The Promotion That Didn’t Change Me — But Changed How They Saw Me

When I got promoted, I felt exactly the same. But the world around me didn’t.

People paused before speaking to me. They filtered their words. They assumed things about me I didn’t feel were true — authority, status, power, distance.

This episode is the story of how I navigated that identity mismatch. It’s about the moments that made me question my place, the loneliness that surprised me, and the leadership lessons that came from being seen differently before I felt different.

You’ll hear the raw truth about:

• the emotional adjustment no one prepares you for

• the subtle and not-so-subtle ways dynamics shift

• the power of grounding yourself in your values

• how to lead from identity, not perception

If you’ve ever felt misread, misunderstood, or suddenly “othered” after rising — this episode is your reminder that you’re not imagining it. And you’re not alone.