you?

In this episode of the Leading You Podcast, I sit down with career transition coach and author Robyn Greaves to explore what she calls the “third chapter”, a stage that is less about winding down and far more about stepping into something more intentional, more energising and more aligned with who you are now.

For many of us, the traditional idea of retirement simply no longer fits. We’re living longer, staying healthier for longer, and the desire to contribute doesn’t just switch off at a certain age. Yet the dominant narrative still pushes us towards stepping back, slowing down and becoming less relevant. This conversation pushes back on that, hard.

Robyn and I get into the real challenges that come with this transition, the identity shift that catches people off guard, the practical challenge of positioning your value in a market that often prizes titles over experience, and the mindset shift required to see this stage as opportunity rather than ending.

One of the most powerful ideas we explore is what Robyn calls “ageing superpowers”, the perspective, pattern recognition and hard-won wisdom that only comes from decades of lived experience. These are not soft skills to downplay. They are capabilities to own and leverage.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why the third chapter is not an ending, it’s a redesign
How to navigate the identity shift that comes when you step out of a long-held role
Why positioning your value matters more than your title ever did
What “ageing superpowers” actually are and how to use them
How to start without a perfect plan, and why that’s the right move
What it looks like to design a chapter that is energising, purposeful and on your terms

If you’ve ever wondered what comes next, or found yourself uncertain about how to navigate this stage, this episode will give you a new lens, one grounded in possibility, not limitation.

 

Timestamps

00:00 Take One Small Step
00:42 Meet Robyn Greaves
01:18 What Is The Third Chapter
03:27 Why It Matters Now
06:44 Designing A Great Chapter
09:04 Hidden Transition Challenges
10:30 Relevance And Identity Shift
11:42 Aging Superpowers
15:40 Practical Steps To Start
17:09 Agency And Final Takeaway
19:17 Wrap Up And Review

 

Links:
Learn more about my group coaching program here

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

 

Connect with Robyn:
Website: https://robyngreaves.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/careercoachsydney/

What if the most powerful work of your career is still ahead of you?
In this episode of the Leading You Podcast, I sit down with career transition coach and author Robyn Greaves to explore what she calls the &ldquo;third chapter&rdquo;, a stage that is less about winding down and far more about stepping into something more intentional, more energising and more aligned with who you are now.
For many of us, the traditional idea of retirement simply no longer fits. We&rsquo;re living longer, staying healthier for longer, and the desire to contribute doesn&rsquo;t just switch off at a certain age. Yet the dominant narrative still pushes us towards stepping back, slowing down and becoming less relevant. This conversation pushes back on that, hard.
Robyn and I get into the real challenges that come with this transition, the identity shift that catches people off guard, the practical challenge of positioning your value in a market that often prizes titles over experience, and the mindset shift required to see this stage as opportunity rather than ending.
One of the most powerful ideas we explore is what Robyn calls &ldquo;ageing superpowers&rdquo;, the perspective, pattern recognition and hard-won wisdom that only comes from decades of lived experience. These are not soft skills to downplay. They are capabilities to own and leverage.
In this episode, you&rsquo;ll hear:
<ul>
<li>Why the third chapter is not an ending, it&rsquo;s a redesign</li>
<li>How to navigate the identity shift that comes when you step out of a long-held role</li>
<li>Why positioning your value matters more than your title ever did</li>
<li>What &ldquo;ageing superpowers&rdquo; actually are and how to use them</li>
<li>How to start without a perfect plan, and why that&rsquo;s the right move</li>
<li>What it looks like to design a chapter that is energising, purposeful and on your terms</li>
</ul>
If you&rsquo;ve ever wondered what comes next, or found yourself uncertain about how to navigate this stage, this episode will give you a new lens, one grounded in possibility, not limitation.
&nbsp;
Timestamps
00:00 Take One Small Step 00:42 Meet Robyn Greaves 01:18 What Is The Third Chapter 03:27 Why It Matters Now 06:44 Designing A Great Chapter 09:04 Hidden Transition Challenges 10:30 Relevance And Identity Shift 11:42 Aging Superpowers 15:40 Practical Steps To Start 17:09 Agency And Final Takeaway 19:17 Wrap Up And Review
&nbsp;
Links: Learn more about my group coaching program&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au/leadher-mastermind">here</a>
Connect with Julie: LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/</a> Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/">&nbsp;@juliehydeleads</a> Website: <a href="https://juliehyde.com.au">https://juliehyde.com.au</a>
&nbsp;
Connect with Robyn: Website: <a href="https://robyngreaves.com/">https://robyngreaves.com/</a> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/careercoachsydney/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/careercoachsydney/</a>

When the Title Stops Feeling Like You

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