Out of Comfort, Into Courage — with Jen Belongia-Barak

Topics Covered:Comfort zones and leadership courageHow fear shows up in our brains (and how to manage it)Adapting to global leadership rolesListening as a leadership superpowerHow to build trust across culturesWhy belonging matters more than fitting inTools to navigate uncertainty with clarityClaire’s neuroscience-backed 3-point Change BriefJen’s “be confident in what you don’t know” mindsetThe power of journaling and self-affirmation in high pressure momentsTimestamps:00:00 – Claire introduces Jen’s bold move to Austria and the courage behind it01:30 – What changed in Jen’s leadership after taking a global role04:00 – Facing uncertainty: language barriers, culture shock, and fast adaptation07:00 – How not belonging helped Jen lead with empathy09:30 – The difference between fitting in and creating belonging11:00 – Claire explains how fear and uncertainty hijack the brain14:00 – Neuroscience tool: Claire’s “3-point Change Brief”16:00 – Jen’s biggest leadership lesson: change yourself to lead others18:30 – Listening to words and body language21:00 – Why reading the room matters more than ever23:00 – Jen’s advice: authenticity and transparency are non-negotiable24:00 – Rapid Fire: • First sign your team is in fear • Jen’s pressure ritual • Book that rewired her leadership28:00 – Claire’s listener challenge: The “Comfort Ladder”29:00 – Final words: lead boldly, stay human, find the giftWhat you'll learn:How to transform fear into focusWhy listening (not talking) builds trust fastHow to read a room—when you don’t speak the languageBrain-based tools to rewire your response to change\Mentioned in this episode:• Claire’s “3-point Change Brief” tool for uncertainty• Journaling as a mental fitness strategy• The science behind fear and the brain• Jen’s favorite mindset-shifting book: Let Them by Mel RobbinsFollow Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairehayek/Follow Jen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbelongia/🎓 Want to train your brain for resilience and high performance?Join Claire’s free Mental Fitness Masterclass here:👉 ⁠https://go.clairehayek.com/mental-fitness-masterclass⁠📩 For free resources, upcoming masterclasses, or to join our next live webinar—click here:👉 ⁠https://linktr.ee/clairehayek⁠📢 Subscribe to The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast for brain-based strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and impact. The NeuroLeadership Edge Podcast is produced by Claire Hayek. All opinions are those of the host and guests. For more leadership resources, visit clairehayek.com