Hero Story – From Silenced to Stage
Before Speaking & Influence Mastery, I was already a senior RAF Wing Commander and published author… but I was still hiding in plain sight.
I could brief, present, and “do PowerPoint”, yet my true story... nine Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), breaking generational abuse, leading with vulnerability in uniform... stayed locked behind rank, slides, and statistics. My inner critic (“Whisper”) was very effective at telling me: “You’re not good enough. Not worthy. Why would they listen to you?”
I could brief, present, and “do PowerPoint”, yet my true story... nine Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), breaking generational abuse, leading with vulnerability in uniform... stayed locked behind rank, slides, and statistics. My inner critic (“Whisper”) was very effective at telling me: “You’re not good enough. Not worthy. Why would they listen to you?”
I enrolled in this Mastery because I knew my message was bigger than my fear. I wanted world-class stagecraft to match the depth of my mission: showing leaders that trauma touches every workplace, and that self-aware, trauma-informed leadership saves lives, not just careers.
The Speech Map, structure tools, and coaching from Eric and the other mentors were the missing link. They helped me turn a lifetime of chaos into a clear 4-part story arc that landed emotionally and intellectually.
The Speech Map, structure tools, and coaching from Eric and the other mentors were the missing link. They helped me turn a lifetime of chaos into a clear 4-part story arc that landed emotionally and intellectually.
Fast-forward to October: I walked on stage in front of around 500 people in UK Defence to deliver “The Power of Conscious Trauma-Informed Leadership.”
I wove in four core stories to cement my points:
A young airman whose life changed because his RAF Flight Commander (me), a trauma-informed leader, saw pain and potential behind “poor performance”.
My own ACEs and complete breakdown after my abusive father’s death.
My AWARE framework, born from slowly turning unconscious reactions into conscious choices.
A legacy close: “No matter the hand of ACEs we are dealt, we get to reshuffle the deck for a brighter outcome. Our past does not define our future; we get to rewrite our narrative.”
The response stunned me.
Over 90% of the audience rated the talk 5/5, with very high intent to apply trauma-informed leadership. People wrote things like:
“Drop the mask first.”
“Stop being a chess piece, start being a chess player.”
“Whisper – such a simple concept, told with powerful personal meaning.”
“It’s powerful to hear a hopeful survivor voice – this landed in a way clinical texts simply don’t.”
One attendee with several ACEs, currently in EMDR, said my story made them feel less alone and gave them concrete next steps for healing and leadership.
Another said, “We can reshuffle the deck…” would stay with them for life.
I wove in four core stories to cement my points:
A young airman whose life changed because his RAF Flight Commander (me), a trauma-informed leader, saw pain and potential behind “poor performance”.
My own ACEs and complete breakdown after my abusive father’s death.
My AWARE framework, born from slowly turning unconscious reactions into conscious choices.
A legacy close: “No matter the hand of ACEs we are dealt, we get to reshuffle the deck for a brighter outcome. Our past does not define our future; we get to rewrite our narrative.”
The response stunned me.
Over 90% of the audience rated the talk 5/5, with very high intent to apply trauma-informed leadership. People wrote things like:
“Drop the mask first.”
“Stop being a chess piece, start being a chess player.”
“Whisper – such a simple concept, told with powerful personal meaning.”
“It’s powerful to hear a hopeful survivor voice – this landed in a way clinical texts simply don’t.”
One attendee with several ACEs, currently in EMDR, said my story made them feel less alone and gave them concrete next steps for healing and leadership.
Another said, “We can reshuffle the deck…” would stay with them for life.
A few weeks later in November, I spoke at the UK Defence Aircrew Survival Evasion Extraction Resistance (SERE) Centre about authentic leadership and psychological resilience and readiness. I signed the Wall of Honour after I spoke. Their motto, Animus Invictus (“Unconquered Spirit”), mirrors my own journey where I chose not to become a victim of my past but rather live my life with a victor mindset.
