#17 - August Debrief: Claiming Your Authority, From Space to Leadership
Lessons in resilience, visibility, and leading under pressure.
Mission Control to Liftoff Crew: here’s the August debrief.
Adapting to the environment. Working under pressure. Handling vague feedback.
Sound familiar?
Every project this month circled those exact challenges. Here’s what got me thinking — and talking — about different aspects of leading:
What an analogue space mission taught me about resilience
How Modern Renaissance Woman opened up conversations about women’s leadership in the age of GenAI
How to handle feedback that says ‘you’re not strategic enough’
Researching imposter phenomenon: a chance to add your voice
Why The Authority Gap hit hard — and what it means for your leadership
Work with me to lead with clarity and authority
🚀 What an analogue space mission taught me about resilience
At the start of August I spent five days living in isolation and confinement with six other human beings — and no sunlight! Living and working in the habitat tested my resilience in new ways, by highlighting the importance of steady routines, clear communication, and managing energy in high-stakes situations.
You can read the first three parts of the series here (more to follow later this month!):
🎙️ How Modern Renaissance Woman opened up conversations about women’s leadership
Do you have a ‘squiggly’ career? On the Modern Renaissance Woman podcast with Melanie Smith, we explored why non-linear careers can actually be a strength in leadership today. We talked about curiosity and generalism, the gender gap in AI, and what astronauts can teach us about resilience and teamwork. It’s a conversation about confidence and self-belief for anyone navigating complexity in their career.
🎥 Why “not strategic enough” isn’t helpful feedback
I joined Meg Porter’s Conversations with Friends series to unpack one of the most common — and least useful — pieces of feedback leaders get. We explored why it misses the mark, how strategy really emerges in the messy early stages, and the skills that make it real when resources are tight.
Catch it on replay on Linkedin.
🔬 Researching imposter phenomenon: add your voice
Have you ever felt like you’re going to get found out? That everybody else has it all figured out? That you just got ‘lucky’ with your success?
I certainly have felt that way, and I’m curious to know if others have too.
Specifically for people working in Product, I’ve kicked off some research using Clance’s Imposter Phenomenon Scale, to understand the prevalence of imposter feelings amongst the product community.
My goal is to get to 100 responses and so far I’ve got 12 — so add your voice by filling it out here. I will of course publish the results, and share them in podcasts and talks this autumn.
📚 Why The Authority Gap hit hard — and what it means for your leadership
I found this a challenging read in places — Mary Ann doesn’t hold back on sharing uncomfortable truths, including the explicit and violent comments left by trolls on women’s posts on social media.
This book put words to something many of us feel: women’s authority is questioned more, even at the top. It’s not in your head — it’s in the system. But naming it gives us power. Understanding these dynamics helps you hold your ground and lead with clarity.
A must-read for every woman in leadership.
(And to link back to the previous section, I’m speaking on stage at a private event after Mary Ann later in September, and to say I’m feeling like an imposter is an understatement!)
🌟 Work with me to lead with clarity and authority — before pricing increases 1st October
I coach women in leadership across tech, space and medicine, to cut through doubt, claim authority, and perform under pressure. Too often that means dealing with their expertise being questioned, second-guessing themselves, or carrying the weight of proving they belong.
If that sounds familiar, know it doesn’t have to be your normal — together we’ll build the clarity, confidence, and steadiness to lead on your terms. I’ve got two spaces for 1:1 coaching in September, and pricing goes up in October. Book your free discovery call here.
