April 14, 2025 • 26 mins
Comments, questions? Let's connect!
Authenticity isn't just a buzzword—it's a transformative force that reshapes every aspect of our lives. In this captivating conversation with Ksenia Belova, we journey through her remarkable transformation from corporate marketing executive to award-winning personal branding photographer.
Ksenia's story begins with a life-altering volunteer trip to Africa that forced her to confront the gap between her external success and internal emptiness. Within days of returning, she resigned from her prestigious position, and six months later, boarded a one-way flight to Australia—embarking on a path that would allow her to help others discover their authentic selves through her camera lens.
What makes this conversation so powerful is Ksenia's ability to articulate the profound ripple effects of authentic living. "Everything outside is a reflection of who we are at the stage we are at," she explains, revealing how our relationships, opportunities, and challenges mirror our internal alignment. Through her work photographing over 400 personal branding clients, she's witnessed countless breakthroughs as people recognize and embrace their true selves—often for the first time.
The most compelling insight may be Ksenia's observation about the fear of visibility: "The fear of being seen by the world also comes from the fear of being seen by yourself." This perspective shifts the conversation from external judgment to internal alignment, especially for those in leadership positions struggling with authenticity. When your purpose becomes bigger than your fear, everything transforms.
Ready to stop hiding your light and discover what happens when you fully embrace your authentic self? This episode might just be the permission slip you've been waiting for.
Want to connect with Ksenia?
➡️https://www.kseniabelova.com/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jolynne Rydz (00:00):
Today I'm so excited to introduce to you the
incredible Ksenia Belova.
Ksenia isn't just aninternational award-winning
personal branding photographer.
She's also a NLP masterpractitioner, a former marketing
executive and a best-sellingauthor and an inspiring mentor.
(00:21):
With over a decade ofexperience from both sides of
the camera, from the runways ofMilan Fashion Week through to
over 400 personal brandingshoots, she has this uncanny
ability to help you discover andshowcase the real, unique you.
And what I love most aboutKsenia is her infectious energy.
(00:44):
She creates a safe, upliftingspace where self-doubt melts
away and you're empowered toexpress yourself fearlessly,
sometimes even with aspontaneous dance break or a
giggle.
And through her lens, everyimage isn't just a photograph.
It's a story of confidence,passion and authenticity.
(01:07):
So if you're ready to embracewho you are and let your true
light shine, please join me inwelcoming the incredible Ksenia
Bulova to the podcast.
Ksenia Belova (01:20):
Now I'm going to laugh.
Jolynne Rydz (01:24):
That's good.
Hi, ksenia, welcome into thepodcast.
So excited to finally have youhere, thank you so?
Much for having me.
You're welcome Now.
This podcast has been a longtime in the making, so very much
looking forward to seeing whatyou bring and what you share
today, because you're one ofthose people.
(01:45):
The first time I met you, youjust were able to connect in
such a wholesome way, and Ithink that's actually something
quite rare in the world, so it'sone of the reasons why I wanted
to bring you along today.
So thank you so much for coming.
Ksenia Belova (02:00):
Thank you, I'm very humbled.
Jolynne Rydz (02:02):
You're welcome, so I thought I'd start by just
letting the audience understanda little bit about how you got
to where you are.
So you've clearly had quite avaried background, and can you
tell us what was the pivotingmoment that got you to step into
personal branding photography,and maybe even what is that?
Ksenia Belova (02:22):
for some people that might be unfamiliar with
the term, photography, and maybeeven what is that for some
people that might be unfamiliarwith the term, sure, so personal
branding, and then photographyis part of it.
Personal branding is yourpersonal brand, so you are the
product.
This is the way how you show upin the world, how people see
you, what's your image, what'syour energy, so so basically,
(02:43):
it's the whole packaging, how,how you show up in the world.
So that's that's a very um like, in a nutshell, what personal
branding is, and photography ispart of it.
Um, so, how I got into personalbranding photography, I started
about 12 years ago.
I started with fashionphotography and I'm coming from
(03:05):
a corporate background, so Icompletely switched my careers.
And when I moved to Australia,so I just totally, totally
different, fresh start.
So I started as a fashionphotographer, moved through the
years, I moved into personalportraits for women, into
personal portraits for women, sobasically I was bringing the
(03:31):
being a model for a day foreveryday women with the whole
experience.
And then one of my clients askedme to take LinkedIn photo for
her and I'm like, yeah, sure,okay.
And this is how it all started,because I'm like, wow, this is
so cool.
I can now merge all the partsof photography and all the parts
that I love into one area ofphotography, and this is how I
(03:56):
started specializing in personalbranding branding that then,
about six years ago, it was nota thing yet, it was just
appearing, but people were notsure what it was, and so I've
blended in the aesthetics offashion that I still love the
beautiful connection with women,and then bringing that
(04:17):
authenticity and that beautyinternal and external beauty and
then blending it with business,because I'm obsessed with
business.
