Breaking Out of the Box with Vanessa Challess

In this episode, I sit down with the fabulous Jackie Adedeji—a broadcaster, writer, and podcaster who’s unapologetically herself and a true force for women everywhere. Jackie has carved out a space for bold, real conversations about everything from body positivity to the complexities of therapy and mental health.We talk about her journey: building a career that challenges expectations, owning her story while navigating the pressures women face to share their most vulnerable moments, and how she stays rooted in what lights her up. Jackie shares her insights on breaking out of boxes, balancing boundaries, and making space for joy—even in the heaviness of life’s big topics.Whether you’re curious about the power of storytelling, finding your purpose, or just need a reminder to trust your gut, this is your perfect cozy December listen. Jackie’s wisdom is like a warm hug—uplifting, inspiring, and packed with truths that hit you in the best way.Listen now and prepare to feel like you’ve just had a chat with your most honest, hilarious, and wise best friend.About Jackie: Find Jackie on instagram: @jackieadedeji (Note that Jackie's instagram handle has changed since we recorded our episode)Find Jackie on LinkedInWatch I Don't Trust My Therapist on Channel 4Here's what's coming in this episode:00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back00:26 Introducing Jackie Adedeji01:33 Jackie's Career and Achievements03:07 Challenges of Being a Woman in Media05:28 Navigating Personal Trauma in Journalism11:43 The Pressure to Share Trauma20:06 Jackie's Therapy Journey and BetterHelp Documentary25:26 The Influence of Popularity on Perception25:38 Therapy and Exploitation in the Digital Age26:10 The Bizarre Promotion of Therapy26:40 The Swipe Culture in Therapy27:37 Navigating Online Negativity29:10 Living Your Truth Despite Criticism31:21 The Power of Authenticity35:33 The Importance of Sharing Your Story39:30 Listening to Your Inner Voice45:25 Empowering Women to Be Audacious48:02 Final Thoughts and Upcoming ProjectsAbout Me I’m a speaker, strategy expert, coach, trainer, podcast host, a top 10 voice for gender equity, and a feminist outlaw. I founded Scout + Circle to get more women taking up more space in rooms where decisions are made. Join House of Certainty HERE Send us an email about the podcast HERE Find me on LinkedIn HERE Subscribe to my newsletter HERE Find me on Instagram HERE

My guest is Lauren Neal, an absolute powerhouse in the energy sector. Lauren has been in the thick of the oil and gas industry, a world that's not always easy for women to navigate.We dive deep into her experiences, from facing microaggressions to dealing with downright sexism and how she navigated it along the way.It all led her to start her own DE&I journey, she’s now the bestselling author of "Valued at Work", where she shares her insights on creating a more inclusive culture in any industry.If you've ever felt like you're the only woman in the room, like it’s all just happening to you, or wondered how to make your mark in a male-dominated field, this episode is for you. Lauren's story is proof that you can not only survive but absolutely thrive, and she's got some inspiring advice for men and women alike.Find Lauren on LinkedInGet a copy of Lauren's book, Valued at WorkAbout Me I’m a speaker, strategy expert, coach, trainer, podcast host, a top 10 voice for gender equity, and a feminist outlaw. I founded Scout + Circle to get more women taking up more space in rooms where decisions are made. Join House of Certainty HERE Send us an email about the podcast HERE Find me on LinkedIn HERE Subscribe to my newsletter HERE Find me on Instagram HERE

