Leadership Letters
I designed these letters to be thought-provoking and inspiring — written to speak to your inner leader and encourage you as you navigate life. These are the words I wish I had while growing up and finding my place in the world. Each month, I’ll share a reflection from my own experiences — a leadership principle drawn directly from real life.
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Where it all began
Leadership has always felt personal to me. I’m the eldest sibling, one of the eldest grandchildren, and in many rooms - the first. I’ve naturally gravitated toward leadership roles, even when I didn’t realise that’s what I was doing. With that came a lifetime of expectations, often uninvited, and sometimes unrelenting.
People have looked to me as an example, but with constant commentary on how I should be. I’ve been critiqued for simply standing where others hadn’t yet gone. When I sought to collaborate openly, it was seen as uncertainty. I’ve received unsolicited advice from people who hadn’t walked the paths I was navigating. All of it shaped how I moved, how I made decisions, and how I saw myself — especially when I made mistakes or didn’t meet expectations.
Forging my own path
My biggest breakthrough came when I realised many people were projecting their own unrealised potential. It’s easier to tell someone else how to lead than it is to lead yourself and I get it, change is scary - putting yourself out there is scary.
As a former people pleaser, I had to face the truth: I was accepting advice from people who had never taken action themselves, or who felt confident giving guidance without respect. That cycle ended with me. I recall the point where I believe I was just fed up with it all and the pin dropped for me.
I realised that if I kept following hollow unsolicited advice which was untested, unproven, or out of alignment with who I was that I would lose years building a life I didn’t even want.
Trusting my own instincts
So I stopped absorbing every opinion. I began to filter everything through a lens of alignment. I asked myself: Does this advice make sense for what I’m doing now? Do they really know my story? If not, I thanked them and moved on. If they did, I opened the conversation and reflected deeply. The most important step was asking myself: What do I think about this? Does it feel true to me? Once I made that shift, I began to trust my instincts and decisions fully.
What followed was not easy but it led and continues to lead to growth - in all aspects. There were challenges, setbacks, and personal recalibrations. I began to document what I was learning. I built systems that helped me stay accountable. I clarified something I now hold firm: you are not defined by your results but you are defined by who you are.
On the other side of every mistake I have made has been strength, clarity, and deeper insight. I’m grateful for the lessons.
You are leader in your own right
I’ve always wanted to go first — to lead from the front. Not for recognition, but to show that you are free to live as you are. That you are the author of your life. Lean into that.
I want others to see what is possible when you lead with integrity, vision, and boldness. Sharpen the vision you have for your life. Over time, I’ve learned that people often have ideas of what leadership should look like — without ever living those values themselves. Not you though - the first step is reading this and understanding what vision you would like for your own life.
If I took cues from all the people who have placed their limitations on me, I would’ve stayed quiet, stuck, or resentful. I did not - I came to see that my role in this life is to exist authentically and move to the callings that I am drawn to. I lead on my terms.
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Leadership Letters is a monthly series created for those navigating pressure, responsibility, and the unseen work of becoming.
The gem I leave with you is this: everything someone says to you is just a suggestion. Most people offering advice only see 1% of who you are. You are responsible for checking that suggestion against the other 99%.
Don’t discredit your story or the journey that brought you here. Be encouraged by it.
These letters are designed to help you reflect, recalibrate, and move forward with clarity. If how I lead resonates with you, I hope this supports your own path. And if it doesn’t — perhaps that’s your signal to lead in your own way.