Leadership often looks confident and composed from the outside. Inside, it can feel very different.

In this UNFILTERED compilation, we slow down and talk honestly about what leaders carry beneath the surface. Self doubt. Imposter syndrome. Loneliness. The pressure to stay in control. These are not flaws or failures. They are human responses to responsibility, care, and growth.

We explore why imposter syndrome shows up most when we are stretching. Why leadership can feel lonely at every level, not just at the top. And how control, even when it comes from good intentions, can quietly drain energy, engagement, and creativity.

This episode is not about fixing yourself. It is about recognizing what is happening inside, naming it, and understanding the cost of holding everything alone. If you have ever felt like you had to keep it all together while carrying more than anyone sees, this conversation is for you.

You are not broken. You are growing. And you are not alone.

Key Takeaways:

03:11 – Naming the Inner Experience - Greater understanding of why naming internal experiences changes how leaders relate to them.

09:05 – The Meaning Behind Imposter Syndrome - Clearer perspective on how uncertainty often accompanies responsibility and expansion, not incompetence.

Listen to the full episode of UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about… Imposter Syndrome at https://www.courageofaleader.com/captivate-podcast/unfiltered-courageous-conversations-about-imposter-syndrome/

13:58 – Leadership and Loneliness - Recognition of how leadership transitions can subtly change connection and relationships.

21:14 – Designing Support on Purpose - Insight into the importance of intentionally creating spaces where leaders do not carry everything alone.

Listen to the full episode of UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about the Loneliness of Leadership at https://www.courageofaleader.com/captivate-podcast/unfiltered-courageous-conversations-about-the-loneliness-of-leadership/

27:07 – Control with Good Intentions - Awareness of how the drive to do things well can quietly limit trust, engagement, and shared ownership.

34:09 – The Cost of Holding Everything Tight - Deeper understanding of how control shows up physically and emotionally, and why it affects creativity and momentum.

Listen to the full episode of UNFILTERED: Courageous Conversations about The Cost of Being in Control at https://www.courageofaleader.com/captivate-podcast/unfiltered-courageous-conversations-about-the-cost-of-being-in-control/

Resources Mentioned

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the Courage Assessment) - In less than 10 minutes, find out where you’re empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done. Get it here: https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

You don't need to have all the answers to lead well. Get your copy of the Clarity Kit for just $17 to learn the five practices to bring more clarity, confidence and courage...

As we look back on 2025, this conversation brings together five voices who helped shape how we think about leadership when things feel uncertain, human, and real. Russell Harvey, Genevieve Retzlaff, Pat Broe, Mary Lynn Fayoumi, and Susan Inouye each offered a different lens on what it takes to lead forward instead of clinging to what used to work. Together, their insights reflect a year marked by pressure, change, and growth. We’re reminded that leadership is less about having the right answers and more about learning, self-awareness, connection, and trust. From personal resilience and emotional intelligence to empathy, authenticity, and belonging, these reflections point toward a more grounded and human way of leading. This look back isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, perspective, and choosing to move forward with intention, even when the path isn’t clear.

Highlights

03:53 - Russell Harvey - Rethinking resilience as learning forward instead of trying to return to who we were

Listen to Russel’s full interview at https://www.courageofaleader.com/captivate-podcast/redefining-resilience-moving-beyond-survival-to-growth-russell-harvey/

09:25 - Genevieve Retzlaff - How leadership growth begins with self-awareness and expands outward to teams and organizations

Listen to Genvieve’s full interview at https://www.courageofaleader.com/captivate-podcast/redefining-resilience-moving-beyond-survival-to-growth-russell-harvey/

15:51 - Pat Broe - Holding empathy and accountability at the same time as the foundation of trusted leadership

Listen to Pat’s full interview at https://www.courageofaleader.com/captivate-podcast/how-leaders-can-support-mental-health-while-strengthening-accountability-and-trust-pat-broe/

20:12 - Mary Lynn Fayoumi - Leading through uncertainty by balancing vulnerability, confidence, and personal processing

Listen to Mary Lynn’s full interview at https://www.courageofaleader.com/captivate-podcast/the-new-rules-of-courageous-leadership-in-uncertain-times-mary-lynn-fayoumi/

25:30 - Susan Inouye - Creating cultures where people feel seen, accepted, and connected across generations

Listen to Susan’s full interview at https://www.courageofaleader.com/captivate-podcast/five-leadership-shifts-that-create-connection-and-build-belonging-susan-inouye/

About the Host:

Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays.

As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results.

Amy’s...

Crisis and change have a way of revealing what truly drives leadership. In this episode, I explore how leading through uncertainty is less about control and more about clarity, trust, and intentional choice. I introduce a simple but powerful formula for composure and reflect on why staying steady does not mean ignoring emotions yet learning how to lead through them. Trust takes on new weight when answers are limited, and alignment often matters more than certainty. Even without the full picture, it is possible to move forward with courage, make grounded decisions, and guide others through change in a way that builds confidence rather than erodes it.

Key Takeaways:

1. Lead from What Matters Most - What anchors leaders when external conditions are unstable and priorities compete.
2. Composure That Builds Confidence - How leaders can stay steady and present without pretending everything is fine.
3. Trust as a Leadership Advantage - What creates trust when people are watching every move more closely.
4. Shared Leadership in Uncertain Times - How inviting others into leadership strengthens commitment and resilience.
5. Moving Forward Without Certainty - How to take meaningful action even when the full path is not visible.
6. The Trust Equation - Trust equals credibility times connection times commitment times customer focus plus creation.

Resources Mentioned

Get your copy of The Courage of A Leader: How to Inspire, Engage, and Get Extraordinary Results - https://a.co/d/iyWioC0

The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the Courage Assessment) - In less than 10 minutes, find out where you’re empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done. Get it here: https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

You don't need to have all the answers to lead well. Get your copy of the Clarity Kit for just $17 to learn the five practices to bring more clarity, confidence and courage into your leadership - https://courageofaleader.com/the-clarity-kit/

About the Host:

Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays.

As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results.

Amy’s most popular keynote speeches are:

1. The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership Legacy
2. The Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System Collaboration