Who Are You Without the Titles? Sara Byers on Reinvention, Intuition & Becoming Whole

What happens when you've spent years becoming successful, only to realize there are parts of yourself you left behind along the way? Sara Byers has led businesses, chaired boards and built the kind of professional life that looks impressive on paper. She's also a poet, writer, speaker and deeply intuitive woman whose life began changing dramatically in 2020 when she could no longer ignore the part of herself that didn't fit neatly inside the identity she had built. And this wasn't the first time Sara had listened to that voice. Years earlier, she walked away from a successful career with Gap and Banana Republic, took a 70% pay cut and returned home to Vermont to join her family's business. There wasn't a logical argument for doing it. She simply knew. Looking back, she calls it one of the best decisions she ever made. Podcast Episode with Sara Byers Our conversation became an exploration of what happens when achievement and intuition meet. Sara and I talk about the identities we create to belong, the parts of ourselves we silence in professional spaces and the strange experience of reaching midlife and realizing we may be ready to shed some of the layers we've accumulated. We also talk about imposter syndrome, perfectionism and the tendency to look at everyone else's strengths while dismissing the gifts that come naturally to us. Sara shares something a fellow CEO once told her when she admitted struggling with imposter syndrome. His response essentially challenged her to consider whether she was also questioning everyone else's judgment in choosing her for the role. That stopped both of us. Because how often have other people already seen something in us that we're still refusing to acknowledge? What You'll Hear Why Sara walked away from a successful career and took a 70% pay cut What happened when her professional identity collided with her spiritual life How structure and surrender can exist together The hidden cost of silencing yourself in leadership Sara's experience being the only woman on a board A completely different way of looking at imposter syndrome Why we often minimize the things that come naturally to us How our desire to belong can slowly change the way we show up What midlife can teach us about shedding identities that no longer fit Sara's journey from perfectionism toward self-acceptance Why our failures and messy seasons matter The idea of creating a “reverse bucket list” How Sara's anxiety existed alongside professional success Why reinvention doesn't require erasing who you used to be Sara's message for the woman wondering whether it's too late to become more of herself This conversation is for the woman who has accomplished a lot and is beginning to wonder whether the next chapter might require less proving and more listening. 🔗 Connect with Sara  Website: https://sarasbyers.com/ I want to hear your thoughts about the show and this episode. Text us here... Support the show Casa De Confidence is a podcast for women navigating midlife reinvention, entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth. Hosted by Julie DeLucca-Collins, the show explores confidence, sustainable business success, visibility, authority building, and aligned growth for women entrepreneurs ready to lead boldly and live intentionally. Through real conversations and practical insights, listeners gain clarity, strengthen confidence, and develop strategies to expand their impact, voice, and opportunities. Liked this episode? Share it with your midlife woman, entrepreneur friends! Love this show? Let us know how we helped you increase your confidence by leaving a review. For more about me and what I do, check out my website. If you’re looking for support to grow your business faster, be positioned as an authority in your industry, and impact the masses, schedule a call to explore if you’d be a good fit for one of my coaching programs. Follow Julie DeLucca-Collins on Instagram at @julie_deluccacollins