She Built Race for Life, But First She Had to Stop Proving Herself | Rachel Roxburgh

What if the plan you had for your life just disappeared overnight? Rachel Roxburgh was 27 when her mother died unexpectedly, three weeks before she was due to emigrate to Canada. She came home, started over, and went on to lead Race for Life into one of the UK’s most iconic fundraising events at Cancer Research UK. But this conversation isn’t about the career wins. It’s about the identity underneath them. The youngest of five with something to prove. The woman who spent years apologising for working in the not-for-profit sector, until the day she stopped. The shift from performing ambition to actually owning who you are. In this episode, Rachel shares: → What life really looked like at 30, ambitious, hedonistic, and still proving herself → How losing her mother at 27 reshaped everything she thought she wanted → The moment she discovered she was a natural leader, and what she did with it → Why she left Cancer Research UK after 14 years at the top → The three things she wishes she’d truly understood at 30 This one is for you if you’ve ever outrun your own story and had to figure out who you actually are. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction 00:46 Rachel at 30 — where life was 01:07 Race for Life & Cancer Research UK 05:31 Losing her mother at 27 08:38 Discovering a passion for not-for-profit 09:37 Moving to Devon, then Oxford 11:24 Life at 30 — “slightly hedonistic” 15:12 Fran shares her bowel cancer story 23:25 The identity Rachel operated from at 30 24:29 Discovering natural leadership 33:15 Standing her ground — the moment that changed everything 39:07 What she’d tell her 30-year-old self 43:38 What she’s glad she left behind 57:41 Leaving Cancer Research UK after 14 years 1:01:14 Becoming an inaugural CEO 1:07:54 Three things she wishes she’d known sooner 1:09:15 Lunch with David Bowie 1:17:23 Theme song: Heroes by David Bowie 1:19:09 If you feel lost right now — Rachel’s advice 🔗 CONNECT WITH FRAN → Identity Reset Audit: https://info.franharpercoaching.com/a... → Work with Fran: [email protected] → Website: franharpercoaching.com → Instagram:   / theidentityarchitectfran   → LinkedIn:   / franharper   → Facebook:   / fran.harper.79   → TikTok:   / franharpercoaching   → Subscribe for new episodes weekly:    / @whatiwishiknewat30   #identityarchitecture #whatiwishiknewat30 #franharper #leadership #womeninleadership #careerpivot #notforprofit #CharitySector #personaldevelopment #IdentityCoaching #purposedrivenwork #careergrowth #Podcast #BusinessCoach #LifeLessons #findyourpurpose #careeradvice #WomenWhoLead #RaceForLife #CancerResearch #SelfWorth #CareerTransformation #IdentityArchitect #WhatIWishIKnewAt30 #FranHarper #WomenInLeadership #CareerPivot #NotForProfit #PersonalDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment #Podcast #FindYourPurpose