Many women leaders want to show up authentically at work—honest, open, and confident—but it doesn’t always feel safe to do that.

You’ve been told to “be yourself,” but also to “be strong,” “be professional,” and “don’t be too emotional.” It’s confusing. How can you be both a compassionate leader and a strong leader without being misunderstood?

In this episode, I unpack what happens when authenticity backfires, why strong communicators sometimes get labeled as intimidating, and how to tell the difference between your authentic self and your defensive self.

You’ll also learn a simple somatic practice to calm your nervous system so you can lead with authentic confidence, clarity, and calm authority, even when the pressure’s on.

What You’ll Learn

• The hidden reason authenticity sometimes gets misread as aggression or coldness
• Why your nervous system—not your personality—determines how authentic you can be under stress
• How to recognize when you’re leading from your defensive self instead of your authentic self
• A simple grounding practice (the Sunshine Exercise) to shift from survival mode to calm presence
• How to rebuild trust with colleagues when your good intentions have been misunderstood

Key Quotes

⏱️ Top Moments from This Episode

[02:00] – When strong communication becomes self-protection

Why some confident, capable women leaders get labeled as intimidating—and how the fight response can disguise itself as leadership strength.

[03:00] – Defining your authentic self

Dr. Annie’s simple definition that changes everything: Your authentic self is who you are when you’re not in survival mode.

[08:00] – The body-based truth about leadership

You can’t be authentic from a defensive nervous system. Learn why regulating your body—not just your mindset—is the real key to executive presence.

[09:00] – The Sunshine Exercise

A calming practice you can use before high-stakes meetings or difficult conversations to shift from survival mode to calm, grounded authority.

Resources Mentioned

• Free Masterclass: Executive Presence for Authentic Leaders
  Learn practical tools to project calm authority without intimidation

Other Episodes You'll Love

• Ep 19: When Cutting Off Feels Safer Than Speaking Up
• Ep 21: What No One Tells You About Healthy

Have a question you'd like answered on the show? Click here to send me a message.

More Resources for You:

• Explore Dr. Annie's Executive Coaching Program
• Download your free guide: Executive Presence Starter Kit
• Get The Empowered Feedback Toolkit for easy-to-follow, step-by-step guidance so you can navigate difficult conversations and set healthy boundaries at work.

Connect with Dr. Annie online: LINKEDIN | WEBSITE

Love this show? Say thanks with a 5 star rating or a positive review.

2025 ©Annie Campanile, PhD

“Hit the ground running” sounds like smart advice — until it makes you stumble. The drive to prove yourself can backfire, especially when you’re inheriting someone else’s team or stepping into unresolved tension. That urgency to show results can undermine your credibility before you even realize it.

In this episode, I’ll show you three hidden traps new leaders fall into — like enforcing accountability before you’ve observed behavior yourself, skipping your own skill-building, and taking responsibility for everyone’s happiness — and what to do instead. You’ll learn how to set healthy boundaries (up, down, and across), steady your nervous system when pressure hits, and earn respect without getting pulled into drama.

If you want to feel grounded, communicate clearly, and lead with strength from day one, hit play.

• 00:00 — How the pressure to be liked shapes your communication under stress
• 03:00 — Trap #1: Holding people accountable before you’ve observed their behavior (and the boundary to set with your boss)
• 09:00 — Trap #2: Skipping your own leadership education (simple ways to level up fast)
• 10:10 — Trap #3: Taking responsibility for your team’s happiness (the mindset shift that changes everything)
• 14:30 — Quick recap: three traps to avoid and what to do instead
• 15:10 — Resource: Executive Presence Starter Kit

Episode Links:

• FREE: Executive Presence Starter Kit
• Book: Your First Leadership Job
• Book: The First 90 Days
• Book: Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change

Other Episodes You'll Love

• 19. The Surprising Reason Praise Doesn’t Boost Your Confidence as a Leader (and the Simple Shift That Will)

Have a question you'd like answered on the show? Click here to send me a message.

More Resources for You:

• Explore Dr. Annie's Executive Coaching Program
• Download your free guide: Executive Presence Starter Kit
• Get The Empowered Feedback Toolkit for easy-to-follow, step-by-step guidance so you can navigate difficult conversations and set healthy boundaries at work.
• Apply for on-air coaching (spots are limited).

Connect with Dr. Annie online: LINKEDIN | WEBSITE

Love this show? Say thanks with a 5 star rating or a positive review.

2025 ©Annie Campanile, PhD

You’re ready to promote a strong performer into leadership—but how do you know if they’re really prepared to lead their peers?

In this episode, I share an unusual interview technique that goes beyond resumes and past performance to reveal how each candidate will actually show up as a leader in front of their former coworkers. You’ll hear how one manager used this exact process to choose the right supervisor for a struggling team and why skipping this step can lead to resistance, resentment, and months of unnecessary drama at work.

You’ll also walk away with a simple three-step structure you can use to promote from within with confidence, prepare new leaders to guide their teams through change, and build trust from day one.

So if you’ve ever worried about promoting the wrong person, or wondered how to know if a candidate is truly ready to lead, hit play and let’s dive in.

0:00 – The Hidden Risk of Promoting a Peer Into Leadership

0:45 – How to Spot the #1 Mistake Leaders Make When Promoting from Within

1:30 – The Simple Interview Technique That Reveals Who’s Truly Ready to Lead A Team Through Change

5:10 – A 3-Step Process to Evaluate Internal Candidates Fairly (and Win Team Buy-In)

7:30 – How to Save Months of Time, Build Trust, and Set Your New Leader Up for Success

For step-by-step instructions:

• Grab your FREE Peer to Leader Interview Guide

Other Episodes You'll Love:

• The Unexpected Cure for Burnout (You Can Do in 10 Seconds)
• Breakdown to Breakthrough: Reclaiming Yourself in Leadership

Have a question you'd like answered on the show? Click here to send me a message.

More Resources for You:

• Explore Dr. Annie's Executive Coaching Program
• Download your free guide: Executive Presence Starter Kit
• Get The Empowered Feedback Toolkit for easy-to-follow, step-by-step guidance so you can navigate difficult conversations and set healthy boundaries at work.
• Apply for on-air coaching (spots are limited).

Connect with Dr. Annie online: LINKEDIN | WEBSITE

Love this show? Say thanks with a 5 star rating or a positive review.

2025 ©Annie Campanile, PhD