Lily Zalewski February 2, 2026 A year ago, I was let go from my job. I was lost, sad, and a bit aimless, even though I had decided I would pursue self-employment. As a remote employee reaching the end of a rotational program, I was anxiously hoping my employer would make an exception to their new policy requiring relocation and onsite attendance for permanent roles. I had worked hard to earn competitive rotational positions, built a strong reputation, and formed meaningful fr

What Authentic Leadership Really Requires Leadership books will tell you that courage means making tough decisions, taking calculated risks, or standing firm in adversity. And while those things matter, they miss something fundamental: the most courageous thing a leader can do is show up as a human being. The Courage We Don't Talk About In my work with leaders over the last ten years, I've noticed something that's lived in conflict with the traditional vision of transformativ