"The most enduring leaders aren't the ones with flawless résumés. They're the ones who've been tested, humbled, and reshaped by failure. From an early age, I trained intensively to become a professional ballet dancer. Ballet wasn't just a passion. It was my identity, my future, my entire world. Until an audition in Vienna changed everything. A sudden injury ended the career I had spent years building."
"When things don't go as planned, it's a moment that forces reflection. Perhaps you've been passed over for a promotion, convinced you were the most qualified candidate. Or the product you thought would set a new sales record didn't perform as well as expected, and customers were underwhelmed. Suddenly, you start asking different questions. Are you communicating your impact clearly? Have you built strong sponsorship? Are you recognized as a leader or just as someone who executes well? Can you pivot quickly and creatively?"
A career-ending injury forced a transition from professional ballet to finance and marketing, leading to roles at American Express, Amazon, and advising boards and CEOs at Egon Zehnder. Setbacks function as gifts that force reflection, reveal priorities, and prompt new questions about impact, sponsorship, and leadership visibility. Failure exposes fragile self-narratives, shows that success is non-linear, and distinguishes doing good work from being recognized as ready to lead. Resilience develops through challenge rather than triumph. Effective leaders cultivate humility, adaptability, curiosity, accountability, and supportive networks to transform setbacks into growth and preparedness for higher responsibility.
Read at Fast Company
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