The Blind Spot Paradox

Hello again, my lovelies!

Tired of feeling like one wrong move could send your business spiralling? Let's talk about building solid foundations for sustainable growth.

Pull up a chair, grab your favorite caffeinated beverage, and let's dive into the juicy stuff that keeps Founders up at night (besides worrying about whether they are actually delivering on the promises made in their investor pitches????).

And to round off this week's series on The Blind Spot Paradox , we're going to be looking at Founders and CEOs who have taken on and conquered the Paradox.?

Emulating the Greats (Minus the Musk)

We all have our entrepreneurial heroes.?

Those who've built empires, disrupted industries, and changed the world.

But let's face it, not all of them are role models for healthy, sustainable leadership (I'm looking directly at you, Elon).

If you're building an awesome business that has the potential to change even a small bit of the world for its customers, then your leadership is part of the legacy and culture that will survive long after your exit...

There's no better place to start building this legacy than by looking at some really great, successful, and respected CEOs; understanding the behaviors they model; and then starting to embed these in your own leadership style.

So, who can we learn from?

?? Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft): Known for transforming Microsoft's culture to be more inclusive and collaborative. Emphasizes empathy and continuous learning. Has significantly increased diversity in Microsoft's workforce

?? Mary Barra (CEO of General Motors): First female CEO of a major global automaker. Led GM through significant technological transitions, including a shift towards electric vehicles. Strong advocate for STEM education and women in automotive industry

?? Jensen Huang (CEO of NVIDIA): Co-founder who has led NVIDIA to become a leader in AI and graphics processing and now the world's third most valuable company.? Known for fostering a culture of innovation and risk-taking. Advocates for diversity in tech and supports STEM education initiatives

?? Lisa Su (CEO of AMD): Turned around AMD's business and made it competitive in the semiconductor industry. Known for her technical expertise and strategic vision. Advocates for more women in STEM fields

?? Marc Benioff (CEO of Salesforce): Known for his "1-1-1" philanthropic model and emphasis on stakeholder capitalism. Strong advocate for equality and has taken steps to address gender pay gaps. Promotes ethical use of technology, particularly in AI.

?? Ursula Burns (former CEO of Xerox, current CEO of VEON): First African American woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. Known for her efforts to increase diversity in tech and corporate leadership. Advocates for STEM education and mentorship programs

These leaders have demonstrated an ability to recognize and address blind spots in their industries and organizations.

They've worked hard to create more inclusive cultures, challenge traditional thinking in STEM fields, and use their platforms to advocate for greater diversity and equality.

But what characteristics do they share that make them not only inspiring, but able to build or lead global behemoths of businesses?

Let's dive into what seems to be the key traits and habits worth emulating:

?? Humility: The ability to acknowledge their own limitations, seek feedback, and admit when they're wrong.

?? Empathy:? Understanding and valuing the perspectives and experiences of others, especially their team members.

?? Adaptability:? The willingness to change course, experiment with new ideas, and learn from mistakes.

?? Empowerment:? Trusting their team, delegating effectively, and fostering a culture of autonomy and ownership.

?? Long-Term Thinking:? Prioritizing sustainable growth over short-term gains, considering the impact of decisions on the company's future.

?? Resilience:? The ability to bounce back from setbacks, learn from failures, and keep moving forward with optimism.

?? Transparency: Open and honest communication with their team, investors, and stakeholders.

?? Self-Awareness:? Regularly reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses, and actively working to address their blind spots.

?? Lifelong Learning: Continuously seeking out new knowledge and skills, staying curious, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth.

?? Purpose-Driven:? Being driven by a mission bigger than themselves, creating a sense of meaning and purpose for their team.

Now it may be that not all our inspiring STEM leaders will be able to tick the box with confidence against every single one of these traits, but I'd bet the farm that they can tick the majority of these...

The Takeaway...

...You'll need to head over to Founders' Fuel on Substack to find out the rest ??

Seriously folks, though I will always post the main article of the Founders' Fuel? newsletter here on LinkedIn, I've decided that I also want to build an engaged community of Founders and CEOs, and that Substack is the best place to do that right now...? ??

My newsletter will always be free, and it will always contain the actionable insights, suggested reading, and all the other golden nuggets you've come to expect and hopefully value.? ??

Just not here.? ??

So if you're one of my 500+ current LinkedIn subscribers - thank you for reading: will you join me over there as well?? ??

I'm Carri Nicholson, The Leader Whisperer?, and my mission is to ensure that early stage Founders have all the tools, insights, and dedicated support across the core Three Pillars of? Growth?, to allow them to join the elite 5% of Founders who create sustainable, scalable businesses.?