Episode
Episode 82 Stop Waiting For Permission To Lead With Natalie Nielson
- Podcast
- Unstuck & Unstoppable
- Published
- Jun 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1630
- Processing state
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Summary
How many opportunities have you delayed because you were waiting for permission? In this episode Sarah talks to Natalie Nielson, Programme Director at Barclays Corporate, to explore the leadership lessons that have shaped her career and helped her thrive in complex, high-pressure environments. Natalie shares how she learned to stop waiting for someone else to tell her she was ready, navigate the inner voice of self-doubt, and develop a leadership style grounded in trust, authenticity and reflection. We also discuss the coaching journey we undertook together following her promotion into a senior leadership role, and the powerful mindset shifts that helped her become more confident, influential and intentional in her career. If you've ever questioned your readiness for the next step, struggled with visibility, or found yourself getting in your own way, this episode will leave you with practical insights and plenty of encouragement. In This Episode Why waiting for permission can hold your career back How to get out of your own way and quiet self-doubt The relationship between confidence and experience Navigating the transition into senior leadership Why reflection is an underrated leadership superpower The importance of asking for help and building support networks Creating trust and meaning within teams Developing an authentic leadership style Learning from role models and increasing your influence Reflection before reaction as a leadership habit What it really means to be unstuck and unstoppable Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to the episode and Natalie Nielson 03:45 – Natalie's role as Programme Director and leading complex transformation 05:00 – The leadership challenge of waiting for permission 06:00 – Why confidence is a by-product of experience 06:40 – Getting out…