The Quiet Warrior Podcast with Serena Low

142. Why Introverts Are Still Being Passed Over for Leadership — with David Boroughs

What if being overlooked at work had nothing to do with your performance — and everything to do with a bias so embedded in workplace culture that most people don't even recognise it as bias at all?David Boroughs spent 30 years navigating corporate America as an introvert. He received top performance rankings and was still told, repeatedly, that he wasn't visible enough. Near the end of his career, that contradiction became an epiphany: it wasn't him that was broken. It was the culture.Now retired, David is an author and advocate for personality type inclusion. We talk about what it costs to mask your introversion, why the burden of change cannot keep falling on the individual, and what leaders can practically do to create cultures where introverts thrive as their authentic selves.We also explore the Anxiety High book series — a fiction series for introverted teenagers that David co-authored with his son, Joshua — and why it's finding just as much resonance with parents, teachers, and school counsellors.In this episode:What "personality type bias" is — unconscious, socially accepted, and legally unchallengedThe performance review moment that changed everything for DavidThe exhaustion of performing extroversion, and why it compounds over timeWhat leaders can do differently: hiring language, selection committees, and creating genuine belongingWhy introverts who break into leadership sometimes perpetuate the very bias they've sufferedHow David and his teenage son wrote fiction books together to help young introverts feel seenAbout David BoroughsDavid is the author of The Extrovert's Guide to Elevating Introverted Leaders in the Workplace and co-author of the Anxiety High teen fiction series. Connect with David on LinkedIn and his website.Work with SerenaIf you’re successful on paper but still feel unseen, over-extended or quietly stuck at the same level despite everything you’ve achieved, the SEEN executive calibration was designed for you. It helps identify the deeper patterns that may be affecting how you communicate, advocate for yourself, lead, and show up professionally.You’ll find more information HERE.Work with Serena Low at serenalow.com.au. Loved this episode? Leave a review to help other Quiet Warriors find the show.This episode was edited by Aura House Productions

141: What Cancer Taught This Solopreneur About Succession Planning, Self-Advocacy, and Knowing When to Ask for Help (Deb Krier)

What do you do when life hands you a diagnosis — and you're the person everyone else depends on?Deb Krier was a “good patient” kind of person. Annual physical. Mammogram. Did everything right. And still didn't make it home from the hospital before the phone rang.What followed over the next decade was 34 surgeries under general anaesthesia, a stage zero diagnosis that leapt to stage four almost overnight, septic shock with a 75% fatality rate — and a surgeon who told her husband she would be dead by midnight.Her response? Excuse me. I get to vote.In this episode, Deb — cancer advocate, strategic advisor, creator of TryingNotToDie.live, and host of the Business Power Hour — shares what she's learned about leading through a health crisis without losing yourself, your business, or your people..If you've ever pushed through difficulty alone because you feared what people would think — this one is for you.You'll learn:Why hiding a health crisis from your clients almost always backfiresHow to maintain decision-making authority when your brain has short-circuitedWhat solopreneurs need to put in place before a crisis hitsWhy asking for help is not weakness — it's what warriors doKey Takeaways: Isolation is the enemy. The instinct to hide a health crisis from your clients and colleagues is understandable — but it's the thing most likely to make everything harder.Transparency converts people into supporters. When Deb told her clients the truth, they didn't pull away. They asked, what can we do to help?You are the decision-maker — even when the white coats disagree. Give yourself the time to grieve, gather yourself, and then choose the path that is right for you.Bring backup to the hard appointments. A level-headed person by your side can hold onto information your shocked brain can't process.Build your systems before you need them. Automated invoicing, a backup contact, someone who can handle the basics — these are not just illness preparations. They're what lets you take a vacation too.The strongest thing you can do is ask for help. Reaching out — to a friend, a counsellor, a faith community, a stranger on Facebook — is not weakness. It is what warriors do.Gratitude doesn't have to be grand. It can be as simple as: I woke up. The project didn't get done, and the world didn't stop.About Deb KrierDeb Krier is a cancer advocate and strategic advisor for executives and business owners navigating the personal and professional impact of a cancer diagnosis. She provides high-level guidance for leaders who want to maintain their executive presence and decision-making authority while managing the complex realities of cancer.Deb is the creator of TryingNotToDie.live and the host of the Business Power Hour.Gentle invitation for Quiet Leaders:If you love learning at your own pace, I’ve created a mini-course that you can digest in a weekend. You can download it here:https://www.quietwarrioracademy.com/leadershipforintrovertsEnjoying The Quiet Warrior Podcast?If this episode resonated with you, please rate and review the show on your listening app. Your support helps more introverts become Quiet Warriors.For weekly insights on how to flourish and lead as an introvert, subscribe to Serena's newsletter, The Visible Introvert.Work with Serena Low at serenalow.com.au. Loved this episode? Leave a review to help other Quiet Warriors find the show.This episode was edited by Aura House Productions

