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The Fulfilled Leader with Jean Balfour
For leaders who want to thrive - not just survive.
Leadership can be lonely, overwhelming, and emotionally draining. But it doesn’t have to be. Join Master Certified Coach Jean Balfour as she brings honesty, depth, and warmth to conversations about what it really takes to lead with resilience, clarity, and purpose.
In The Fulfilled Leader, Jean explores the inner world of leadership—the doubts, the burnout, the self-sabotage - and the transformative practices that help leaders feel more grounded, empowered, and fulfilled.
You’ll hear practical insights from neuroscience, psychology, coaching, and real leadership experience. Whether it’s solo reflections or conversations with inspiring guests, this podcast is your space to pause, reflect, and grow.
Listen every week and watch the way you lead, and live your life, transform forever.
New episodes every week.
Subscribe now and join a global community of leaders who are redefining success from the inside out.
Episodes
116 episodes
Leading with Compassion Through Crisis: A Conversation with Elaine Robinson
In this moving and deeply human conversation, Jean welcomes Elaine Robinson, Principal of Sir Manasseh Meyer International School in Singapore. With over 25 years in education, Elaine has led schools across the UK and international...
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Solving the 10 Toughest Leadership Problems with Dr. Katie Best
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Katie Best, a leadership coach, consultant, and author whose career has been shaped by asking one central question: what are the problems leaders struggle with most — and how can we solve them?
Seven Strategies to Strengthen Your Influence at Work
Influencing others at work can often feel like one of the most challenging parts of leadership. Whether it’s navigating difficult relationships, persuading colleagues to collaborate, or aligning a team around a new direction, influence is at th...
Taming the Inner Critic: How to Stop Rumination and Self-Doubt at Work
In this episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean Balfour explores one of the most common challenges leaders face, negative thinking, rumination, and self-doubt. Whether it shows up as imposter syndrome, constant worry, or replaying conver...
School Stories That Shape Your Leadership
Have you ever thought about how your school experiences continue to shape you as a leader today? From the sound of the classroom bell to the sting of a teacher’s red ink, our memories from school and college often run deeper than we realise.
Overcoming Overwhelm: Practical Strategies for Leaders
Overwhelm seems to be everywhere right now. In fact, LinkedIn’s Chief Economist Karin Kimborough recently shared that posts mentioning overwhelm have increased by 82% this year. With so many leaders and professionals struggling, Jean revisits t...
Navigate Career Transitions with Confidence - Vanessa Iloste & Vanessa Teo
In this episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean is joined by senior HR leaders Vanessa Iloste and Vanessa Teo, co-hosts of the Career Transitions podcast. Together, they share insights from five seasons of conversa...
Identity, Bliss, and the Leader You’re Becoming
Discover how to bridge the gap between who you are today and the leader you aspire to be - with practical tools, inspiring research, and the courage to follow your bliss.We often think about our future selves as strangers rather than as ...
What Drives You? Rethinking Ambition in Leadership
In this episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean revisits a powerful and often misunderstood topic - ambition. Prompted by recent coaching conversations and personal reflections, she challenges conventional notions of ambition and ...
Psychology Meets Leadership with Dr Jonathan Marshall
How does our early life shape the leaders we become? What role does fear play in our ambition? And how can we lead with more wholeness and warmth - especially when work feels hard?In this episode of
Triggered at Work: What to Do When You React
How many times today have you been triggered? A sharp email, an offhand comment, a meeting that left you spiralling. Sometimes it’s a small internal shift, sometimes it leads to a reaction we regret.In this episode, I explore what it rea...
The Art of Navigating Power and Politics at Work
Welcome back to The Fulfilled Leader! In this second refreshed episode, we’re diving deep into a subject that so often surfaces in coaching sessions - organizational politics.For many leaders, politics at work can feel mu...
One Piece at a Time: Building the Life You Want
Are you feeling stuck in your work or leadership, wishing for a breakthrough moment that never seems to come?In this reflective and encouraging episode, Jean shares a personal story that begins with a jigsaw puzzle and unfolds into a pow...
Unlock Purpose and Fulfillment at Work
After four years and over a hundred episodes, I’m taking a moment to revisit some of the most loved conversations on this podcast. And what better place to start than the very first topic we ever explored -purpose.This ref...
5 Steps to Braver Action: Closing the Courage Gap with Dr Margie Warrell
Why do so many smart, capable people hold themselves back from stepping into their potential? In this episode, I’m joined by leadership expert, bestselling author, and global speaker Dr Margie Warrell to explore the essential role of cou...
Ep. #100. How to Start Journalling as a Tool for Leadership Growth
Welcome to the 100th episode of The Fulfilled Leader! In this heartfelt milestone episode, Jean Balfour reflects on the journey that began in December 2021 with Making Sense of Work and evolved into The Fulfilled Leader
Ep. #99. The Resilient Leader: Navigating Workplace Emotions with Confidence
In this episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean Balfour shares a deeply personal and practical exploration of emotional resilience at work. From the subtle emotional triggers we experience in a single day to the more overwhelming waves o...
Ep. #98 Why Fulfillment in Leadership Matters Now More Than Ever
In this powerful opening episode of The Fulfilled Leader, Jean Balfour shares the personal and professional journey behind the podcast's transformation. After nearly four years of Making Sense of Work, Jean saw a shift - both ...
Ep. #97 A Tech Consultant’s Journey to Becoming a Bestselling Novelist - Danny Dagan
Guest: Danny Dagan – Author of The GameEpisode Summary:In this episode, I sit down with Danny Dagan, author of The Game, a gripping thriller that has just hit the shelves to glowing reviews. Danny’s...
Ep. #96 The Power of Pivoting: Punita Lal on Careers, Boards & Creativity
In this inspiring episode of Making Sense of Work, I sit down with the incredible Punita Lal, a distinguished business leader, board director, and executive coach. With a career spanning over 35 years in leadership, strategy, an...
Ep. #95 Harnessing Accountability: Your Catalyst for Personal and Professional Growth
In this episode of Making Sense of Work, Jean Balfour explores the role of accountability in helping us achieve our goals—both in our personal and professional lives. Initially uncertain about the topic, Jean embarked on a journey of d...
Ep. #94 Becoming a Relational Leader
Relational leadership is a transformative concept focusing on building trust and connection within teams, especially crucial in our tech-driven work environments. Leaders are encouraged to foster relationships, create open communication, and su...
Ep. #93 Healing Self-Doubt with Sas Petherick
In this inspiring episode, Jean Balfour welcomes Sas Petherick, an internationally renowned coach and expert in healing self-doubt. Sas shares her remarkable journey from a fast-paced corporate career in London to becoming a leading voice in he...
Ep. #92 The Impact of Our Early Lives on Our Leadership: Dr. Saba Hasanie
In this insightful episode of Making Sense of Work, Jean Balfour is joined by Dr. Saba Hasanie, Managing Director and Senior Partner of OSC Leadership Developm...
Ep. #91. Beyond Resilience: Navigating Mental Wellbeing at Work
In this special episode of Making Sense of Work, released in honor of World Mental Health Day, Jean Balfour shares a deeply personal and reflective narrative on her journey with emotional wellbeing and resilience. From the challe...