#LifeLessons - Magda Snowden

NAME: Magda Snowden

AGE: 44

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: magdasnowden_offical

JOB TITLE: Mental Agility Expert

Magda Snowden is a seasoned healthcare executive, nurse, and mentally agile leadership coach with over two decades of experience spanning four countries and two continents. Driven by her deep curiosity about cultural intelligence and human psychology, Magda transitioned from her role as a nurse executive to become a mental agility expert, Mental Health First Aider (MHFA), and leadership coach. Her career pivot led to the creation of the 5-Step Mental Agility Framework, empowering healthcare professionals to manage stress, avoid burnout, and achieve long-term success. In addition to hosting weekly LinkedIn Live sessions on wellness, Magda is a passionate advocate for mental health. A fan of plant-based nutrition, which she has cultivated for over a decade, she also has a soft spot for Old Tyme Bulldogs.

 Today Magda shares her biggest life learnings to-date with us:

#LIFELESSON – 1 - Nursing is not your passion

When a senior leader told me a few years ago, "Nursing is not your passion," it felt like a blow. I had entered the nursing profession later in life, after completing my studies as a mature student, driven by a deep desire to care for others. For years, nursing had been my dream, so to hear this from someone I respected was a shock. At first, I struggled with the comment—how could someone say this when I had committed so much to the profession? But as I reflected on those words, I realized they contained valuable wisdom.

This feedback made me reconsider my path. Nursing had been my passion, however passions can shift and evolve. I came to see that I could still care for and empower others in different ways. Over time, I transitioned into coaching and mentoring, where I discovered another passion that was equally fulfilling. The values I had embraced in nursing—empathy, empowerment, and active listening—were just as relevant in coaching. Both professions focus on supporting others to become their best selves, whether through healing or personal growth. Realizing that I could have more than one passion expanded my worldview and allowed me to integrate my skills in a way that felt true to my evolving self.

#LIFELESSON – 2 - Communicating with Curiosity

In the middle of a tense conversation with a colleague, they turned to me and said, "Fed up of you talking about other people." This could have been a moment of conflict, but instead, I saw it as a powerful learning opportunity. Already adopting a coaching mindset, I realized that the way I was communicating wasn’t being received as I intended. I wasn’t complaining, but my words might have been landing that way for my colleague.

This experience taught me that communication is highly subjective. We each interpret language through the filters of our own backgrounds, experiences, and belief systems. I understood that if my message wasn’t being received well, I needed to adjust my approach. From that day forward, I became much more intentional about the words I used. I slowed down during conversations, giving myself space to hear my own voice and assess how it might be interpreted by others. This shift not only improved my communication but also allowed me to foster more positive interactions.

As a mental agility coach, I now help clients navigate similar situations. I’ve learned that there are no inherently difficult people—only people we haven’t yet figured out how to connect with. The key is to communicate in a way that resonates with them. This experience reinforced the principle that every situation offers an opportunity for growth, and it deepened my belief in the power of curiosity and empathy in communication.

#LIFELESSON – 3 - Understanding Healthy Resilience

For years, I prided myself on being resilient. No matter the challenge, I pushed through, convinced that this was the key to success. It wasn’t until I attended a conference and engaged in a seemingly casual conversation that I realized not all resilience is created equal. During this conversation, someone mentioned the concept of “healthy resilience,” and a lightbulb went off for me. I had been so focused on surviving difficult situations that I hadn’t realized that some of my resilience was toxic. I was holding on to stress, pushing myself past healthy limits, and risking burnout.

This realization was a game-changer. I started working with mentors and engaging in deep self-reflection, and through this process, I developed a more balanced approach to resilience. It became clear that true resilience isn’t about pushing through at all costs—it’s about maintaining emotional and mental wellbeing while navigating challenges. This shift in thinking led me to create my 5-step Mental Agility Framework, which has since become a foundational tool in my coaching practice.

The framework helps others, just as it helped me, to find balance, stay calm in the face of stress, and avoid burnout. It focuses on building healthy coping mechanisms that allow individuals to manage their emotions and energy effectively. This lesson reshaped my approach to resilience and helped me guide my clients toward more sustainable, fulfilling paths.