Leadership spotlight - The Gentle Disruptor

Mastering a big career transition with purpose and a "both/and' mindset

Welcome to the 3rd installment of Bar Chats About Leadership: Series 2025. In this series, This series highlights strong business leaders—the people who inspired them, how they developed their leadership style, and the key moments that shaped their values and approach. These conversations reveal lessons and qualities that can help you grow as a leader.

Today’s story features ML, a NYC-based Chief Operating Officer (COO) in the healthcare industry who made a big and bold career pivot from an attorney in the financial services industry to an operational leader. We sat down at a bar - perfect for open, honest conversation—to dive into how ML's leadership style blends disruption with empathy.

Leader who influenced ML's ability to navigate "polarities" (2 competing approaches)

ML shared how one former manager taught him the value of giving autonomy while providing enough guidance. "Finding a balance between delegation and support is what I sought to emulate when I was managing my own team."

A key experience was when he was managing a large portfolio. At first, ML needed approval for every transaction, but his manager gradually allowed him more independence. "... this allowed me to grow into more independently managing the review." The experience showed him the importance of trusting others and encouraging autonomy, while maintaining communication to ensure proper oversight. Leadership requires "flexibility and structure depending on the individual and the context."

From law to operations - building on core skills

ML started his career as a lawyer, advising clients, before spending over 20 years at a large global bank. Along the way, he discovered a deeper ambition to go beyond providing guidance and take charge of driving results. "I realized I wanted to be on the other side of the table, making decisions and owning the outcomes instead of just advising others,”

The opportunity to step into a COO role for a newly launched healthcare business seemed ideal but it came with many challenges. Transitioning to a new industry required a steep learning curve. ML embraced it. “I had to quickly get up to speed on the nuances of healthcare while also building trust with a new team.”

Transition pushes growth

Transitioning to a COO role in a mission-driven industry during a global pandemic brought even more challenges. ML described it as a “crash course” in adaptability. “The pace of change was relentless, and every decision felt critical. But challenges like that push you to grow. You find reserves of resilience you didn’t know you had.”

ML - Gentle Disruptor - having a "both/and" approach

Hearing ML talk about his early days as COO—about the challenges he faced and the change he envisioned—made it clear that his leadership superpower lies in how he drives that change. He does it in a calm, non-pushy way, encouraging those around him to see what’s possible rather than imposing his vision on them.

“Coming from a legal background, I didn’t have the depth of industry knowledge my team did. So, I made it a point to listen, ask questions, and rely on their expertise. It wasn’t about having all the answers—it was about creating a culture where the best ideas could rise to the surface,”

There is substantial research validating ML’s "both/and" mindset as powerful and effective.

• As per a HBR research paper by Mark Marone- leaders who employ a gentle approach to driving change can effectively promote adaptability and resilience within their teams. Human-centered leadership, which emphasizes empathy and genuine care for employees' well-being, has been shown to enhance individuals' confidence and stress resilience, thereby easing the adaptation to change. HBR - Adapting to change
• Additionally, the concept of polarity management highlights the importance of balancing seemingly opposing forces, such as driving change while maintaining continuity. This approach involves recognizing and managing "polarities—interdependent pairs that need each other over time to achieve success". By adopting a "both/and" mindset, leaders can navigate complex challenges more effectively, ensuring that efforts to disrupt and innovate are "harmoniously" integrated with the need for stability and consistency. ?Please check out this podcast (and book) by Brian Emerson and Kelly Lewis Polarities - podcast
• Finally, employing gentle “nudges—subtle interventions” that steer individuals towards desired behaviors without force—has been identified as an effective strategy for organizational change. “Techniques such as setting default options, framing choices, and simplifying procedures can lead to significant improvements in organizational outcomes without the need for coercive measures.” Forbes - Gentle nudges to change

ML's gentler disruption approach has led to the organization's shift of placing clients at the center of their work. His leadership style has inspired buy-in and ownership, empowering his team and colleagues to make the change natural and lasting.

What surprised ML most about leadership

“What most surprised me is the wide range of different management styles that can work with different teams and in different contexts, and the need to continue to take a flexible approach and adjust as necessary to be successful,”

The Old Fashioned is trending!

Once again, the Old Fashioned gets top pick. ML's prefers his Old Fashioned with Angel Envy Rye. Check out (the very talented) Bartender Amanda Schuster's article on the 11 Best Ryes for The Old Fashioned – with Angel Envy ...."the result is buttered rum candy with extra spice and a hint of herbaceousness. " Amanda's 11 Best Ryes for The Old Fashioned

Mocktail idea - Orange-Maple Spritz—combine soda water with a splash of maple syrup, a dash of bitters, and an orange twist

Let’s keep the conversation going

Do you know a leader who has successfully navigated a major career transition or driven change in a way that inspires others? I’d love to hear their story. Please drop a note in the comments, send me a DM, or email me. Let’s keep the conversation flowing

#Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #Coaching #LeadershipMindset #cocktails