The Leader Unmasked: Rob Regan on Finding Balance Through Authenticity Are you chasing external validation, only to feel unfulfilled? Caught in a cycle of striving that leaves you drained? This episode of The Leader Unmasked is your moment to pause and reflect. Host Angela Cox, a Master Coach for Executives and Founder of Paseda360, sits down with Rob Regan, Chief Operating Officer of Principality Building Society, who shares his journey from a “needy” corporate mask to authentic leadership. From relentless striving in financial services to coping with personal tragedies—losing his brother, mother, and sister, and facing his wife’s cancer diagnosis—Rob used work as a crutch, hiding his true self. A pivotal break from corporate life and a return to a values-driven role helped him find balance. Perfect for senior leaders and aspiring professionals in the “silent middle,” this episode will inspire you to seek internal fulfilment and lead authentically. 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 move beyond external validation and lead with authenticity, finding true fulfilment.
Learn about the “silent middle” and how to break the cycle of relentless striving and burnout.
Gain insights from Rob Regan on balancing corporate leadership with personal authenticity and purpose.

Resources:

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

Episode Highlights:

[00:02:03 - 00:03:55] The Needy Mask: Rob reflects on craving external validation in his early career, seeking recognition and popularity, which left him unfulfilled and exhausted.
[00:11:00 - 00:12:54] Personal Tragedies and Coping: Rob shares how the loss of his brother, mother, and sister, and his wife’s cancer diagnosis pushed him to use work as a mask to avoid emotional pain.
[00:17:44 - 00:21:56] A Pivotal Break: Rob discusses taking a break from corporate life, which taught him about self-worth beyond external validation and status.
[00:29:39 - 00:32:52] Embracing Vulnerability: Rob explains how sharing his struggles openly, despite initial fears, inspired others and reduced his need for external approval.

Three Powerful Quotes:

[00:03:38] “The more I tried to please others, probably the less fulfilled… everything I was doing was about me giving the impression to others that I was successful.”
[00:13:25] “Work was like almost my mask… all my validation, particularly external validation, and all my self-worth came through work.”
[00:32:52] “I don’t worry about [negative opinions] as much as I might have 5 or 6 years ago… if one person makes a different decision, it’s worth it.”

About the Guest: Rob Regan, Chief Operating Officer of Principality Building Society, is a leader who transformed relentless striving into authentic leadership. With a career spanning manufacturing, financial services, and executive roles at Legal & General and Royal London, Rob once hid behind a “needy” mask, craving external validation to feel successful. Personal tragedies—losing his brother, mother, and sister, and facing his wife’s cancer diagnosis—pushed him to use work as a coping mechanism. A break from corporate life and a return to a values-driven role at Principality helped him find balance and self-worth. Rob’s journey resonates with the “silent middle”—leaders quietly struggling under pressure—offering a path to lead with vulnerability and purpose. Enjoy This Podcast? Authenticity is the key to great leadership. If you learned something new from Rob Regan’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 authenticity 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

#5 Rob Regan COO Principality Building Society