I love hearing stories of howpeople build their businesses,
at what stages they're at, and Ijust love bringing into that
(04:37):
magic into themselves, becauseonce they see themselves as who
they are the version that theyprobably haven't seen before,
then it reflects on theirbusiness as well, Because
they're so confident and soaligned and so just really
(04:58):
feeling themselves.
Their business basically startsto flourish because they are
proud to put themselves outthere.
Jolynne Rydz (05:08):
Yeah, I love that, and it's almost like this gift
you bring, like seeing the realperson before they even see
themselves, wow.
And then bringing the fashionaspect, the pictures and the
business all aligned together,because I think alignment is so
incredibly powerful.
And there's one thing youmentioned in terms of you, you
know, moved countries and youleft corporate and wanted a
(05:30):
fresh start.
What was it about that thatmade you go?
No, I need a fresh start.
Ksenia Belova (05:39):
Um, so there was a pivotal moment.
So while I was working incorporate, I loved my job I
worked in marketing at a bigmultinational company in Italy,
because I lived in Italy formany years.
Um, I, uh, I was working a lot.
I was working for three peoplebecause I'm such a workaholic
(06:01):
and such a perfectionist, so Ifelt like I need to give, give,
give, give.
And then I've always had adream to go to Africa to
volunteer.
So I went to Africa, I had anopportunity and I spent three
weeks there and when I came backtwo days later I resigned from
(06:21):
my job.
That was one of those pivotalmoments that made me realize
that the life I was living wasnot authentic, that I was faking
a lot, I was not being myself.
I was being someone who Ithought people wanted me to be,
(06:42):
because I didn't have adifferent perspective, because
everyone around me was doingthat.
So I was all about designerbags, designer clothes, like
really that external confidence.
But internally I was like I wasreally, yeah, I was doubting
(07:04):
myself a lot, I was questioningmyself a lot, and so that trip
to Africa made me realize thatthose I was working in this
orphanage, where kids hadnothing, they didn't even have
parents and they were still sohappy and they were smiling,
with nothing you could give thema hug.
(07:24):
They were the happiest peopleon on earth and I'm like, wow,
and I'm here complaining aboutmy life and I'm living in Italy.
You know, I'm going to likefancy clubs and things and I can
buy whatever I want, but I wasso unhappy so that something
clicked during that trip, duringthat experience, and again I
(07:48):
resigned from my job and sixmonths later I took a one-way
ticket to Australia.
Jolynne Rydz (07:55):
Wow, that's incredible and I love that.
In terms of that, listening tothat yearning to going to
volunteer, it's almost like youknow somewhere some down the
track you were meant to go dothat and then removing yourself
from the everyday, like thepeople around you, the
structures that you've beenbrought up in as to what's
normal and what's what youshould be doing and what you
(08:17):
should be looking like, and thenjust seeing a complete
different perspective.
It's incredible to hear thepower of that and how you're now
doing what you do, which is sobeautiful.
Thank you so much for sharingthat.
So you're a business owner,you're a leader yourself, and
you also work with countlessleaders in their own businesses
too, across all differentindustries.
(08:39):
I'm curious to know howimportant is it for people to
show up as their authentic selfand what happens when they don't
?
Ksenia Belova (08:49):
Authenticity is one of my words.
Alignment, authenticity andflow these are my three main
words that are constantly in mybrain, in my vocabulary, in my
so I'm leaving that.
Authenticity is something isspeaking your truth, but
(09:10):
speaking your truth withyourself as well, because
sometimes it can be confronting,like really tapping into who
you are, what's your core, core,who you are at the core, taking
away all the layers, all thefluffy stuff, but at a core and
(09:30):
it can be again.
It can be confronting becausesometimes there are things that
you don't want to see, someshadow parts, but it's also
accepting that, that it's partof you, your uniqueness and
being so okay with yourself andembodying yourself and who you
(09:51):
are, so that you show up as youare.
You don't have to be anyoneelse.
It's that understanding is thatno one else is you and you play
by your own rules.
It takes a lot of courage toreally really be authentic
(10:13):
Because, again, the societytells us that we have to be a
certain way, especially if youwork in certain jobs that you
know you have to look like this,you have to talk like this,
like it's all those rules, rules, rules.
But when you are speaking yourtruth, but speaking your truth
within your mind as well, andyour heart.
(10:33):
You just can't fake it anymore,you can't unsee it and when you
are not authentic, you'll gointo.
And I'm talking about it soconfidently because I went
through different stages and Iam in this stage now of I am, I
(10:54):
know who I am and I'm proud ofwho I am and all the journey
that I've done so far.
So now it's just getting betterand better and better, because
I'm so in tune with myself andwith my intuition, because I
remember when I was notauthentic, it costed me
(11:14):
relationships because I wasattracting people who were
mirroring me at that time.
