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You’re Not Imagining It.
There’s still this feeling you can’t quite put your finger on… It starts in your 40s; something sort of… shifted. You walk into meetings with
Tammy Coggan
11 March 2026
There’s still this feeling you can’t quite put your finger on…
It starts in your 40s; something sort of… shifted.
You walk into meetings with more clarity than you’ve ever had.
You can read a room, spot patterns, and see around corners in ways that only come from decades of showing up.
You know what matters and what doesn’t.
You’ve stopped performing to please and started leading from a place that feels more like you. It’s still scary, but you can handle it.
And yet…
There’s still this feeling you can’t quite name.
Like you’re speaking, but no one’s quite listening.
Like your insights land, somewhat differently than they used to.
Like the confidence you’ve earned is somehow less visible.
The awkward timing of years grinding at work, birthing perspective that has culminated around the time your hair starts to grey, and the corner of your eyes crinkles more than the Samboy Chip packet in your hand.
Here’s what I want you to know: I’ve heard so many women around Australia describe this exact experience.
You’re not imagining it. You’re not being oversensitive. You’re not losing your edge.
You are arguably at the most strategically valuable point in your career and leadership journey—and I’ll tell you why.
You’ve developed what researchers call crystallised intelligence.
You can draw on decades of experience to solve complex problems quickly. While others are still building their repertoire at work, you’re running sophisticated pattern recognition that saves organisations time, money, and missteps.
But there’s a difference.
You aren’t performing for the approval of others or to be awarded the next promotion.
You aren’t trying to be the leader you think you should be.
You are trusting yourself, your inner voice, grounded in years of experience and hard work.
You have the clarity that comes from finally understanding what you stand for and what you’re not willing to tolerate.
That certainty is rare and powerful.
This cumulative wisdom is irreplaceable.
Whether you have the title or not, whether anyone’s formally recognised it or not, you’re leading.
Your influence is real.
Your impact is measurable.
Your strategic value is at its peak.
I see you. I see what you bring. And I know it’s not easy.
I’m continuing to build a community of leaders who understand that this phase isn’t about fading—it’s about finally stepping into the fullness of who you’ve always been becoming.
It’s your time now!
Lead with Courage creates space for leaders who are done performing and ready to step into their full strategic power—regardless of title, age, or how visible the world chooses to make them.
There’s still this feeling you can’t quite put your finger on… It starts in your 40s; something sort of… shifted. You walk into meetings with