140. From Burnout to Happiness: 12 Steps to a More Joyful Life with Todd Patkin

⚠️ Content note: This episode contains references to suicide. Please take care of yourself as you listen.What does it really mean to be happy — and why do so many high-achieving, outwardly successful people struggle to feel it? In this deeply honest and practical conversation, happiness coach Todd Patkin joins host Serena to explore the hidden cost of perfectionism, the systemic roots of burnout, and the 12 steps he developed to help people move from surviving to genuinely thriving.After growing a family auto parts business by 20% year-on-year and working 70–80 hours a week, Todd hit a wall at age 36. A complete mental breakdown, suicidal ideation, and an inability to even answer a simple question at a restaurant forced him to stop and ask: Why am I doing this to myself?What emerged from that dark chapter was a 12-step program to happiness — one he has since shared with corporations, schools, associations, and individuals worldwide.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy bullying in childhood can plant the seeds of perfectionism and anxiety that follow us into adulthoodHow the "tombstone test" can help you realign your daily life with what truly matters to youWhy perfectionism is a socially rewarded addiction — and why that makes it so hard to breakThe real reason social media is making young people (and adults) so unhappyHow we spend more than half our mental lives in the past or future — and what that costs us in the presentWhy loneliness carries the same health risks as smoking 15 cigarettes a dayThe surprising role of generosity in your own wellbeing (givers are 40% happier and 25% healthier)How introverts can lean into friendliness without betraying their natureThe importance of seeking professional help for anxiety and depression — and why medication is nothing to be ashamed ofTodd Patkin's 12-Step Program to Happiness — OverviewWeek 1 – Exercise    Week 2 –  Prepare your mindsetWeek 3 – Be Kinder to Yourself (Todd's most important step)  Week 4 – Play to Your Strengths  Week 5 – Living in the Present  Week 6 – Eliminate Stressors  Week 7 – Surround Yourself with Positive People  Week 8 – Spend More Time with Family and Friends  Week 9 – Be Cheerful and Connect with Others  Week 10 – Be Giving    Week 11 – Practice Gratitude  Week 12 – Connect with a Higher Power  Memorable Moments from This Episode"Happiness is just being okay with yourself because you're here."  "Most people say things to themselves all day long that they wouldn't even say to their worst enemy."  "We reward perfectionism, whereas we look down upon alcoholism and smoking — and that's one of the problems we have in society today."   About Todd PatkinTodd Patkin is a happiness coach, author, and speaker who spent over a decade building and leading a successful family auto parts business before experiencing a severe breakdown at age 36. That turning point led him to develop his 12-step program to happiness — a framework he has shared with corporations, schools, associations, and individuals across the country. Todd is also the author of an autobiography and workbook that accompany his signature course.Connect with Todd PatkinWebsite: toddpatkin.comUdemy Course Bundle (autobiography + workbook + video series):  https://www.udemy.com/course/twelve-weeks-to-living-a-happier-life/  Gentle InvitationIf you're navigating anxiety, depression, or simply the quiet exhaustion of always striving, Todd's message is clear: you don't have to live with it. Speaking to a doctor or mental health professional is a brave and practical first step — not a sign of weakness.If you're a quiet achiever ready to lead on your own terms without performing extroversion — Serena's self-paced resource for quiet leaders was made for you. Download it at https://www.quietwarrioracademy.com/leadershipforintroverts.Work with Serena Low at serenalow.com.au. Loved this episode? Leave a review to help other Quiet Warriors find the show.This episode was edited by Aura House Productions

139. How To Reclaim Your Voice and Advocate For Yourself Through the Intention-Perception-Action Model (Dr. Patricia Timerman)