So that was a big thing.
So relationships, friendships,jobs, everything because we
everything outside is areflection of us at the stage we
are at.
Jolynne Rydz (11:35):
I love that.
Can we just repeat that again,because I think that was
beautiful.
Ksenia Belova (11:39):
So everything around us and everyone around us
is a reflection of who we areat the stage we are at.
Jolynne Rydz (11:49):
I love that because in so, I'm a coach as
well, as you know, and one ofthe things that we I was taught
in coaching is if you're gettingreally peeved with someone,
what is it in them that youdislike about yourself?
And I think it's one of thehardest questions to answer,
because you're like no way Idon't like that person.
Why would I be anything likethem?
(12:10):
But it's, yeah, it's such apowerful thing to sit with like
what am I?
What's reflecting back at mebecause of what I'm putting out?
Ksenia Belova (12:19):
Yes, and on the flip side, yeah.
Everything you see in otherpeople that you admire is within
you yes, yes, because otherwiseyou wouldn't see it right you
see it I love that balance yes,oh, that's so cool.
So that lack of authenticity andnot living your truth and not
leaving your uh, sole purpose.
(12:41):
I know it's a big word, likeit's a big statement, but that
sole purpose, that yearning fordoing something impactful and
really feeling what it is, andgetting to the stage where
you're living your life throughyour sole purpose, you're just
(13:03):
literally following your heartand doing everything with not
from here, not from the mind,but from your heart, it just
life becomes so abundant.
Everything is flourishing andthere are ups and downs,
obviously, like they're good,good, you know, everything is
(13:24):
duality, like we all have wewouldn't have light without the
darkness.
But once you are in that stageof true, full authenticity and
realness, you can't go back, youcan't unsee things you can't
like.
The people that you areinviting in your world are
(13:46):
completely different.
You're just literally changingyour frequency and once that
happens again, it's thatalignment and that feeling of
peace, because you're not inconflict with yourself, you're
not fighting between who am Isupposed to be and who I
actually am.
So there is no gap.
Jolynne Rydz (14:10):
Oh, this is so cool.
So, as we were preparing forthis podcast, I was telling
Ksenia that I often go offscript and this is one of those
moments because they're notscripted questions but we have a
bit of a topic that we're goingto stick to.
But, like, you just uncoveredsomething I think really
profound in terms of, like, howmany people are out there
(14:32):
feeling this deep calling to dosomething, but for so many
different reasons they'rebacking away from what that is.
And like, what's the impactthat that's having on people's
wellbeing, on their ability todo their job, on their
confidence, on their self-belief?
Like, I think, is thatsomething you see in what you do
(14:57):
?
Like, can you tell the peoplewhere they may be hiding away
from that, versus the peoplethat have found that sole
purpose and are leaning into it?
Ksenia Belova (15:08):
I do see it.
Yeah.
Because I'm living myauthenticity.
I'm attracting clients who areliving their purpose.
So I work with women who have abusiness, but they have it,
they're purpose-driven, they'renot transactional businesses.
(15:28):
They don't do it just for money, because money is only the
consequence.
It's energy, because once youput that purpose out there, it's
so much bigger than anythingelse.
It's yeah, it's completelydifferent.
So money is just, you know,it's just a transaction.
So I see it less and less in mywork now because, again, it
(15:51):
it's all law of attraction.
So I'm attracting clientssimilar to me, like at different
stages, and differentpersonalities, but again we've
got very similar values, whichis is so interesting because
once I have made a decision toreally dive into myself, work on
myself, do personal development, grow, grow, grow, work, fall,
(16:16):
raise, you know, like acceptingthat it's a journey and bouncing
my head off the wall sometimesbouncing my head off the wall.
sometimes, once I decided, Imade a decision for myself, my
whole life changed because thatlaw of attraction, it's that
magnetism.
It's become so easy and this isalso partly answering your
(16:42):
previous question about ifyou're not authentic, what will
happen your previous questionabout you know, if you're not
authentic, what will happen?
Like do you really want to livelife not at your full potential?
Life is so short.
Like what if tomorrow we gethit by a bus?
Like how I've read this quotethe other day um, so hell on
(17:06):
earth is when you meet theversion of yourself that you
could have been but you haven't.
So it's that difference.
Like, are you really doing yourbest to get all the potential
(17:26):
out of yourself and all yourgifts?
Because sometimes we don't evenknow what our gifts are,
because we're so scared to eventry to even go.
And there's so much fear ofbeing seen and I know we've
spoken about it at our photoshoot that fear of being seen,
of really being seen by theworld.
(17:48):
But from my experience, from myintuition as well, it also
comes from the fear of beingseen by yourself, because if you
can see yourself fully and ifyou have a bigger purpose, the
purpose is bigger than your fear.
