Vicki Heron shares how authentic leadership is built like a collage, not copied from someone else's playbook. Drawing on over twenty years of leading multidisciplinary teams in environmental consulting, she unpacks why consistency, clarity, and care matter more than charisma.

From navigating male-dominated environments to leading through major acquisitions at WSP, this episode reveals how the environment shapes authenticity, why being liked is a trap, and how clear expectations make accountability possible without compromising empathy.

In this episode, we explore:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:07) Defining authentic leadership as a standard, not a buzzword

(05:23) What inauthentic leadership costs trust and performance

(07:25) Pitfalls young leaders fall into and how to avoid them

(11:07) How the environment shapes your ability to lead authentically

(16:09) Letting people see the human behind the role

(18:37) Balancing empathy with unwavering accountability

(20:29) Why bringing your true self can become emotional leakage

(25:10) Coaching employees who overshare at work

(27:45) Onboarding practices that flip the conversation

(35:21) Lightning round: values over voice in authentic leadership

Connect with Vicki Heron here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-heron-b604676b/

Interested in developing more effective leadership skills? Connect with Cinga today here.