Courageous Leadership

A few days ago, I found myself thinking about a book we once read in our old book club at work: Radical Candor by Kim Scott.

At the time, it felt like just another leadership book in our rotation. But looking back now—especially as I’m running my own company—it hits differently.

Communication Is Not a Soft Skill. It’s a Leadership Skill.

Radical Candor centers on a powerful principle: you can care personally while challenging directly. You don’t have to choose between being kind and being honest. In fact, the best leaders practice both—consistently.

The book reinforced something I now see every day as a founder: communication shapes culture. The way we give feedback, handle disagreements, and address mistakes defines whether our teams operate in fear or in trust.

And trust is everything.

Building a Company With Intention

When we started this company, all of us came in with passion. We wanted to create impact. We wanted to build something meaningful. And we wanted to enjoy the process while doing it.

We already know the insurmountable challenges in our sector. They are real. They are complex. They can easily drain energy and optimism.

That’s exactly why we made a quiet commitment early on:

We will not add to the chaos.

Instead, we aim to build scalable and sustainable solutions—without sacrificing our well-being or our values. We want to create impact while still enjoying the journey.

And that requires intentional leadership.

Servant Leadership, Collaborative Leadership, and Transformation

I’ve always believed in servant leadership. I learned it from inspiring bosses I’ve had—and from my dad. Leadership, to me, meant serving the team, removing obstacles, and putting others first.

But as I grow into this role, I realize servant leadership is only one part of the equation.

I also strive to be a collaborative leader.

A collaborative leader doesn’t just serve the team—they build with the team. Decisions are not made in isolation. Ideas are shaped collectively. Ownership is shared. When people feel heard and involved, they don’t just execute—they commit.

Collaboration strengthens culture. It builds trust. It distributes leadership.

And then there’s the dimension I continue to work toward: transformational leadership.

Not just supporting people—but elevating them.

Not just managing performance—but developing future leaders.

Not just solving today’s problems—but preparing the team for tomorrow’s challenges.

One of my favorite pieces of advice came from a mentor who feels more like an older brother to me. He once told me:

“If your company cannot run without you, you haven’t built a company. You’ve built a dependency.”

That perspective changed me.

Succession planning is no longer something I’ll think about “later.” I’m already keeping it in mind now. Because true leadership is not about being indispensable. It’s about empowering others so fully that they can lead without you.

Leadership Is a Daily Practice

What struck me most from Radical Candor wasn’t just the framework for feedback. It was the reminder that leadership is intentional.

You choose, every day:

• To serve.

• To collaborate.

• To challenge directly while caring personally.

• To create space for others to grow.

• To build systems that outlast you.

Running my own company has made these lessons more personal than ever. The books we read years ago sometimes become the principles we live by today.

And maybe that’s the real impact of a great book—it evolves as you evolve.

I’m grateful for the lessons.

I’m grateful for mentors who guide me.

And I’m grateful for the opportunity to build a company that reflects not just what we do—but how we lead, together.