The Reset: A Journey Toward Authentic Leadership
Five reflections on purpose, resilience, and authenticity — inspired by a scientist-turned-coach rediscovering meaning, balance, and leadership through intentional living.
After years of working in science and leadership, I’ve learned that growth isn’t just about what we achieve — it’s about how deeply we align with who we are.
The Reset is a reflection series on purpose, resilience, and authenticity — five lessons inspired by a personal journey of pausing, reconnecting, and leading with renewed intention.
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
After a year of navigating major transformations — new roles, complex projects, and ambitious goals — I reached a point where I felt both accomplished and restless. The work was fulfilling on paper, yet something deeper inside me craved for fresh ideas and more creativity.
We often confuse success with fulfillment. When the energy drops even as results look good, that unease isn’t failure — it’s feedback. It’s the signal that it’s time for a reset.
During a recent vacation, I gave myself permission to pause and reflect. I began an honest audit of what truly sparks energy and meaning in my life. What drives me when I’m at my best? Where have I been operating on autopilot instead of purpose?
Reclaiming purpose through presence means slowing down enough to listen to the quiet signals within us — the ones silenced out by busyness and achievement. That’s where clarity begins.
𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
In the heart of a canyon in Tenerife, I stood before a tree I’d never seen before — the Balo (Plocama pendula). Its roots reached deep into the rock, its branches stretching confidently toward the sun.
Resilience isn’t about avoiding droughts — it’s about having roots deep enough to find water anyway.
In leadership and in life, we face our own dry seasons — moments when inspiration vanishes, uncertainty rises, and progress slows. What sustains us isn’t constant growth, but quiet strength built through values - a strong culture, relationships - a united team, and a clear purpose.
Just as the Balo tree thrives because of what’s unseen — its roots — so do we. A resilient foundation allows us to adapt, recover, and grow stronger. It’s an invitation to invest in what nourishes us beneath the surface.
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
One sunny day, sitting at a small café surrounded by joyful people, rich colours, and the smell of fresh food, I felt a wave of contentment. Not because I had achieved something remarkable, but because I had stopped chasing the next thing long enough to notice this moment.
In our professional lives, we’re often rewarded for speed and productivity and we constantly chase the next success. But being present — being fully where you are and enjoying what you have achieved so far — is equally important.
Presence invites balance. It softens ambition with gratitude, deepens connection, and reminds us that meaning isn’t found in the next milestone — it’s lived here, in the now.
𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Traveling with food allergies has taught me to look at dining differently. I often have to explain and trust that the kitchen truly understands.
On this trip, one restaurant surprised me — not just by accommodating, but by caring. They looked at their vulnerable customers with compassion, look at every cooking step with attention and took pride in how passionate they are about their customers.
It reminded me how much intention changes everything. Whether leading a team, managing a project, or coaching a client, the difference between average and exceptional isn’t skill — it’s purpose in action.
When we bring genuine passion to what we do, others feel it too. They trust us. They’re inspired by our energy.
The reset, for me, isn’t about slowing down — it’s about showing up with renewed care and doing even ordinary things with extraordinary attention.
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Every leader I’ve had genuine conversations with — and every version of myself I’ve been — has faced this truth: trying to lead like someone else is exhausting.
Authenticity isn’t a buzzword; it’s a practice of alignment. It’s choosing to lead, communicate, and decide from the place where your values, energy, and strengths intersect.
When I shifted from a purely scientific career to coaching, I realized I didn’t have to abandon my analytical side — I could integrate it. I could bridge the logical and the intuitive, the measurable and the meaningful.
That’s what authentic leadership is: bringing your whole self forward, not the version you think others expect. It’s how clarity becomes influence and purpose becomes presence.
The reset ends here — but also begins here. Because authenticity isn’t the destination; it’s the most sustainable way to move forward.
Every reset begins with awareness — that subtle whisper telling you it’s time to pause, realign, and reconnect with what matters most.
In my coaching work, I help professionals create that same space: to bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be, integrating purpose, clarity, and action in a way that feels truly aligned.
Ready to begin your own reset?
If you’re navigating transition, searching for clarity, or simply ready to reconnect with what drives you — let’s start a conversation.