Creating a Culture of Courage: Loz Antonenko Of Loz Life On How Authenticity Benefits People and Profits in the Workplace
An Interview With Vanessa Ogle
People should feel like they can express their ideas, concerns, and aspirations without fear of being shot down. Encourage open dialogue, even if it gets messy. Let people know that it’s okay to bring their whole selves to work — whether they’re having a great day or a terrible one. This kind of openness fosters trust and makes people feel safe to be who they are.
In today’s social media filled, fast-paced world, authenticity in the workplace and in our personal lives has become more difficult to come by. Business leaders must focus on the bottom line of profits and corporate success, but does that have to be at the expense of the authenticity of their employees? I believe it is quite the opposite. I know from my own experience that a culture of authenticity allows the hiring of a team that will bring their all to the workplace. That fosters innovation, creativity, and a level of success that few companies dream of. Yet, fostering an environment where individuals feel secure enough to express their true selves remains a challenge. The importance of authenticity cannot be overstated — it is the foundation of trust, innovation, and strong relationships. However, creating such a culture requires intention, understanding, and actionable strategies. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Loz Antonenko.
Loz Antonenko is a healthy habit coach, serial entrepreneur, author and public speaker. An AUSactive-accredited exercise professional, she is certified in fitness, pilates, cognitive behaviour therapy, life coaching, and more. Some of her awards include the National Personal Trainer of the Year, State Personal Trainer of the Year and State Exercise Instructor of the Year. She has helped 100s of people get the f*ck unstuck through simple changes to everyday habits.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
Being in business is like signing up for the best personal development course you could ever take. When people go into entrepreneurship, they often have this romanticised idea that everything will be grand — social media makes it seem that way, after all. But the reality is quite different. You find yourself constantly in a rat race, always feeling like there’s never enough of anything. You question your choices, wondering, “Why did I do this?” It’s easy to get caught up in the romanticised ideology of entrepreneurship, but the truth is, it’s not about the glitz and glamour — it’s about what you actually do and what the outcome is.
I’ve been in business since I was 15, and over the years, I’ve done so many different things, each one revealing more about who I am — a solutions-oriented person who absolutely hates being put in a box. It’s been a journey of trying to be better, to serve people more effectively, and not getting too caught up in the ‘how’. There are plenty of gurus out there who will tell you there’s only one way to succeed, but I’ve learned that the lesson is really in the journey itself. Mastery isn’t a destination — it’s a continuous process. You can only recognise it when you get there, and even then, it’s just the start of a new phase. Business isn’t a linear journey; it’s full of twists and turns.
One of the most interesting and transformative experiences for me was rewriting my book. Initially, the book was meant to be a polished, almost sanitised version of my journey — a neat and tidy package of what I thought my life and business should look like. But as I delved deeper into the process, I began to realise that the original version wasn’t authentic. It was more of a reflection of who I thought I should be rather than who I truly am.
Rewriting the book was like peeling back layers of my own experiences. It forced me to confront the reality that some of the darkest, most challenging moments of my life — the moments I would have rather forgotten — were actually the most pivotal in shaping who I am today. These were the moments that tested my resilience, pushed me to my limits, and made me question everything I thought I knew. But they were also the moments that taught me the most about myself and my capabilities.
When I look back at the most difficult times — whether facing personal loss, overcoming health challenges, or navigating the ups and downs of business — these experiences were not just hurdles to overcome. They were the experiences that equipped me with the strength, wisdom, and perspective to face future challenges with calm and confidence. Had those challenges not occurred, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today. They’ve built my resilience and given me the tools to handle whatever comes my way — even the challenges I don’t yet know exist.
Rewriting the book wasn’t just about editing the words; it was about rewriting the narrative of my life by embracing the messy, complicated, and often painful parts of my journey and recognising them as the foundation of my growth. It was during this process that I truly understood the value of those ‘worst moments.’ They weren’t failures or setbacks; they were catalysts for transformation. Having gone through that process, I feel more prepared than ever to tackle whatever lies ahead. The uncertainty doesn’t scare me as much, because I know I’ve been through tough times before, and I’ve come out the other side stronger and more capable.
You are a successful individual. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back — it’s about failing, knowing you’ll likely fail again, and still choosing to keep moving forward. Success is never a straight line, and resilience has been crucial in navigating the inevitable setbacks. There was a time when I launched a business venture that I was incredibly passionate about, but despite all the hard work, it didn’t take off as I’d hoped. It was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after investing so much time and energy. But instead of giving up, I took the lessons from that failure, applied them to my next venture, and kept going. I knew failure was part of the process, not the end of the road. Each time I’ve faced a setback, resilience has allowed me to view it as an opportunity to learn and grow, rather than a reason to quit.
