About this episode

Carol Stewart and Nick Elston discuss leading authentically as an introvert, focusing on mental health and energy management.

In this deeply honest and powerful episode of Quietly Visible, host Carol Stewart is joined by Nick Elston, award-winning keynote speaker, mental health specialist, and founder of Forging People. Nick shares his lived experience of OCD, anxiety, burnout, and breakdown—and how those challenges became the foundation for a career helping leaders find their voice without pretending to be someone they’re not. Together, Carol and Nick unpack what it really means to lead authentically as an introvert in a noisy, performative world. This conversation explores the emotional and mental load many introverted leaders carry, from imposter syndrome and people-pleasing to fear of rejection and the pressure to “show up louder.” Nick reframes introversion as an energy management strategy, not a confidence issue, and shares practical ways to protect your energy while still being visible and influential. In this episode, you’ll hear about: - Why introversion is about energy, not ability - The link between mental health, burnout, and performative leadership - How to overcome fear of rejection and imposter syndrome - Building a personal “playbook” to manage energy before and after high-pressure…

People in this episode

Host: Carol Stewart

Guest: Nick Elston

Topics covered

• authentic leadership
• introversion
• mental health
• energy management
• imposter syndrome
• burnout

Keywords

• introverted leaders
• mental health
• energy management
• authenticity
• burnout
• imposter syndrome
• performative leadership

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Forging People

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