Jolynne Rydz (18:06):
If you have a bigger purpose, your purpose is
bigger than your fear.
Yes, yes.
And as you were talking,there's so many things popping
into my head right now.
I'm like, where do I start?
One of them that I just have toshare because it's, I think,
evidence of that, that alignmentand that magnetism of people
that are like-minded to you was.
You shared your, you weretalking about authenticity flow,
(18:29):
and there was one more beingthe three words, or almost your
three values, intuition.
Yeah, so my three values areauthenticity, thriving and
impact.
So it's so funny like it's veryso similar and we've never
talked about that, but it'sfunny how they just have
attracted each other and here weare.
So I'm just having a thinkabout where we can take this
(18:53):
conversation next, becausethere's so many things that I
want.
I think I could talk to you forhours, but we'll save that for
another day.
Okay, I think I do want todelve into the point about being
seen, because quite a few ofour listeners are women and I
think for women, there is thistendency to not feel seen, but
(19:16):
also for people that are moreintroverted, who want to stay in
the back seat rather than be atthe front, even if they are in
a leadership role.
So that wanting to hide away,what is it?
Ksenia Belova (19:39):
that you think helps people to realise they're
worth being seen.
That's a very deep question.
I love good questions, look,being seen, and I think about it
and and I actually I wasplanning even to write a book
about it Tell us more, transformyour perception of yourself
(20:17):
because, again, camera is onlythe tool.
It's, it's never about thephotos itself.
It's about the feeling that youget when you're in front of
that camera and how you feel,and you could probably relate,
because you were yeah, you werein front of my lens.
Jolynne Rydz (20:32):
Yeah, so for those listening, ksenia's done my
branding photos.
So if you see them and lovethem, like she's incredible,
right, it's all her work.
But it was really interestingbecause I remember on my photo
shoot we were pretty early on inthe day and you said to me you
really think you need to beserious, don't you?
And I was like yeah, becauseyou know I'm working with
(20:57):
corporates and leaders and Ihave to show up with authority
and be seen as credible.
So I have to be serious.
And you just kind of looked atme and laughed, which was so
beautiful because it made me go.
Well, actually, I do feelawkward in this suit jacket and
I do feel awkward in this suitjacket and I do feel awkward,
like trying to look into thecamera, like if you talk about
the feeling that the camera gaveme, it was like, oh, this is so
(21:20):
revealing, but also I'm sittinghere not being me, and as the
day unfolded, you and Justinewere incredible.
So Justine, also incrediblemakeup artist, who was there on
the day as well.
Yeah, just helped me, be me andhave fun, because you were both
(21:43):
being yourself.
I could tell from the get-gothat you were just both you and
that was it.
Like take it or leave it.
You don't like this.
Yeah, you're in the wrong place.
You and that was it.
Like take it or leave it, youdon't like this.
Yeah, you're in the wrong place.
So I want to thank you becauseI think that's a real skill to
be able to bring that out inpeople, and when I got the
photos, there were so many tochoose from and I wanted nearly
(22:04):
all of them, except the oneswhere I was serious.
They were actually awful, theylooked so bad, um, so you can
somehow tell, I think, when,when someone is got that wall up
, would you, would you agree?
Ksenia Belova (22:18):
absolutely.
I actually had a shootyesterday and we were doing
different looks, um, but theclient she was.
So I was, because I shoot forthe future most of the time,
because I I see potential.
I can't describe it in words,but I just, while I'm in the
studio, I channel and I justcreate on the go and I see
(22:39):
things that, again, I can'texplain.
I'm just following my intuition, because I'm so trusting my
intuition.
And so, with that client, wedid quite a few looks and most
of them were very gentle, veryfeminine, and because she's
working in corporate and she'stransitioning now to her own
(23:00):
business, she's like oh yeah,well, I need some corporate
shots and stuff.
So the moment we put the jacketon her, I could see the shift
in the energy.
It was so interesting to watch.
I said okay let's do one set.
She's like I'm really feelingweird after we've done all that,
you know, gentle softness.
(23:20):
I'm like, no, no, let's do it,because I wanted to prove a
point.
So she was having thattransitional moment right at
that set when she was realizinghow much she was not aligned
with what she's doing and howmuch she's yearning to really go
all in in her coaching business.
(23:42):
She's a life coach and that wasbeautiful to watch because I,
literally, I could see it in theface, I could see it in the
body language.
Beautiful to watch because I,literally, I could see it in the
face, I could see it in thebody language.
I'm like I wanted you to to tryit, not because I want to force
you to do something, but Iwanted you to really feel that.
So that was really like abreakthrough moment for her and
extra confirmation.
(24:03):
And it happens all the timebecause I like to push the
limits and the boundaries,because that's the only way you
can really crash through thatceiling, like that glass wall of
yourself.
