Some conversations stay with you long after you’ve pressed stop on the recording. My conversation with Marianne Abib-Pech was one of those.

We talked about leadership of course, but we also talked about identity, change, fear, and what happens when you walk away from a successful corporate career to build something that’s truly your own.

Marianne spent years in senior executive roles, including as a CFO for Shell. She had what many would consider a “comfortable” career. The kind of career that offers stability, status, and a clear path forward.

…Yet something kept pulling her toward a different kind of work.

That decision to leave the corporate world and become an entrepreneur is something many people dream about but few actually do. It’s exciting, but it’s also uncomfortable and requires a lot of courage.

As Marianne shared, stepping away from certainty means learning to trust yourself in entirely new ways.

The Question Behind Every Career Change

One of the themes that surfaced throughout our conversation was that career transitions are rarely just about changing jobs.

They’re about changing how we see ourselves.

When your identity has been closely tied to a title, a company, or a profession, letting go of that can feel like losing a part of yourself.

Marianne spoke honestly about that transition and why it’s so important to build an identity that’s much richer than what’s written on a business card.

We’re all more than our job titles.

We’re friends, family members, mentors, creators, learners, volunteers, travelers, artists, and endlessly curious human beings.

When we recognize those different parts of ourselves, change becomes a little less frightening because we realize our value doesn’t disappear when a title does.

Leadership Starts with Knowing Yourself

One thing I appreciated about Marianne’s perspective is that she never talks about leadership as something reserved for CEOs or executives.

Leadership begins with self-awareness.

It’s understanding how you respond under pressure. It’s recognizing your strengths without pretending to be perfect.

It’s listening before speaking.

It’s being authentic enough that people know what you stand for.

In a world that’s changing faster than ever, those qualities matter far more than having all the answers.

The Strength in Silence

One of my favourite moments in the conversation was when Marianne spoke about silence.

We often associate great leadership with confidence, quick thinking, and having the right words, but Marianne reminds us that silence is often where the real work happens.

The pause before responding, the willingness to listen instead of jumping in, and the patience to let ideas develop rather than rushing to solve every problem immediately.

It’s a simple idea, but one that’s increasingly rare in a world that rewards constant noise.

Building Community Instead of Just Networks

Another part of our conversation that resonated deeply was Marianne’s passion for creating genuine community.

Not networking for the sake of collecting business cards, not transactional relationships.

Real connection.

The kind where people are curious about one another, willing to share experiences honestly, and support each other’s growth.

Leadership isn’t something we do alone- the people we surround ourselves with shape the leaders we become.

Two Questions Worth Sitting With

As we wrapped up our conversation, Marianne left listeners with two questions that are deceptively simple.

What are your greatest strengths?

Not what you’re expected to be good at. Not what your job description says.

What genuinely comes naturally to you?

Then ask yourself:

What problem in the world do you genuinely care about solving?

Where those two answers overlap is often where your greatest impact can be made.

It’s such a practical exercise, but also a powerful reminder that meaningful careers aren’t built by chasing titles, they’re built by solving problems that matter.

A Conversation That Felt Like Coffee with a Friend

What I enjoyed most about this episode wasn’t just Marianne’s expertise. It was her openness.

There was no pretending that change is easy.

No promise that entrepreneurship is glamorous.

No suggestion that leadership is something you master overnight.

Instead, there was honesty.

Honesty about fear. Honesty about uncertainty.

Honesty about the fact that growth often begins when we’re willing to leave what’s comfortable behind.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether it’s time for a new chapter, whether you’re capable of leading differently, or whether there’s something beyond the career you’ve always known, I think you’ll find a lot to relate to in this conversation.

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers.

It’s about having the courage to keep asking better questions and being willing to take the next step, even when you don’t know exactly where it will lead.

Listen here.