Mid-talk I realised:
“I’m literally standing in the holodeck I visualised with Eric... sharing, out loud, the chapter of my life when my husband used to lovingly call my ‘bat sh*t crazy shamooli days’... the times my nervous system was in full meltdown… and how I transformed.”
Same Jacqui. Same scars.
But now my voice is structured, embodied, and unapologetically alive. I wasn’t just “giving a talk”; I was creating a ripple I could see in real humans, real feedback, real intention to lead differently.
Mid-talk I realised:
“I’m literally standing in the holodeck I visualised with Eric... sharing, out loud, the chapter of my life when my husband used to lovingly call my ‘bat sh*t crazy shamooli days’... the times my nervous system was in full meltdown… and how I transformed.”
Same Jacqui. Same scars.
But now my voice is structured, embodied, and unapologetically alive. I wasn’t just “giving a talk”; I was creating a ripple I could see in real humans, real feedback, real intention to lead differently.
The very next day, I was also honoured to receive the "Best Newcomer" speaking award at the Public Speakers Academy for another talk I delivered in October, a powerful validation of how far my voice has evolved throughout this Mastery.
That’s what this Mastery gave me:
Not just the courage to speak…
but the craft to make every word count.
Before this Mastery my life was…
Successful on paper yet strangely muted. I could lead and brief, but my deepest story stayed hidden behind my bulletproof armour they issued when I earned my Queen's commission.
After taking this Mastery I feel…
Like my voice has finally caught up with my mission. I’m less in my head, more in my body, and I trust my stories, my power pauses, and my state.
What I wanted to learn (and did)…
A repeatable talk structure.
How to tell emotionally resonant stories without rambling.
Tools to manage nerves and my inner critic.
Why I recommend this Mastery…
It blends high-level strategy with gritty practicality, turns a lifetime of experience into clear narratives, and grows you as a speaker, leader, and human.
Not just the courage to speak…
but the craft to make every word count.
Before this Mastery my life was…
Successful on paper yet strangely muted. I could lead and brief, but my deepest story stayed hidden behind my bulletproof armour they issued when I earned my Queen's commission.
After taking this Mastery I feel…
Like my voice has finally caught up with my mission. I’m less in my head, more in my body, and I trust my stories, my power pauses, and my state.
What I wanted to learn (and did)…
A repeatable talk structure.
How to tell emotionally resonant stories without rambling.
Tools to manage nerves and my inner critic.
Why I recommend this Mastery…
It blends high-level strategy with gritty practicality, turns a lifetime of experience into clear narratives, and grows you as a speaker, leader, and human.
Biggest positive changes…
I’ve moved from informing to genuinely transforming audiences. People now quote my lines back to me, and my speaking, leadership, content, and family conversations all flow from the same aligned, authentic voice.
Perhaps the most unexpected shift is that I now move through life with an “imaginary film crew on my shoulder.” I see every interaction as a possible future stage story. It’s changed the way I inhabit my own life... I’m more present, more observant, and more intentional. That is the powerful presence Eric teaches: living your life as if every moment might one day serve someone else’s healing… even the shamooli days. Now I’m ready to take these stories beyond the stage and onto social media, scaling this ripple of healing worldwide.
I’ve moved from informing to genuinely transforming audiences. People now quote my lines back to me, and my speaking, leadership, content, and family conversations all flow from the same aligned, authentic voice.
Perhaps the most unexpected shift is that I now move through life with an “imaginary film crew on my shoulder.” I see every interaction as a possible future stage story. It’s changed the way I inhabit my own life... I’m more present, more observant, and more intentional. That is the powerful presence Eric teaches: living your life as if every moment might one day serve someone else’s healing… even the shamooli days. Now I’m ready to take these stories beyond the stage and onto social media, scaling this ripple of healing worldwide.
Thank you Mindvalley. This is just the beginning...
Per Ardua ad Astra - Through Adversity to the Stars.
Per Ardua ad Astra - Through Adversity to the Stars.
