Taking the Leap: Leadership, Growth, and Reinventing Your Career

When I sat down with my longtime friend and former colleague, Yolanda Moran, for an episode of Inspiring Conversations, I knew we were in for a rich and meaningful discussion. Yolanda and I have shared years of laughter, challenges, and career highs, and it was a pleasure to dive into her journey – from her early days in leadership to the bold decision to start her own business.

Yolanda’s story is a powerful lesson in reinvention, resilience, and the importance of trusting yourself.

From High Achiever to Business Owner

Yolanda grew up surrounded by entrepreneurs. With parents who ran their own businesses, she learned early on that success was built through hard work, self-reliance, and taking ownership. It was no surprise that she quickly carved out a path for herself in leadership roles, starting with Flight Centre, where she worked her way up to Vice President of Retail Operations in Canada and later, VP of Leadership and Learning for the Americas.

Reflecting on her time there, she said, “I always say, I grew up in that company. I learned so much. The experiences and opportunities were remarkable.”

But after 18 years, she found herself at a crossroads. With a young son and the desire for more balance, she made the difficult decision to leave the corporate world and move to the Okanagan in British Columbia to start her own coaching and leadership development consultancy.

Was it terrifying? Absolutely.

But as she shared, “I realized that I thrive when I can make decisions with full autonomy that align with my values. I didn’t think I would find that freedom in somebody else’s organization.”

The Challenges of Running Your Own Business

Starting a business after decades in a structured corporate environment came with unexpected lessons.

One of the biggest? Patience.

Yolanda admitted that as a high achiever, she was used to setting goals and hitting them quickly. But entrepreneurship doesn’t always work that way.

“Even with the best plan, unexpected things come up. You have to be patient with yourself, give yourself grace, and trust the process.”

Another challenge? Going from leading large teams to being a solopreneur.

“I love being part of a team, and I still contract and collaborate, but ultimately, I’m on my own. That sense of camaraderie is something I miss.”

And then there’s the financial side. After 20 years of receiving a pay cheque every two weeks, suddenly managing cash flow, revenue ups and downs, and business expenses was a whole new world.

“The experience has stretched me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. It’s not always easy, but I’d never trade it.”

The Power of Personal Growth and Hypnotherapy

Recently, Yolanda added a new dimension to her coaching practice: hypnotherapy.

At first, she was sceptical, but after seeing its potential, she incorporated it into her executive coaching work. And the results have been incredible.

She shared the story of a client who was crippled by anxiety when presenting to senior executives. Through hypnotherapy sessions, she was able to shift her mindset and deliver a 10-minute presentation with confidence—something that once felt impossible.

Another client, newly promoted, was struggling with imposter syndrome. Through hypnotherapy, they worked on reframing limiting beliefs and replacing them with a stronger sense of self-assurance.

“It’s not as out there as people might think,” Yolanda explained. “Think of it as a guided meditation that helps reset your nervous system and reinforce positive behaviours.”

Advice for Anyone Wanting to Start Their Own Business

Yolanda had some incredible advice for anyone thinking about stepping away from corporate life to start something of their own:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Talk to mentors and trusted colleagues before making the leap.
2. Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. Fill in the gaps with experts—whether it’s finance, marketing, or operations.
3. Trust yourself. Things won’t always go according to plan, but if you stay true to your values and adapt, success will follow.

Yolanda’s journey is proof that reinvention is possible—and sometimes, the scariest decisions lead to the most rewarding outcomes.

If you’ve ever thought about stepping out on your own, what’s holding you back? Let’s start the conversation.

You can listen to the interview in in full here on Spotify and you can connect with Yolanda on LinkedIn.

What defines a thriving workplace culture? In my latest Inspiring Conversation with organisational psychologist Shannon Roberts Gibbs, we explored the profound impact that authentic leadership has on shaping an organisation’s environment, engagement, and overall success.

With years of experience in leadership development, Shannon has worked with executives to transform toxic workplaces into thriving, high-performing environments. “One of the biggest challenges,” she explains, “is when leadership ignores or tolerates toxic behaviors. It creates a ripple effect where fear and disengagement spread through the organisation.”

At the heart of a strong organisational culture is psychosocial safety—a workplace where employees feel valued, heard, and supported. Shannon emphasises that this isn’t about ticking compliance boxes but fostering an environment where people feel safe to speak up without fear of retaliation.

The Role of Leadership in Workplace Culture

Leaders set the tone for the entire organisation. When they model transparency, inclusivity, and accountability, employees feel more engaged and committed. Shannon highlights key strategies for building a healthy workplace:

• Invest in leadership development – Equip leaders with the skills to navigate complex workplace dynamics.
• Prioritise open communication – Encourage honest feedback and active listening.
• Address toxic behaviours – Tolerating negativity can erode trust and productivity.
• Lead by example – Leaders who model the right behaviours create an environment where employees feel motivated and safe.

The Rising Importance of Psychosocial Safety

One of the most pressing issues in today’s workplaces is psychosocial safety. Research shows that workplaces with poor leadership and toxic cultures experience higher turnover, burnout, and even legal risks. Shannon points to alarming statistics, including the rising cost of psychosocial injury claims, which are predicted to increase four to five times over the next two decades.

