The Corporate Escapists

People don't follow the loudest person in the room. They follow the calmest one. 🎯

This week's guest is Jon Sheldon, former Marine Infantry squad leader turned leadership coach, and we got into why so many leaders have overcorrected toward empathy at the cost of direction — and what it actually takes to build confidence and presence as a leader.

We also talked about why your vision, not your profit, should be the filter for every decision you make.

🎧 New episode is live now — click the link in our bio to watch the full conversation.

In a world full of AI content and fake interactions, real trust gets built in person. 🤝

This week I'm chatting with Jo Spehr, Founder of Empire Events, about what it actually takes to plan a world-class event — from an 800-person Dream Fest to intimate retreats in Bali. We got into the real cost (time, money, emotional energy) behind every event, and why she tells clients to prove their business model for 6 months before they ever book a venue.

If you've ever thought about running an event for your business, this one's for you.

🎧 New episode is live now — click the link in our bio to watch the full conversation.

There are some leadership lessons you can learn from a book.

And then there are the ones you only learn by living.

The business that didn't go to plan.
The decision that scared you.
The season that broke you open.
The mistake you wish you could undo.
The moment you had to start again.

Those lessons don't come with a certificate.

They come with experience.

And that's exactly why I created Leadership & Legacy Day.

Because I wanted to create a room where women don't have to pretend they've got it all figured out.

A room where we can talk honestly about business, leadership, life, reinvention, resilience and the lessons we've collected along the way.

Because I believe the next generation doesn't just need to hear how we succeeded.

They need to hear what it took to get there.

And perhaps the most powerful thing we can leave behind isn't a business, a title or a number…

It's the wisdom we pass forward.

So I'm curious…

👇 What's ONE leadership lesson life has taught you that no business book ever could?

Share it below.

You never know who might need to hear your lesson today. ❤️

And if this conversation sounds like something you need in your life right now, come and join us at Leadership & Legacy Day — 9 October 2026, Gold Coast.

Real women. Real stories. Real leadership.

Tag a woman who needs to be in this conversation with you.

Get your tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1986149487583?aff=oddtdtcreator

✨ YOUR STORY COULD BE NEXT.

Five incredible women have already said YES to becoming INSPIRE authors for 2027.

And this is only the beginning…

Because every woman has a story worth telling.

A story that could inspire someone.

A story that deserves to be remembered.

A story that could become part of your legacy.

You don’t need to be a writer.
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need a story you’re ready to share.

Our next INSPIRE book is coming.

💗 Could your name be on the next page?

Comment INSPIRE or DM me BOOK and I’ll send you the details.

Stories change lives.
Maybe yours is next. ✨

Ever feel like leadership means you're supposed to have all the answers? 🙅‍♀️

On this week's episode, I sat down with leadership coach Shirley Sutton to bust that exact myth. We talked about the real difference between managing and leading, why "cookie-cutter" corporate leadership falls flat, and how to make the "authority shift" the moment you get promoted.

Shirley also shared how understanding your own communication style (hi, DISC) can completely change how your team shows up for you.

🎧 New episode is live now — click the link in our bio to watch the full conversation.

🌸 EMPOWERED BY SCENT: DISCOVERING COURAGE THROUGH AROMATHERAPY

Have you ever felt a quiet whisper that simply wouldn't leave you alone? Not loud. Not dramatic. Just a gentle knowing that something needed to change.

For Kay Hamilton, that whisper led her to essential oils — and to a belief she's built her life around since: courage rarely arrives as a giant leap. More often, it begins with one quiet step, one decision, one whispered "yes."

"I trust the whispers of my heart. I choose courage, one step at a time."

📖 Read Kay's full story free in I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Magazine, Issue 009: https://www.thecorporateescapists.com/i-n-s-p-i-r-e-magazine/

🚪 LEADERSHIP BEGINS BEFORE YOU ENTER THE ROOM

Leigh-anne Cowie didn't become a leader because she had all the answers. She became one by learning to stay steady when things were difficult, make decisions when the way forward was unclear, and have the honest conversations others avoid.

As a leadership consultant, facilitator, and mentor, her approach rests on three principles: know yourself first, build trust through consistency, and develop people — not dependency.

"Leadership is not about the title on your door. It's about the experience people have in your presence."

📖 Read Leigh-anne's full story free in I.N.S.P.I.R.E. Magazine, Issue 009: https://www.thecorporateescapists.com/i-n-s-p-i-r-e-magazine/

anne.cowie

Tomorrow starts a new week. But before it does — one question:

What are you carrying into it that you don't actually need anymore? Old doubt. Old comparison. Someone else's timeline for your life.

Leave it here. Step into the week as the version of you who's already rebuilding, already rising, already enough.

You are exactly where your story needs you to be right now.

🖤 The Corporate Escapists

Progress doesn't always look loud.

Sometimes it looks like closing the laptop. Sitting with a cup of tea. Finally letting yourself rest instead of chasing the next thing.

This weekend, take a moment to ask: when did I last stop and celebrate how far I've actually come?

You don't need a milestone to feel proud of yourself. You need permission — so here it is.

🖤 The Corporate Escapists