The Leader Unmasked: Tiffany Willcox on Embracing Authenticity and Building Belonging Struggling to show up as your true self in leadership? Feeling weighed down by the need to be perfect? This episode of The Leader Unmasked is your invitation to break free. Host Angela Cox, a Master Coach for Executives and Founder of Paseda360, sits down with Tiffany Willcox, a senior technology leader and host of the National Coaching Awards, who shares her journey from layers of conformity to authentic leadership. From boarding school at age seven to projecting confidence at Specsavers while battling self-doubt, Tiffany built a “perfectionist mask” to prove her worth. Through deep self-awareness, she shed these layers, learning to embrace mistakes and lead with vulnerability. Perfect for senior leaders and aspiring professionals in the “silent middle,” this episode will inspire you to foster belonging, trust your authentic self, and lead with ease. Tune in to discover how unmasking can transform your leadership and life. Subscribe now for more insights to be brilliant by being you!Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

Discover how to shed the perfectionist mask and lead authentically by embracing your true self.
Learn about the “silent middle” and how self-awareness can ease burnout and overthinking.
Gain insights from Tiffany Willcox on fostering belonging and empowering teams through vulnerability.

Resources:

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

Episode Highlights:

[00:02:16 - 00:03:49] Layers of the Mask: Tiffany reflects on how childhood experiences, like being left at boarding school at age seven, built layers of independence and conformity, shaping her perfectionist mask.
[00:05:20 - 00:06:57] The Perfectionist Facade: Tiffany shares how projecting confidence at Specsavers hid inner self-doubt, leading to exhaustion from worrying about others’ perceptions.
[00:09:43 - 00:12:34] Unmasking Through Self-Value: Tiffany discusses her struggle to list things she loved about herself, revealing a need to prove her worth, and how self-awareness transformed her perspective.
[00:27:16 - 00:30:16] Hosting with Humanity: Tiffany describes hosting the National Coaching Awards authentically, connecting with speakers and the audience to foster belonging, creating a memorable sense of community.

Three Powerful Quotes:

[00:06:57] “I was so worried about what everyone else thought, I’d never considered what it felt like to be me.”
[00:15:43] “The more honest I am about me, the more I inspire more people around me. It’s the most amazing thing.”
[00:32:10] “I can breathe lighter. I can stand taller. And I feel like I can love even more people.”

About the Guest: Tiffany Willcox, a senior technology leader and host of the National Coaching Awards, is a beacon of authentic leadership. With over 25 years in technology, including a senior role at Specsavers, Tiffany once hid behind a “perfectionist mask,” projecting confidence while battling self-doubt rooted in childhood experiences like boarding school at age seven. Her journey of self-discovery, sparked by working with Angela Cox, led her to shed layers of conformity and embrace vulnerability. Now, Tiffany leads teams by fostering belonging, empowering others to be themselves, and admitting when she doesn’t know something. Her authentic approach shone at the National Coaching Awards, where she created a sense of community that left attendees feeling they belonged. Tiffany’s story resonates with the “silent middle”—leaders quietly struggling under pressure—offering a path to lead with ease and joy. Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn to learn more about her inspiring journey.Enjoy This Podcast? Authenticity is the key to great leadership. If you learned something new from Tiffany Willcox’s story on The Leader Unmasked, hit subscribe and share it with your colleagues and friends! Post a review and share your thoughts online—tell us how embracing your authentic self has inspired you. Your feedback helps more leaders find us. Have questions? Contact Angela through LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook. 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.