Uncaged Leadership with Katia Vlachos

How a defence analyst became a reinvention coach.

In this episode of Speech Bubbles, Charlotte talks with coach, speaker, and author Katia Vlachos about what it really means to become uncaged as a leader and as a human.

Katia shares her journey from high-flying defence analyst to reinvention coach and author of A Great Move and Uncaged: A Good Girl’s Journey to Reinvention. She explains how invisible cages like perfectionism, people-pleasing, and self-sacrifice quietly shape our careers and relationships – and how learning to self-validate, rather than chasing external approval, changes everything.

Together, Charlotte and Katia explore:
* How to spot your own cages and start breaking free
* Why reinvention is never starting from scratch, but building bridges from what you already know
* The link between purpose, self love, and true authority
* Katia’s idea of uncaged leadership – leading from deep self awareness, integrity, and inner security
* Why vulnerability, feedback, and inner work are non-negotiable for modern leaders

Katia closes with three powerful tips for emerging leaders: do the inner work, become your own secure base, and be a secure base for others so they can take risks and grow.

Also there's a shout-out to one of Charlotte's favourite authors and podcasters, Glennon Doyle.

If you care about reinvention, personal growth, and building a more humane style of leadership, this conversation will land with you. Follow Katia on LinkedIn · Katia's website · Buy Uncaged here · · Follow Charlotte on LinkedIn · Subscribe to Speech Bubbles the newsletter · Link to buy We Need New Leaders