In this episode of Empowered & Out: The Career Coaching Podcast, Coach Jon sits down with Ryan DeLuca, Managing Director of 25th Hour Regulatory Consulting, for a powerful conversation about confidence, bias, leadership, allyship, and what it means to navigate professional spaces as an LGBTQ+ person. Ryan brings nearly 20 years of experience in regulation, investigations, compliance, education, and professional development. His work helps regulatory professionals strengthen investigative practices, reduce bias, improve decision-making, and approach their work with fairness, neutrality, and confidence. Together, Coach Jon and Ryan explore how LGBTQ+ professionals often become skilled readers of people and environments, especially after years of masking, navigating safety, and learning how to assess where they can fully show up. Ryan shares how confidence grew throughout his career, what helped him trust his own expertise, and why representation matters in industries where LGBTQ+ people are often assumed not to exist. This episode also dives into workplace bias, meaningful allyship, the current political climate, support for the trans community, and the importance of standing together during difficult moments. Ryan also shares how risk, adventure, and challenge have helped shape his relationship with confidence and growth. If you have ever felt underestimated, questioned your right to take up space, or wondered how to stay grounded while navigating bias or assumptions, this conversation is for you. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Welcome to Empowered & Out 02:24 — Meet Ryan DeLuca 03:00 — Energy check-in 04:11 — Ryan’s path from real estate to regulatory investigations 07:05 — Understanding people, behavior, and bias 09:11 — How LGBTQ+ professionals learn to read environments 11:25 — Navigating professional spaces as an LGBTQ+ investigator 14:52 — Moving from self-consciousness to trusting your expertise 17:18 — Misconceptions about LGBTQ+ professionals in leadership and compliance 20:22 — Visibility, representation, and LGBTQ+ professionals in every industry 24:00 — Advice for anyone feeling underestimated 28:04 — Authenticity, Pride, and showing up at work 32:46 — Where bias shows up in workplace decision-making 36:57 — How professionals can check their own assumptions 38:49 — Why marginalized communities become political targets 43:05 — What meaningful allyship looks like right now 44:56 — Confidence, fear, skydiving, and personal growth 55:36 — How risk and challenge change with age 59:30 — Rapid-fire questions 1:02:40 — Encouragement for LGBTQ+ professionals and leaders 1:03:33 — Final reflections and closing CTA If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to Empowered & Out: The Career Coaching Podcast, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and connect with Coach Jon at Empowered & Out Coaching. And if you are feeling stuck, burned out, disconnected, under-confident, or unsure about your next career move, the Empowered Career Transformation Program can help you reconnect with your purpose, rebuild confidence, and take aligned action toward a career where you can thrive as your full self.
