Have you ever wondered what leadership really feels like behind closed doors? In this episode I open up about the leadership secrets nobody told me before I stepped into the CEO role. If you have dreams of being a leader, or if you are already leading a team, you’ll want to hear the honest truth about what no one warns you about. Here’s a spoiler: being at the top can be downright lonely.I share my own journey—from thinking I was more than ready as a confident CMO, watching my boss make it all seem effortless, to realizing just how different and isolating it actually is to carry the final responsibility. I thought I had it figured out because I was good at strategy, commercial work, and managing people. What I didn’t see was the loneliness that comes with making every tough call by yourself.It wasn’t all negative though. I talk about how I’ve coped with that isolation by building a network of friends outside my company—a support system that has kept me sane through some of the toughest times. I also share what it’s like to lead as a woman, how my less hands-on style has sometimes been mistaken for weakness, and the boundaries I had to set to earn respect without becoming a micromanager.My leadership style hasn’t stayed the same. Over the years, I’ve learned to keep growing, to hold on to my excitement for leadership even when it feels overwhelming. In this episode, you’ll hear my real stories, the lessons I’ve picked up, and the advice I wish someone had given me when I started out.Check out the chapters for a quick guide through my story:0:00 - The Reality of Leadership 0:24 - My Transition from CMO to CEO 1:01 - The Hidden Loneliness of Leadership 2:12 - How I Built My Own Support Network 2:39 - Being a Woman Leader: Boundaries and Leadership Style 3:56 - Personal Growth and Learning as a Leader 4:34 - My Final Thoughts and AdviceIf you’re curious what it really takes to lead, why leadership at the top sometimes feels so isolating, or how to set boundaries without losing yourself, this episode is for you. Thanks for listening to "Don't Let the Smile Fool You." Let’s get real about what it means to lead.