Yeah.
Jolynne Rydz (24:19):
Yeah, and I love that.
And I want to build on thatbecause I think I often see in
leaders and teams there's thishesitancy to push the boundaries
, because people don't want tocome across as mean, they don't
want to hurt people, they don'twant to make them uncomfortable.
So can you talk to us moreabout that importance of just
holding that space?
(24:40):
I trust you are finding thisconversation so insightful and
thought provoking.
Here's a little pause that youcan use if you need to.
I know how hard it is to splitup these big podcast episodes,
so if you need to take a break,I recommend you duck out now and
then tune into the part two,which is already up and
(25:01):
available for you when you nextcan.
And we'll see you next time.
Remember, you were born for areason.
It's time to thrive.
Today I'm so excited to introduce to you the
incredible Ksenia Belova.
Ksenia isn't just aninternational award-winning
personal branding photographer.
She's also a NLP masterpractitioner, a former marketing
executive and a best-sellingauthor and an inspiring mentor.
(00:21):
With over a decade ofexperience from both sides of
the camera, from the runways ofMilan Fashion Week through to
over 400 personal brandingshoots, she has this uncanny
ability to help you discover andshowcase the real, unique you.
And what I love most aboutKsenia is her infectious energy.
(00:44):
She creates a safe, upliftingspace where self-doubt melts
away and you're empowered toexpress yourself fearlessly,
sometimes even with aspontaneous dance break or a
giggle.
And through her lens, everyimage isn't just a photograph.
It's a story of confidence,passion and authenticity.
(01:07):
So if you're ready to embracewho you are and let your true
light shine, please join me inwelcoming the incredible Ksenia
Bulova to the podcast.
Ksenia Belova (01:20):
Now I'm going to laugh.
Jolynne Rydz (01:24):
That's good.
Hi, ksenia, welcome into thepodcast.
So excited to finally have youhere, thank you so?
Much for having me.
You're welcome Now.
This podcast has been a longtime in the making, so very much
looking forward to seeing whatyou bring and what you share
today, because you're one ofthose people.
(01:45):
The first time I met you, youjust were able to connect in
such a wholesome way, and Ithink that's actually something
quite rare in the world, so it'sone of the reasons why I wanted
to bring you along today.
So thank you so much for coming.
Ksenia Belova (02:00):
Thank you, I'm very humbled.
Jolynne Rydz (02:02):
You're welcome, so I thought I'd start by just
letting the audience understanda little bit about how you got
to where you are.
So you've clearly had quite avaried background, and can you
tell us what was the pivotingmoment that got you to step into
personal branding photography,and maybe even what is that?
Ksenia Belova (02:22):
for some people that might be unfamiliar with
the term, photography, and maybeeven what is that for some
people that might be unfamiliarwith the term, sure, so personal
branding, and then photographyis part of it.
Personal branding is yourpersonal brand, so you are the
product.
This is the way how you show upin the world, how people see
you, what's your image, what'syour energy, so so basically,
(02:43):
it's the whole packaging, how,how you show up in the world.
So that's that's a very um like, in a nutshell, what personal
branding is, and photography ispart of it.
Um, so, how I got into personalbranding photography, I started
about 12 years ago.
I started with fashionphotography and I'm coming from
(03:05):
a corporate background, so Icompletely switched my careers.
And when I moved to Australia,so I just totally, totally
different, fresh start.
So I started as a fashionphotographer, moved through the
years, I moved into personalportraits for women, into
personal portraits for women, sobasically I was bringing the
(03:31):
being a model for a day foreveryday women with the whole
experience.
And then one of my clients askedme to take LinkedIn photo for
her and I'm like, yeah, sure,okay.
And this is how it all started,because I'm like, wow, this is
so cool.
I can now merge all the partsof photography and all the parts
that I love into one area ofphotography, and this is how I
(03:56):
started specializing in personalbranding branding that then,
about six years ago, it was nota thing yet, it was just
appearing, but people were notsure what it was, and so I've
blended in the aesthetics offashion that I still love the
beautiful connection with women,and then bringing that
(04:17):
authenticity and that beautyinternal and external beauty and
then blending it with business,because I'm obsessed with
business.
I love hearing stories of howpeople build their businesses,
at what stages they're at, and Ijust love bringing into that
(04:37):
magic into themselves, becauseonce they see themselves as who
they are the version that theyprobably haven't seen before,
then it reflects on theirbusiness as well, Because
they're so confident and soaligned and so just really
(04:58):
feeling themselves.
Their business basically startsto flourish because they are
proud to put themselves outthere.
Jolynne Rydz (05:08):
Yeah, I love that, and it's almost like this gift
you bring, like seeing the realperson before they even see
themselves, wow.
And then bringing the fashionaspect, the pictures and the
business all aligned together,because I think alignment is so
incredibly powerful.
