Lucy Gernon

So long story short, I spent my career in the pharmaceutical industry and I noticed a few problems when I was there. Number one, a lot of leaders, while they may be very technically competent in their field, there's been a huge change and a huge shift in terms of what's expected today in leadership.

So long story short, I spent my career in the pharmaceutical industry and I noticed a few problems when I was there. Number one, a lot of leaders, while they may be very technically competent in their field, there's been a huge change and a huge shift in terms of what's expected today in leadership.

And there's a lot more expectation of leaders to be inclusive, to be real, to be authentic, to all of this stuff. And I noticed there was a lot of conflict happening. There was a lot of women in particular, too, who weren't really owning their value. And they knew inside that they could maybe climb the ladder and get up to those more senior roles. But I'd see them people pleasing.

And there's a lot more expectation of leaders to be inclusive, to be real, to be authentic, to all of this stuff. And I noticed there was a lot of conflict happening. There was a lot of women in particular, too, who weren't really owning their value. And they knew inside that they could maybe climb the ladder and get up to those more senior roles. But I'd see them people pleasing.

and playing small in front of certain dominant characters and then in other meetings they would be completely different and i had personally struggled with depression anxiety i had been a total people pleaser myself i didn't want to rock the boat with my superiors i certainly would never have gone on camera or spoken on stages or anything like i do right now

and playing small in front of certain dominant characters and then in other meetings they would be completely different and i had personally struggled with depression anxiety i had been a total people pleaser myself i didn't want to rock the boat with my superiors i certainly would never have gone on camera or spoken on stages or anything like i do right now

And I had done all of this work myself through going to therapy, working with coaches and all that stuff. So in the end, bringing in all of my corporate experience, the challenges that I saw other leaders, other women in leadership facing and knowing I had this gift to inspire people, I had all of these frameworks and tools I had created myself that had helped me along my journey.

And I had done all of this work myself through going to therapy, working with coaches and all that stuff. So in the end, bringing in all of my corporate experience, the challenges that I saw other leaders, other women in leadership facing and knowing I had this gift to inspire people, I had all of these frameworks and tools I had created myself that had helped me along my journey.

I decided to basically start my business. which was the scariest thing I ever did in my whole entire life, but it's paid off. So that's it in a nutshell.

I decided to basically start my business. which was the scariest thing I ever did in my whole entire life, but it's paid off. So that's it in a nutshell.

I suppose I had always had this burning fire inside me that I knew I was capable of more. But of course, we all have inner critics, some people louder than others. And my inner critic was so loud. I didn't think I was good enough. I didn't think I was smart enough. I thought other people knew more than me. And as a result, I played small.

I suppose I had always had this burning fire inside me that I knew I was capable of more. But of course, we all have inner critics, some people louder than others. And my inner critic was so loud. I didn't think I was good enough. I didn't think I was smart enough. I thought other people knew more than me. And as a result, I played small.

What happened was in July 2020, so this time, literally actually this week, I think it was four years ago, I was in the kitchen with my husband and he got a phone call. I'll never forget to say that his dad had gone into hospital. His dad had like a pain in his shoulder and his dad was a painter. He was 66 years old. He was full of life and vigor and youth, really good fun.

What happened was in July 2020, so this time, literally actually this week, I think it was four years ago, I was in the kitchen with my husband and he got a phone call. I'll never forget to say that his dad had gone into hospital. His dad had like a pain in his shoulder and his dad was a painter. He was 66 years old. He was full of life and vigor and youth, really good fun.

Somebody you could have a drink with and have a good laugh with and have dinner and stuff like that. And we didn't really think much of it, but it transpired that he actually had an incurable brain tumor. Within six weeks of his diagnosis, he had sadly passed away. And it was in that moment when my father-in-law Richard passed that I realized that I had been living my life to please other people.

Somebody you could have a drink with and have a good laugh with and have dinner and stuff like that. And we didn't really think much of it, but it transpired that he actually had an incurable brain tumor. Within six weeks of his diagnosis, he had sadly passed away. And it was in that moment when my father-in-law Richard passed that I realized that I had been living my life to please other people.

I was afraid to really follow what I wanted to do because I was afraid it wouldn't work. We spoke off air that I've got three children. Jayden is 16, Sarah-Mae is 12, Kate is eight. I have a husband and a mortgage, but obviously we're equal partners in the marriage and trying to make a decision about I can't start a business. I haven't got an MBA.

I was afraid to really follow what I wanted to do because I was afraid it wouldn't work. We spoke off air that I've got three children. Jayden is 16, Sarah-Mae is 12, Kate is eight. I have a husband and a mortgage, but obviously we're equal partners in the marriage and trying to make a decision about I can't start a business. I haven't got an MBA.

I don't know how to run a business, even though I'd run areas of business in the corporate world. I wasn't sure what to do. It was a huge risk. But when my father-in-law passed away, it really made me realize you only have one life. and you only get one shot to follow your dreams. And I believe each and every one of us are here for a reason.

I don't know how to run a business, even though I'd run areas of business in the corporate world. I wasn't sure what to do. It was a huge risk. But when my father-in-law passed away, it really made me realize you only have one life. and you only get one shot to follow your dreams. And I believe each and every one of us are here for a reason.