Falsely Accused of Murder to Leading Transformation | Audrey Daumain | S3 EP 02

In 2020, Audrey was falsely accused after a catastrophic motorway incident that led to her mother’s death. Eighteen months later, the case was dropped. She rebuilt—leaving a senior banking role, launching Smart Perspective, and shaping a practical, human approach to leading through crisis. This episode is about returning to work, redefining value, and starting again with intention.

Key Takeaways

• Returning after crisis: choose confidants intentionally; accept support without letting it define you.
• Redefine value: today’s recognition is about adaptability, communication and collaboration—not just deliverables.
• Lead in public: own mistakes, apologise if needed, don’t hide; save your energy for the people who matter.
• Boundaries: every “no” protects a better “yes”.
• Reinvention: it’s not all-or-nothing—blend what you keep with what you change.

Tool / Book / Music

• Framework (Tool): 3i Framework — Intention · Influence · Impact (clarify purpose, understand others’ context, land 1–3 key messages and one action).
• Book: The Answer Is a Question — on using inquiry to think and lead better.
• Music: “Panama” — The Avener (Audrey’s pre-session energy lift).

Memorable Quotes

• “Success is a team sport.”
• “People are immune to pain—be thoughtful about where you share yours.”
• “Every time you say no, you say yes to something else.”
• “Make values a destination, not a cage.”
• “You’re okay. Be you—for you.”

Connect with Audrey

LinkedIN

Website

Official Bio:

Audrey Daumain is an internationally recognised Executive Performance Coach and Corporate

Communication Strategist with over 20 years of leadership experience across finance, energy, and

luxury sectors. French-born and globally minded, she began her career in London’s financial district in

1998 before holding senior leadership roles at Barclays Private Bank, the National Bank of Abu Dhabi,

and Edmond de Rothschild.

In 2010, she founded Smart Perspective, a consultancy trusted by global leaders to navigate strategic

transformations with clarity, confidence, and candour. Audrey combines expertise in organisational

design, NLP, and Non-Violent Communication to create environments where leadership is human,

impactful, and sustainable.

Her personal journey—marked by resilience, trauma recovery, and thriving in male-dominated

industries—fuels her mission: to bring authenticity and humanity back to leadership

conversations. In April 2025, Audrey was recognised by Sarah, Duchess of York at the Women

Changing the World Awards for her work in transforming leadership cultures on a global scale.

Audrey is also a key contributor to the CLAFG Women Leadership Academy, a new program under

CLAFG (Centre de Liaison des Associations Féminines Genevoises)—Geneva’s umbrella network of

women’s associations. The Academy is piloting a leadership certification endorsed by FEDE (European

Federation of Schools), an international NGO with participatory status at the Council of Europe that

accredits educational programs...