Am I happy or sad in this picture? The real answer is both. This was taken days before I left a job I loved, restructured out and no longer needed. We are complex people - we can carry sadness whilst enjoying the moment. If you're navigating your own transition and feeling torn between where you are and where you're going, let's talk about what support you need.

A conversation yesterday reminded me why I left a 25-year career to start again.

Sitting in the Science Gallery under the shadow of the Shard, I was surrounded by HR professionals grappling with change. Andrew Shorter said something that cut through: "Change is unpredictable and messy."

Everyone you know at work is probably wrestling with how to define, react to, manage, communicate, or survive the change they're facing. Sound familiar?

One insight stayed with me: courageous leaders don't just initiate change – they stay the course.

December 2024, I knew I had to make a change. I was trapped. Twenty-five years of career success, but I was burned out and disconnected. So I walked away from the salary and security to reconnect with my purpose.

Now? It's slowly building, and I need courage to stay the course.

What's the change you need to make for yourself? And who's in your camp to help you through it?

Yesterday, I returned to facilitate a team session at a company I'd left 2.5 years ago. They'd changed, I'd changed, but what struck me was how this team had created something rare - a space where people could be themselves completely and deliver brilliantly through their unique strengths. It got me reflecting on my own journey back from some of the lowest points in my career, and what I've learned about taking ownership when you're feeling stuck.

A lot gets written about purpose these days. It's one of those words we throw around without really thinking about what it means. But when I was asked "why I set up on my own" this year, it made me dig deeper than expected. Here's what I learned when I stopped giving the polished elevator pitch and started being honest about the journey - from running away from corporate games to finding a purpose that bridges personal authenticity with genuine service to others who feel stuck.

“You can tell me anything.” But do your team believe you? In this reflection, I share how fear shaped my early leadership behaviours—and what I learned about creating real safety at work.