Your Loneliness Is Real: A Leadership Reality Check
This one’s personal and powerful. Bron opens up about the hidden loneliness that comes with leadership—especially for women. Whether you're a founder, a senior executive, or somewhere in between, this episode names what most won’t: the ache for connection, the hollowness that hides behind performance, and the simple but powerful tools to reclaim your leadership confidence through connection.
You’ll walk away with clear steps to:
Build your Personal Board of Advisors (and exactly how to ask someone to join it)
Practice high-impact coffee dates (and why 3 a week might be your leadership superpower)
Use micro-moments of connection in meetings that change the energy in the room
Name your needs and rewrite the loneliness story we’ve been conditioned to keep quiet
It’s time to stop pretending. You’re not alone—and leadership was never meant to be done solo.
Personal Board of Advisors: Build your own powerful circle to stretch and support you
The Art of the Coffee Date (shoutout to Tory Archbold)
Micro-connection practices for your team and stakeholder meetings
Language to name and normalise loneliness in your leadership world
Loneliness in Australia
More than half of Australians report feeling lonely weekly; one in three are classified as highly lonely
Medibank Loneliness Report
CEO and Executive Loneliness
55% of CEOs report serious mental health challenges including loneliness
70% of first-time CEOs say loneliness impacts performance
The Science of Coaching: CEO Loneliness
Women in Leadership and Isolation
60% of senior women feel increasingly lonely as their careers progress
Only 19% of women of colour feel supported and respected at work
Fast Company: Women Leaders and Loneliness
Female Founders and Isolation
Two-thirds report high or extreme levels of loneliness
Most lack same-gender peers, investors, or role models
Positive Entrepreneurship: Female Founder Loneliness Report
Health Impacts of Loneliness
Loneliness is associated with increased risk of premature death, depression, and poorer general health outcomes
It is a key social determinant of health, according to national research
AIHW: Social Isolation and Loneliness
✨ Follow on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bron-stephens
✨ Instagram: @transformandleadwithbron
☕ Book a coffee date
✔ Schedule one coffee date this week with no agenda
✔ Ask one peer: “Want to be on each other’s personal board?”
✔ Open your next team meeting with a gratitude check-in
Let’s create leadership that doesn’t just deliver results—but feels good to live.
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