Who here has ever looked at someone you admire and respect, whether it’s your mentor, a leader at work, perhaps a peer, or someone you follow on social media, and found yourself comparing yourself with them?

Even Michelle Obama shared that she has experienced imposter syndrome and social comparison before.

Self-doubt, fear, and shame does not discriminate.

The leaders you admire and perhaps feel intimidated by? They’re human just the same -  they too have their challenges and insecurities. The influencers you think have a perfect life? There are unglamorous moments they don’t show on social media.

Very often, we compare the highlights of others with our behind the scenes. We tend to compare the best sides of them with what we believe are the worst sides of us.

Over the years, I've had the immense privilege of connecting with people I admire, and after having deeper conversations with them, realise just how strong and courageous they are. No, they're not as shiny as we see them on social media. They are complex, multi-faceted, unique in their challenges, traumas, stories.

There’s always more beneath the surface - and I aim to tell a more holistic story on my podcast. When we understand both the highs and the lows of someone's journey, our admiration for them turns into respect. Our self-comparison turns into self-compassion.

In the work I do with diverse teams within organisations, sharing of our story is one powerful way that foster deeper connection. Through this, we witness colleagues that have known each other for years grow a deeper level of respect for each other. We see a director and a new joiner connect through an experience of shared humanity.

The world can become so much more connected when we realise how similar we are. When we connect over our similarities and celebrate our unique differences. This is what I hope to do with my podcast.

In my two latest podcast episodes, I sit down for a heart-to-heart conversation with two of my closet friends Ambra and Cheryl, as we peel back the layers of our professional front and reveal the challenges we've been through over the years.

Themes covered include: coping with loneliness and learning how to let go - of long overdue relationships OR of your old life in order to make way for new beginnings. We talk about topics many of us hide away, in hopes that this vulnerable conversation will give others the permission to have such conversations with themselves.

I've many podcast episodes lined up with guest stories such as - "escaping a Christian cult", "healing intergenerational trauma and going to therapy with my mom", and "an Afghan woman's recount of the exact day that the Taliban seized Afghanistan".

I'm beyond honoured to be able to hold space for these stories to come to light, and I hope these stories bring us closer as one. Listen to the podcast, and if you resonate with my vision for the podcast, share it with your friends and network!

Download and Watch the Podcast

and remember, there's light in you that the world is waiting to see

xx Rae