The Identity Shift: Becoming the Leader You're Meant to Be | Sarah Eggleston

What happens when you stop waiting for permission and start trusting yourself enough to build what's next? In this episode of Next Level Women, Jennifer Perri sits down with Sarah Eggleston, founder and CEO of fflow, to explore the identity shift that happens when you move from contributor to creator, from builder to leader. Sarah shares her journey from software developer and consultant to entrepreneur, opening up about the challenges of navigating industries where she often felt overlooked, questioning whether she was good enough, and ultimately choosing to create her own opportunity instead of waiting for one. Together, Jennifer and Sarah discuss confidence, self-leadership, women in STEM, entrepreneurship, resilience, and what it really takes to step into a bigger vision for your life and career. This conversation is a powerful reminder that confidence is often the result of action, not the prerequisite for it. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why waiting for certainty can keep you stuck • The mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur • How to trust yourself before you feel ready • Why so many women hesitate to step into leadership • The reality of entrepreneurship beyond the highlight reel • How Sarah turned self-doubt into innovation and impact • What it means to build something that truly matters TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The moment Sarah stopped waiting for permission 01:44 Introduction and Sarah's background 04:36 Growing up with a passion for math and STEM 07:37 From software developer to founder 08:48 The idea that changed everything 10:00 Self-doubt, missed opportunities, and choosing herself 10:37 Why entrepreneurship is more like surfing than a roller coaster 12:32 The identity shift from developer to CEO 13:02 Women in STEM and leadership challenges 14:18 Lessons learned through entrepreneurship 16:00 What is fflow and who is it for? 18:33 Sarah's perspective on AI and business 20:35 Industries that benefit most from fflow 21:49 Staying grounded during uncertainty and change 24:44 Sarah's next level and future vision 26:38 How to connect with Sarah 27:48 Jennifer's closing message on self-leadership Connect with Sarah Eggleston: Website: https://fflow.io LinkedIn:   / s-eggleston   ****** Subscribe to The Next Level Women Podcast for conversations around reinvention, emotional empowerment, leadership, confidence, and becoming the next version of yourself with clarity and self-trust. Subscribe here:    / @jperricoaching   📞 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢 🔸 Website: https://www.jenniferperri.com 🔸 Facebook:   / jperricoaching   🔸 Instagram:   / jenniferperri.official   🔸 Linkedin:   / jennperri   🔸 Book a Virtual Coffee Chat: https://www.talkwithjennifer.com 🔸 Business Inquiries: [email protected]