E170: From Corporate Leader to Ironman: Finding the Courage before the Confidence

Who are you when the title and company name are no longer part of your introduction? For Iris Nafshi, that question was one of the hardest parts of leaving corporate life. After a career in leadership and organizational development at companies including Microsoft, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Campbell Soup Company, she wanted to be more present for her four boys. But choosing a different way of working meant letting go of an identity she valued and facing the uncertainty of what would come next. In this episode of The Change Effect’s Pros Who Pivot series, Iris joins me to share the family moments that brought her priorities into focus and how she began reconnecting with ambitions she had put aside. She founded her consulting business, returned to athletic training after a 30-year gap, completed her first full Ironman at 51, and earned a PhD studying mothers who sustain their commitment to endurance sport. We explore the difference between courage and confidence, the tension between personal ambition and maternal guilt, and why pursuing something meaningful requires support. Iris also shares how a serious cycling accident challenged her to rebuild and what she is bringing into her Strong Core podcast and forthcoming book. Highlights from our conversation: • The family moments that led Iris to reconsider a corporate career she loved. • Facing the fear of introducing herself without a title or company name. • Returning to long-held goals and completing her first Ironman at 51. • What her research with 350 mother athletes revealed about identity, support, and persistence. • Building confidence through action and finding the courage to begin again after a setback. If you’ve been wondering whether there is room for something you want alongside the responsibilities you already carry, this conversation offers a place to begin. Iris’s story invites us to revisit the goals we’ve set aside, consider the support we need, and take a step toward something that still matters to us, even before we feel ready. Connect with Iris: Website (https://aiirconsulting.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/iris_strongcore/) Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/irisnafshi/) Connect with Noelle: Website (https://noellevan.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/noellevanbeyond) Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/noellev/) YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@noellevanv) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thebeyondcompany) Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2097487/support)