S2 EP4: Stepping Into the Boardroom: Imposter Syndrome, Delegation and Finding Your Leadership Voice

Host: Julie Williams MSc – Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Sarah Ciccolallo – Chief Operating Officer, Red Whale   After a short pause over the festive period, and an unexpected bout of illness, The Lighting Fires Podcast, supported by Henley Business School, is back with a thoughtful and honest conversation about leadership, confidence and growth.   In this episode, Julie is joined by Sarah Ciccolallo, Chief Operating Officer at Red Whale, who reflects on her journey from marketing manager to board director, and the coaching work that supported her through that transition.   Sarah speaks openly about experiencing imposter syndrome after stepping into her first board-level role, and how coaching helped her build confidence, shift her mindset, and develop new ways of leading.    Together, Julie and Sarah explore the practical tools, conversations and reflections that helped Sarah move from doing everything herself to creating space for strategic thinking and stronger delegation.   This episode also touches on the importance of understanding how you work, having honest conversations, and decluttering not just your inbox, but your diary and mental load too, a particularly timely theme at this point in the year.   Julie and Sarah talk about: Moving from manager to board director and the challenges that come with it How imposter syndrome shows up at senior levels, and why it doesn't always go away The role coaching played in building confidence and self-awareness Learning how to delegate without feeling like you're losing control Practical tools for handling difficult conversations Why understanding your own working style helps you lead others more effectively Creating space for strategic thinking by decluttering diaries, inboxes and habits How small, simple techniques can create long-term leadership change   This is a warm, insightful conversation for anyone stepping into greater responsibility, navigating self-doubt, or looking to lead with more clarity and confidence.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode   Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (book) Carol Dweck Carol Dweck's TED Talk on Growth Mindset The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (book) Stephen Covey The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers Sean Covey Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)   Henley Business School Interested in a career in coaching? Find out about the Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School here. Be sure to mention the Lighting Fires Podcast if you do contact Henley Business School.   Connect with Julie Website: lightingfires.co.uk Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc