Episode 1: The Journey to Natural Leadership Starts Here

Episode Summary

For centuries, leadership has been built on command and control—where leaders hold power over others instead of using their power to lift others up. But true leadership isn’t about force—it’s about empowerment.

In this episode, we’re breaking down why force-driven leadership is outdated and why the best leaders don’t rely on micromanagement, fear, or control—they lead with influence, trust, and presence.

Full Episode Transcript

If you’re someone who’s ever felt like traditional leadership models just don’t fit who you are, or you’ve struggled with burnout, pressure, and the constant expectation to be more, do more, achieve more—then you’re in the right place.

This podcast is all about redefining leadership—not through force or hustle, but through authenticity, alignment, and ease. Because real leadership doesn’t come from pushing harder all the time. It comes from knowing yourself so deeply that leading feels natural.

And that’s exactly what we’re going to explore together.

Why I Started This Podcast

I want to take a moment to share a little bit about why I started this podcast and what led me here.

For as long as I can remember, leadership has been something I’ve been drawn to. Maybe you feel the same.

You’ve always had this deep sense that you were here to do something meaningful, to guide others, to make an impact in some way.

But the way leadership has traditionally been taught? It doesn’t sit right with me.

I’ve seen leaders burn themselves out trying to fit into a system that doesn’t actually support them. I’ve been there myself—pushing, striving, trying to meet expectations that feel completely disconnected from who I actually am. Maybe you’ve felt this too.

The feeling of having to put on a mask to be ‘taken seriously’ or ‘successful.’

But at some point, I started asking myself:

• What if leadership wasn’t about striving?

• What if it was about alignment?

• What if we could lead in a way that feels easy, fulfilling, and natural?

And that’s how The Natural Leader Podcast was born.

I was only talking to a friend of mine about this the other day, and we were both reflecting on the fact that many leadership roles we’ve taken, we’ve done it because other people wanted us to.

Because other people thought we would fit the role, or because “it is a great opportunity”, or because we were good at our role.

But you know what, in a lot of those cases, we just ended up doing what other people wanted, despite the nagging internal knowing that it wasn’t right for us.

Only 18 months ago, I had an example of this. I was asked to act in a senior leadership role. Everyone around me thought I was great for the role, they wanted me to bring my skills in there, but the longer I was in the role, the less right it felt.

I constantly questioned myself as to why I was doing it. I asked those close to me at the workplace and they said it was great for me to be there, I asked my mentor who agreed it was the ‘right’ career move, and I asked my husband because it was definitely taking lots of time away from my children, and he also confirmed it was a great opportunity – promotion, more money, more recognition, etc.

It was like I knew it wasn’t right and I was trying to find the external validation for my inner knowing.

I let all those people convince me that it was the right thing to do, instead of listening to what I knew was right for me. I only did it for 6 months and I felt exhausted, depleted and had no idea how I would ever be able to sustain it. I also didn’t really enjoy it.

Thankfully, I tanked the interview and didn’t get the job, which was an absolute blessing in disguise. But, if I had of just listened to my inner voice in the first place, I would have saved myself from being on the verge of burnout yet again (more stories about that to come in later episodes!)

This experience was the catalyst for me to really reflect on my leadership journey. It’s been made abundantly clear to me that I have lots to share in the leadership space, but I realised it didn’t need to be specifically in a higher position within an organisation. I can make the best impact with the conversations I have and sharing my knowledge.

And that was the kick starter to this work on The Natural Leader Model. Something that I am highly passionate about and excited to share with you.

What Is a ‘Natural Leader’?

So what does it actually mean to be a ‘Natural Leader’?

This is a concept I talk about a lot because it’s the foundation of this podcast and the work I’m doing.

A Natural Leader isn’t someone who forces, pushes, or manipulates their way into leadership.

A Natural Leader is someone who leads simply by being themselves—by embracing their strengths, trusting their intuition, and showing up with integrity. And by integrity, I mean leading based on who you are, not on what someone else expects you to be.

Think about the most inspiring leaders you’ve ever encountered. Were they the ones who controlled everything, who dominated the room?

Or were they the ones who carried a quiet confidence, a deep authenticity, and a presence that made people feel safe, motivated, and seen?

That’s the kind of leadership we’re exploring here.

And the truth is, every single one of us has a unique leadership style.

• Some of us lead through deep listening.

• Some of us lead through action.

• Some of us lead through vision and inspiration.

But all of us lead best when we do it in a way that feels natural to us.

I wouldn’t say I have a clear definition of what leadership is, because I think it looks different for everyone.

What I would say is, that a true leader is someone who others want to follow, who they want to guide them, to look up to, and to do all of that through choice rather than force or because they have to.

I also believe you can be a leader no matter what your work role is. A stay at home mum can be a leader of their family, a footy coach is a leader for his team, an influencer on social media can be a leader for thousands or even millions of people, a kid can be a leader in their classroom, and of course, the way most of us think of leadership – you can be in a management position where your role is to lead a group of people, you can be elected into a position of leadership such as government, councils, members of a board of directors.

But the part that gets left out the most when we talk about leadership, is how we lead ourselves.

My personal view is that until you can lead yourself effectively, you will always be lacking in your ability to lead others.

And it all starts with self-awareness. Understanding yourself deeply, understanding how what you do or say affects other people, and what you can do to bring out the best in others.

Why Traditional Leadership Models Aren’t Working Anymore

Here’s something I’ve noticed—and I know I’m not alone in this.

For so long, leadership has been built around outdated ideas:

• That the best leaders are the ones who are loudest, boldest, and most dominant.

• That leadership means sacrificing yourself for the sake of success.