And there's one thing youmentioned in terms of you, you
know, moved countries and youleft corporate and wanted a
(05:30):
fresh start.
What was it about that thatmade you go?
No, I need a fresh start.
Ksenia Belova (05:39):
Um, so there was a pivotal moment.
So while I was working incorporate, I loved my job I
worked in marketing at a bigmultinational company in Italy,
because I lived in Italy formany years.
Um, I, uh, I was working a lot.
I was working for three peoplebecause I'm such a workaholic
(06:01):
and such a perfectionist, so Ifelt like I need to give, give,
give, give.
And then I've always had adream to go to Africa to
volunteer.
So I went to Africa, I had anopportunity and I spent three
weeks there and when I came backtwo days later I resigned from
(06:21):
my job.
That was one of those pivotalmoments that made me realize
that the life I was living wasnot authentic, that I was faking
a lot, I was not being myself.
I was being someone who Ithought people wanted me to be,
(06:42):
because I didn't have adifferent perspective, because
everyone around me was doingthat.
So I was all about designerbags, designer clothes, like
really that external confidence.
But internally I was like I wasreally, yeah, I was doubting
(07:04):
myself a lot, I was questioningmyself a lot, and so that trip
to Africa made me realize thatthose I was working in this
orphanage, where kids hadnothing, they didn't even have
parents and they were still sohappy and they were smiling,
with nothing you could give thema hug.
(07:24):
They were the happiest peopleon on earth and I'm like, wow,
and I'm here complaining aboutmy life and I'm living in Italy.
You know, I'm going to likefancy clubs and things and I can
buy whatever I want, but I wasso unhappy so that something
clicked during that trip, duringthat experience, and again I
(07:48):
resigned from my job and sixmonths later I took a one-way
ticket to Australia.
Jolynne Rydz (07:55):
Wow, that's incredible and I love that.
In terms of that, listening tothat yearning to going to
volunteer, it's almost like youknow somewhere some down the
track you were meant to go dothat and then removing yourself
from the everyday, like thepeople around you, the
structures that you've beenbrought up in as to what's
normal and what's what youshould be doing and what you
(08:17):
should be looking like, and thenjust seeing a complete
different perspective.
It's incredible to hear thepower of that and how you're now
doing what you do, which is sobeautiful.
Thank you so much for sharingthat.
So you're a business owner,you're a leader yourself, and
you also work with countlessleaders in their own businesses
too, across all differentindustries.
(08:39):
I'm curious to know howimportant is it for people to
show up as their authentic selfand what happens when they don't
?
Ksenia Belova (08:49):
Authenticity is one of my words.
Alignment, authenticity andflow these are my three main
words that are constantly in mybrain, in my vocabulary, in my
so I'm leaving that.
Authenticity is something isspeaking your truth, but
(09:10):
speaking your truth withyourself as well, because
sometimes it can be confronting,like really tapping into who
you are, what's your core, core,who you are at the core, taking
away all the layers, all thefluffy stuff, but at a core and
(09:30):
it can be again.
It can be confronting becausesometimes there are things that
you don't want to see, someshadow parts, but it's also
accepting that, that it's partof you, your uniqueness and
being so okay with yourself andembodying yourself and who you
(09:51):
are, so that you show up as youare.
You don't have to be anyoneelse.
It's that understanding is thatno one else is you and you play
by your own rules.
It takes a lot of courage toreally really be authentic
(10:13):
Because, again, the societytells us that we have to be a
certain way, especially if youwork in certain jobs that you
know you have to look like this,you have to talk like this,
like it's all those rules, rules, rules.
But when you are speaking yourtruth, but speaking your truth
within your mind as well, andyour heart.
(10:33):
You just can't fake it anymore,you can't unsee it and when you
are not authentic, you'll gointo.
And I'm talking about it soconfidently because I went
through different stages and Iam in this stage now of I am, I
(10:54):
know who I am and I'm proud ofwho I am and all the journey
that I've done so far.
So now it's just getting betterand better and better, because
I'm so in tune with myself andwith my intuition, because I
remember when I was notauthentic, it costed me
(11:14):
relationships because I wasattracting people who were
mirroring me at that time.
So that was a big thing.
So relationships, friendships,jobs, everything because we
everything outside is areflection of us at the stage we
are at.
Jolynne Rydz (11:35):
I love that.
Can we just repeat that again,because I think that was
beautiful.
Ksenia Belova (11:39):
So everything around us and everyone around us
is a reflection of who we areat the stage we are at.
Jolynne Rydz (11:49):
I love that because in so, I'm a coach as
well, as you know, and one ofthe things that we I was taught
in coaching is if you're gettingreally peeved with someone,
what is it in them that youdislike about yourself?
And I think it's one of thehardest questions to answer,
because you're like no way Idon't like that person.
