What happens when you stop trying to fit into the mould and decide to live — fully, unapologetically — as yourself? In this episode of She Who Dares, I’m joined by Cheryl Alderman, entrepreneur, executive coach, speaker, and self-described “Energizer Bunny” whose story is equal parts inspiring and real.

Cheryl’s life has been anything but ordinary. At 19, she boarded a one-way flight from New Zealand to Sydney, building a corporate career in senior leadership, before launching not one but two successful businesses while raising three children. Today, she runs her ventures from Cairns while travelling across Australia and New Zealand delivering workshops and keynotes.

In our conversation, Cheryl shares what it means to grow up without labels like “neurodivergent” or “masking,” and how discovering her ADHD later in life gave language to traits she’d always owned as her own. She reveals how her risk tolerance, energy, and ability to think outside the box have fuelled her success — but also the lessons learned from failure, rejection, and workplaces that still don’t fully understand difference.

We dive into the importance of self-awareness, finding your people, and recognising your unique dopamine triggers — whether that’s food, people, the ocean, or creative projects. Cheryl speaks candidly about parenting neurodivergent children, navigating bias in professional environments, and the resilience required to keep moving forward when life feels unfair.

Her definition of success is refreshingly honest: building a life that makes you happy, on your terms, without dimming your light for anyone. She leaves us with a powerful reminder — it’s okay to be different, and in fact, it’s difference that makes the world interesting.

This is a conversation for anyone who’s ever felt “too much,” questioned where they fit, or wondered if their way of thinking is an obstacle or a gift. Cheryl shows us it can be a superpower — when embraced with courage, kindness, and conviction.

You can connect with Cheryl here:LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-alderman-execcoach/

Websites:

https://www.beultimate.com.au/ https://social4u.com.au/