
A transformational life coach is empowering women to overcome self-doubt and unlock their full potential.
Diane Spence, based in York, spent decades in leadership roles at blue-chip companies including Nestlé and Asda but struggled privately with imposter syndrome throughout her corporate career.
Ms Spence said: "I grew up on a council estate in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the 70s and 80s.
"I was a shy child and came from a very working-class background, but I worked hard and did really well at school.
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"However, my local comprehensive didn’t offer A-levels, so I left to do a full-time Youth Training Scheme, earning £29.50 a week at Marks & Spencer."
Encouraged to continue her education, she returned to college, eventually earning a degree in Business Studies and Management before building a successful corporate career.
Life coach Diane Spence (Image: Pic supplied)
Despite her achievements, Ms Spence said she battled persistent self-doubt and feelings of not belonging, which she believes were shaped by her early life experiences.
Ms Spence said: "Early in my career, I was in a performance appraisal, and my manager was giving me lots of really positive feedback.
"Suddenly, I started crying, as I realised I didn’t really believe it.
"That was a defining moment; it became clear that no amount of external validation or success could change my deeply held subconscious beliefs.
"I decided to start working on my self-development.
"After a lot of hard work, I overcame my self-limiting beliefs, which transformed my life.
"Now I help other women do the same."
She has since retrained as an accredited transformational life coach and breathwork facilitator, launching her own business, Diane Spence Coaching.
Her story led her to create The Subconscious Recode, a group programme designed to help ambitious women overcome self-limiting beliefs and achieve their full potential.
Ms Spence said: "There’s a wider, ongoing conversation about high-functioning women who look successful on the outside, with the career, qualifications and financial independence, yet feel like frauds, internally battling imposter syndrome, low confidence, perfectionism and chronic self-doubt.
Life Coach Diane Spence (Image: Pic supplied)
"I’ve distilled what took me years of learning, self-development, investment and trial and error into this programme, which addresses beliefs and patterns around self-doubt at a deeper level.
"I want to give ambitious women a much clearer and more direct route through the process so they can achieve their highest potential."
Launching at the end of October 2026, the 12-week online group programme combines coaching, breathwork, visualisation, strengths discovery and practical action, all rooted in Ms Spence’s professional training and lived experience.
Ms Spence said: "As a reformed over-thinker, my purpose is helping ambitious women get out of their own way and achieve their highest potential."
More information is available at www.dianespence.com.