Episode #18
Let's Be Brave, Not Perfect
What happens when being a “good” woman at work means being brilliant, confident, ambitious, kind, articulate, emotionally intelligent… and never too much of any of those things? In this episode, Michelle DeKeyrel, Founder and CEO of Eutemia, and I talk about the impossible standards women face in corporate leadership, the double standards around confidence and ambition, and the ways imposter syndrome can convince even highly capable women to shrink themselves. We get into speaking up, taking credit, being seen as “intimidating,” advocating for ourselves, and why women shouldn't have to choose between shining and helping others shine. We also talk about self-leadership and the uncomfortable reality that imposter syndrome probably isn't going anywhere. Maybe the goal isn't to finally feel confident enough. Maybe it's learning to show up anyway. Women have spent enough time being taught to be perfect. Now it's time to be brave. Michelle DeKeyrel is the Founder and CEO of Eutemia, a Leadership as a Service company built on a simple but powerful belief: you have to know yourself before you can lead anyone else. The name Eutemia comes from a Greek concept meaning the sense of your own path — and that philosophy runs through everything she does. With a career rooted in healthcare and a deep commitment to developing leaders at every level, Michelle created Eutemia to give organizations and individuals access to high-caliber leadership thinking — human-first, right-sized, and built to last. She also founded Unboxed at Eutemia, a community for people ready to step out of the corporate box and find their own way forward. Michelle is passionate about the inner work of leadership — the self-awareness, self-efficacy, and equanimity it takes to show up fully, especially in the moments that are hard. She believes the striving is the point. You can find her at eutemia.com or on Instagram @eutemia_makeitbetter. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: EUZ1NES6UHMRUB1Z
