What do you do when you see yourself in two Enneagram types — and can’t quite tell which one fits?

In this episode, we continue our Exploring Enneagram Types series with my friend and fellow entrepreneur, Claudia Richman. What started as a typing conversation quickly evolved into a deeper exploration of identity, ambition, autonomy, and what it really means to be seen.

Claudia shares her journey from high-powered leadership roles in advertising and tech to building her own businesses on her terms. We explore the tension between achievement and authenticity, the difference between success and autonomy, and how growing up in a highly controlled environment shaped her relationship with rebellion, control, and self-expression.

Along the way, we pause to discern between Type 3 and Type 8 — two assertive types that can get confused. Both can be competitive, direct, and independent. But the “why” beneath those behaviors is very different. We take a nuanced look at how to tell the difference by exploring the ways major familial influences shape our behaviors and examining the “thing behind the thing” to understand our motivations.

If you’ve ever identified with being the capable one, the achiever, the role model, or the person who holds it all together, this episode will resonate.

Want to explore this tool for yourself? Here’s my Enneagram Typing Self-Reflection Guide:

• I just want to download the doc
• I want emails to guide me through the process

Want to connect with Sandhya for yourself or your team? Here’s how:

• Set up a call with Sandhya

Resources:

• Follow Claudia’s work at wegrowforward.com
• Connect with Claudia on LinkedIn

Connect with me:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• selfatwork.com

Produced by NOVA