S3 E6- Becoming the leader only you can be, with Sophie Greenaway

Host: Julie Williams MSc- Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires

Guest: Sophie Greenaway- Headteacher

In this episode of The Lighting Fires Podcast, supported by Henley Business School, Julie is joined by Sophie Greenaway, Headteacher at Thameside Primary School, Reading, who shares her journey from teacher to headteacher, the challenges of following in the footsteps of a highly respected predecessor, and how coaching helped her overcome imposter syndrome and develop confidence in her own leadership style.

Together, they explore the power of coaching, why great leaders don't need to have all the answers, and how creating a coaching culture empowers others to think for themselves. Sophie also reflects on navigating difficult conversations, balancing the demands of school leadership with family life, and learning to let go of perfectionism.

Towards the end of the episode, Sophie shares how receiving a later-life ADHD diagnosis helped her make sense of many of the challenges she'd experienced throughout her career, leading to a greater sense of self-awareness, confidence and acceptance.

Whether you're leading a school, a team or an organisation, this episode is full of honest reflections and practical insights into authentic leadership.

In this episode, you'll hear about: Sophie's journey to becoming a Headteacher Finding your own leadership style Overcoming imposter syndrome The role coaching played in building confidence Empowering others instead of solving every problem Preparing for difficult conversations Leading through challenge and change Balancing leadership with family life Receiving a later-life ADHD diagnosis Why understanding yourself makes you a better leader Resources mentioned Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott

If you're interested in working with Julie please contact her at julie@lightingfires.co.uk, or  Julie Williams MSc. (nee Walls) | LinkedIn or through her website here.

And if you're interested in developing your coaching skills, Julie highly recommends the Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School, a programme grounded in research, with a strong focus on practical application and real-world impact. To find out more, visit Henley Business School.

To find out more about the Insights Discovery psychometric tool, visit Insights Discovery.

If you found this episode helpful, please leave a five-star rating and review, it helps more listeners discover these real-world leadership stories and coaching insights.

Artwork by Ian Guppy | Music by Penguin Music via Pixabay | Produced by Perri Hurley