Stories From Behind the Mask - The parts we edit out

Precious Zumbika, a business owner and founder of Karis Advisory Services, shares her journey from Zimbabwe to the UK, where she became a prominent figure in construction despite initial challenges as one of the few female professionals on site. She discusses her transition from a corporate role to entrepreneurship, focusing on two main pillars of her business: built environment advisory and leadership consultancy. Precious explains her upcoming launch of an Inner Circle Global Leadership Platform, which will host annual events focused on improving workplace leadership. Precious reflects on her previous talk about personal growth and the development of her HOPE framework, which helps leaders reclaim their authentic selves.Precious shares her personal experience of losing her father 22 years ago, describing how she initially dealt with anger and denial before eventually reaching a place of gratitude for the 24 years she had with him. She revealed that she still feels his influence through the books he read and the lessons he taught her, which she now passes on to others. Precious emphasized the importance of vulnerability in human connections and expressed a desire to share her story to encourage others to be open about their own grief and experiences.Precious discusses the importance of self-leadership and removing personal masks, emphasizing the need to understand and accept one's true self before making changes. She shared her upcoming platform for business leaders, which will include a community hub, weekly power hours, and an advisory leadership program.https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-zumbika-mba/www.joannawoodphotography.co.ukwww.instagram.com/joannawoodphotographyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-wood-photography-6747a7235/https://www.facebook.com/joanna.wood.13/

Rachel has long hidden behind polishedness, strength, and independence - the mask of the “expert,” the emotionally regulated coach who seems calm and composed even when quietly winging it. Behind that exterior lies a life of raw grief, trauma, and invisibility: a cancer journey that stole parts of her identity, the pain of separation and heartbreak, and the daily choices of mothering through it all while rebuilding herself again and again.Her mask allowed her to be seen, to perform, and to survive - but the real power emerges as she peels it back. Choosing herself in the face of illness, heartbreak, and exhaustion has taught her that self-worth isn’t given; it must be reclaimed, moment by moment. Through her vulnerability, Rachel embodies the courage to show up fully, embracing both the messy and luminous parts of herself.For Rachel, true visibility is not about perfection, it’s about authenticity. It’s showing up with all her light, darkness, grief, and triumph - and in doing so, giving other women permission to do the same. Her story is a living example of resilience, honesty, and the transformative ripple of choosing yourself out loud.Rachel once hid behind strength, polish, and composure, concealing grief, illness, and heartache. Now she stands fully visible, embracing her messy, luminous self, showing that authenticity, self-love, and courage are the true marks of power.https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelscoach/https://rachels.coach/https://www.instagram.com/rachelscoachwww.joannawoodphotography.co.ukwww.instagram.com/joannawoodphotographyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-wood-photography-6747a7235/https://www.facebook.com/joanna.wood.13/

Sarah spent years climbing into boxes with neat little labels - Mother, Wife, Creative Director, Designer, Mentor. Each role gave her a mask, a way of being seen. But inside, she knew they were restrictions, disguises that diluted her truth and her power.The chapters she rarely shared are the ones that shaped her most: walking home at 19 and being raped; the devastating loss of her second daughter in 2015. These weren’t just traumas, they were crucibles. Each one forged her, carving resilience, depth, and a fierce sense of purpose. They taught her she is not defined by what happens to her, but by how she responds.Now, Sarah stands not as a victim, but as a woman forged by fire - stronger, grounded, and unafraid to hold both the darkness and the light. She has found joy and contentment not by ignoring her past, but by integrating it. By saying: this too is me.To be visible, for Sarah, is to step fully into her purpose - helping other women find themselves after trauma, to shine their own light when all seems lost. She knows the dark, but she also knows the way out. And that is her gift.Sarah has been forged by trauma - but she is not defined by it. Her story is one of resilience, transformation, and purpose: finding joy and strength not in spite of her past, but because of it. Today, she helps other women reclaim their light in the dark.https://griefnavigator.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-brason-ownyourstory/www.joannawoodphotography.co.ukwww.instagram.com/joannawoodphotographyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-wood-photography-6747a7235/https://www.facebook.com/joanna.wood.13/

