How to bridge the gap between challenge and opportunity
When the thing you really wanted to do goes wrong, what do you do?
It all depends on how you look at it.
The sooner you realise this, the better.
For my guest on this week’s Fearless Forward podcast, an early setback became a gift. Having convinced herself she wasn’t good enough to teach, she lost faith in her own worth. It took the right conversations with the right people for her to see this wasn’t true.
We all need that sometimes.
Sometimes, the reason we keep on trying to make others see our worth is because we can’t see it for ourselves.
Today, Esther Taylor is the CEO of the Lady Macadam Breast Cancer Trust. Historically a pioneer in providing mammograms, the charity is now a welcoming sanctuary for breast cancer patients. All because Esther noticed and responded to a critical gap in the NHS’ provision of much-needed emotional and practical support.
By listening to her nurses and the community, Esther identified where they could make the most difference.
“If I see a gap I try to fill it.” She says.
Inspired by a visit to a London charity, Esther and her team now offer both holistic services — like Pilates, reflexology, nutritional advice, immediate counselling — and essential advocacy for patients struggling to access timely care.
Under Esther’s leadership, the Lady Macadam Breast Cancer Trust has become a lifeline for hundreds of families.
As CEO, Esther champions a culture of flexibility and understanding that recognises the real-life needs of her staff. Her perspective on leading with empathy and vulnerability speaks to the power of creating a supportive work environment where people can thrive both personally and professionally.
But alongside her tangible impact are her own feelings of self-doubt, as well as the real-life challenges of balancing her professional role with “mum guilt”, and her personal struggle with the physiological effects of menopause. As her career ambitions soar, her energy levels are lower than she needs them to be.
This is a candid conversation with a genuine leader who walks her talk. For inspiration and actionable advice, listen here.
With love from the mountain,
Sally-Anne