Uncomfortable Growth® Uncut. Season 3, Episode 5: Joanna Robinson, CMO of The Iconic
'Am I too busy being busy to do the work on myself?'
When was the last time you made space to ask yourself what you truly want?
In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Joanna Robinson, CMO of The Iconic, opens up about a defining moment of uncomfortable growth®: stepping into a high-stakes leadership role as an interim executive and having to lead a significant restructure within just two months.
Joanna shares the emotional complexity of making tough decisions—letting people go before even learning their names—and doing it with humanity and empathy.
As someone deeply committed to people-first leadership, she describes the toll this kind of decision-making takes, not just on those who leave, but also on those who stay. Survivor’s guilt, shifting workloads, and rebuilding morale all became part of her daily reality.
But out of the discomfort came immense growth. Joanna reflects on how being new helped her approach the restructure with clarity, yet how it didn’t make the human cost any easier.
She talks candidly about learning to lead in chaos, embracing the rollercoaster of retail, and growing exponentially in her 50s—what she now sees as her most empowered, insightful, and expansive decade.
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This is a story about the often invisible weight leaders carry, the emotional messiness of doing what’s right for the business, and the personal evolution that happens when we lead through discomfort—not around it.
My three favourite quotes from Joanna’s story are:
"It's not about managing people - it's about leading people.”
“Ageing is a privilege."
“Am I too busy being busy to do the work on myself?”
You can listen to the whole chat here:
If you're looking for inspiration to step out of your comfort zone and pursue your goals, this episode is a must-listen.
The world doesn’t need more stories of success; it needs honest conversations about hard challenges, vulnerability, and proof that trials can ultimately become triumphs.
That’s why the Uncomfortable Growth® Uncut podcast was born. It’s a reminder that struggle and success are intrinsically linked, that growth is rarely easy, and that the moments we feel most uncomfortable are where our greatest breakthroughs lie
