The Loneliness No One Talks About

The Loneliness No One Talks About

This Mental Awareness Week, I want to share a story I’ve only recently become comfortable sharing.

It’s a story about leadership, loneliness—and what happens when you finally listen to the voice inside.

Most of us have felt lonely at some point in our lives.
And yet, it’s still one of the hardest things to talk about.

Portrait photographer Julia Hawkins is trying to change that. She’s working on a powerful project to normalise conversations around loneliness—capturing 50 portraits and stories for a book with The School of Life to be released later this year, alongside a public exhibition.

I was honoured to be asked to contribute.

Here’s part of what I shared:

“I was CEO of a major global brand. I had the title, the family, the lifestyle—flying first class, staying in five-star hotels. From the outside, I had everything.

But inside, I felt profoundly alone.

As a senior leader, you often can’t show vulnerability. You’re hired to be the strong one. It’s rarely appropriate to share what’s really going on—with colleagues, the board, even your partner.

What made it harder was my own history. I lost most of my immediate family when I was very young. My teams had become a kind of surrogate family. But as CEO, that blurred line had to vanish. And the isolation deepened.

In my early 50s, after some transformational coaching, I began reconnecting with my body. I finally heard my inner voice screaming: This isn’t it. Get out.

So I listened. And I left.
It was the most liberating decision of my life.”

Loneliness isn’t always about being physically alone.
It’s about feeling unseen. Misunderstood. Inauthentic.

Especially for leaders, founders, and high performers—it’s easy to be surrounded by people, and still feel completely isolated.

Opening up and allowing myself to be completely vulnerable has been the most empowering experience of my life. Unlike my previous belief, It’s not a sign of weakness but of supreme strength.

Julia is still looking for people to share their experience.
If you’ve ever felt lonely—even briefly—or you know someone who might resonate, please get in touch with her at julia@juliahawkins.com.

Let’s break the silence.
Let’s normalise these conversations.

Because vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s leadership.