“When employees feel psychologically unsafe, they disengage,” Shannon explains. “The best organisations proactively address stress, burnout, and work overload before they lead to serious issues.”

To create a resilient organisational culture, leaders must take a proactive approach by identifying risks, implementing mental health initiatives, and ensuring workplace policies align with employee well-being.

Authentic Leadership Drives Lasting Change

Shannon’s experience proves that culture isn’t just a set of values on a wall—it’s shaped by daily decisions and behaviours. “For executives committed to shaping a positive workplace culture, the best investment you can make is in your leadership,” she says.

If you’re looking to strengthen your workplace culture, lead with authenticity, and foster a thriving organisational culture, don’t miss this interview. You can listen to it in full here on Spotify or via Vimeo here.

You can connect with Shannon on LinkedIn or visit her website to find out more about what she does.

At CCC we’re passionate about empowering and celebrating women. Our Empowering Women Series focuses on Inspiring Women who are all doing their part to help others and make positive change. Grab a cuppa and enjoy this exploration of experiences, challenges, insights and advice.

Kim Trajer, a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience at McCullough Robertson, describes herself as curious, optimistic, and organized. These three traits have shaped her approach to work and life. “I’m always thinking about whether there’s a better way to do something,” she explains, emphasizing her curiosity. This drive for improvement has fuelled her career, especially in the legal industry, where change is often met with resistance. Her optimism has helped her remain patient and persistent while navigating resistance to change: “Being optimistic that … there is a better way of doing things, and we will get there,” she says. Lastly, her organization is crucial in managing the various tasks and challenges of her role. Kim jokes that OneNote is her “good friend,” enabling her to keep track of her to-do lists, manage stress, and focus on both the big picture and the details.

Kim’s career began after completing her Commerce Law degree. She worked her way up through McCullough Robertson, starting in the Gold Coast office, handling various roles from property and wills to commercial work. Early on, she discovered her interest in superannuation law and shifted to the Brisbane office, where she dove into commercial transactions. Her career truly took shape when she started her Master’s in Taxation, a challenging five-year, part-time program she completed just before starting a family.

Working part-time with limited technology posed its own challenges, particularly in the complex field of tax law. “I would take a wheelie suitcase full of paper files to work from home,” Kim recalls, highlighting the difficulties of managing demanding commercial work without modern tools. Eventually, she transitioned to knowledge management, where she and a colleague revamped all of the firm’s legal precedents and documents during a major rebrand.

This period sparked her interest in risk management and innovation. Through these projects, she began to understand how system integration and effective processes could enhance a law firm’s operations. “I started realizing the benefits of innovation,” she says, recalling the time when the firm collaborated with a Professor from UQ Business School to develop an innovation strategy for the firm. It was this shift from the practice of law to the business of law that made Kim realize where her true passion lay. She enjoyed working on strategy development, AI projects, and community partnerships, all of which she continues to oversee as COO of McCullough Robertson—a role she’s held for eight years.

Looking back on her career, Kim acknowledges that not every step was planned. “I had no plan for that sort of very jungle gym kind of career,” she admits. Instead, she credits the opportunities given to her by the firm’s partners and her willingness to embrace roles that challenged her. While some partners were highly supportive, others were not as receptive. “I work for 58 partners, each with different personalities, driving their own agendas,” she says. However, Kim has learned a great deal from those who didn’t support her, seeing these interactions as opportunities for growth.

When asked about her leadership approach, Kim emphasizes the importance of focusing on the outcomes and why they matter to the business. Lawyers, she explains, are trained to “pick holes” in ideas, so she prepares for that and uses data to back up her points. By addressing client feedback and financial data, she is able to present a compelling case for change, always linking it back to the firm’s broader strategy. She believes in making change palatable by showing lawyers “what’s in it for them” and slowing down the process to ensure a smoother transition. “The rollout of something is never the end … if you slow down and take a bit longer to do it, you often get a better outcome in a shorter time frame,” she explains.

Balancing her professional and personal life has been an evolving process for Kim, who is a mother, wife, and executive. “There was certainly an era when we did think we could have it all, all at once,” she reflects, admitting that it took time for her to learn that balance wasn’t always achievable. She now values taking breaks and disconnecting from work on weekends. “I used to work every weekend,” she recalls, but over time, she realized the importance of rest for maintaining efficiency and well-being.

Her children, now between the ages of 16 and 22, are more self-sufficient but still need her in various ways, which she tries to balance with her professional responsibilities. She also focuses on health and self-care, making time for activities that give her joy, like gardening, cooking, and walks by the water. “If you can do all of that … the challenges at work are not so big, and you actually manage to get more done,” she notes.

Kim concludes by sharing a piece of wisdom that comes with experience: perfection is not always necessary. “If you make a mistake, it can be fixed,” she says, encouraging others to adopt a more flexible mindset as they navigate their own careers and personal lives.

Connect with Kim on LinkedIn