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348: Leading with Vision — Part 2 with Annyse Balkwill of LuminUS Group

Entrepreneurship • Feb 26, 2026 1:56:00 PM • Written by: Erin Aquin

In this powerful continuation of my conversation with Annyse Balkwill, we dive deep into what it actually takes to leave the corporate world behind and build a business aligned with your Vision, and not someone else's template.

Annyse shares the raw truth about her transition: the crying in the fetal position, the three months of no work, and the moment her mentor threw her into the deep end with her first facilitation. Annyse's story is the real journey of building something meaningful while everyone around you questions your sanity.

What We Explore

  • The breaking up that comes with breaking free: Why leaving corporate life means losing parts of your identity and how to navigate that grief
  • The entrepreneurial muscles you actually need. Spoiler: it's not just confidence. It's stubbornness, humility, and the ability to hold a Vision no one else can see yet
  • The mantra that built a business: How "I show up and do good work and good work will follow" became Annyse's entire strategy (and why that's more powerful than any marketing plan)
  • Why purpose-first business isn't optional: The connection between loving the humans you work with and building genuine commercial success
  • The water crisis no one's talking about: Why aging infrastructure and the need for visionary women leaders in water are interconnected challenges
  • What transformation actually looks like: Why entrepreneurship isn't something to master but a practice that reveals who you're capable of becoming

About Annyse Balkwill

Annyse built her career in the water industry for over two decades as a chemical engineer, designing water treatment plants globally and serving as a global product manager at GE Water & Process Technologies. Ten years ago, she founded LuminUS Group Management Consulting Inc. to impact the industry at a broader level, working with leadership teams to unlock potential and create conscious cultures that propel meaningful action. Through coaching, facilitation, and experiential learning, Annyse and her team help clients transform businesses, integrate teams post-acquisition, and build the visioning and storytelling skills imperative for creating sustainable momentum. She hosts Meaningful Conversations with Annyse, a podcast elevating women's voices in the water sector, and believes that investing in women for leadership roles is essential to meeting the significant challenges the industry faces.

This Episode Is For You If

  • You're considering leaving corporate life but terrified of what comes next
  • You've already made the leap and need reassurance that the fear and uncertainty are part of the path
  • You want to build a business rooted in genuine relationships rather than marketing tactics
  • You're curious about how purpose and profit actually work together in practice
  • You believe business should be a spiritual practice, not just a revenue generator

Resources:

Listen now to hear how Annyse turned her intention into reality, and why the journey never stops asking you to grow.

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Erin Aquin