The Leader Unmasked: Coral Horn on Authenticity and Empowering Women in Business

Struggling to fit into a male-dominated corporate world? Tired of putting on a front just to get by?

In this episode of The Leader Unmasked, host Angela Cox chats with Coral Horn, founder of Pink Link Ladies and the Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs).

Coral opens up about her time in sales, where she felt out of place amid football chats and being left out at lunch, and how she left it all behind to start her own business 16 years ago.

Now, she creates spaces where women can connect, collaborate, and support each other without pretending to be someone they're not. It's a down-to-earth conversation about finding your tribe, staying true to yourself, and why authenticity makes everything easier.

If you're a leader feeling the quiet strain of the "silent middle," this one's for you. Listen in and see how dropping the mask can change things for the better.

Don't forget to subscribe for more real talks on leading as yourself.

Here are three reasons to give it a listen:

Hear how leaving a toxic corporate setup let Coral build something genuine and supportive for women in business.
Get tips on overcoming isolation and burnout by surrounding yourself with people who lift you up.
Learn from Coral's experience running Pink Link Ladies and the EVAs, where belonging and real connections are key.

Resources:

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

Episode Highlights:

[00:02:24 - 00:04:20] Corporate Struggles: Coral talks about feeling like an outsider in sales teams, where male colleagues dominated conversations and left her on the sidelines.
[00:05:14 - 00:06:20] Undermined Moments: She recalls being publicly challenged on ideas that had been agreed upon, just for laughs, and how it made her realise she needed to leave.
[00:06:20 - 00:07:16] Making the Leap: Coral explains the decision to quit corporate life for her own business, knowing it wasn't good for her mental health long-term.
[00:32:35 - 00:35:54] Lifting Others Up: Coral shares advice on letting go of the mask to find your people, plus updates on the EVAs finalists and upcoming events.Three Powerful Quotes:
[00:03:09] “It was quite male-dominated… the conversations were all about football and golf… you just didn’t feel part of it.”
[00:05:38] “Why are you doing that? They thought it was funny… it was difficult trying to fit into that environment.”
[00:33:11] “Just let it go. Be yourself. People will love you more for that… you’ll find your right tribe.”

About the Guest:

Coral Horn, founder of Pink Link Ladies and the Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs), is all about helping women in business be themselves and support each other. After years in corporate sales feeling like she didn't fit in—dealing with exclusion and undermining—she started her own ventures 16 years ago.

Today, Pink Link Ladies connects women for collaboration, and the EVAs celebrate their achievements in a welcoming space. Coral's path from isolation to building real communities hits home for leaders in the “silent middle” who are pushing through unseen struggles. Her focus on sustainability and inclusivity shines through in events like the upcoming House of Commons gathering.

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