Discipline isn’t just about sticking to a rigid routine; it’s about consistently showing up for the things that truly matter, even when it’s inconvenient. For me, discipline means prioritising my non-negotiable, like exercising every day. It doesn’t matter what that exercise looks like — some days it’s an intense workout, other days it’s just a walk — but it always happens. This kind of discipline extends to other areas of my life. When I’m at a social event like a birthday party and everyone is drinking, I make a conscious decision to put my health and well-being first. I’ll enjoy the company, but I won’t sacrifice my commitment to myself. This self-governance comes from keeping the big picture in mind and making choices that align with my long-term goals, rather than giving in to short-term temptations.
Service is a core value I believe is often overlooked in the pursuit of success. Early in my career, I was welded to tokenised versions of success — expensive handbags, nice suits, flashy cars. I measured my worth by what I could get. As I’ve grown, I’ve come to realise that true success isn’t about how much money you can make or the material possessions you accumulate. It’s about the impact you have on others. I’ve shifted my focus to taking every relationship I curate as an opportunity to learn, grow, and share. It’s not that I don’t still appreciate nice things, but they’re no longer my primary metric for success. Instead, I measure success by the positive impact I can make in someone’s life. There’s no number attached to that — it’s a feeling, a sense of fulfilment that comes from knowing you’ve made a difference. We have a biological life with a beginning and an end, but the impact you can leave at the end of your life is something people need to consider. Legacy of service defines success for me.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Can you share a pivotal moment in your career or personal life when being authentic made a significant impact on your success or well-being?
There were actually two pivotal moments in my life where authenticity played a huge role, though they took me in opposite directions before I found my balance.
Growing up, I never really valued how I looked. I was more focused on being smart, articulate, and capable. I even have this jacket I bought when I was nine — a boy’s top — because I wanted to be a boy at that time. My appearance was never something I paid much attention to.
But in 2014, I decided to get a nose job. I was sick and tired of not being able to breathe properly due to a deviated septum, and I hated the big lump on my nose. I saw an ENT, and they took the lump out. That surgery changed my life. I looked in the mirror afterwards and didn’t realise how much that one change could make me feel so different about myself. It was the beginning of me learning to accept myself. I went on to get breast augmentation the following year, and then, just when I started to feel more confident in my appearance, my first husband passed away.
There’s something powerful that happens when you change your physical appearance — something shifts inside of you. It’s like a marriage between the external and internal worlds that meet in the middle. But here’s the thing — I went too far in the opposite direction. I have ADHD, and tend to fixate on things. So I became obsessed with how I looked, to the point where it was at the expense of everything else in my life. I lost myself at the bottom of that bell curve, where my appearance became everything in the subculture I was embedded in — fitness. In that bubble, it was normal to be so focused on aesthetics, but it wasn’t until people outside my bubble started asking me, “What are you doing? What is your service? Why are you like this?” that I realised I had lost all my friends and a big part of myself.
It took some important people in my life, including the man who would become my second husband, to call me out on this. His opinion mattered to me, and it forced me to reflect: Is this the end of this phase for me? Is this just a thing? Am I finally out of my Barbie era?
But it’s never just one moment that leads to a realisation like this; it’s a string of moments. I hadn’t been listening to the voices that mattered. I didn’t want to be stuck at either end of the spectrum — whether it was completely disregarding my appearance or being wholly consumed by it. I wanted to find the sweet spot in the middle. I had to do what I needed to do to be the authentic me.
Authenticity is about finding that balance — it’s not all or nothing. I learned that I could be both intelligent and visionary, offer my landscape of lived experiences, look the part, and still be authentic. It’s about embracing all parts of myself, without letting any one aspect take over completely. That’s the sweet spot where I’ve found my true self, and it’s made all the difference in my life and career.
How do you navigate the challenges that come with encouraging authenticity in a diverse workplace, where different backgrounds and perspectives may sometimes lead to conflict?
I’ve learned a lot about authenticity through my life, and one of the biggest lessons has been understanding the importance of deep connections. Growing up, I had the same friends for most of my life. I changed schools at eight, and the friends I made then stuck with me for years. It was an amazing legacy of relationships, but as life moved on, those friends gradually drifted out of my circle. I had to learn the hard way that different people come into our lives for different reasons, and sometimes, you have to let go to move forward.
