Building Inner Confidence

PurpleSpace is on a mission to develop the inner confidence of every disabled employee so that we all feel able to share aspects of our story, and to request the adjustments or accommodations we need to thrive.

We have designed this course to support employees with disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health conditions and neurodivergence to build their inner confidence and personal resilience.

This course is split up into 14 bite size units below however if you would prefer to access the course as one video the Full Course Video is also available.

Introduction

We believe that confidence is
‘a strong expectation of a positive outcome’.
It’s a skill that can be developed by understanding the fundamentals and hurdles of building inner confidence.

Fundamentals of Building Confidence

Here we explore six fundamentals in building inner confidence

Fundamental One

We need to make sense of, and assimilate, new parts of our identity.
Featuring Capita Army Recruiting Group’s Damian Riley and MSD’s Jean Co.

Fundamental Two

We have to recognize the possibility that others may not understand the impact of our disability or long-term condition.
Featuring Natwest Group’s Suzanne Rodway and Nestlé’s Katia Regina.

Fundamental Three

Take a proactive role in understanding the adjustment or accommodation that you need.
Featuring Fastmarket’s Toby Burton and Tesco’s Russel Price

Fundamental Four

It can be useful to get comfortable in sharing some of our story.
Featuring Sara Weller (Non-executive Director at BT Group and Virgin Money and Chair of the Money and Pension Service) and EY’s Mike Zehetmayr.

Fundamental Five

Others may not get it right when it comes to our personal language preferences or offering help.
Featuring Leanne Cahill (former CEO of Bravissimo) and Zain Group’s Waad AlAzmi

Fundamental Six

Network and connect with others who have built their confidence
Featuring Novartis’ Pavan Kumar Vasalamarr and Oracle’s Rachel Magario

Hurdles to Building Confidence

We also need to have an understanding of the 6 hurdles we might encounter on the journey to building our confidence.

Hurdle One

Getting stuck in self-limiting beliefs
Featuring Sanctuary Group’s Nathan Warren and Sanofi’s Leon Ochiai.

Hurdle Two

Thinking the first successful conversation will mean all conversations will go well
Featuring Serco’s Annette Moody

Hurdle Three

Not considering others perspective
Featuring Fastmarket’s Toby Burton and Capita Army Recruiting Group’s Damian Riley

Hurdle Four

Assuming negative intent
Featuring Michelle Irving, Founder, Chronic Illness At Work.

Hurdle Five

Not anticipating the inevitable setback
Featuring Leanne Cahill (former CEO of Bravissimo)

Hurdle Six

Being over-confident
Featuring Nationwide’s Andrew Hinstridge.

Conclusion

During this course, we have discovered that confidence in managing work interactions is a mindset and a skill we can develop and improve over time. Whilst there are many hurdles to building confidence from getting stuck in self-limiting beliefs to being over confidence, there are also fundamentals to building confidence like making sense of a new identify to networking with, and learning from other disabled employees.

Spreading confidence on 3 December 2025 (UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities)

Now that you have completed the course, we would love you to share the learnings you have taken away and encourage others to complete the course as part of our unified action on 3 December 2025 to flood the social airwaves.

You can claim your completion certificate along with a LinkedIn suggested template to share by completing a 2 minute survey.

Coming in 2026 you’ll find our Inner Confidence Toolkit which includes our Confident Conversations guides and podcast series featuring intimate conversations with guests offering their own models for building confidence and sharing stand-out lessons which employees can apply at work

Claim Your Certificate