Inspiring Women Interview With Esther Stanhope, The Impact Guru

Esther Stanhope is a conference speaker & ‘personal impact’ expert known as The Impact Guru!

From hosting events & running masterclasses in global organisations to one to one coaching sessions with senior leaders, she helps professionals speak with more confidence & impact in business.

Tell us about your career so far

I’m a former live BBC producer.  I started my career as a showbiz reporter interviewing the likes of Madonna, George Clooney, Samuel L Jackson and The Spice Girls. This must have sparked off my fascination with charisma, confidence and stage presence!

I now use my 27 years of experience in broadcasting and business to help women leaders from global organisations speak with more confidence (when they secretly hate public speaking!).

At Deloitte they called my ‘presentation & pitching’ sessions ‘personal impact’, hence The Impact Guru.

I never used to speak in public and I hated watching myself on camera as a producer, so I avoided it.  When I started my own business I had to turn the tables and taste my own medicine!  I ventured outside my comfort zone and learnt to be in the spotlight and accept all the eyes on me. It’s scary.

What 2 things do you do to build your confidence?

Be myself – warts and all. Accept that I am quirky, a bit different, a bit loopy at times but brilliant at helping people to be confident!

Accept the bad bits too; lack of confidence, imposter syndrome, fear of failure and then I stop beating myself up and say to myself “Don’t be perfect”.

What has been your biggest life lesson so far?

Feel the fear and do it anyway!  Why hold back, why stop yourself from running your own business or doing the job you love?  Life’s too short – GO FOR IT!

How do you feel about getting older?

Tired!  Sometimes I worry about losing my mojo, my hair and my health.  I have had a health scare recently and it’s made me mindful of energy levels and taking it easy.  More reason to do what you love and not waste time on meaningless stuff.

What’s your purpose in life?

Help people to be the best they can be. Help my kids be the best they can be.

How do you balance work and life responsibilities?  What sacrifices have you made?

1 big change in my life over the past year is my diary – I literally BALANCE work, life, kids, fitness and socialising by making all of these a priority rather than push everything down the list.  I hate being flaky and tend to stick to appointments.

I sacrifice me-time as I am a full-time working mum and wife running my own business.

What are your top self-care tips?  How do you relax?

My best self-care tip of all time is…put it in the diary.

If something’s in the diary – it happens.  Yoga 8am Friday – if it’s in the diary, it happens.  If I put ‘prep for meeting in coffee shop’ 30 mins before the meeting, it happens.  From ‘Pick kids up” to ‘Practice speech’ – the diary puts me straight.  I like being able to assess my week ‘at a glance’ with colour coded sections and everything.

My fantastic EA (Exec assistant) Claire created the genius coloured diary entries!

My favourite way to relax is to go for a walk!  My favourite walk in London is in Hyde Park.  I love watching the horses, army boot camp fitness junkies, posh dogs and swimmers in the Serpentine. You never know what you might see, it’s hilarious.  If you’re an avid people watcher like me, in Hyde Park you’ll never be bored.

What advice would you give the next generation of girls?

Do what you love, do stand up and speak in front of people, do get your voice heard, do have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously.

One of my great mum-friends who was going through a sticky divorce used to say “No matter what happens, we’re going to be fabulous”.

So in short ‘Be Fabulous’.

If you like this interview, why not read our ultimate guide to public speaking.

Bio

To learn more about Esther, go to her website.