For most of her life, Gwenne didn’t know she had ADHD. At 57, sitting at a women’s ADHD conference, everything finally clicked. Words like rejection sensitivity, time blindness, and now & not now weren’t abstract concepts; they were her life. What she had always been accused of being late, disorganised, emotional, messy  suddenly had context. The shame and self-doubt she had carried for decades cracked open into relief, belonging, and compassion for herself, her mum, and her gran, who she now realises also lived with undiagnosed ADHD.Her mask, especially in her corporate career, was the façade of organisation and calm. She built systems, smiled, and tried to hold it all together while hiding how deeply she felt everything. Feedback cut her to the core, conflict overwhelmed her, and anxiety lived under the surface, taking its toll on her body as well as her mind. She coped by searching  Reiki, NLP, meditation, manifestation and eventually found herself building a whole toolkit of skills that she not only used for herself but began sharing with others. Her hypersensitivity became her gift, guiding her into teaching, energy work, and spiritual connection.The deeper side of Gwenne’s journey has been largely private. On retreats, she discovered her ability to connect to her Higher Self and unseen energies, but for years she told family and colleagues she was just “doing yoga.” Behind that cover, she was uncovering a spiritual strength that felt too vulnerable to share openly. She found community online and in spiritual circles, yet often kept her most transformative experiences in a separate box, away from her closest people.What many don’t know is that Gwenne has trained to a level few in the world achieve: she can energetically open others to their own unique gifts and guide them to use those gifts professionally. Though she has sometimes held back from sharing it widely limited by old beliefs around worthiness and fear of rejection she knows this is her calling. She’s here to help changemakers, healers, and visionaries heal themselves and ripple that transformation into the world.Her journey hasn’t erased self-doubt; she still wrestles with unworthiness and procrastination. But she also knows vulnerability is the key. The treasure is in the cave we fear to enter. For Gwenne, true visibility means stepping forward without the armour, writing the book she’s meant to write, and showing the world her story and her methods.Through her unmasking, Gwenne’s message is clear: our greatest struggles hold the treasure we seek. And when we dare to Flip the Script, we not only free ourselves, but create the ripple effects of healing and change the world is waiting for.https://livingyourbestlifecoaching.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=529263666https://www.youtube.com/@gwennedickson3149https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwenne-dickson/www.joannawoodphotography.co.ukwww.instagram.com/joannawoodphotographyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-wood-photography-6747a7235/https://www.facebook.com/joanna.wood.13/

Mel has spent much of her life behind the scenes, quietly keeping everything running smoothly while remaining largely invisible. Calm, competent, and polished, she mastered the art of making life work for everyone else, often at the expense of not being seen herself. The invisibility that once fueled self-doubt became a quiet armour - a way to stay safe while still making things happen.For years, she wore the mask of control and capability, of always having it together. Onlookers saw efficiency, strength, and reliability - but seldom the thoughtful, reflective, and deeply creative mind behind it. Underneath, Mel carried the fear that her quiet approach wasn’t enough, that her contributions were invisible, that her voice didn’t matter.Through her journey, she discovered that what she once thought of as weaknesses - carefulness, thoughtfulness, and reflection - are actually sources of profound power. They allow her to connect deeply, think creatively, and make meaningful impact in life and business. She learned that real confidence isn’t about volume or perfection; it’s about courage, integrity, and showing up fully, even when it feels uncomfortable.Now, Mel steps into visibility on her own terms. She embraces all sides of herself - the professional, the playful, the reflective - and owns her value. Her story is a testament to the extraordinary power of quiet, thoughtful people: that influence doesn’t always shout, and courage doesn’t always roar.https://www.meloniehopkins.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/melonie.hopkins.14https://www.linkedin.com/in/meloniehopkins/https://www.instagram.com/mel_hopkins_chm/reels/www.joannawoodphotography.co.ukwww.instagram.com/joannawoodphotographyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-wood-photography-6747a7235/https://www.facebook.com/joanna.wood.13/