In this episode, I'm delving into the challenges and strategies for navigating the infamous "boys club" in the workplace. In the previous episode with Angie Vaux, she shared how the boys club impacted her confidence and ability to show up authentically in her professional life. Today, I'm offering my insights on dealing with this pervasive dynamic. I'll discuss practical advice for women who feel pressured to conform to these environments and how to maintain your sense of self without getting drawn into potentially toxic behaviours. This episode is particularly relevant for women who may be struggling with confidence and finding their place in male-dominated spaces. I'll cover tips for building supportive networks, asserting your value, and finding your voice amid challenging circumstances.Join me for this solo episode about the realities of the boys club, and get actionable steps to navigate it while staying true to yourself.About Me I’m a speaker, strategy expert, coach, trainer, podcast host, a top 10 voice for gender equity, and a feminist outlaw. I founded Scout + Circle to get more women taking up more space in rooms where decisions are made. Join House of Certainty HERE Send us an email about the podcast HERE Find me on LinkedIn HERE Subscribe to my newsletter HERE Find me on Instagram HERE

In this episode, my guest is Angie Vaux, founder of Women in Tech. We talk about the challenges faced by women in the tech industry and what needs to be done to help them thrive. Angie shares her extensive experience and insights on navigating the "boys' club" culture, overcoming unconscious bias, and the importance of continuous learning and career development.What we talked about:Women's experiences in male-dominated industries, specifically technologyThe "boys' club" culture and how it can hinder women's advancementUnconscious bias and microaggressions faced by womenImportance of education and creating a culture of open communication for addressing gender disparitiesStrategies for career development in male-dominated fieldsResources offered by Women in Tech ForumKey Takeaways:The workplace was designed by men for men, leading to inherent biases against women and we need to be aware of that without judgement.Addressing unconscious bias and promoting feedback are vital for inclusivity.Women should take control of their careers, communicate their goals, and negotiate for their worth.It's essential to choose employers whose values align with your own.Constant learning and adaptability are crucial to success in the evolving tech industry.Connect with Angie:Visit Women in Tech Forum website: https://womenintechforum.comConnect with Angie Vaux on LinkedIn.About Me I’m a speaker, strategy expert, coach, trainer, podcast host, a top 10 voice for gender equity, and a feminist outlaw. I founded Scout + Circle to get more women taking up more space in rooms where decisions are made. Join House of Certainty HERE Send us an email about the podcast HERE Find me on LinkedIn HERE Subscribe to my newsletter HERE Find me on Instagram HERE

In this episode I'm following on from the previous ep with Isabel Sachs to go deeper in the topic of networking. I've had my fair share of ups and downs with networking and here I'll tell you about how and why I struggled.But - I've also had some amazing experiences with networking too.It's something I think all women should be considering as part of their career or business development.I'm diving deep into some tips, tricks and mindset switches to help you feel like networking can be fun, instead of proper cringe.About Me I’m a speaker, strategy expert, coach, trainer, podcast host, a top 10 voice for gender equity, and a feminist outlaw. I founded Scout + Circle to get more women taking up more space in rooms where decisions are made. Join House of Certainty HERE Send us an email about the podcast HERE Find me on LinkedIn HERE Subscribe to my newsletter HERE Find me on Instagram HERE

This episode, I'm talking to Isabel Sachs, who is the founder of I Like Networking.  She's an entrepreneur, she's a public speaker, she's worked in arts, culture and entertainment in Brazil and in the UK. During the early stages of the pandemic she created I Like Networking, which is designed to help support women and non binary people in the creative industry with building a network, with building a profile, creating a broader scope of influence, with creating more access.Networking is a really interesting topic to explore because a lot of people  can feel like it's quite alien or that it's something that's quite difficult or maybe even intimidating.We talk about:The importance of a network for supporting better representation and diversityHow to think about your own networkHow to put yourself out there and how she manages failureFind Isabel on LinkedIn here.Check out I Like Networking here.Migrateful - a charity to supporting migrants and refugees on their journey to integration and independence by enabling them to teach cookery classes to the public.Hype Yourself by Lucy Werner PRJoin the Visionary Female Leaders Lab HEREAbout Me I’m a speaker, strategy expert, coach, trainer, podcast host, a top 10 voice for gender equity, and a feminist outlaw. I founded Scout + Circle to get more women taking up more space in rooms where decisions are made. Join House of Certainty HERE Send us an email about the podcast HERE Find me on LinkedIn HERE Subscribe to my newsletter HERE Find me on Instagram HERE

