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"Confidence is the first step of protest. And whether that is a protest where you make a sign and you go and stand outside down the street, or whether it's a protest when you're in a doctor's surgery room and the doctor's not listening to you, or whether it's a protest at the school gates because your kid's teacher's not taking your kid's needs seriously. Confidence is the first step of that self-advocacy and we need that so much right now because the tactics that our governments are using is fear. Fear divides people. Fear keeps people small, and fear takes your confidence away."
When does a moment of frustration lead to a movement that helps people to be more confident? In this episode, Lauren Currie, an artist, entrepreneur, and founder of Upfront, shares how it all started, and where it's all heading. From confronting systemic sexism on conference stages to the evolution of her business, how we can follow our path and take on the barriers that we come across.
We dig into why confidence is not a personality trait but a practice, how "small protests" can reshape culture, and what happens when you step into (and own) your creative identity as an artist, leader, and author. If you're looking for inspiration to start or to keep going on your own change journey, this conversation will inspire you to take the first step.
Highlights:
00:00 Confidence as protest in a culture of fear
02:38 Meet Lauren Currie: artist, entrepreneur, mom, founder of Upfront
07:35 The "other door" moment: when one stage opens another
09:47 Creating safe practice spaces for women's voices
12:25 Realising confidence is a systemic, not personal, problem
14:10 The red sofa movement, prototyping a new stage
17:38 Are we losing progress for women?
25:10 The nuances of supporting men and navigating backlash
27:34 Internalised misogyny and women in power
29:11 The surprisingly fun (and long!) journey to publishing a book
34:48 Grit and honesty: "nobody else is going to sell your book"
40:03 Naming ambition: why women need to own their hunger for impact
45:29 Demystifying publishing: numbers, costs, hard truths
51:47 The power of play, art, and showing up every day
Lauren's Change Toolkit:
Soundtracks: Anything by Taylor Swift. "Everyone Supports Women" by Sophia Isella
Book: We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Make Something by Amie McNee
One piece of advice:
"You get to decide. You make the rules, you're in charge. People forget how much agency they have, especially if you've been trained to put everyone else's needs above your own. Really sit with that: you get to choose."
About Lauren Currie:
Lauren Currie is an artist, entrepreneur, author, and founder of Lauren Currie is one of the most sought-after speakers on confidence, women's leadership and cultural change, known for combining honesty, humour and clarity in a way that leaves audiences thinking differently long after the event ends.
From global companies to grassroots communities, Lauren's talks challenge the invisible rules that hold people back and offer practical, emotionally intelligent tools for building confidence, visibility and influence.
Website: https://upfrontglobal.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_laurencurrie_/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurencurrie/
Work with Eleanor:
Buy the Book - Another Door Opens; 5 steps for navigating change. Described as 'Game changing' 'Brilliant' 'A must read' 'The best book on change'.
Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it's coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training.
Work with Eleanor 121 as your coach, when you are starting something new, to develop the idea, to create the idea, to get it launched.
Book in a Change Mastery for a team session - when your team is navigating change.
Book in a 90 minute workshop - to think through change at work.
Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/
Website: www.another-door-opens.com
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk
