“You Don’t Look Sensitive” with Chris Kirk
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What if the person you assumed was the toughest in the room was also the most sensitive? As the saying goes – don’t judge a book by its cover – but let’s be real, we still do. And when someone like Chris walks into the room, those assumptions kick in fast.
In this episode of The Sensitive Professionals Podcast, I’m joined by Chris Kirk, senior risk and control manager at Monzo Bank and a former Royal Marine Commando. With a background spanning counter-terrorism, operating model transformation, and financial services, Chris brings a unique lens to what it means to be a sensitive professional in traditionally ‘tough’ environments.
We’re talking about:
· What it's really like to be sensitive in the military
· The hidden assumptions people make based on your background
· The emotional toll of high-performance cultures – and how to recover
· What good management and work culture really looks like for sensitive professionals
· The role of stoicism in staying steady without shutting down
If you’ve ever felt like you had to compress parts of yourself just to belong at work – especially in environments that don’t reward emotional openness – this conversation is for you.
Resources from this episode
About your host
Hi, I’m Teresa—career coach, ex-corporate insider, and proud sensitive professional.
After 20+ years in high-pressure roles—often as the only woman in the room, quietly absorbing everything while others talked over each other—I know what it’s like to feel out of place in environments that prize boldness over nuance and speed over substance.
But here’s what I discovered: sensitivity wasn’t a weakness—it was my greatest advantage.
Now, I help ambitious, sensitive professionals like you turn struggles into strengths and build careers that feel as good as they look—without burnout, bravado, or trying to be someone you’re not.
© Practical Feeling. Everything shared here is for information and reflection – not professional advice. Please use your judgement before taking action based on anything you hear. Practical Feeling accepts no responsibility for any decisions made in connection with the content.
