#57 | The More Capable You Are, the More Vulnerable You Are & the Science Behind Your Leadership Confidence.

Have you ever received one piece of feedback before a big meeting and suddenly stopped trusting your own judgment?This episode explains what is actually happening inside your brain when critical feedback lands at the worst possible moment. If you’re a capable woman in leadership who tends to soften, over-edit, or second-guess yourself before high-stakes moments, this conversation will help you understand why that response is not weakness, but a predictable mix of biology, conditioning, and workplace dynamics.You’ll understand the neuroscience behind why feedback can trigger a threat response right before an important momentYou’ll learn why highly capable women are often more vulnerable to self-doubt, not lessYou’ll walk away with three practical moves to help you stay grounded, evaluate feedback clearly, and return to your prepared, capable selfPlay this episode to understand your threat response, stop shrinking under pressure, and walk into your next big moment with your full voice intact.ReferencesBrene Brown, vulnerability and high achievement research.Carol Gilligan, In A Different Voice (1982). Jean Baker Miller, Toward A New Psychology Of Women (1976). Victoria Brescoll, Yale (2011).Lieberman et al. (2007) UCLA affect labelling study. Carol Dweck, Mindset (2006). Ethan Kross, Chatter (2021). Pete Walker, Complex PTSD (2013). Valerie Young, The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women (2011).ContactConnect with me on LinkedInOr email me [email protected] with 'Rachel' in the subject line, and I'll send you the full 90-second pre-performance sequence from Friday's episode as a printable card you can keep in your bag. Small enough to fit. Powerful enough to change what happens before your next big moment.New episodes are released every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.Stuck, simmering, or onto something juicy? I want to hear it. Drop me a line at [email protected] - I read them all.And here is the Spotify Playlist to accompany UnShakeable Her.Unshakeable Her is the podcast for women in leadership who are ready to build real influence, earn the promotion they deserve, and lead with confidence in systems that weren't built for them. Each episode tackles the challenges that shape leadership from the inside out, including imposter syndrome, resilience, credibility, boundaries, conflict, and feedback, while unpacking how pressure, workplace politics, strategic thinking, decision-making, and visibility affect the way ambitious women grow, lead, and get promoted without losing themselves in the process.