• That leadership is about controlling, rather than guiding.

But more and more, people are realising that this just doesn’t work anymore.

People are exhausted.

People are craving something different.

People want leaders who are real, who are human, and who actually care.

And that’s exactly what this new wave of leadership is about. It’s about stepping into your natural strengths rather than trying to fit into someone else’s mould.

It’s about working with your energy, not against it. It’s about knowing who you are so deeply that you can lead in a way that’s sustainable and fulfilling—not just for you, but for the people around you.

For so long, leadership has been wrapped up in this outdated idea that to be successful, you have to be loud, dominant, always in control, and constantly working harder than everyone else.

But let’s be real—that’s exhausting. And for a lot of us, it’s completely misaligned.

Maybe you’ve felt pressure to always be ‘on’—to keep pushing, hustling, and proving yourself just to be taken seriously.

Or maybe you’ve been told that real leaders have to be extroverted, take charge, and have all the answers, when deep down, that’s just not your style.

But leadership isn’t about fitting yourself into a box. And it’s definitely not about sacrificing yourself in the process.

The best leaders I know—the ones who are truly impactful—aren’t forcing it. They’re not trying to control everything. They’re leading in a way that’s natural to them.

So let’s talk about what actually needs to change in the way we see leadership today.

First, we need to stop equating busyness with success.

Just because you’re always working, always available, or always saying ‘yes’ doesn’t mean you’re an effective leader. In fact, it’s often the opposite.

Great leadership isn’t about doing more.

Second, we have to let go of the idea that leaders always have to have the answers. That’s just not true.

Most of the best leaders are the ones who ask great questions, create space for others, and aren’t afraid to say, ‘I don’t know, let’s figure it out together.’

And then there’s the whole emotional intelligence thing—which, let’s be honest, has been undervalued or misunderstood in leadership for way too long.

The ability to read a room, understand people, lead with empathy—that’s what makes people want to follow you. It’s not just about making decisions, it’s about building trust.

Another shift we need? Collaboration over competition. For too long, leadership has been about getting ahead, climbing to the top, and being the one in charge.

But real leadership is about elevating others. The strongest leaders don’t just lead for people; they lead with

And finally—this one’s huge—we need to stop seeing vulnerability as a weakness. Some of the most powerful leaders I’ve ever met are the ones who own their humanity.

Who aren’t afraid to admit when they’re struggling, who share their real experiences, and who create a culture where people feel safe to do the same.

So, if you’ve ever felt like the traditional way of leading just doesn’t work for you, I want you to know—there’s nothing wrong with you. What’s outdated is the leadership model we’ve been given.

What to Expect from The TNL Podcast

So, what can you actually expect from The Natural Leader Podcast?

Well, this is going to be a mix of solo episodes—where I’ll break down concepts around self-awareness, energy, leadership, authenticity, and more—and guest episodes, where I’ll bring in incredible people who will talk through their experiences, why they believe leadership needs to change and show us how everyone can lead in a different way that aligns with them.

We’ll talk about things like:

• How to understand your unique leadership style.

• How to trust yourself and make decisions with clarity.

• How to move past burnout and build sustainable energy as a leader.

• How to navigate challenges and setbacks with confidence.

• And how to truly step into your power—without force, without burnout, and without losing yourself in the process.

Some episodes will be deep and introspective. Others will be practical and action-based. But every single one will be focused on helping you become a more authentic, aligned, and impactful leader.

One of the things I’m most excited about is diving into the real, unfiltered conversations about leadership—the kind that don’t just tell you what to do, but actually help you understand why certain things feel aligned (or totally off) when it comes to leading.

We’ll be talking about things like:

✨ How to lead without burning yourself out—and why energy management is one of the most underrated leadership skills.

✨ The difference between power and force in leadership—because let’s be real, nobody wants to be led by someone who’s constantly pushing and controlling everything.

✨ How to trust yourself as a leader—especially when self-doubt creeps in, because yes, even the most confident leaders feel it sometimes.

✨ The balance between masculine and feminine energy in leadership—when to take action, when to lean back, and how to integrate both for a leadership style that feels natural.

✨ And of course, one of my favourite topics: How to align with your unique leadership style using Human Design—because once you understand your natural strengths, you can stop trying to lead like someone else and start leading in a way that actually feels right for you.

And that’s just the beginning. I’ll also be bringing in some incredible guests who are leading in new, innovative, and aligned ways—so you can hear directly from people who are embodying this shift in leadership.

How You Can Be Part of This Community

Before we wrap up, I just want to say—this podcast isn’t just about me sharing ideas. It’s about us—a collective of current and aspiring leaders who are all on this journey together.

So, I’d love to hear from you. If something in this episode resonated, let me know. You can connect with me in a few different ways:

• On Instagram @freshcollective_il (link in the show notes), where I’ll be sharing more insights, reflections, and behind-the-scenes of this journey.

• At my website – freshcollective.au

• And, I’m also about to open The Natural Leader Hub, which is a membership based space which includes deep dives into the Natural Leader Model, as well as tools and practical applications so you can start leading naturally with confidence! More on this to come.

And if you’re excited about what’s coming, please make sure to hit subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. I can’t wait to go on this journey with you.

Final Words

So, that’s it—our very first episode of The Natural Leader Podcast is done.

This is just the beginning, and I can already tell it’s going to be an incredible journey. If you take one thing away from today, let it be this:

Leadership isn’t about you needing to change. It’s about becoming more of who you already are.

I can’t wait for what’s ahead.

Thanks for being here, and I’ll see you in the next episode.

Connect & Continue the Conversation

📍 Follow me on Instagram: @freshcollective_il

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