Why would I be anything likethem?
(12:10):
But it's, yeah, it's such apowerful thing to sit with like
what am I?
What's reflecting back at mebecause of what I'm putting out?
Ksenia Belova (12:19):
Yes, and on the flip side, yeah.
Everything you see in otherpeople that you admire is within
you yes, yes, because otherwiseyou wouldn't see it right you
see it I love that balance yes,oh, that's so cool.
So that lack of authenticity andnot living your truth and not
leaving your uh, sole purpose.
(12:41):
I know it's a big word, likeit's a big statement, but that
sole purpose, that yearning fordoing something impactful and
really feeling what it is, andgetting to the stage where
you're living your life throughyour sole purpose, you're just
(13:03):
literally following your heartand doing everything with not
from here, not from the mind,but from your heart, it just
life becomes so abundant.
Everything is flourishing andthere are ups and downs,
obviously, like they're good,good, you know, everything is
(13:24):
duality, like we all have wewouldn't have light without the
darkness.
But once you are in that stageof true, full authenticity and
realness, you can't go back, youcan't unsee things you can't
like.
The people that you areinviting in your world are
(13:46):
completely different.
You're just literally changingyour frequency and once that
happens again, it's thatalignment and that feeling of
peace, because you're not inconflict with yourself, you're
not fighting between who am Isupposed to be and who I
actually am.
So there is no gap.
Jolynne Rydz (14:10):
Oh, this is so cool.
So, as we were preparing forthis podcast, I was telling
Ksenia that I often go offscript and this is one of those
moments because they're notscripted questions but we have a
bit of a topic that we're goingto stick to.
But, like, you just uncoveredsomething I think really
profound in terms of, like, howmany people are out there
(14:32):
feeling this deep calling to dosomething, but for so many
different reasons they'rebacking away from what that is.
And like, what's the impactthat that's having on people's
wellbeing, on their ability todo their job, on their
confidence, on their self-belief?
Like, I think, is thatsomething you see in what you do
(14:57):
?
Like, can you tell the peoplewhere they may be hiding away
from that, versus the peoplethat have found that sole
purpose and are leaning into it?
Ksenia Belova (15:08):
I do see it.
Yeah.
Because I'm living myauthenticity.
I'm attracting clients who areliving their purpose.
So I work with women who have abusiness, but they have it,
they're purpose-driven, they'renot transactional businesses.
(15:28):
They don't do it just for money, because money is only the
consequence.
It's energy, because once youput that purpose out there, it's
so much bigger than anythingelse.
It's yeah, it's completelydifferent.
So money is just, you know,it's just a transaction.
So I see it less and less in mywork now because, again, it
(15:51):
it's all law of attraction.
So I'm attracting clientssimilar to me, like at different
stages, and differentpersonalities, but again we've
got very similar values, whichis is so interesting because
once I have made a decision toreally dive into myself, work on
myself, do personal development, grow, grow, grow, work, fall,
(16:16):
raise, you know, like acceptingthat it's a journey and bouncing
my head off the wall sometimesbouncing my head off the wall.
sometimes, once I decided, Imade a decision for myself, my
whole life changed because thatlaw of attraction, it's that
magnetism.
It's become so easy and this isalso partly answering your
(16:42):
previous question about ifyou're not authentic, what will
happen your previous questionabout you know, if you're not
authentic, what will happen?
Like do you really want to livelife not at your full potential?
Life is so short.
Like what if tomorrow we gethit by a bus?
Like how I've read this quotethe other day um, so hell on
(17:06):
earth is when you meet theversion of yourself that you
could have been but you haven't.
So it's that difference.
Like, are you really doing yourbest to get all the potential
(17:26):
out of yourself and all yourgifts?
Because sometimes we don't evenknow what our gifts are,
because we're so scared to eventry to even go.
And there's so much fear ofbeing seen and I know we've
spoken about it at our photoshoot that fear of being seen,
of really being seen by theworld.
(17:48):
But from my experience, from myintuition as well, it also
comes from the fear of beingseen by yourself, because if you
can see yourself fully and ifyou have a bigger purpose, the
purpose is bigger than your fear.
Jolynne Rydz (18:06):
If you have a bigger purpose, your purpose is
bigger than your fear.
Yes, yes.
And as you were talking,there's so many things popping
into my head right now.
I'm like, where do I start?
One of them that I just have toshare because it's, I think,
evidence of that, that alignmentand that magnetism of people
that are like-minded to you was.
You shared your, you weretalking about authenticity flow,
(18:29):
and there was one more beingthe three words, or almost your
three values, intuition.
Yeah, so my three values areauthenticity, thriving and
impact.
So it's so funny like it's veryso similar and we've never
talked about that, but it'sfunny how they just have
attracted each other and here weare.
So I'm just having a thinkabout where we can take this
(18:53):
conversation next, becausethere's so many things that I
want.