I realised how small my world had gotten. I had programmed myself into this exclusive little circle, and it was only when I began to recognise how limiting that was that I began to grow. You can’t replace the value of creating deep connections with people, and to do that, you have to let go of one-sided conversations and be open to new perspectives, even when they challenge you.
When my first husband died, a close friend told me I wasn’t giving anything in our relationship anymore. She was right — I had nothing left to give at that time. But through reflection and embracing empathy, I began to understand the importance of hindsight. Sometimes, you have to go through those tough moments to realise who you really are and what you’re capable of.
Encouraging authenticity in a diverse workplace is like trying to find the door to Narnia — you know it’s there, but you have to trust your instincts to find it. Authenticity isn’t something you can force or fake; you’ll feel it in your body when it’s right. It’s like coming home to a place you didn’t even know existed. I remember this feeling vividly when I saw my book come to life after rewriting it. The first version was bland, a reflection of what I thought I should be. But the revised version? That was me. I stared at photos of myself and thought, “There she is.” It was like finding a home I never knew I had.
It’s hard to be authentic when we’re constantly bombarded by external noise — what others say is authentic, what society expects of us. But true authenticity is about seeing yourself in all your glory, not blending in, and not giving a damn about fitting into someone else’s mould. Some people go through their entire lives without ever knowing who they really are because they’re too busy listening to other people’s opinions.
In a diverse workplace, people always have opinions on how you change, especially when you start embracing your true self. Just because those opinions exist doesn’t mean you have to embody them. If you want to wear a tutu to the supermarket and it feels right for you, then do it. Be you, unapologetically. Authenticity is about not blending in when you don’t want to. It’s about standing out in your own way and inspiring others to do the same.
It means encouraging everyone to find and express their true selves, even if it’s uncomfortable at times. Authenticity isn’t always a walk in the park. It’s messy, it’s raw, and it’s often a bit awkward. But that’s the point, isn’t it? It’s about creating a space where people can show up as they are, without feeling like they have to put on some kind of act just to fit in. No one should have to hide parts of themselves or conform to some arbitrary standard just to get by at work.
When people feel safe to be who they really are — without fear of judgement or the pressure to blend in — they start to shine. This kind of environment doesn’t just appear out of thin air; it has to be built. It starts with making it clear that everyone’s voice matters and that being different isn’t just accepted — it’s celebrated. It’s about recognising that we’re all coming from different places, with different stories, and that those differences are what make a team strong.
Leaders play a big role here. If they’re not showing up as their true selves, it’s going to be hard for anyone else to do the same. It’s about being real, admitting when you’ve messed up, and showing that growth comes from those screw-ups. When leaders are authentic, it gives everyone else permission to do the same.
But it’s more than just talking the talk — it’s about backing it up with action. It might mean shaking up the way things are done, whether that’s offering flexible work options, encouraging people to pursue what really fires them up, or just making it okay for someone to say, “Hey, this isn’t working for me.” It’s about letting people carve out their own path, not forcing them into some cookie-cutter mould.
When people are truly authentic, they’re not just going through the motions — they’re bringing all of themselves to the table. That’s when the real magic happens. Ideas start flying, collaboration gets deeper, and the energy just buzzes. It’s like everything clicks into place because people aren’t holding back. They’re not afraid to take risks or put themselves out there, because they know they’re in a space where they’re valued for who they are.
Encouraging authenticity isn’t just about making people feel good — it’s about tapping into something much bigger. It creates a work environment where people actually want to show up and do their best because they know they’re seen, heard, and appreciated for exactly who they are. That’s when you get a team that’s not just surviving, but thriving, and that’s where the real magic lives.
Based on your experience and research, can you please share “5 Ways to Create a Culture Where People Feel Safe to be Authentic?” What strategies have you found most effective in fostering an environment where employees or team members feel safe to express their true selves, including their ideas, concerns, and aspirations?
Confidence and Courage Look Different for Everyone
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that confidence and courage don’t look the same for everyone. What’s a walk in the park for one person might be a mountain to climb for another. You’ve got to create a space where everyone’s version of bravery is respected and encouraged. Don’t expect everyone to express themselves the same way. Instead, make room for those differences and understand that authenticity will look different depending on who you’re dealing with.
Be Clear on What You Want to Achieve
It’s crucial to bring yourself back to what you actually want to achieve. What’s your vision? If you’re clear on that, you can help others get clear on their own vision too. People need something to aim for, something that makes sense for them personally. If they’ve got that clarity, they’ll feel more secure in expressing themselves because they know where they’re headed and why.