⚠️ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide and suicide loss. Please take care while listening.What happens when a confident communicator suddenly loses her voice?In this deeply moving conversation, Serena Low sits down with psychotherapist, author, and communication expert Dr. Patricia Timerman Barbosa da Silva (“Dr. T”) to explore the life-changing experience that shaped her work: immigrating to the United States at 14 without knowing English and finding herself unable to express herself.Together, they unpack the complexities of communication, grief, cultural identity, boundaries, and self-advocacy. Drawing from over a decade of clinical experience in trauma, grief, couples therapy, and immigration mental health, Dr. Patricia shares practical tools and profound insights that can help Quiet Warriors communicate more effectively, navigate difficult emotions, and honour their own needs without guilt.If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, struggled to speak up, or carried grief that others couldn't fully comprehend, this conversation offers wisdom, compassion, and hope.In This Episode, You'll Discover:Why communication breakdowns often happen even when both people have good intentionsThe Intention–Action–Perception (IAP) model and how it can transform your relationshipsA simple communication technique called the "Preamble" that reduces conflict and misunderstandingHow immigration, culture, and identity influence the way we communicateThe difference between healthy boundaries and emotional wallsWhy reciprocity matters in relationships and leadershipWhat makes suicide grief uniquely challengingPractical ways to support someone who is grievingHow to create "memories in your pocket" to navigate difficult moments of lossWhy putting yourself on equal footing with others is an act of self-respect, not selfishnessKey Takeaways for Quiet WarriorsYour silence is not weakness. Speaking thoughtfully and intentionally is a strength.Communication isn't just about what you say—it's about how your message is perceived.You cannot force someone to receive a message they aren't ready to hear.Healthy boundaries protect your wellbeing and strengthen your relationships.Grief doesn't follow a timetable, and healing cannot be rushed.Putting yourself at the same level as others creates more sustainable relationships and leadership.About Dr. Patricia TimermanDr. Patricia Timerman Barbosa da Silva is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and founder of Advocate to Create. She holds a PhD in Mental Health and specialises in grief, trauma, couples therapy, and suicide loss support. Her work is informed by both extensive clinical experience and her own immigration journey, bringing a culturally sensitive perspective to mental health and communication.Connect with Dr. Patricia TimermanInstagram, LinkedIn & Facebook: @AdvocateToCreateBook: Why Are We Fighting? Actionable Strategies for Effective Communication (available in print, eBook, and audiobook formats)www.Advocate2Create.comwww.Advocate2Create.Teachable.comP: (305) 204-7764E: patricia@advocate2create.comNo More - Together we can end domestic violence and sexual assaultwww.nomore.orgNo More Tears nomoretearsusa.orgResources for Quiet AchieversDownload the Leadership Visibility and Influence for Introverts mini-course for practical strategies to lead with confidence while staying true to yourself.Enjoying The Quiet Warrior Podcast?If this episode resonated with you, please rate and review the show on your listening app. Your support helps more introverts elevate into Quiet Warriors.For weekly insights on introversion, subscribe to Serena's LinkedIn newsletter, The Visible Introvert.Crisis SupportIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide, please seek support immediately.Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (Call/text/chat, available 24/7)United States: 988 Lifeline (Call/text/chat, available 24/7)Work with Serena Low at serenalow.com.au. Loved this episode? Leave a review to help other Quiet Warriors find the show.This episode was edited by Aura House Productions

138. You’re Not Broken: How to Flip the Switch on Anxiety and Depression by Rewiring Your Brain (Mike Wood)

What happens when you've built a successful career, ticked every box on the list society gave you - and you're still miserable?That's where Mike Wood found himself at 45. A former COO who helped scale Jarrett Companies from $2.5 million to over $100 million in revenue, Mike had achieved everything he was supposed to want. Yet beneath the success, 30 years of anxiety and depression were still screaming.In this deeply honest conversation, Mike shares the five-year inner journey that led him to become a consciousness coach — and why he now takes those same tools into maximum security prisons and corporate boardrooms alike.In this episode, you'll discover:Why external success can never fill an internal void — and where to look insteadHow a single moment in kindergarten programmed a core belief that silently ran Mike's life until he was 47What the subconscious mind's "number one job" reveals about why we hold on to old wounds — and how to finally let them goThe two-minute gratitude practice that Mike used when his 7-year-old came upstairs in tears about monstersWhy reframing the past isn't rewriting history — it's giving your younger self more contextThe surprising leadership lesson Mike learned when his company flooded a 30-floor high-rise — and how taking radical ownership transformed the entire roomWhat school is failing to teach our kids (and ourselves) about emotional intelligenceHow releasing identity attachments can dissolve the physical stress response almost instantlyThe one thing Mike wants every quiet achiever to know if they feel brokenAbout Mike WoodMike Wood is a former COO turned consciousness coach who spent 30 years struggling with anxiety and depression before finding the tools that changed everything. He now runs Learn to Love Being You, a 10-week subconscious reprogramming program, and takes his work into maximum security prisons and corporate leadership settings across the US. Mike is also the father of seven children, ranging in age from 11 to 33.Connect with Mike & Claim Your Free GiftMike is offering listeners a free first week of his program — including guided breathwork exercises and manual tools to manage anxiety starting today.Free gift: mwoodmindset.com/warrior Program: learntolovebeingyou.com Email: mike@learntolovebeingyou.comWork with SerenaIf you’re an introverted woman leader ready to become more visible and influential without performing extroversion, I invite you to apply for a SEEN Executive Calibration. 45 minutes via Zoom. Diagnostic, not selling. Root causes, not symptoms.Apply HERE.Work with Serena Low at serenalow.com.au. Loved this episode? Leave a review to help other Quiet Warriors find the show.This episode was edited by Aura House Productions