There often comes a point in our lives when we’re faced with a fork in the road. For me, that moment arrived after completing my master’s degree. I had been working in both public and private education while also building a career as a musician, but my work–life balance was virtually nonexistent. There was simply no way to stop thinking about work; it followed me everywhere. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to leave the only field I’d ever known and try something entirely new.
Ten years later, I couldn’t have imagined how much I would enjoy my work, the fulfillment it would bring, or the balance I would regain in my life. I certainly never expected to grow into a leadership role. Over the years, I’ve appreciated listening to and watching Brené Brown speak about leadership, so I finally decided to pick up her book, Dare to Lead, to explore those ideas more.
Brené Brown’s approach to leadership centers on leading with courage. She challenges leaders to wrestle with their own vulnerability, urging them to move beyond performative leadership and make genuine efforts to connect with their teams. She reminds us several times that great performance is ultimately about people, people, people. Brown argues that true trust, connection, and commitment grow only from a leader’s willingness to have hard conversations, own their mistakes, and show up imperfectly.
What I appreciate most about Brown’s writing is that she makes this kind of leadership feel attainable. Courage is a skill that can be taught and practiced, if we’re willing to lean into discomfort. Brown contends that leadership that avoids vulnerability breeds fear, while leadership that embraces it builds brave cultures. In a world often driven by posturing and image, that message feels radical and necessary.
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(2026, 15)
