by Viv Grant
Then, in August 2023, I was diagnosed with a rare cancer — one predominantly found in women of colour.
And everything changed.
In the early 1990s, as a young Headteacher, because of the norms that surrounded me, I thought leadership meant hiding my vulnerability, fears, and self-doubt.
Always having the answers. Always showing up with certainty.
As if leadership was about performance—not the person I was becoming.
I was taken on a journey into stillness, surrender, and uncertainty.
In the dark, I began to understand myself, leadership, and the process of becoming in a deeper, truer way.
It wasn’t easy. But eventually, I came to see that real leadership transformation requires:
– Stillness
– Surrendering to the unknown
– Trusting what cannot yet be seen
– An inward capacity to hold the dark
This is what my new book Learning to Walk in the Dark is about.
And it’s what lies at the heart of our newest Integrity Coaching programme — She Leads.
Created for female MAT CEOs, She Leads offers soul-led mentoring and reflective space so you can lead with integrity without losing yourself.
It’s a space for women navigating the demands of power, visibility, and identity—where leadership often looks nothing like you.
Because transformation doesn’t begin with control or certainty.
It begins when you allow yourself to lead from the inside out. Transformation begins in the dark.
💬 Comment below if you’d like to share more. I’d love to hear your reflections.
If you’re a female MAT CEO and this resonates, we’d love to hear from you.
Our October 2025 pilot cohort is now open for expressions of interest.
📩 Message Hannah in my team to learn more: hannah@integritycoaching.co.uk
📞 Or call me (Viv Grant) : 07958 238 901
#SheLeads #MATLeadership #FemaleCEOs #LeadershipTransformation #InnerLeadership #SoulfulLeadership #WholenessInLeadership #DepthCoaching #LearningToWalkInTheDark #PurposeDrivenLeadership
