154. It’s never too late to crack the confidence code with Lena Coates

154. It’s never too late to crack the confidence code with Lena Coates

From Courageous Me by Kim Payne

April 29, 2026 · 60 min · Season 1 · Episode 154

About this episode

This episode explores the concept of confidence as a learned trait through experiences and reinvention at any age.

Confidence has no expiry date. What if confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t have… but something you build, one courageous step at a time? In this deeply affirming conversation, I sit down with executive coach and author Lena Coates to explore the kind of confidence that is learned through experience, setbacks, self-belief, and bold new beginnings. From walking away from a 28-year career and navigating what Lena describes as falling off a “cliff,” to starting her own business in her 60s, publishing her first book at 69, and even contemplating studying law in her seventies, this conversation is a powerful reminder that growth doesn’t have an age limit. We unpack how confidence is formed through the very moments that shake us: The career stumbles that become turning points. The identities we outgrow. The unhelpful “good girl” conditioning many women carry without realising. And the courage it takes to back yourself when there’s no clear map. This isn’t just a conversation about confidence. It’s about reinvention, self-trust, speaking up, beginning again, and what is possible when you stop letting age, fear, or old stories define what comes next. If you’ve ever…

People in this episode

Host: Kim Payne

Guest: Lena Coates

Topics covered

  • confidence
  • self-belief
  • reinvention
  • personal growth
  • age and opportunity

Keywords

  • confidence
  • self-improvement
  • personal development
  • career change
  • age
  • self-trust
  • boldness

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