🎙️ Podcast Conversations on Introversion, Confidence, and Career Transformation

 I believe the best learning happens through dialogue. In my coaching practice, that means asking questions that spark reflection and growth. In my podcast appearances, it meant answering thoughtful questions from hosts who challenged me to share openly about my journey. I’ve organized these highlights by theme: introversion, confidence & courage, and career transformation — so you can explore the lessons that matter most to me and to the clients I serve at Forward Quest Coaching.

• Jorge (Coaching for Leaders): I’m comfortable one-on-one, but in groups, I feel more anxiety. The Academy pushed me into those group dynamics. I dreaded showing up at times because I didn’t want to be the person doing the least work. But that reflection taught me something: being introverted doesn’t mean being disengaged. It means I need to be intentional about showing up, and that’s become a strength.
   
• Natasha (Equipping Leaders): Why Toastmasters?
   
• Jorge: I didn’t join Toastmasters to become a better speaker. I joined to develop my “social game”. As an introvert, I prefer one-on-one interactions, but Toastmasters has forced me to practice in larger groups. Consistent practice in Toastmasters helped me be a better leader.
   
• Jeff (Conquer Local): What happened when you voiced your opinions fearlessly?
   
• Jorge: I had to tell my new boss that his actions were undermining me with my team. It was uncomfortable, but that courageous conversation helped build trust and re-establish my leadership.

• Dave (Coaching for Leaders): Confidence is what many of us want, but courage is the starting point. Did you find that to be true?
   
• Jorge: Absolutely. I felt dread and fear every time I had to stretch myself, but those were signs I was growing. Courage meant doing it anyway — reaching out, leading meetings, and engaging with senior leaders. And over time, the confidence followed.
   
• Natasha (Equipping Leaders): Tell me about a courageous conversation you had to have.
   
• Jorge: I once told my boss, “This is so hard for me to say — I’ve never even said this to my father.” I feared it would make things worse, but instead it built trust. Courage means saying the hard thing now, because leaving it unsaid holds you back for years.
   
• Jeff (Conquer Local): What was the outcome of speaking up with your new boss?
   
• Jorge: I told him directly, “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say.” I was afraid of offending him, but that courage changed our relationship. The confidence followed — not the other way around.  Confidence is the reward for taking action when it feels hardest. 

• Jorge (Conquer Local): My shift from QA to IT was intentional. I drew on Lean Six Sigma and project management, but I also sought out new experiences and coaching. I was deliberate about building the capabilities I needed. That transition showed me that even later in your career, you can pivot if you approach it with intention.
   
• Natasha (Equipping Leaders): Was there a turning point?
   
• Jorge: Yes. About ten years ago, during a performance review, my boss said, “The reason you’re not being promoted isn’t your coworkers — it’s you.” I was furious. But later I realized he was right. That moment pushed me to lead myself first. It set me on a journey of transformation: Toastmasters, an MBA in my late 40s, project management certification, and eventually, a move and promotion into a digital transformation role.
   
• Dave (Coaching for Leaders): How did the Academy influence your career move?
   
• Jorge: Halfway through the Academy, I realized I’d been preparing for a role without even knowing it. Certifications, mentoring, and an MBA — it all came together when I interviewed and was able to articulate my impact to the team clearly. The group coaching I participated in was a key factor in helping me understand how I needed to show up.