Leading You

What does a cereal box have to do with leadership, reputation and career progression? More than most people realise. In this solo episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde unpacks one of the most powerful metaphors she uses with clients when discussing identity, leadership positioning and professional reputation. Because just like products on a supermarket shelf, people make decisions about you long before they understand the full picture. Your reputation is your packaging.Your behaviours are your ingredients panel.And whether intentional or not, you are constantly training people how to see you. This episode explores why highly capable leaders often become trapped inside outdated perceptions, how behaviours reinforce professional identity over time, and why visibility alone will not move you into your next level of leadership. Julie also explores research from organisational psychologist Dr Tasha Eurich around self-awareness and why the gap between how we see ourselves and how others experience us often widens at senior levels. In this episode, we cover: Leadership identity and reputation Why behaviours shape positioning The danger of becoming known only as “the doer” Strategic positioning vs visibility Self-awareness and executive perception How leaders accidentally reinforce outdated identities Repositioning yourself for future leadership opportunities Why delivering more is not always the answer If you have ever wondered why you continue being seen for the same type of work despite wanting more influence, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership growth. Because your reputation is already speaking for you. The question is… what is it saying? Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Leading You00:29 The Cereal Box Identity Hook01:30 Positioning Like Special K03:10 The Self-Awareness Reality Check04:01 How Reputations Get Built05:27 Reposition Without Changing Who You Are06:47 Clarity Compass Break07:40 Three Reputation Questions to Ask Yourself08:37 Why Doing More Can Keep Leaders Stuck09:23 COO Case Study: The Shift That Changed Perception11:40 Rewrite Your Leadership Promise13:05 Final Reflection and Next Steps   Links:Learn more about my group coaching program hereGet the Clarity Compass here   Connect with Julie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/Instagram: @juliehydeleadsWebsite: https://juliehyde.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If your mind hasn’t switched off in a while, this episode is for you. In this solo episode of the Leading You Podcast, I’m talking about something I’m seeing everywhere right now. Not just physical busyness, but mental noise. The kind that keeps you switched on from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep. The kind that slowly becomes your normal without you even realising it. Here’s the truth: being busy isn’t always the problem. Staying in that state for too long is. Drawing on my own recent experience of stepping away for a short reset in Daylesford, I share what really happens when you create space. Why clarity, energy and perspective don’t come from pushing harder. They come from stepping away. We tell ourselves we’ll slow down later. After this week. After this project. After this season. But clarity doesn’t live in the noise. And you don’t reset by doing more. Sometimes, the most strategic thing you can do is pause. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why mental noise is the real problem, not your calendar The difference between a busy season and a constant state of pressure What a small reset in Daylesford reminded me about clarity and energy Why you don’t need a big holiday. You just need intentional space. How your environment directly shapes your thinking and decision-making The one question to ask yourself when you’re running on empty Why your energy is your responsibility, not your workload’s   This episode is your permission slip to rethink how you’re fuelling your energy, especially heading into the second half of the year. Because if you don’t create space intentionally, your body will eventually do it for you. And not in a way you choose.   Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Leading You00:31 Busy Minds and Burnout02:56 A Simple Daylesford Reset04:18 Clarity After the Break05:54 Relevance and Next Level07:05 Step Away From the Noise08:52 Mini Break Ideas09:19 Mid Year Winter Reset10:13 Refuel Before You Crash12:14 Wrap Up and Review   Links:Learn more about my group coaching program here Connect with Julie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/Instagram: @juliehydeleadsWebsite: https://juliehyde.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde is joined by Bridget Bell, celebrity stylist, personal stylist, and founder of Style Ambition, for a warm and honest conversation about confidence, identity, and the emotional side of getting dressed. With more than two decades in the fashion and television industry and over 150 celebrity shoots behind her, Bridget brings deep experience and relatability to the topic of personal style. Her work goes far beyond clothes. It’s about helping women feel seen, comfortable, and confident in who they are right now. Julie and Bridget explore how style often becomes tangled with self-doubt, body changes, and life transitions. They talk about why so many women hide behind “safe” outfits, hold onto clothes that no longer fit their lives, and delay investing in themselves until they feel “ready”. This conversation unpacks how thoughtful dressing can become a form of self-leadership. From capsule wardrobes and proportion to fit, colour, and illusion dressing, Bridget shares practical insight alongside deeply human reflections on ageing, weight fluctuation, and visibility. If you’ve ever stood in front of your wardrobe feeling frustrated, disconnected, or