In this episode of The Elevated Leader, I’m taking you back to a defining moment in my leadership journey—the day I was asked to fire an entire team on my very first day as a manager at just 22 years old.
I share how that one uncomfortable moment shaped the kind of leader I am today, and why doing the hard thing with integrity is the foundation of real leadership.
We’ll talk about:
What I learned working on my uncle’s farm and restaurant as a kid
Why I believe leaders are built through challenge
A simple framework to help you have hard conversations with clarity and courage
How avoiding discomfort protects you, not your team
And what it really means to lead with integrity—even when no one’s watching
This episode is both gritty and gentle—a mix of real-life leadership, personal growth, and a reminder that every hard thing we face is shaping us into the leader we’re meant to be.