How to Succeed When You're Told “You Won’t Be a Leader” | With Leah Spears

What happens when you stay true to yourself even when the world tells you to change?In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Leah Spears, Head of Brand Strategy at Paddy Power. She shares the personal moments that shaped her leadership, from navigating judgement based on appearance to stepping into bold, visible roles. We explore confidence, curiosity, and what it takes to lead with integrity in an industry that doesn’t always make it easy.We Cover: 01:22 – Why Leah joined Paddy Power and how she knew it was the right fit04:08 – The judgement she faced based on how she looked and who she was06:08 – The advice she regrets taking and how she quickly reclaimed herself08:50 – How she turned being underestimated into her biggest strength11:27 – Why being curious has helped her grow as a leader14:13 – How she handles difficult conversations without fear17:16 – Childhood ambitions and how they shaped her mindset20:53 – Creating real connections in a digital, hybrid workplace23:29 – What makes a great agency–client partnership work26:20 – How she’s helping younger women in her team find their voice29:21 – Why confidence starts with knowing you don’t have to know everythingDon’t miss out on this powerful episode. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54