Authenticity is Fluid
Authenticity isn’t a static thing — it moves and evolves. One day, being authentic might mean being vulnerable and open about your struggles. Another day, it might mean standing firm on your boundaries. The key is understanding what authenticity means for you and being okay with that definition changing over time. Don’t go around telling people you’re being authentic — just be it. Lead by example, whether that’s through sharing your own experiences, being transparent in your communication, or simply showing up as you are, flaws and all.
Encourage Expression
People should feel like they can express their ideas, concerns, and aspirations without fear of being shot down. Encourage open dialogue, even if it gets messy. Let people know that it’s okay to bring their whole selves to work — whether they’re having a great day or a terrible one. This kind of openness fosters trust and makes people feel safe to be who they are.
Don’t Just Talk the Talk — Walk the Walk
If you want to create a culture where people feel safe to be authentic, you’ve got to lead by example. It’s not enough to say you value authenticity — you’ve got to show it. This means admitting when you’re wrong, being transparent about your own struggles, and not being afraid to show your human side. When people see you being real, they’ll feel more comfortable being real too. It’s about creating a ripple effect that starts with you and spreads throughout the entire team.
In your opinion, how does authenticity within an organization influence its relationship with customers, clients, or the broader community?
Authenticity is everything. It’s not just about what happens inside the organisation; it’s how you show up in the world. When a business is genuine, people can feel it — it’s like a vibe. Customers, clients, the broader community — they all pick up on whether you’re the real deal or just putting on a front.
If you’re authentic, you build trust. People know what they see is what they get. You’re not hiding behind some corporate mask or trying to be something you’re not. And that trust? It’s gold. It’s what makes customers keep coming back, what makes clients want to work with you again, and what makes the community see you as more than just another business on the block.
When you’re real, you don’t have to constantly prove yourself, because your actions speak louder than any marketing campaign. If you mess up — and let’s be honest, everyone does — you own it. You say, “Yeah, that wasn’t our best moment, but here’s what we’re doing to fix it.” People appreciate such honesty because it’s so rare. It makes them more forgiving, more likely to stick with you through the rough patches, because they know you’re not just blowing smoke.
In the bigger picture, authenticity turns you into a player in the community. It’s not just about making money; it’s about making a difference. When your values are clear, and you live by them, people notice. You’re not just talking the talk — you’re walking the walk. That’s when you start to build real connections, not just with your customers and clients, but also with the community. You’re seen as a business that actually gives a damn, and that’s powerful.
Authenticity matters. It influences everything — how people see you, how they interact with you, and whether they’re willing to stand by you. There’s so much fake in the world that being real sets you apart.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Your life is not confined to what you put on the internet. What happens offline matters more than anything. We feel like we always have to share ourselves. It means we often disengage from showing people all the things in our life, thinking people just want to see sunshine and rainbows. I want people to be more in the moment.
If I could kick start a movement, it would be about unplugging from the noise and getting back to what really matters — living life offline. We’ve gotten so caught up in this idea that our lives are defined by what we post on the internet. But here’s the truth: what happens offline is what counts. When you’re lying on your deathbed, you’re not going to be thinking about the filters you used, the music in your reels, or the outfit you wore to impress strangers on the internet. You’re going to think about the people you spent time with, the relationships you built, and the experiences you lived through.
I’d encourage people to disconnect from devices and reconnect with their lives. It’s about being in the moment, not just capturing it for likes or shares. Put down the phone and actually engage with the world around you — listening, laughing, learning. We need to stop feeling like we have to share every little thing we do. Sometimes, the most meaningful moments are the ones we keep to ourselves.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-technology. I get that AI and all these tools are there to help us. But that’s just it — they’re tools. They’re there to give us the opportunity to live our lives as human beings, not to replace the human experience. We don’t have to do all the stuff ourselves, but we need to make sure that the things we choose are meaningful.
My movement would be about thinking more with our hearts and less with our screens. Have experiences that matter, build relationships that last, and live a life that feels full — not just one that looks good online. If more people could embrace that, I think we’d all be a lot happier and more connected in the ways that actually matter.
How can our readers further follow you online?
My website — Loz Antonenko — Professional Speaker and Lifestyle Coach
Social media — Facebook — (2) Facebook, LinkedIn — (11) Lauren (Loz) Antonenko | LinkedIn, Instagram Lauren ‘Loz’ Antonenko (@lozantonenko) • Instagram photos and videos
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year, among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.
Creating a Culture of Courage: Loz Antonenko Of Loz Life On How Authenticity Benefits People and… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.