How Can Self-Trust Transform Your Leadership Journey?
Imagine a nine-year old girl writing and directing her first play. Even at this young age, she has a natural inclination to lead.
An extrovert, she’s also highly sensitive. And this trait, while often misunderstood by others, becomes a cornerstone of her self-awareness. Over time, her hypersensitivity becomes a guide to what feels right for her.
The little girl grows into a remarkable woman whose career journey crosses continents and industries, and takes her from her native Nigeria to a new home in Scotland – via a series of bold reinventions: entrepreneur, strategic marketing consultant, author, certified coach, inspirational speaker, and now Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland and CEO of Somebody Cares Scotland.
This is the brief history of the amazing Dr Yekemi Otaru – my guest on this week’s Fearless Forward podcast.
How she came to be the CEO of Somebody Cares Scotland — an award-winning charity that alleviates hardship by providing free food, furniture and essential household items to people moving into empty homes — is itself an extraordinary story.
Serendipity brought her to the role. Self-trust propels her forward.
“Self-trust is not about always getting it right, but about believing you’ll handle whatever comes.”
For Yekemi, self-trust is built through experience, reflection, and the courage to recognise fear — without letting it stop you from doing what you really want to.
“It’s about trusting that you can adapt, learn, and find your way — even when the path is unclear.”
She listens to others carefully and asks for input; but may still make a decision not everyone likes.
Because in leadership and in life, self-trust is about ceasing to defer to other people’s opinions, and instead paying attention to what feels true to you and what drains you; to where you’re just performing and where you’re actually in flow.
To be the leader, parent, partner, friend you want to be, self-trust is essential.
As you step into your day, take a moment to ask yourself:
- Where might I be allowing my choices to be shaped by other people’s wishes?
- Am I giving myself permission to explore the paths that align with what I truly want and need?
Highlights:
- [00:00:19] Introduction to Dr. Yekemi Otaru
- [00:02:30] Who Are You?
- [00:07:04] The Journey of Self-Understanding
- [00:11:29] Self-Trust in Leadership
- [00:17:20] A Leader’s Evolving Approach
- [00:22:45] A New Chapter in the Third Sector
- [00:28:15] The Work of Somebody Cares
- [00:34:27] Expanding the Charity’s Impact
- [00:37:15] A Key Career Lesson: Overcoming Fear
- [00:41:02] What Fearless Forward Means
- [00:42:42] Episode Wrap-up
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