Season 11, Episode 5: The modesty myth (with guest Stefanie Sword-Williams)

Dahlia is joined by Stefanie Sword-Williams, keynote speaker, author and founder of the idea that we need to F*ck being humble in our working lives.

Stefanie joins Dahlia to discuss why we are often far too modest and unassuming, expecting the hard work to 'do the work' for us rather than understanding the value that can come from valid self promotion.

Dahlia and Stefanie unpack why we hold ourselves back, when it is appropriate to be gracious and how to create a personal brand without the 'ick' factor.

Stefanie reflects on her personal style and what it means to be 'well dressed' on stage - which is a key part of how she prepares and gets in the headspace to do a great job.

Stefanie Sword Williams is an award-winning founder, TEDx speaker and author of F*ck Being Humble and Career Comedown. In 2018 she created a global mission, movement and training consultancy inspiring individuals to be unapologetically proud of their achievements and overcome the fear of self-promotion. Recognised as a leading voice on career and confidence, she helps reshape mindsets and corporate cultures. She has been named as Top 50 Workplace Leaders, made the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Europe, and recently won the ‘Future is Female’ LinkedIn award for her positive contributions and impact on the industry. Her talks have reached people in over 50 countries and Stef has spoken for global brands including Apple, Netflix, Unilever, Google, Nike, L’oreal, Adidas, Unilever, Microsoft, and The BBC. Her debut book ‘F*ck Being Humble: Why self-promotion isn't a dirty word’ has sold over 10,000 copies and she has also delivered a TEDx Talk on why the world needs to be a little less humble. She has built a loyal fanbase of over 200k followers online, and has been featured in Vogue, BBC World News, The Financial Times and Forbes. Stef’s support towards those who were unemployed during the pandemic led to her being invited to become a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts and she continues to reinvest profits and time into community projects to help improve the lives of many.