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The Lighting Fires Podcast

The Lighting Fires Podcast

Di: Julie Williams
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A proposito di questo titolo

 The Lighting Fires Podcast, supported by Henley Business School and hosted by Executive Coach, Julie Williams MSc. The Lighting Fires Podcast is a space for real conversations about change, growth, and the spark that starts it all. Julie has a Master's in Coaching and Behavioural change, over 10 years experience of running her own coaching practice, and 15 years experience in marketing leadership roles. In each episode, Julie sits down with one of her coaching clients to reflect on pivotal moments in their personal and professional journeys — from navigating imposter syndrome to finding confidence in leadership, from starting a business to rediscovering purpose. Expect honest reflections, practical insights, and inspiring stories from people who've dared to light a fire under their own ambitions. Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or simply wondering what's next, these conversations will help you tune in to your own spark — and fuel your next step. If you're interested in finding out more about how Julie could work with you or your team, go to www.lightingfires.co.uk You can also contact Julie by emailing julie@lightingfires.co.uk or connect at linkedin.com/in/juliewilliamsexeccoach Interested in becoming a coach? Find out more about Henley Business School here: https://www.henley.ac.uk/corporate-development/coaching045536 Economia Gestione e leadership Leadership Management
Episodi
  • Stepping Into the Boardroom: Imposter Syndrome, Delegation and Finding Your Leadership Voice

    Stepping Into the Boardroom: Imposter Syndrome, Delegation and Finding Your Leadership Voice
    Jan 21 2026
    Host: Julie Williams MSc – Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Sarah Ciccolallo – Chief Operating Officer, Red Whale After a short pause over the festive period, and an unexpected bout of illness, The Lighting Fires Podcast, supported by Henley Business School, is back with a thoughtful and honest conversation about leadership, confidence and growth. In this episode, Julie is joined by Sarah Ciccolallo, Chief Operating Officer at Red Whale, who reflects on her journey from marketing manager to board director, and the coaching work that supported her through that transition. Sarah speaks openly about experiencing imposter syndrome after stepping into her first board-level role, and how coaching helped her build confidence, shift her mindset, and develop new ways of leading. Together, Julie and Sarah explore the practical tools, conversations and reflections that helped Sarah move from doing everything herself to creating space for strategic thinking and stronger delegation. This episode also touches on the importance of understanding how you work, having honest conversations, and decluttering not just your inbox, but your diary and mental load too, a particularly timely theme at this point in the year. Julie and Sarah talk about: Moving from manager to board director and the challenges that come with itHow imposter syndrome shows up at senior levels, and why it doesn't always go awayThe role coaching played in building confidence and self-awarenessLearning how to delegate without feeling like you're losing controlPractical tools for handling difficult conversationsWhy understanding your own working style helps you lead others more effectivelyCreating space for strategic thinking by decluttering diaries, inboxes and habitsHow small, simple techniques can create long-term leadership change This is a warm, insightful conversation for anyone stepping into greater responsibility, navigating self-doubt, or looking to lead with more clarity and confidence. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (book) Carol Dweck Carol Dweck's TED Talk on Growth Mindset The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (book) Stephen Covey The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers Sean Covey Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Henley Business School Interested in a career in coaching? Find out about the Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School here. Be sure to mention the Lighting Fires Podcast if you do contact Henley Business School. Connect with Julie Website: lightingfires.co.uk Email: julie@lightingfires.co.uk LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc
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    34 min
  • To Plan or Not to Plan? That Is the Question...

    To Plan or Not to Plan? That Is the Question...
    Dec 10 2025

    Host: Julie Williams MSc- Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires
    Guest: Alex Weller- Founder of Above Digital

    In this episode of The Lighting Fires Podcast, supported by Henley Business School, Julie sits down with Alex Weller, founder of Above Digital, whose career spans more than 30 years of evolving brands and building digital experiences, from early work with Universal Music and PepsiCo to today's bespoke websites and branding projects.

    Alex describes himself as someone who never liked planning, and for a long time avoided it. Yet through coaching, reflection, and a shift in mindset, he discovered how simple planning, can be transformative. Their conversation explores the tension between wanting freedom and needing structure, why business owners often resist planning, and how Alex found a way of doing it that finally worked for him.

    Julie and Alex talk about:

    • The pressure of running a business when you're the person responsible for everything
    • How creating small pockets of time and space is essential for new ideas and long-term thinking
    • Why planning doesn't have to be complicated, and can actually feel grounding
    • The unexpected ways coaching continues to shape decisions years after the sessions finish
    • How to identify the clients you're best placed to serve
    • Why keeping simple notes about your business journey becomes a powerful tool for future planning
    • The importance of understanding your own preferences when shaping how you lead

    Alex reflects on the pivotal realisation that even when plans feel "pie in the sky," writing things down gives you something valuable to look back on, a narrative of your business that helps you make sense of where you've been and where you want to go next.

    Julie also shares coaching insights on finding focus, noticing what's working, creating space to think, and building a plan that feels motivating rather than overwhelming.

    Whether you love planning, avoid it, or feel stuck somewhere in between, this conversation offers fresh perspective on how to steer your business with more clarity, confidence, and ease.

    Henley Business School

    Interested in a career in coaching? Find out about the Professional
    Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School here.

    Be sure to mention the Lighting Fires Podcast if you do contact Henley Business School.

    Connect with Julie

    Website: lightingfires.co.uk
    Email: julie@lightingfires.co.uk
    LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc

    If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five star rating and review, it helps more listeners find these real-world leadership tools and stories.
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    48 min
  • Imposter Syndrome: Taking Your Seat at the Table

    Imposter Syndrome: Taking Your Seat at the Table
    Dec 3 2025

    Imposter Syndrome: Taking Your Seat at the Table

    Episode Description

    Host: Julie Williams MSc — Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires
    Mini-Series: Lighting Fires Toolbox — Conversations on Common Coaching Themes

    Episode Overview

    In this special Lighting Fires mini-episode, supported by Henley Business School, Julie explores one of the most common topics that comes up in coaching conversations: imposter syndrome, or more accurately, imposter phenomenon. Drawing on research from Clance and Imes in the 1970s, Julie unpacks why even the most capable, high-achieving people often struggle to internalise their success and feel they belong.

    Featuring powerful reflections from previous guests Lorraine Briffitt and Mark Schmull, this episode explores what imposter syndrome feels like in real life, how it shows up in leadership, and the practical steps you can take to challenge the inner critic and step confidently into the rooms you deserve to be in.

    This honest and encouraging episode is for anyone who has ever worried about not being "good enough," questioned whether they deserve an opportunity, or wondered when they're going to be "found out."

    What You'll Learn in This Episode

    • Why imposter syndrome happens, and why it's not a personal flaw
    • How sharing these thoughts out loud can dissolve their power
    • The importance of trusted spaces and supportive networks
    • Techniques to examine and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns
    • Why belonging is not about being liked, but about owning your place
    • Practical tools to build confidence through action and reflection

    Julie's Top Coaching Takeaways

    Say it out loud
    Speaking your fears in a safe space helps you see them more clearly, and often reveals how irrational they really are.

    Look for evidence
    Notice where you may be deleting information or generalising unfairly. What facts prove you do deserve to be here?

    Use NLP tools
    Explore deletions, distortions and generalisations to examine how your internal story may differ from objective reality.

    Write down your achievements
    Small wins and large milestones build confidence — but only if you acknowledge them.

    Confidence comes from doing
    You don't wait until you feel ready. You take action, even with discomfort, and confidence grows afterwards.

    You belong if you're in the room
    As Shonda Rhimes says: If you're there, you've earned it. Accept it and get on with it.

    Resources Mentioned

    • Research by Clance & Imes (1978) on Imposter Phenomenon
    • Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP): Deletions, Distortions & Generisations Framework

    Henley Business School

    Interested in a career in coaching? Find out about the Professional
    Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School here.

    Be sure to mention the Lighting Fires Podcast if you do contact Henley Business School.

    Connect with Julie

    Website: lightingfires.co.uk
    Email: julie@lightingfires.co.uk
    LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc

    If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five star rating and review, it helps more listeners find these real-world leadership tools and stories.
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    19 min
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