unsure of yourself, this episode will help you rethink style as a source of ease, confidence, and self-respect. Conversation Talking Points Why style feels emotionally vulnerable for many women Moving from fashion design into personal and TV styling The psychology of “safe” clothes and hiding in black Dressing the body you have, not the one you’re waiting for How wardrobes reflect identity and self-belief Capsule wardrobes that actually work in real life Proportion, fit, and illusion dressing Vulnerability, social media, and building confidence publicly Style as an expression of self-leadership Time Stamps 00:00 Welcome and introduction01:10 Meet Bridget Bell03:00 From fashion design to styling06:40 Television and celebrity work09:20 Style and vulnerability in leadership12:15 Creating a safe styling experience14:40 The “when I lose weight” mindset17:30 Dressing the body you have today19:50 Confidence and transformation22:30 Vulnerability on Instagram25:15 Proportion and illusion dressing28:40 Why clothes go unworn30:10 Building a functional capsule wardrobe33:20 Sizing, tailoring, and fit35:40 Celebrating 20 years in styling38:10 Final reflections39:30 Closing   LinksLearn more about my group coaching program here   Connect with Julie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/Instagram: @juliehydeleadsWebsite: https://juliehyde.com.au   Connect with Bridget:Website: https://styleambition.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbellstylist/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde is joined by Dr Paul Taylor for a grounded, practical conversation about a concept most people haven’t heard explained clearly. Hardiness. We talk about resilience constantly, but Paul offers something sharper and more useful. Psycho-physiological hardiness is the ability to grow through stress, not just survive it. It’s about building a mind and body that can handle the real world, not the cushioned version many of us are living in. Paul’s background is as credible as it gets. He’s a former Royal Navy air crew officer, trained in combat survival and resistance to interrogation, and holds postgraduate qualifications across psychology, exercise science, nutrition, and neuroscience. He’s also the author of Death by Comfort and his latest book, The Hardiness Effect. This is a conversation about the cost of modern comfort, the way our stress tolerance is quietly shrinking, and why strength is built through challenge, recovery, and meaningful discomfort. Julie and Paul explore the science behind why the right kind of stress can make us stronger, the difference between resilience and hardiness, and what leaders can do to build greater capacity in themselves, their teams, and the next generation. If you’re heading into 2026 wanting to feel clearer, stronger, and more capable, this episode will challenge your thinking in the best possible way. Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction and welcome01:10 Who is Dr Paul Taylor? Overview of his background03:00 Combat survival and resistance-to-interrogation training06:30 How that experience changed Paul’s perception of stress08:10 The science of hormesis. Why stress can be good for us10:40 Resilience vs hardiness. What’s the difference?14:10 What the research says about people high in hardiness16:40 Why Paul wrote The Hardiness Effect now19:10 The state of physical and mental health in Australia22:00 Mental health awareness and its unintended consequences25:00 The key mindset shift. Life is hard, and that’s not a problem28:00 Worthy opponents and Paul’s open-heart surgery story33:00 Raising hardy kids in a world of comfort and convenience37:10 What schools could be doing differently40:00 The media, “crisis” language and our barometer of difficulty43:00 Three practical ways to start building hardiness today49:00 Final reflections and where to find Paul’s work50:30 Outro and invitation to rate and review Links:Learn more about my group coaching program here Connect with Julie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/Instagram: @juliehydeleadsWebsite: https://juliehyde.com.au Connect with Dr Paul:Website: https://www.paultaylor.biz/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultaylor1971/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paultaylor.biz/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thepaultaylorpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde is joined by Preeti Inchody for a deeply human conversation about what happens when life interrupts momentum and forces an unexpected pause. Preeti is an accomplished M&A advisor, known for operating at pace, leading with precision, and managing complexity with confidence. A simple accident during a family holiday changed everything. A fall resulted in multiple fractures, surgeries, and a long period of immobility that brought her professional and personal life to a sudden halt. This conversation explores what unfolded beyond the physical recovery. The shock of losing independence. The mental and emotional weight of slowing down when you are used to moving fast. The identity shift that occurs when productivity, control, and capability are stripped away. Julie and Preeti talk openly about surrendering control, asking for help, and navigating a season that could not be rushed or fixed. They also explore the unexpected clarity that emerged. A reassessment of boundaries. A quieter but stronger form of leadership. And a shift from proving to trusting. This episode is not about crisis or drama. It’s about awareness. It invites reflection on the pace we keep, the assumptions we make about strength, and what becomes possible when we listen before life forces us to. Conversation Talking Points A moment that instantly changed the pace of life Navigating shock, fear, and uncertainty The emotional impact of losing independence Identity when productivity