I started my career as a Registered Nurse, working closely with patients and families at some of life’s most vulnerable moments. Over time, I moved into leadership roles within the NHS and private healthcare, where I came to understand first-hand the weight, complexity, and isolation that leadership can bring. As a Black woman in predominantly white leadership teams, I also experienced the often-unspoken dynamics of belonging, authority, and identity. I learned to perform, deliver, and adapt but without always having a space to reflect on what that required or cost. A significant shift came during my studies at the Tavistock, where I was introduced to systems psychodynamic thinking. This enabled me to understand leadership not only in terms of capability, but in relation to deeper organisational and relational dynamics. My doctoral research explored the lived experiences of Black women in leadership, and this continues to shape my identity-conscious and psychologically informed approach.