Leaders in Disguise | Business Leaders' True Stories

On 31st March 2024, I stepped down as CEO of the company I co-founded in 2009 - a multi-award-winning, 7-figure success that had grown internationally.Behind the scenes, I’d spent years balancing that success with a silent battle against depression. For too long, I feared sharing my truth would hold the business back.When I stepped away, I launched Leaders in Disguise with a clear purpose - to break the stigma of mental health and wellbeing in leadership. I knew my story wasn’t enough, and I had to invite others to share theirs too. They brought raw honesty to the mic, proving vulnerability is strength.Over a year later, the change is real. More leaders are speaking up. More conversations are happening. The stigma hasn’t disappeared, but it’s cracking.This episode closes a chapter of Leaders in Disguise, and opens the door to my next mission: Selfish Leadership. A positive reframe on the word “selfish,” it’s about leaders filling their own batteries, putting on their own oxygen masks first, and seeing self-prioritisation not as a weakness, but as a strategy for sustainable success.We’ll be back. Until then - keep talking. Keep being you. You matter.

What if chasing 10x growth and entrepreneurial “success” is actually destroying your health, your happiness, and your business?In this eye-opening episode of Leaders in Disguise, finance coach Serena Humphrey reveals the hidden costs of hustle culture. After surviving three financial traumas in her twenties and suffering a total physical and mental collapse, Serena exposes why the relentless pursuit of more nearly broke her - and why she chose to walk away.This isn’t just a story about burnout. It’s a blueprint for redefining success, building intentional wealth, and leading with purpose (not pressure).What You’ll Discover:Why the 10x mindset and hustle culture are a fast track to burnout and chronic illnessThe emotional and ethical toll of making an entire workforce redundant in your twentiesHow surviving financial trauma redefined Serena’s ideas of wealth, security, and leadershipThe difference between chasing an exit fantasy and building sustainable, intentional wealthWhy performative success (cars, status, revenue milestones) is a trap - and how Serena’s viral LinkedIn post challenged the narrativeGrounded, practical advice for leaders feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuckSubscribe for more powerful, unfiltered stories about the real cost of leadership and the courage it takes to redefine success.Have you ever felt trapped by the pressure to scale or “succeed”?Connect with Serena: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/serena-humphrey

Join us for an exclusive episode, and incredibly brave and honest conversation with Nicky Shearer as she opens up about living with OCD and the challenges that come with leadership roles. This episode breaks down barriers and stigma around mental health in professional settings.Key Topics Covered•⁠ ⁠Living with OCD: Nicky's personal journey and daily realities•⁠ ⁠Pregnancy & OCD: How symptoms evolved during pregnancy•⁠ ⁠Relationship Disclosure: The courage to tell her partner about her condition•⁠ ⁠Postnatal Challenges: Navigating motherhood with OCD•⁠ ⁠Workplace Conversations: When and how to disclose mental health conditions to colleagues•⁠ ⁠Leadership Authenticity: Using vulnerability as a strengthKey Takeaways•⁠ ⁠Mental health doesn't disqualify you from leadership•⁠ ⁠Vulnerability can be a superpower in building trust•⁠ ⁠The importance of support systems in professional settingsResources Mentioned•⁠ ⁠Up There in the Sky by Nicky Shearer, available on amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Up-There-Sky-Nicola-Shearer/dp/1787883442Connect with Nicky•⁠ ⁠(https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nicky-shearer-b3a5481b4

In this deeply moving episode of Leaders in Disguise, Gary Parsons sits down with Julian Hall, founder of Calm People, who shares his extraordinary journey of leading with purpose while living with stage 4 bowel cancer. This isn't just a story about illness - it's about strength, authenticity, and finding joy in life's darkest moments.*Trigger Warnings* - Discussions of cancer diagnosis, family, friends, and similar.About Our Guest:Julian Hall - Founder of Calm People, resilience expert, and inspirational speaker who continues to lead and inspire others while navigating his cancer journey with remarkable grace and wisdom.Key Takeaways:How to maintain leadership authenticity during personal crisisPractical tools for emotional resilience (journaling, meditation, stress management)The power of community support and weekly connection ritualsRedefining success and legacy when facing mortalityWhy vulnerability is a leadership superpower, not weaknessFinding joy and laughter as healing toolsPowerful Quotes from This Episode:"You can have a joyful relationship with cancer.""Every moment is a choice point. It's never too late to change.""Healer, heal thyself - my daughter handed me a journal.""I gave a keynote the day after chemo - because I still had something to give.""Leadership is about authenticity, not always inspiration.""My legacy is the values and behaviour I've passed on."Resources Mentioned:Calm People (Julian's company)Journaling for wellbeingMeditation and stress management techniquesWeekly connection ritualsSupport Julian's 42-mile fundraising walk for cancer research: https://www.calmpeople.co.uk/12-friends-3-causes-50k-to-raise-and-12-months-to-do-it/Leaders in DisguiseLeaders in Disguise explores the human side of leadership, unveiling untold stories of triumph and resilience while breaking the stigma around mental health and wellbeing in leadership.---What did this conversation teach you about leadership or life? Drop a comment below - we read every one and would love to hear your thoughts on Julian's incredible journey.

In this powerful bonus episode of Leaders in Disguise, we return to a moment we couldn’t leave on the cutting room floor.Keira Smith, our previous guest, stayed on the sofa after we finished recording - and what unfolded became one of the rawest parts of our conversation.It was my first interview since Channel 4’s Love My Face aired on 17 April 2025, where I shared my story of facial difference for the first time publicly. Keira opened up too - revealing something she’s never spoken about on air. A hidden challenge she’s lived with since childhood.Together, we talk about the weight of being visible, the stories we hide, and what it really means to live unmasked.TW: This episode contains references to visible and invisible difference, trauma, and vulnerability.

In this powerful new episode, Gary Parsons is joined by hypnotherapist Keira Smith, whose story takes us from fitness industry burnout and depression to becoming a leader in trauma recovery and brain-based healing.Keira opens up about living with hidden trauma, the dangerous pressure of "being strong", her own near breakdowns, and how a different approach to healing - without reliving the past - changed her life and her work.You’ll hear a raw, honest conversation about shame, leadership pressure, and the cost of constantly serving others without asking for help. Gary and Keira explore why it can be so hard for leaders to show vulnerability, and why creating safe spaces and permission to be imperfect matters more than ever.We'll also cover:The toxicity of "grind" culture in the fitness worldHow trauma shows up in the body - and why talking isn’t always enoughWhat “solution-focused hypnotherapy” really isRebuilding a life after hitting rock bottomInvisible differences and the power of human connectionTrigger Warning: This episode includes candid discussion of suicidal ideation, depression, and trauma. Please take care while listening.Guest: Keira Smith - Website: www.positivechangehypnotherapy.co.ukHost: Gary Parsons, Founder of Leaders in DisguiseIf this conversation moved you, please share it with someone who needs it. Every story we tell helps break the stigma around mental health and wellbeing in leadership.

To celebrate one year of Leaders in Disguise, we’re re-releasing the first-ever episode - now shorter and sharper, with a clearer focus on the powerful story that started it all.Gary Parsons opens up about life with Bell’s Palsy, the emotional toll of hiding behind a mask, and what it really means to lead with vulnerability. Since this episode first aired, Gary has been featured on Channel 4’s Love My Face, visited Parliament, and led wellbeing workshops across the UK.Trigger warning: Contains references to burnout, depression and emotional trauma.Guest: Gary ParsonsHost: Sarah GatfordVideo: Darren Dunn

TW: This episode includes discussions of workplace bullying, mental health crises, emotional distress, and suicidal thoughts, which some listeners may find upsetting. Please take care while listening.In this powerful episode, Gary sits down with John Sidebotham – a wellbeing champion and long-serving leader in the transport and engineering sectors – to talk openly about workplace bullying, burnout, and the long road to recovery. John shares his personal journey through toxic leadership, a mental health crisis, and finding his voice through storytelling, daily wellbeing calls, and speaking out. Together, they explore psychological safety, the hidden toll of silence, and how leaders can protect their own mental health while supporting others.What We Cover:•⁠ ⁠How toxic leadership led to emotional burnout and collapse•⁠ ⁠Why John took a stand against workplace bullying•⁠ ⁠His recovery through CBT, counselling, and community support•⁠ ⁠Creating daily wellbeing calls still running today•⁠ ⁠Speaking up, storytelling, and leading with vulnerability•⁠ ⁠Why leaders must look after themselves firstBonus Note:John continues to run weekly wellbeing sessions through Network Rail and their wider stakeholder networks - a vital initiative that’s supported thousands of colleagues across the industry.

TW: This episode discusses burnout, anxiety, and the long-term mental health impact of high-growth entrepreneurship. Please listen with care.What happens when you scale faster than you ever imagined - but your mind and body can’t keep up?Today’s guest is Richard Lee - a founder who grew a tech company from 9 to 35 staff during Covid lockdowns, achieved explosive success, and quietly faced a breakdown behind the scenes.In this raw and powerful conversation, Richard opens up about:How chasing success without boundaries almost destroyed himThe hidden toll of building a fast-growth businessWhy stepping away from his company was the hardest, and bravest, decisionLife after the exit: navigating trauma, anxiety, and the long tail of burnoutRedefining success beyond the headlines and hyper-growthRichard shares with honesty what most leaders never say out loud , that success sometimes costs far more than it gives, and why recovery is a road, not a moment.If you’re building, leading, or scaling right now… you need to hear this conversation.🔗 Connect with Richard:Linkedin: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/producerrichard🔔 Join the Movement:Subscribe, share, and help us keep breaking the silence around mental health and leadership.Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn: @leadersindisguiseEmail: [email protected]

In this Unmasked bonus episode, we rewind to Season 1 - where Richard Abrahams talks about the moment he was admitted to a psychiatric unit.I ask Richard a big question:- What led you to being sectioned under the mental health act?What follows is a deeply personal story - where we find out about the events that led to getting diagnosed, but the innocent sounding conversions with his local GP and his signs of stress manifest themselves if ignored…. In Richard’s case it sounded too late in so many ways .We’ve all been there in stressful environments when:- Sales look like they’ve dried up- Cash flow gets tight- No matter what anyone says we’re convinced it’s all going to come crashing down…This took Richard too far and shows just how quickly stress turns into something much more serious.What is Unmasked?It’s our new short-form series between full episodes - offering unfiltered insights, reflections and honest answers to the questions we don’t talk about enough.