We’re back! First up this season I’m talking about setting a powerful vision for 2024. I’m talking you through how I’ve created my vision and what that starts to look like for me, so you can create this for yourself too.The key rituals that I talk through are:1)     Reflect on 2023 with gratitude. Consider areas like career, money, relationships, home environment, wellbeing, travel, love and add any others that feel right for you.2)     What are you releasing from 2023? I like write out a list and burn it 3)     Write a gratitude letter to 20234)     What do you want to feel, be and have in 2024? Focus on feelings, not achievements.5)     Write a gratitude letter to 2024 as if it’s done.6)     What does your day look like?7)     What commitments are you making to yourself?8)     What do you need in in order to make this happen?9)     Write a mantra for your year in the form of “I am…., I have….” If you’d like to go deeper into vision work and create one of your own that fills you up, join me on my free masterclass HERE to create your vision for 2024. About Me I’m a speaker, strategy expert, coach, trainer, podcast host, a top 10 voice for gender equity, and a feminist outlaw. I founded Scout + Circle to get more women taking up more space in rooms where decisions are made. Join House of Certainty HERE Send us an email about the podcast HERE Find me on LinkedIn HERE Subscribe to my newsletter HERE Find me on Instagram HERE

This week my guest is Cynthia Fortlage. Cynthia is a Gender Identity Coach and is speaking with me about her experience of seeing the world through both sets of gendered eyes, how she educates people on first finding acceptance of one another before needing to understand, and how her experience of the world changed after she underwent her own transition.About CynthiaMs Fortlage is an international award-winning LGBT+ executive, entrepreneur, and board leader. For the past 30 years, she was an information technology executive in Canada. She has held various board roles throughout her career including past President of the Board for Rainbow Resource Center, the oldest continually running LGBT2SQ+ centre in Canada. She was the national board chair for a feminist organization Women’s March Canada and led its merger with Women’s March Global. In 2016 Ms Fortlage came to terms with a 46-year denial of her gender identity. In 2017 she started CAF Services as a Gender Identity Coach for Women & 2SLGBTQIA+ persons. Helping Individuals, Families and Corporations address gender diversity Issues using #AcceptancewithoutUnderstanding™. She is well-spoken having presented at over 250 events in 21 countries.Website: Https://www.cynthiafortlage.comTwitter:  https://twitter.com/cfortlageInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cafortlagehttps://www.instagram.com/cafservicesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfortlage/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acceptancewithoutunderstandingSpeakerhub: https://speakerhub.com/speaker/cynthia-fortlageAbout me:I'm the founder of Unleashed Coaching + Reprogramming where I helps female leaders in male-dominated environments liberate themselves from limitations, rewrite their subconscious programming and tap into their potential. I spent my previous career working in high-level strategic roles, at small but impactful tech startups through to global corporations like Amazon and Disney. Now I use my transformative blend of strategy and spirituality delivered through 1:1 or group clarity coaching, energy psychology, emotional healing and NLP, to help female leaders access the intricate layers of the subconscious mind so that they find the power to not only reach their goals, but surpass them.InstagramLinkedInAbout Me I’m a speaker, strategy expert, coach, trainer, podcast host, a top 10 voice for gender equity, and a feminist outlaw. I founded Scout + Circle to get more women taking up more space in rooms where decisions are made. Join House of Certainty HERE Send us an email about the podcast HERE Find me on LinkedIn HERE Subscribe to my newsletter HERE Find me on Instagram HERE

