We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lauren Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lauren, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
When I look back on the moments that shaped my confidence, they rarely came from having it all figured out…they came from leaning in when I didn’t. Every meaningful milestone in my career began with a mix of uncertainty and curiosity. Whether I was stepping into a new role, leading a new team, or navigating an unfamiliar challenge, the growth always came from being willing to roll up my sleeves, try something new, and learn along the way.
For me, confidence has never been about being the loudest voice in the room, it’s been about showing up with vulnerability and a willingness to learn. I’ve found that you gain the most self-esteem not by avoiding what feels uncomfortable, but by taking feedback, working through the things you’re unsure about, and seeing what’s possible on the other side of that discomfort.
That belief carries through in my coaching today. I see those same “aha” moments in my clients when they take a chance, approach a situation with openness, and realize that growth and confidence are built through experience, not perfection. Sometimes, you just have to do the thing — even when it feels uncomfortable — and trust that you’ll figure it out along the way.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m the founder of LeadHER Coaching, where I work with women leaders and high-performing professionals who are ready to grow with intention — whether that means stepping into leadership for the first time, navigating change, or finding a more sustainable rhythm in their careers.
After more than 15 years in corporate roles, I realized how often talented, driven people were held back not by skill or ambition, but by mindset — by the stories they told themselves about who they “should” be at work. I started LeadHER Coaching to create a space where people could slow down, reflect, and lead from a place of authenticity instead of exhaustion.
What excites me most about coaching is witnessing those small mindset shifts that create lasting change — the moments when a client realizes they don’t have to overwork to prove their value, or that they can set a boundary and still be respected. Coaching isn’t about giving advice; it’s about helping people uncover the confidence and clarity that’s already within them.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding the tools and resources available through LeadHER Coaching. I recently launched a toolkit for new leaders, designed to help people set themselves and their teams up for success — with templates and frameworks I wish I’d had earlier in my career. It’s one of the ways I hope to make leadership development more approachable and actionable for anyone who’s ready to grow.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are self-awareness, curiosity, and resilience.
Self-awareness has been the foundation of every step forward — understanding my strengths, values, and triggers has helped me lead and coach more authentically. It’s easy to get caught up in expectations or comparison, but real growth starts when you get clear on who you are and what matters most to you.
Curiosity has been my secret weapon. It’s what helps me stay open to feedback, explore new ideas, and see challenges as opportunities to learn instead of something to fear. When you approach your work and your development with curiosity instead of judgment, it changes everything.
And resilience — not in the “push through at all costs” sense, but in the ability to pause, adapt, and keep going when things don’t unfold as planned. Every meaningful milestone in my career has included uncertainty or discomfort, but resilience helped me navigate those moments with perspective instead of pressure.
For anyone early in their journey, my advice is to give yourself permission to learn out loud. Ask questions, seek feedback, and don’t wait until you feel completely ready — because you’ll gain confidence by doing, not by over-preparing. Growth doesn’t come from having all the answers; it comes from staying curious enough to find them.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I start to feel overwhelmed, my first step is to pause and get curious about what’s really driving it. For me, overwhelm often shows up when I’ve taken on too much or slipped into the mindset that I need to handle everything perfectly. Instead of pushing through, I try to slow down, name what’s happening, and ask myself: What actually needs my attention right now?
Sometimes that means stepping away for a walk, sometimes it means setting a boundary or re-prioritizing, and other times it’s simply giving myself permission to not have it all figured out.
My advice for anyone navigating overwhelm is to treat it as a signal, not a flaw. It’s often a sign that you care deeply about what you’re doing — you just need to recalibrate. When you can meet that feeling with awareness and compassion instead of criticism, you create space to reset and move forward with clarity instead of chaos.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leadhercoachingco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadher_coachingco/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenmackrell/
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