The Leader Unmasked: Thera Prins on Breaking Free from Conformity Ever feel like you’re hiding your true self to fit corporate expectations? Burnt out from pretending to be someone you’re not? This episode of The Leader Unmasked is your wake-up call. Host Angela Cox, a Master Coach for Executives and Founder of Paseda360, sits down with Thera Prins, CEO of Equiniti, who broke free from the shackles of conformity. Thera shares her journey from dull navy suits and suppressed vibrancy in banking to rediscovering her "colour" after devastating setbacks, redundancy at Lloyds and a marriage breakdown. Through her "enough moment," she learned that conforming didn’t bring success; authenticity did. Perfect for senior leaders and aspiring professionals, this episode dives into the "silent middle", high-functioning leaders quietly unraveling and how to shed the mask of conformity. Thera’s story will inspire you to embrace your true self, stay visible in midlife, and lead with resilience. Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

Learn how to break free from conformity and lead authentically, no matter the corporate pressure.
Understand the "silent middle" and how to overcome burnout by embracing your true self.
Gain insights from Thera Prins on staying visible as a woman in midlife through authentic leadership.

Resources:

Contact Angela Cox on LinkedIn
Visit The Leader Unmasked Podcast
Explore coaching at Paseda360

Episode Highlights:

[00:02:22 - 00:04:22] Conforming to Fit In: Thera shares how she adopted a conformist persona—wearing navy suits and suppressing her vibrant personality—to succeed in banking, only to realize it dulled her true self.
[00:04:51 - 00:06:17] The Enough Moment: Thera recounts her devastating redundancy at Lloyds and personal collapse, which forced her to confront how conformity led to a loss of authenticity and happiness.
[00:08:17 - 00:08:53] Becoming a Role Model: Thera reflects on the shift from emulating others to being a role model by leading authentically, inspiring others to do the same.
[00:35:10 - 00:45:23] Staying Visible in Midlife: Thera discusses staying visible as a woman in midlife by rejecting corporate constraints and embracing her energy, wisdom, and authentic leadership.

Three Powerful Quotes:

[00:06:18] “I slowly separated myself from the true person that I am… My mum would say to me, ‘You’ve lost your color.’”
[00:06:39] “The big turning point for me was, well, you know, sod all this… I’d spent all this time adjusting to what I thought everybody else expected of me.”
[00:45:23] “I’ve got nothing to lose anymore… I’ve got all that learning and all that confidence, plus a big network of people that I love. So let’s go and do something good with it.”

About the Guest: Thera Prins, a dynamic CEO, embodies the power of authentic leadership after a transformative journey through corporate conformity. With a career spanning banking and leadership roles, Thera once molded herself to fit expectations—wearing "boring" navy suits and suppressing her vibrant personality to climb the ranks. A devastating redundancy at Lloyds and personal challenges became her "enough moment," prompting her to reject conformity and rediscover her true self. Now, as a leader, Thera inspires others to shed inauthentic masks and lead with courage and authenticity. Her story resonates with the "silent middle"—leaders quietly struggling under pressure, offering hope and strategies for resilience. Passionate about empowering women in midlife to stay visible, Thera combines her wisdom, energy, and colorful personality to foster human-centric leadership. Her insights make her a role model for executives and aspiring leaders seeking to lead well and live well.

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Thanks for listening! For more updates and episodes, visit theleaderunmaskedpodcast.podbean.com. Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or PodBean. To unmasking your brilliance, Angela.

#2 Thera Prins CEO Equiniti UK