This week my guest is Emma Sayle, the founder of The KK Group which is a female empowerment and adult entertainment brand. We're chatting about how Emma's stubborn refusal to be told what she can and can't do, coupled with her drive to prove doubters wrong led her to leading a hugely successful global business. *There is some adult content in this episode.About Emma:Emma is one of the UK’s leading female entrepreneurs’. She made her name launching the global female empowerment brand Killing Kittens in 2005, now incorporated into the KK Group with over 150,000 members having launched events across the US, Australia and Europe and has grown online into an online community network with empowering women at its core. The press have pronounced her a leader at the cutting edge of the new dawn of female liberation. Recently in Business Leaders 2019 top 30 inspirational UK entrepreneurs and recognised by other awards and media setups including Natwest Great Entrepreneur awards 2019 Finalist and Top 10 women entrepreneurs Game Changer Magazine 2019She has appeared in national and international media from TV shows to broadsheets to radio debates and corporate talks.June 2019 saw her launch Sistr a networking and community for professional women from all industries to connect both on and offlineWhen she’s not dominating the male-heavy adult entertainment world, Emma can be found running the Sisterhood. The Sisterhood is a group of gritty females boldly going where not many girls have gone before, competing in extreme and adventure sports, creating havoc whilst maintaining a perfect ph balance between Lucozade and wine.LinkedInSistrKilling KittensAbout me:I'm the founder of Unleashed Coaching + Reprogramming where I helps female leaders in male-dominated environments liberate themselves from limitations, rewrite their subconscious programming and tap into their potential. I spent my previous career working in high-level strategic roles, at small but impactful tech startups through to global corporations like Amazon and Disney. Now I use my transformative blend of strategy and spirituality delivered through 1:1 or group clarity coaching, energy psychology, emotional healing and NLP, to help female leaders access the intricate layers of the subconscious mind so that they find the power to not only reach their goals, but surpass them.InstagramLinkedInAbout Me I’m a speaker, strategy expert, coach, trainer, podcast host, a top 10 voice for gender equity, and a feminist outlaw. I founded Scout + Circle to get more women taking up more space in rooms where decisions are made. Join House of Certainty HERE Send us an email about the podcast HERE Find me on LinkedIn HERE Subscribe to my newsletter HERE Find me on Instagram HERE

This week my guest is Vanessa Challess, founder of Tiger Law and Tiger HR. We're talking about breaking out of the boxes that we're often put in that weren't necessarily made for us, and what we can do if we forge our own way. We also talk about how Vanessa built a business after being fired while pregnant, the domestic burden so often put on women and why she's done explaining why she's an equal.About Vanessa: Vanessa started her legal consultancy in January 2015 whilst pregnant with her third child and having decided that employment was not for her. She has since built Tiger Law, Tiger HR and will relaunch the original legal consultancy as a fully digital offering, a project she is working on now. Having qualified in 2003, she never did fit into the boxes that the profession seemed intent on keeping her in, and breaking out has been the most exhilarating ride she’s ever been on. From moments of crushing stress and anxiety to the highs of growing the team, amazing client feedback and consistently challenging those who would hold us back, you can count on Vanessa to be honest about her experiences. For Vanessa, being brave is not about not feeling the fear but feeling it, owning it and doing it anyway – we all can.LinkedInAbout me:I'm the founder of Unleashed Coaching + Reprogramming where I helps female leaders in male-dominated environments liberate themselves from limitations, rewrite their subconscious programming and tap into their potential. I spent my previous career working in high-level strategic roles, at small but impactful tech startups through to global corporations like Amazon and Disney. Now I use my transformative blend of strategy and spirituality delivered through 1:1 or group clarity coaching, energy psychology, emotional healing and NLP, to help female leaders access the intricate layers of the subconscious mind so that they find the power to not only reach their goals, but surpass them.InstagramLinkedInAbout Me I’m a speaker, strategy expert, coach, trainer, podcast host, a top 10 voice for gender equity, and a feminist outlaw. I founded Scout + Circle to get more women taking up more space in rooms where decisions are made. Join House of Certainty HERE Send us an email about the podcast HERE Find me on LinkedIn HERE Subscribe to my newsletter HERE Find me on Instagram HERE