Who Are You Without Your Title?
Let me ask you something gently. When someone says, “So, what do you do?”How quickly does your job title leave your lips? Director. Partner. Head of. VP. Senior Manager. It rolls out smoothly. Practised. Polished. Powerful. And if I’m honest, there...
Navigating Menopause, Caregiving, and Executive Presence Without Losing Yourself
There is a season of life no one really prepares you for (well, at least no one prepared me!?!) It sneaks up quietly.You are experienced. Trusted. Often at the top of your game.And suddenly, it feels like everything is happening at once. A...
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek’s Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t (2014, Penguin Group) explores the fundamental human need for trust and belonging in leadership. Drawing inspiration from the U.S. Marine Corps’ tradition that officers...
The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy C. Edmondson
Workplace fear may be invisible, but its impact isn’t. In The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth, Amy C. Edmondson offers a compelling blueprint for what it takes to...
When Passion Fuels You… and When It Burns You Out
There’s a lot of noise out there about “finding your passion.” It’s painted as the ultimate solution to career dissatisfaction, self-doubt, and that nagging question, “Is this really it?” But let’s be honest. Passion can be both a blessing and a...
The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch
First published in 1997 by Doubleday, The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch introduces a compelling way to view time, effort, and results that challenges the status quo of modern productivity thinking. The principle is simple but powerful: 80 percent...
Why Purpose and Joy Matter More Than Ever in an AI-Driven World
We just spent the weekend in the Hunter Valley (beautiful… and wet!) And on the drive down, we listened to an episode of Diary of a CEO where a panel of AI experts bluntly declared: “These jobs won’t exist in 24 months.” And let me tell you, those...
How to Stay Present in a World Built for Distraction
You've finally carved out time to focus, maybe on a report, your vision for the next quarter, or simply dinner with your family. But… your phone lights up. That familiar buzz. Group chat. Slack notification. A random breaking news alert. Now you're...
The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
Published in 2013 by Allen & Unwin, The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga is one of my all time favourite reads and had a profound impact on my life. Drawing deeply from Alfred Adler’s individual psychology, this book...
Why Growth Feels So Uncomfortable (and What to Do About It)
Have you ever had that weird moment when you look back at yourself just six months ago and think, Who was that woman? Maybe her voice was a little shakier. Her smile, a bit more practised. Her calendar, packed to the brim, yet she felt oddly......
The Truth About “Someday”
“Someday” is a seductive liar. We whisper to ourselves, “Someday I’ll speak up in that meeting. Someday I’ll apply for the role I really want. Someday I’ll stop doubting myself.” But someday rarely comes. And here's the clincher, it doesn't just...
Running on Empty? Why Fatigue Might Be Hiding a Deeper Void
Have you ever stared at your screen, mid-email, and felt an exhaustion that sleep couldn’t fix? That wasn’t tired. That was hollow. There’s a distinct difference between needing rest and needing meaning. One you can nap off. The other lingers. It...
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey
First published in 1989 by Free Press, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People quickly became a cornerstone in the personal development genre. Stephen Covey’s work isn’t just a manual; it’s a leadership philosophy that blends timeless principles...
Relationships: the Often Overlooked Driver of Real Success
There’s a popular idea in corporate circles that success is about grit, strategy, and long hours. And while those have their place, what if the real edge lies somewhere less obvious? Somewhere... like your relationships? In high performance...
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Why do some people rise so far above others in their fields? Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers: The Story of Success (2008, Little, Brown and Company) investigates that very question with a compelling twist: it’s not just talent and ambition that shape...
When Willpower Isn’t Enough: Why Your Environment Might Be Holding You Back
“Environment is stronger than will.” Those words, once shared with me by a mentor, hit me like a freight train. Not because I hadn’t heard it before. But because, in that moment, I could finally see how my surroundings were quietly scripting my...
Beyond Mars & Venus: Relationship Skills for Today’s Complex World by John Gray
John Gray’s Beyond Mars & Venus (2017, BenBella Books) offers a contemporary look at relationship dynamics, adapting his iconic Mars-Venus framework for today’s evolving world. This book stands out as a practical guide for navigating modern...
How Your Choices Shape Your Path
Ever feel like life is subtly yanking you in a particular direction? Like there’s this invisible pull, sometimes gentle, sometimes relentless, that guides your steps? Well, there’s a reason for that, and it has a lot to do with gravity. Not the...
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
Published in 2012 by Hal Elrod through Hal Elrod International, The Miracle Morning has become a cornerstone for anyone seeking to jumpstart personal transformation. This book stands out because it doesn't just offer a to-do list for morning...
Breaking Free from Hidden Barriers: The 5 Silent Traps Holding You Back
Ever feel like you’re driving with the handbrake on? You’re pressing the gas, but something’s holding you back. Let’s uncover those sneaky barriers that keep even the most talented, accomplished women from stepping into their true power. It’s not...
Featured Publications
Articles
June 9, 2021 Disrupt Magazine
Stephanie attributes her transition from employee to entrepreneur as a result of when she felt the ‘Universal Slap’ that woke her up and ignited her spark. In this article, Stephanie reveals her 5 steps to “Ignite Your SPARK”.
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May 29, 2021 Yahoo Global
Stephanie shares why her mission is to enable women to succeed in their own unique way to fully engage at work and home and remain happy and confident without the risk of burnout.
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Jun 11, 2018 The Asian Entrepreneur
Stephanie Barros is playing a small part in helping others reach their full potential.
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2014 Investing in non-IT Skills
CIO Magazine
2013 Cultivating Collaboration – Head to Head Feature
CIO Magazine