Overcoming Self-Doubt in Quality Leadership, with Dana Adcock

What if the leader you become is shaped less by your title, and more by the life you’ve lived?

In today's episode I was joined by Dana Adcock, Quality Consultant and former Senior Director of Quality Systems.

I really wanted to speak to Dana because she brings something different to the quality leadership conversation. Yes, she has decades of experience leading global audit and quality systems teams. But what makes her story powerful is how openly she connects her personal journey to the leader she has become.

Dana shares how growing up as an adult child of alcoholics shaped her early career. Avoiding conflict. Playing small. Hiring people who thought like her. Shying away from leadership roles despite being promoted into them.

Over time, through personal hardship, therapy, motherhood, and reflection, she stepped into leadership differently. More intentional. More courageous. More authentic.

We talk about the following:

· How early life patterns show up in leadership behaviour

· Why many capable professionals avoid management roles

· Moving from conflict avoidance to confident, purpose-led leadership

· Building diverse teams instead of hiring people “just like you”

· The mindset shift that happened during her “midlife awakening”

· How adopting her daughter Abby changed how she leads and advocates

· The link between personal resilience and professional courage

· Showing up authentically on LinkedIn and why it felt terrifying

· What “living the fourth quarter intentionally” really means

· Advice for quality professionals who feel pressure to hide parts of themselves

Dana is a thoughtful, courageous and deeply reflective leader who demonstrates that strength in quality leadership isn’t about technical authority alone – it’s about self-awareness, integrity and the willingness to grow.

Thank you Dana for sharing your incredible journey.

Hope everyone enjoys the show!

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:43) Early Challenges in Career Growth

(10:37) Midlife Awakening

(18:06) Embracing Authenticity in Leadership

(28:08) The Importance of Being Seen

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