In February, I sat across from my coach during a four-hour power session, and he dropped a line that clung to me like glitter:
“Patrice, I want to log onto my socials and be sick of seeing your face. That’s when I’ll know you’re really pushing yourself.”
Now, I talk a lot about showing up boldly. I coach leaders on owning their space. But the truth? I hadn’t fully swallowed my own medicine.
Despite being the world-leading expert on Reverse Mentoring, my visibility wasn’t matching my impact. Not enough people knew what I do. Not enough people had felt it. The message hadn’t scaled to meet the mission.
And when that happens, it’s not always a strategy problem — it’s often a self-permission problem. So I got honest. Got open. And committed to doing something about it.
The SXSW London Experience: All In, All Week
When I got the confirmation that our session was accepted at SXSW London, I didn’t just show up — I invested.
I brought in a full camera crew.
I blocked out my calendar for the entire week.
I designed and executed a visibility strategy with my team that turned participation into presence.
And I didn’t just come for my panel.
I came for the WHOLE WEEK and made the most of the access and the connections.
Because SXSW wasn’t just a speaking engagement — it was an experience. A cross-pollination of ideas, a real-time melting pot of disciplines and visions. I met artists, tech founders, policy folks, creatives, change-makers.
I had chats in queues, coffees in corners, and those “wait—you’re that person from LinkedIn!” moments that remind you that IRL still hits different.
There’s something beautiful that happens when people gather with intention.
A kind of collective curiosity that makes your brain light up and your heart feel full.
And through all of that, I remembered something important:
London is extraordinary.
Yes, I travel the world for my work, but this week, I felt deeply proud to be a Londoner.
To be home.
To be surrounded by familiar faces and new energy.
To feel that spark that only London can deliver — equal parts grit, grace, and global brilliance.
Owning the Narrative, Directing the Outcome
Let’s be honest — a panel on Reverse Mentoring isn’t going to be top of the agenda for everyone. Not for the organisers. Not for dentsu, British Airways or the FT (even though all were involved).
So I got ahead of it.
I owned the narrative.
I got intentional about how I wanted it to land.
We created an activation plan that ensured my message cut through the noise.
This is the key:
It’s not just about taking up space.
It’s about shaping how the space experiences you.
I didn’t wait for anyone to spotlight me. I brought my own light. And yes, people did start saying,
“You’re everywhere, Patrice.”
Mission accomplished ✅
The Inner Critic Still Showed Up
And as always — just when things start flowing, here comes the old internal loop:
“Are you doing too much?”
“Will people think you’re extra?”
To which I now respond:
“Too much for who?”
“Or maybe I’m just finally enough—for me.”
Because let’s face it: the people who flinch at your brilliance don’t pay your bills.
And your judgment of others? Often a signal you’re not honouring your own potential.
The Real Medicine:
Take the advice you give others.
Be coachable enough to change.
Own your story — and shape how it's told.
Be clear about what success looks like — and bold enough to create it.
And when the energy is flowing, stay open. To people. To curiosity. To the unpredictable brilliance of being fully present.
Tonight, I’m off to see Mel Robbins live in Hammersmith — to keep stretching, shedding, and rising. Because the journey is never done. And that’s the beauty of it.
🔥 Elevate Challenge for You:
Where have you been showing up, but not directing the narrative?
Who do you need to reconnect with — not for business, but for energy
When you start to wonder if it’s “too much,” I want you to ask:
“What would shift if I gave myself full permission to be the most?”
Actual excerpt from a message from my Mentor/Coach Sope on the 1st January. As you can see I have made great strides in the past 6 months.
#AlwaysCoachable
💡 Your Elevation Prompts
Mirror Check
Does your presence match your power?Who’s Driving?
Are you writing the story or just starring in someone else’s?Big moment coming up? Great.
Now, who’s shaping how it lands?Action: Define your 3 core messages — and create one bold move this week to make them unmissable.
Swallow the Pill
You give great advice. When’s the last time you took it?
That feedback you keep hearing?
It’s not a coincidence — it’s a call.Action: Pick one uncomfortable truth you've been avoiding… and act on it. This week. No excuses.
💭 Final Reflections
Here’s what I know for sure: no one can amplify your voice quite like you.
The world doesn’t need a quieter version of your brilliance — it needs your full volume, your full clarity, your full self.
This isn’t the season to wait for permission.
It’s the season to create your own momentum.
To take the advice you’d give your best friend and actually apply it to your own life.
So, whether you’re navigating visibility, stretching into new spaces, or figuring out your next move- know this:
✨ You are not too much. You are just scratching the surface.
✨ And you don’t need to be discovered — you need to decide.
Own the mic. Direct the moment. Let them see you.
With Patience, Love and Flow
🌍 SXSW London: It was a Vibe
I am really behind on my Live daily wraps up, I was having far too much fun. Keep an eye on my LinkedIn for updates and Instagram for the fun BTS footage.