is removed Letting go of control and accepting help Leadership during forced stillness Boundaries, clarity, and recalibration What slower seasons reveal about what matters   Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction01:05 Meet Preeti Inchody03:10 The accident that changed everything06:00 Facing the reality of surgeries and recovery08:50 The struggle with acceptance12:30 Losing independence and asking for help15:40 Reworking routine and mindset18:50 Letting go of control and trusting others23:30 How leadership shifted in this season27:20 Rediscovering intuition and clarity31:10 Boundaries, ambition, and identity35:20 Reflections for women who feel they cannot slow down38:00 Final reflections40:20 Episode wrap-up   Links:Learn more about my group coaching program here   Connect with Julie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/Instagram: @juliehydeleadsWebsite: https://juliehyde.com.au   Connect with Preeti:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/preetiinchody/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the first episode of Leading You for 2026. This episode invites you to pause before you plan and intentionally design how you want to lead yourself into the new year. January offers a rare moment of stillness — quieter, slower mornings and the chance to breathe before the pace accelerates. It’s the ideal time to reset your mindset, reconnect with what matters and create a vision for the year that feels aligned, spacious and purposeful. Rather than rushing into goals or structure, this episode focuses on intention. You’ll hear how I create my own 2026 “canvas” using colour, space and symbolism, and why I’ve shifted from choosing a single word to anchoring myself with a guiding statement. This approach helps you show up with clarity, confidence and calm, especially as the world continues to shift rapidly through technology, AI and rising expectations. Across the conversation, I share five powerful questions to help you design your year with intention, deepen your self-awareness and strengthen your self-leadership. These questions will support you to reconnect with your values, focus your energy and make choices that align with the woman and leader you want to become. If you want 2026 to feel more grounded and more meaningful, this episode gives you the framework to start. Key Takeaways January is the perfect pause to reset, breathe and reconnect before the year begins in full. Your 2026 “canvas” reflects who you choose to be, not just what you plan to do. A guiding sentence can anchor your behaviour more powerfully than a single word. White space matters - in your schedule, in your thinking and in your leadership. Self-leadership is essential as the world accelerates through AI and constant change. Asking intentional questions expands clarity without overwhelm.   Time Stamps 00:00 Welcome to 202601:00 What’s coming on the podcast this January02:40 Why early January is a powerful pause05:10 Using the “canvas” metaphor for the year ahead06:45 How I choose my colours and what they represent09:20 The importance of white space and pausing12:05 Why I’m choosing a statement instead of a word this year14:30 Examples of empowering intentions for 202617:20 Five reflective questions to shape your year20:45 Why self-leadership matters more than ever22:10 Final reflections and your invitation to create your statement23:30 Closing and what’s coming next   Links Connect with Julie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/Instagram: @juliehydeleadsWebsite: https://juliehyde.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As 2025 draws to a close, this episode is your invitation to pause. To breathe. To look back on a year that may have challenged, stretched, and refined you, and to extract the gold that will set the direction for how you lead in 2026. Julie shares her biggest lessons from what she calls a refiner’s year. A year that stripped back, clarified, and rebuilt how she leads, works, and lives. From redefining her business model, to launching Lead.Her Collective, to stepping into deeper alignment through Human Design, this is not a recap. It is a debrief. One rooted in awareness, not hustle. This episode walks you through 10 powerful reflective questions designed to help you unpack what truly mattered in 2025, and to consciously choose what you will carry forward into 2026. These are not achievement-based questions. They are alignment questions. Perfect for leaders, business owners, and high-performing women who have spent the year holding it all together and are now ready to finish it clear, grounded, and intentional about what comes next. Key Topics Covered: How Julie refined her leadership and business to align with purpose and energy The story behind Lead.Her Collective and Unstoppable You Mastermind What real rest looks like, and why half-working holidays don’t count The 10 reflective questions that shape clarity for the year ahead Why refinement, not reinvention, is your greatest leadership advantage entering 2026   Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome and reflection on 202502:15 – Why this is a debrief, not a recap04:30 – What 2025 taught me about refinement and alignment07:00 – Letting go of old versions of yourself09:45 – The five pillars now shaping my business model13:20 – The birth of Lead.Her Collective and Unstoppable You Mastermind17:10 – Real rest and why it changed everything20:50 – The 10 questions that set the runway for 202628:45 – The shift from achievement to alignment32:00 – Final message: refine what matters and lead into 2026 with intention   Links: Learn more about my upcoming group coaching program here Connect with Julie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/Instagram: @juliehydeleadsWebsite: https://juliehyde.com.au  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.