Think confidence is something you either have or you don’t? Think again. New leaders struggle with self-doubt every single day – second-guessing decisions, staying silent in meetings, and taking on everyone else’s work because they can’t say no. But confidence isn’t something you’re given with your promotion. It’s a skill you build.

Simone Knego joins the podcast to talk about what unshakable confidence really means and how new leaders can develop it. As a keynote speaker, author, and podcast host of Her Unshakable Confidence, Simone specializes in helping people build confidence from the inside out.

In this conversation, Simone breaks down her REAL method – a framework that walks you through respecting yourself, embracing failures, asking what you want, and living without limits. She explains why “fake it till you make it” is terrible advice and offers something better: say it until you become it. 

You’ll hear practical strategies like the Control-Alt-Delete mindset hack for resetting negative thoughts and why dropping one tiny word (“just”) from how you describe yourself can completely change how you show up.

Whether you’re struggling with imposter syndrome, can’t set boundaries, or don’t know how to build the kind of confidence that sticks, this episode gives you real tools to work with. Confidence isn’t about never falling – it’s about getting back up every single time.

Key Highlights

• The biggest lie we tell women about leadership: that it’s made for someone else, not you
• Unshakable confidence means you’re comfortable in your skin no matter who you’re with or where you are – it’s not that you never doubt yourself, it’s that you get back upif you fall
• Signs of low confidence at work: second-guessing every decision, staying silent in meetings (only 3 people do 90% of the talking), and taking on everyone else’s work because you can’t say no
• The REAL method: Respect yourself, Embrace your failures, Ask yourself what you want, Live without limits
• Drop the word “just” when you describe yourself – saying “I’m just a middle manager” limits your power; instead say “I am a middle manager”
• Control-Alt-Delete mindset hack: Control your thoughts by evaluating if they’re true, Alt (alternative) – tell yourself a better story, Delete the habits and beliefs that don’t serve you
• Why “fake it till you make it” doesn’t work – instead, say it until you become it
• Confidence is a skill you build through practice, not something you’re born with
• Action leads to growth: do the things you think you can’t, even if you have to do it scared
• You don’t need to change who you are when stepping into leadership – you need to change the way you see yourself

Resources/Links Mentioned

• Made to Lead
• Her Unshakable Confidence podcast
• Real Confidence: A Simple Guide to Go from Unsure to Unshakable (Simone’s book, releasing February 2025)
• www.realconfidencebook.com
• www.simoneknego.com

Guest Bio

Simone Knego is a thought leader, sought-after international speaker, and bestselling author whose work inspires high achievers to redefine leadership from the inside out. She captivates audiences worldwide with her engaging storytelling, practical frameworks, and actionable insights. As co-host of the globally ranked podcast “Her Unshakeable Confidence” and author of “The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You,” her voice resonates from keynote stages to living rooms.

Featured by ABC, NBC, CBS, and Entrepreneur Magazine, Simone inspires audiences to overcome self-doubt, embrace authentic confidence, and discover the extraordinary in everyday leadership. Her signature REAL Method and Kitchen Table Leadership framework transform how leaders perceive themselves and serve others.