Lucky breaks in business don't happen in a vacuum. They come from taking risks, being visible, making connections and creating opportunities for collaboration.
I know this from experience. When I left a 20-year NHS career in 2022 to build my own business, my fears and self-doubt nearly held me back from the bold moves that have been crucial to my success, like signing a lease on a clinic room before I had the demand for it. As I met more female founders and sat with ambitious women in my clinic room, I saw a common pattern: talented women who could have a big impact on the world were holding themselves back through fear of being visible, being judged or failing. I set up Born to be Bold to change that, using my clinical expertise to help women leaders and entrepreneurs be more courageous and take the risks that create new opportunities.
I'm Dr Rachel Lee, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and accredited EMDR Consultant. Throughout my clinical career, I've helped hundreds of people overcome their fears to change their lives and achieve their goals. In the NHS, I held leadership roles including as a service lead and associate non-executive director. I'm the director of North Star Psychology Ltd, which provides psychological consultancy and bespoke interventions for leaders and teams, and I have a thriving private practice in West Yorkshire, where I help people with trauma. Born to be Bold brings everything I've learned about the psychology of fear, trauma, risk-taking and change into entrepreneurship, so female founders can stop holding back and create the success they dream of.
I help female founders understand their fear of visibility and give them the psychological insights and tools to move through it. Together, we identify the work that ignites them, articulate their dream and start taking considered risks and bold moves in that direction.
I don't believe we need to get rid of fear of visibility, self-doubt or imposter syndrome. Instead, we get curious about them. I help women recognise the important, protective messages their fears carry, while staying connected to the part of them that holds their dream and the values behind it. Working with this inner conflict enables them to know when a bold move is worth taking and, crucially, when it makes sense to hold back, say no or quit. Making these decisions in a considered, values-led way is freeing, and it builds confidence, meaning that it becomes easier to be bold over time.
Being bold in your business, team or life isn't about being reckless. It's about making carefully chosen moves that matter, even if they are risky, so that you can have an impact on the world and achieve your aims.
I speak on: fear of visibility and judgement, imposter syndrome, holding back vs. taking bold action, and the psychology of courageous leadership.
Rachel Lee
Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Coach
Anxiety and stress, Burnout and recovery, Grief and bereavement, Identity and self-worth, Leadership and performance, Life transitions, Mindset, Nervous system regulation, Perinatal mental health, Phobias, Professional development / supervision, Relationships and attachment, Trauma and PTSD, Wellness, Women’s health, Workplace wellbeing
Adults, Corporate professionals, Education professionals, General public, Healthcare professionals, Men, Midlife adults, Older adults, Women, Young adults
Collaboration (partner / co-create), Corporate / workplace, Media (interview / commentary), Panels / webinars, Podcast guesting, Retreats (lead / contribute), Speaking (events / keynote / panels), Workshops / training, Writing (contributor / author)
Lucky breaks in business don't happen in a vacuum. They come from taking risks, being visible, making connections and creating opportunities for collaboration.
I know this from experience. When I left a 20-year NHS career in 2022 to build my own business, my fears and self-doubt nearly held me back from the bold moves that have been crucial to my success, like signing a lease on a clinic room before I had the demand for it. As I met more female founders and sat with ambitious women in my clinic room, I saw a common pattern: talented women who could have a big impact on the world were holding themselves back through fear of being visible, being judged or failing. I set up Born to be Bold to change that, using my clinical expertise to help women leaders and entrepreneurs be more courageous and take the risks that create new opportunities.
I'm Dr Rachel Lee, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and accredited EMDR Consultant. Throughout my clinical career, I've helped hundreds of people overcome their fears to change their lives and achieve their goals. In the NHS, I held leadership roles including as a service lead and associate non-executive director. I'm the director of North Star Psychology Ltd, which provides psychological consultancy and bespoke interventions for leaders and teams, and I have a thriving private practice in West Yorkshire, where I help people with trauma. Born to be Bold brings everything I've learned about the psychology of fear, trauma, risk-taking and change into entrepreneurship, so female founders can stop holding back and create the success they dream of.
I help female founders understand their fear of visibility and give them the psychological insights and tools to move through it. Together, we identify the work that ignites them, articulate their dream and start taking considered risks and bold moves in that direction.
I don't believe we need to get rid of fear of visibility, self-doubt or imposter syndrome. Instead, we get curious about them. I help women recognise the important, protective messages their fears carry, while staying connected to the part of them that holds their dream and the values behind it. Working with this inner conflict enables them to know when a bold move is worth taking and, crucially, when it makes sense to hold back, say no or quit. Making these decisions in a considered, values-led way is freeing, and it builds confidence, meaning that it becomes easier to be bold over time.
Being bold in your business, team or life isn't about being reckless. It's about making carefully chosen moves that matter, even if they are risky, so that you can have an impact on the world and achieve your aims.
I speak on: fear of visibility and judgement, imposter syndrome, holding back vs. taking bold action, and the psychology of courageous leadership.
Background & Qualifications
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, PG Diploma in Cognitive Therapy, Certificate in Executive Coaching
HCPC, BPS, EMDR Association, Doctorate, Degree, Diploma
Collaboration, Corporate, Podcast, Speaking, Writing
20+ years