Coaching for Authentic Leadership

In this episode of the Authentic Pathways podcast, host Karin interviews Bridget McNamer, founder and “Chief Navigation Officer” of Sidecar Council, about authentic leadership—especially for women leaders in schools navigating historically masculine leadership cultures. Bridget defines authentic leadership as bringing authentic personhood into a leadership role, grounded in self-awareness, values, integrity, and embodiment, with the body as a source of wisdom. She shares how ignoring her body led to pain and how an osteopath helped her connect physical symptoms to emotional patterns like people-pleasing and holding a family system together, prompting major life changes. They discuss patriarchy’s impact on women leaders, imposter syndrome, and practical strategies: clarifying vision and top values, cultivating courage and self-compassion, building supportive networks, using breathwork to respond rather than react under pressure, and reframing leadership toward love-based leadership rather than servant leadership.