Tom Glason on Shedding Armour, Authentic Leadership, and Building ScaleWise

What does it cost to perform the version of yourself the world expects — and what happens when the armour finally starts to come off? In this episode of I Am Pausing with Hannah Godfrey, Hannah sits down with Tom Glason — co-founder of ScaleWise, founder of the UK's Revenue Collective (now Pavilion), and one of the most authentic leaders she's encountered in over a decade in SaaS. Tom and Hannah have known each other for nearly ten years, sharing everything from boardrooms to breathwork circles. Tom grew up between Southeast Asia and the UK, navigated bullying at school and in the workplace, and spent two decades in high-pressure CRO roles that shaped him — and, at times, eroded him. He talks honestly about the armour he built to survive, the physical toll it took, and the sequence of losses that finally cracked it open. Together, they explore what it means to lead without performing, why the targets we chase can become armour we hide behind, and how founding ScaleWise with his wife Karen became an act of reclaiming his family life — and himself. About Tom GlasonTom Glason is co-founder of ScaleWise, a fractional go-to-market consultancy for scaling B2B tech companies, and founder of the UK's Revenue Collective (now Pavilion). With over two decades in go-to-market leadership — including multiple CRO roles at VC-backed SaaS companies — Tom brings rare depth and self-awareness to conversations about leadership, culture, and the human cost of high performance. Episode Chapters00:00  Introduction and Background02:51  The Evolution of SaaS and Personal Journey05:25  The Impact of Bullying and Resilience08:02  Leadership Lessons and Challenges10:29  The Armor: Protection and Its Consequences13:09  Grief and Self-Exploration15:37  The Journey to Emotional Awareness18:03  Founding Scalewise: A New Approach to Leadership20:35  The Evolution of Scalewise and Work-Life Balance23:23  Building a Sustainable Business Together24:10  Navigating Challenges in Partnership26:52  Creating Boundaries in Work and Family Life27:45  Personal Rituals for Balance and Well-being30:11  The Cold Plunge Routine32:51  Listening to Your Body's Signals34:36  The Impact of Sleep Tracking37:10  Evolving Community Connections43:11  The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership Connect & Follow•        Follow Tom Glason on LinkedIn: Tom Glason•        Visit ScaleWise: scalewise.io•        Follow Hannah Godfrey on LinkedIn: Hannah Godfrey•        Follow I Am Pausing on LinkedIn: I Am Pausing•        Visit iampausing.com•        Subscribe to I Am Pausing with Hannah Godfrey on YouTube and Spotify