In this episode of Uncomfortable Growth® Uncut, I sit down with Jo Gaines, Head of APAC at Asana, entrepreneur, and fierce advocate for women.
Jo’s story begins with her professional challenges, including facing redundancy as a single parent with a four-year-old and a baby. The redundancy news came as a devastating blow, making her question her identity and capabilities. However, Jo’s reflection on this period reveals how it became a pivotal moment for her personal and professional growth.
Tough challenges continued, as Jo then joined a demand-side platform company, which became insolvent. Despite the executive team resigning, Jo chose to stay and lead the remaining team through the challenging process of trade selling the business.
It was the continuation of struggles that led Jo to learn cage fighting. Through a six-month training program, Jo learned mixed martial arts, which taught her valuable lessons about stepping into challenges rather than backing away. This experience not only transformed her physically but also empowered her to face life’s metaphorical punches with confidence.
My three favourite quotes from Jo’s story are:
“Learning how to cage fight taught me how to step into a punch and be brave.”
“Worrying is praying for a future that you don’t want.”
“I felt like I had to do it all and be it all and, you know, be as successful as possible as soon as possible.”
Her story is packed with honesty, resilience, and powerful reminders that growth often comes from life’s toughest moments. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation
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