Your Comfort Zone is Keeping You Stuck with Sue Rosen

Sue: Fantastic. Thank you, Janine. I'm really delighted to be here.

here right now.

And I went, Hmm, maybe I could do that. so I started to explore that. And then when you did, um, did some training and then went, Oh yeah. I love, this is a powerful modality, and it's got so much potential to help people. So this is what I want to do. So then it became some, you know, training and training and training and a post grad whilst working a part time CFO role.

part time.

Sue: Almost. definitely because there was a, it was a period for about five years. I didn't, I kept reading things about, you know, go and take the leap of faith, jump into something new. And I really, really wanted to do that. But I'm also, I'm quite risk averse. I'm quite conservative financially. And I thought, I can't just walk away from a good income.

I'm not into a life of regret by any means, but if you could look back and give yourself, be that fairy godmother, looking back on, as you said, the five, six, seven years, what would you tell yourself if you could go back? And at what point would you have given yourself that message?

Janine: Oh, it's my hometown.

where we do make those decisions in context, whether that fuels our lack of belief or fear of taking a step. Out of something, and it's that whole conformity piece as well. I think of at that moment in time, we were talking offline about our daughters, how, you know, at that moment in time, the decisions that the next generation are making, um, equally being made in the context of gender.

Of where they're at in their lives. But you also talk about this, this being braver and taking that step into the unknown. I'm really curious about how, how has you seen this play out in the work that you do now? So you are a, an advocate and you're passionate about leadership and changing leadership and particularly women in leadership and executive presence and taking ownership of leadership.

Sue: I think there's a co, there are a couple of things there. I think one that really talks to my experience is this piece about understanding that we have a choice, that sometimes we feel stuck, we feel trapped and in a situation and we feel like we don't have choice And and when, we realize that we do have choices, that doing nothing or staying in the status quo. is a choice, is a decision. It is enormously liberating. And so that I think is, is almost the first piece when I'm working with people about, where they feel they are, whether that's stuck because they want to change their role or whether it's stuck because they want to break through to that next level of leadership.

You know, it's not that I think we can magic away. the glass ceiling, for example. but what can we do within that system? What are the things that I have control over? And one of the things I have control over is to start to challenge the assumptions I have, you know, and that can be with some of my clients.

And I guess, this is where the two things are connected, right? Because do you see in your work that there is an element of, of fear, around understanding that we have a choice and equally is there a level of fear around being willing to Unpack and reframe your narrative. Like this shift doesn't happen with the flick of a switch, right? So,

and I equally know that every time I've stepped into that space of personal learning, it's, takes a whole lot of bravery because you don't know what's coming up. So

It doesn't mean we all throw the towel in and work for a not for profit or volunteer. How can I bring what's really meaningful and purposeful for me, into my professional role so that I feel more fulfilled. Because you know, that's a big part of what I do is I want the people I work with to feel fulfilled in what they do.

Janine: There's a couple of things in there as well that you talked to there's this being okay to be uncomfortable. I know I see it in a lot of my work where. It's not always as simple as band aiding, fixing, gold starring. and I know you and I have had conversations about this over the years, that sometimes it is hard because you've got to experiment, you've got to get curious, you've got to sit, in that space of really looking, At your business, at your leadership to try and pinpoint what that, that block is.

Sue: what I see?

It's connections to your stakeholders. It's building those relationships, but, and it's also connection to purpose and alignment with what the organization is doing. So. Circle back. I feel like I've gone off on a tangent,

step up a level. because now they are seen and perceived differently by other people.

Janine: yes, I could not agree more. I think, the knock on impact then of doing that work is that everybody benefits teams, fellow leaders, peers, family, et cetera. So your point right back at the beginning, if we've got to be brave to take the step into the unknown, almost becomes a non negotiable if we're wanting to.

leaders, organizations, governments, et cetera are going to sort it out for us versus the ownership piece. I'm really interested to hear your, your thoughts on that and how that contributes, to the work that you do.

They might support us as our boss, but they're not going to do it for us. They can't do.

it for us. Mmm.

Janine: So, Sue, I'm really curious because you've made some tough decisions, brave decisions throughout your career, changing your career along the way. Who is Sue now? Like, what have you learnt about yourself as the CEO and founder of your organization? as the leader that you are in the work that you do, you know, you talk about creating the environment and this personal responsibility piece.

I'm really curious who, who are you now? What have you learned about yourself that's contributing to the work that you do?

I love conversations. I love, how do we talk about something that's important? How do we grapple with big questions? when I was younger, I was very focused on the do, do, do, and very focused on the, I have to get to the next level and I have to be seen as such and such. And one of the, again, another practice that really worked for me was, was a gratitude practice and shifting from being entirely in my head and actually cognitively acknowledging that I've had a pretty charmed life and being able to say, yep, there are loads of fabulous things in my life.

Janine: Oh, so much deliciousness and all of that. Absolutely love all of that. thank you for sharing your story. I love hearing this disco ball of experience. And, you know, we talk a lot about how everything is connected, how our experience is the very thing that gets us to that point.

Um, and you've added to this, this. This ability or this willingness to be brave enough to start understanding, uh, the choices that you've made along the way and the context and the stories that you might be telling yourself in terms of those stories. and you're really passionate, you know, your work, you mentioned there that you've written this white paper, which is called, Is about all executive presidents.

And I call it bum glue where you have to literally think and write and put your opinions out there. Okay. why was that such a driver for you to write that white paper? Why did that matter?

Sue: That mattered because from my own experience and from many of the clients I was working with, I felt that there was this really strong, goes back to what I was saying before, this kind of structured training that we get in the earlier parts of our careers. And particularly, I think it goes for all leaders, but particularly, you know, with my experience in the finance field is this is all about analytical, technical task delivery.

Because having people around you who can both challenge your thinking, but also support you and be your cheerleaders is invaluable.

Janine: Love all of that. We're all a work in practice and your final point there around. Owning that practice and equally the importance within that of being braver about understanding that personal executive presence. And I'll put the link to your white paper and to how people can get hold of you, in the show notes.

So the self work that you talk a lot about and being Uncomfortable in that space. And then what I loved is that flip to, how you then, once you understand yourself, step into that executive presence, how do you, what is the work? What are the tools? How do you step into that piece of with humility?

Thank you so much for your time.

Sue: Thank you, Janine. It's been fabulous to be here.