What does it really mean to be yourself at work—while you’re still becoming?

In this powerful episode of Life Under Construction, Ingrid Ricks and Brooke Jennings sit down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and author of Be Yourself at Work, for a deeply honest conversation about authenticity, self-awareness, and leadership with heart.

Claude shares her journey to becoming a global leader focused on emotional intelligence and work culture—and why vulnerability, empathy, and connection are not soft skills, but essential leadership skills. Together, they unpack what it takes to create safe environments where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to grow.

From emotional bravery and fostering open communication, to navigating uncertainty and building connection inside large organizations, this conversation challenges traditional ideas of leadership. Claude reminds us that great leaders don’t micromanage—they leave you the map. They let people in. They create space for growth.

The episode also dives into work-life integration, the realities of parenthood, and the myth of balance. Because leadership doesn’t stop at the office—and neither does growth.

If you’ve ever struggled with showing up fully as yourself at work, questioned how to lead with empathy, or wondered how to build a culture rooted in trust and authenticity, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

You deserve this.

Key Takeaways:

• Authenticity is about being yourself while still becoming.
• Self-awareness is a journey that takes time.
• Creating a safe environment encourages open communication.
• Emotional bravery is essential for personal growth.
• Leaders should empower their teams rather than micromanage.
• Building connections is crucial in large organizations.
• Empathy can be a challenge for leaders but is necessary.
• Work-life balance is a myth; it's about integration.
• Vulnerability in leadership fosters trust and connection.
• Leaders should share their own journeys to inspire others.

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In this first episode, hosts Ingrid and Brook share why this podcast exists and why the idea of a “finish line” is one of the most exhausting lies we’ve been sold.

From careers and entrepreneurship to motherhood, relationships, identity, healing, and growth—life doesn’t arrive fully formed. There is no moment where everything clicks, nothing hurts, and you finally feel “done.” There are only seasons. Choices. Lessons. And the courage to keep going.

In this episode, Ingrid and Brook open up about:

• The loneliness that can come with leadership and starting something new

• The pressure of comparison in a world of highlight reels

• Choosing optimism over forced positivity

• Why one relationship can completely change the direction of your life

• The power of boundaries—even when they’re painful

• Losses we choose, and why walking away can still be an act of love

• Business rejection, self-doubt, and learning not to shrink

• Body image, self-talk, and being kinder to yourself

• Letting go of the belief that you’ll finally be “happy when…”

This conversation is honest, vulnerable, and deeply human. There are no quick fixes here. No perfectly packaged answers. Just real stories, hard-earned lessons, and the reminder that if you feel like you’re still a work in progress—you’re not failing. You’re building.

Life Under Construction is about the people behind the titles. The quiet struggles no one posts about. The growth that happens when you stop pretending you have it all together.

If you’re in a season of becoming…
If you feel behind, stuck, or unsure of what’s next…
If you’re tired of chasing a finish line that keeps moving…

You’re in the right place.

There is no finish line.
And that might be the most freeing truth of all.

Subscribe, follow, and share this episode with someone who needs the reminder that they’re not alone—and they’re not behind.