Uncomfortable Growth® Uncut is a space where we strip away the polish and perfection to explore what growth really looks like; messy, uncertain, deeply human. These are unscripted, unrehearsed conversations about the moments that shake us, change us, and ultimately shape how we live and lead. Nothing is pre-planned. What’s shared is real – even to us.
This playlist, Strength in the struggle, brings together three powerful episodes where leaders open up about the personal upheavals that forced them to stop, reflect, and rebuild from the inside out. These are not stories of overnight success, they’re stories of inner work, resilience, and the courage it takes to move forward when life doesn’t go to plan.
The stories inside this playlist
Emma Jensen, vice president of small business at Optus, shares a devastating and deeply vulnerable chapter of her life – the unexpected end of her marriage and the first time she truly felt she had failed. Through moments of chaos, kindness from strangers, and the slow rebuilding of identity, Emma reflects on how this experience reshaped not only her life, but her leadership. Her story is a powerful reminder that asking for help, embracing authenticity, and letting go of ego can create strength beyond what we imagine.
Pia Coyle, managing director of PHD Sydney, opens up about what happens when a life built on expectations is suddenly dismantled. After a divorce following 20 years of marriage, Pia navigates single parenthood, self-discovery, and the rediscovery of joy – while redefining what authentic leadership really looks like. Her story beautifully connects personal transformation with professional confidence, showing how vulnerability can become a source of belief, connection, and impact.
Wayne Brown, founder of Cureative, takes us deep into his journey from a traumatic childhood in Southeast London through mental health struggles, loss, and what he calls “the breakdown”. Wayne shares how leaving London, embracing therapy, Buddhism, and reflection helped him heal from within. His story is honest, grounded, and powerful – a testament to the fact that transformation doesn’t come from avoiding pain, but from moving through it with intention and support.
Your host
I’m Rowena Millward, your host – a global expert in growth and reinvention for businesses and people, 2x best-selling author, and the creator of Uncomfortable Growth®. Through this podcast, I sit alongside leaders at their most real, exploring how life’s hardest moments often become the foundation for reinvention, clarity, and new chapters.
🎧 Listen to Strength in the struggle on Spotify
🌱 Visit Rowena’s website to learn more about working together and owning your reinvention.
If you’re navigating your own crossroads – personal or professional – this playlist is for you.