I think I could talk to you forhours, but we'll save that for
another day.
Okay, I think I do want todelve into the point about being
seen, because quite a few ofour listeners are women and I
think for women, there is thistendency to not feel seen, but
(19:16):
also for people that are moreintroverted, who want to stay in
the back seat rather than be atthe front, even if they are in
a leadership role.
So that wanting to hide away,what is it?
Ksenia Belova (19:39):
that you think helps people to realise they're
worth being seen.
That's a very deep question.
I love good questions, look,being seen, and I think about it
and and I actually I wasplanning even to write a book
about it Tell us more, transformyour perception of yourself
(20:17):
because, again, camera is onlythe tool.
It's, it's never about thephotos itself.
It's about the feeling that youget when you're in front of
that camera and how you feel,and you could probably relate,
because you were yeah, you werein front of my lens.
Jolynne Rydz (20:32):
Yeah, so for those listening, ksenia's done my
branding photos.
So if you see them and lovethem, like she's incredible,
right, it's all her work.
But it was really interestingbecause I remember on my photo
shoot we were pretty early on inthe day and you said to me you
really think you need to beserious, don't you?
And I was like yeah, becauseyou know I'm working with
(20:57):
corporates and leaders and Ihave to show up with authority
and be seen as credible.
So I have to be serious.
And you just kind of looked atme and laughed, which was so
beautiful because it made me go.
Well, actually, I do feelawkward in this suit jacket and
I do feel awkward in this suitjacket and I do feel awkward,
like trying to look into thecamera, like if you talk about
the feeling that the camera gaveme, it was like, oh, this is so
(21:20):
revealing, but also I'm sittinghere not being me, and as the
day unfolded, you and Justinewere incredible.
So Justine, also incrediblemakeup artist, who was there on
the day as well.
Yeah, just helped me, be me andhave fun, because you were both
(21:43):
being yourself.
I could tell from the get-gothat you were just both you and
that was it.
Like take it or leave it.
You don't like this.
Yeah, you're in the wrong place.
You and that was it.
Like take it or leave it, youdon't like this.
Yeah, you're in the wrong place.
So I want to thank you becauseI think that's a real skill to
be able to bring that out inpeople, and when I got the
photos, there were so many tochoose from and I wanted nearly
(22:04):
all of them, except the oneswhere I was serious.
They were actually awful, theylooked so bad, um, so you can
somehow tell, I think, when,when someone is got that wall up
, would you, would you agree?
Ksenia Belova (22:18):
absolutely.
I actually had a shootyesterday and we were doing
different looks, um, but theclient she was.
So I was, because I shoot forthe future most of the time,
because I I see potential.
I can't describe it in words,but I just, while I'm in the
studio, I channel and I justcreate on the go and I see
(22:39):
things that, again, I can'texplain.
I'm just following my intuition, because I'm so trusting my
intuition.
And so, with that client, wedid quite a few looks and most
of them were very gentle, veryfeminine, and because she's
working in corporate and she'stransitioning now to her own
(23:00):
business, she's like oh yeah,well, I need some corporate
shots and stuff.
So the moment we put the jacketon her, I could see the shift
in the energy.
It was so interesting to watch.
I said okay let's do one set.
She's like I'm really feelingweird after we've done all that,
you know, gentle softness.
(23:20):
I'm like, no, no, let's do it,because I wanted to prove a
point.
So she was having thattransitional moment right at
that set when she was realizinghow much she was not aligned
with what she's doing and howmuch she's yearning to really go
all in in her coaching business.
(23:42):
She's a life coach and that wasbeautiful to watch because I,
literally, I could see it in theface, I could see it in the
body language.
Beautiful to watch because I,literally, I could see it in the
face, I could see it in thebody language.
I'm like I wanted you to to tryit, not because I want to force
you to do something, but Iwanted you to really feel that.
So that was really like abreakthrough moment for her and
extra confirmation.
(24:03):
And it happens all the timebecause I like to push the
limits and the boundaries,because that's the only way you
can really crash through thatceiling, like that glass wall of
yourself.
Yeah.
Jolynne Rydz (24:19):
Yeah, and I love that.
And I want to build on thatbecause I think I often see in
leaders and teams there's thishesitancy to push the boundaries
, because people don't want tocome across as mean, they don't
want to hurt people, they don'twant to make them uncomfortable.
So can you talk to us moreabout that importance of just
holding that space?
(24:40):
I trust you are finding thisconversation so insightful and
thought provoking.
Here's a little pause that youcan use if you need to.
I know how hard it is to splitup these big podcast episodes,
so if you need to take a break,I recommend you duck out now and
then tune into the part two,which is already up and
(25:01):
available for you when you nextcan.
And we'll see you next time.
Remember, you were born for areason.
It's time to thrive.
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