Sheila has spent much of her life behind a mask of polish and control, showing up as confident, competent, and in command - even when inside she wrestled with self-doubt and imposter syndrome. Fear of judgment and the need to appear flawless often weighed on her, but she refused to let it stop her from stepping into her purpose.A pivotal moment came in 2002, when she travelled solo through Burma (Myanmar) under military rule. Meeting Mr Book, a former teacher and underground bookseller, opened her eyes to the true meaning of freedom and the importance of using her voice. That journey shaped her profoundly, showing her the courage it takes to speak out in the face of oppression and inspiring her lifelong commitment to empowering others.Sheila now understands that visibility isn’t about perfection or applause - it’s about showing up fully, sharing doubts, fears, and values, and using her voice to create meaningful change. Her story is a testament to the power of starting messy, leading from integrity, and speaking up for those who cannot. Sheila demonstrates that courage, not perfection, is the true mark of a leader.www.behome.co.ukhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sheila-smith-property-investor/?skipRedirect=truehttps://www.facebook.com/sheilamsmithukwww.joannawoodphotography.co.ukwww.instagram.com/joannawoodphotographyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-wood-photography-6747a7235/https://www.facebook.com/joanna.wood.13/

Rebellion, Breath & Becoming Fully VisibleFor much of her life, Charlotte Saunders wore the “good girl” mask - compliant, over-giving, striving to be palatable and approved of. On the surface, she was a successful bookkeeper and business owner. Underneath, she was quietly suffocating a deeper truth: that she was here to heal, guide, and walk others home to themselves.In this episode of UNMASKED, Charlotte shares the long, layered journey that brought her back into alignment with her soul. Charlotte speaks candidly about how these moments didn’t shrink her - they sharpened her. They became the compass that led her away from conformity and towards rebellion in service of healing.We explore her radical career shift from forensic psychology into breathwork, firewalking, and embodied transformation - sparked by a single, life-altering breathwork session that cracked her open and changed everything. Now a breathwork coach and firewalking instructor, Charlotte is stepping into her next evolution: training others to do this work while completing her Master Healer studies.Together, we talk about unmasking at midlife - what it really means to stop performing, stop pleasing, and start prioritising self-alignment. Charlotte reflects on embracing her neurodivergence without labels, finding deep acceptance within her family, and the profound symbolism of physically creating and removing a mask during the UNMASKED experience. A moment of full visibility. No pretence. No apology.This conversation is about visibility as liberation. About dropping roles. About choosing authenticity - slowly, bravely - and trusting that the right people will meet you there. Charlotte’s story is a reminder that living in alignment with your soul isn’t just transformative… it’s freeing.If you'd like to follow Charlotte or get in touch her links are belowwww.lottiesaunders.comwww.instagram.com/charlottesaundersbreathandfirehttps://www.facebook.com/charlotte.saunders.96www.joannawoodphotography.co.ukwww.instagram.com/joannawoodphotographyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-wood-photography-6747a7235/https://www.facebook.com/joanna.wood.13/

 Hi, I'm Joanna and this is Stories from Behind the Mask, the parts we edit out. Every week I'll be sitting down with entrepreneurs who've built businesses, created legacies and dare to show up in the world and we talk about the stories they usually keep to themselves. The doubts, the wins, the personal challenges, the moments that changed everything. This is about being seen, unpolished and completely real. So if you're ready for honesty and truth, it's time to share today's story from behind the mask. Hi, I'm Jo and this is Stories from Behind the Mask, the parts we edit out. This podcast is about the stories that sit behind the polished photos, the curated feeds and the versions of ourselves we present to the world. Because the truth is, most of us are walking around wearing some kind of mask. Sometimes it's confidence, sometimes it's humour and sometimes it's silence. And over the coming months, I'm going to be sitting down with entrepreneurs, creators, coaches and humans with extraordinarily powerful stories to talk about what it really means to be seen. Not the polished version, but the honest one and to share their stories that they might not have felt like they could share. And being business owners, we hide behind this version of a mask that we wear to keep ourselves safe and maybe not to let anyone in. Maybe we have to show up as these perfect people who have got everything sorted, where actually we're not. We're just firefighting every single day. And that's the one reason I created these podcasts is because all these incredible people that I photographed for last year's Unmasked project all have stories to tell. And having had the exhibition and giving them the space to be who they truly are, their stories need to be put out into the world. So that's the reason why I've started this podcast. But before I start asking other people to step out from behind the mask, well, it only feels fair that I go first. And do you know what? That's particularly scary. But hey, I have to lead by example. I can't ask other people to share their stories when I'm not sharing mine. www.joannawoodphotography.co.ukwww.instagram.com/joannawoodphotographyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-wood-photography-6747a7235/https://www.facebook.com/joanna.wood.13/