#18: Leadership Starts Within: Strong Foundations, Stronger Impact

In this episode of Promoted, Karen Gombault peels back the curtain on the foundational work she does with her clients—and why it matters.

Many women seek out coaching to solve a specific challenge like conflict with peers or lack of visibility, but Karen reveals that true transformation of any sort begins with one crucial relationship: the one you have with yourself.

She shares how self-judgment shows up as background noise in your leadership journey and how shifting your internal dialogue can lead to real, lasting change.

This episode offers immediate, practical steps to start that transformation today.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Coaching isn’t just about solving external problems—it begins with deep internal work on how you see and speak to yourself.

2. Self-judgment often shows up as background noise, limiting your ability to lead with confidence and self-trust.

3. Recognizing self-sabotaging thoughts is the first step toward change; replacing them with empathy is where your power lies.

4. It is possible to create fast, lasting transformation through consistent support and mindset reprogramming.

5. A simple but powerful first step: write down 10 thoughts you have about yourself, then reframe them with the kindness you’d offer a best friend.

"Taking your power back means recognizing that you are judging yourself—and there is something that you can do about it." - Karen Gombault

Lasting leadership transformation doesn’t start in the boardroom—it starts in your head. By changing how you speak to yourself, you unlock the clarity and self-trust to lead powerfully. Don’t just apply new strategies—build a new foundation. Start today with the simple journaling exercise Karen shares, and begin showing up differently at work and in life.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/karengombault/

Free Resource:

15 Minute Overwhelm Cure https://www.karengombault.com/energy