{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 2: Leadership is Messy","description":"In this episode of Business on Top, I\u2019m dismantling the polished, picture-perfect version of leadership, and replacing it with something far more honest. Leadership is messy. And the sooner you accept that, the more powerfully you can lead. In this conversation, I walk through the gap between what I thought leadership would feel like and the reality of building something in real time. If you\u2019ve ever questioned whether you\u2019re doing it \u201cright,\u201d felt the weight of responsibility while still figuring things out behind the scenes, or wondered why leadership feels harder than it looks, this episode will meet you there. I share personal stories and hard-earned lessons from building my own company, the truth about early hiring mistakes, the pressure to get it right, and the humbling realization that alignment matters more than credentials. You\u2019ll hear what it really takes to build a team in the messy middle, why hiring for your current stage is critical, and how chasing the \u201cperfect\u201d structure can actually hold you back. I also pull back the curtain on the real-life leadership challenges women are navigating today, moments you can\u2019t prepare for, situations that test your character, and decisions that don\u2019t come with a playbook. Because the truth is: the version of leadership many of us were taught was never designed for the reality we\u2019re living in. The leader you\u2019re becoming isn\u2019t the one who has it all together, she\u2019s the one willing to move forward without certainty, build without a blueprint, and lead while still evolving. If you\u2019ve been judging yourself for the messiness of your journey, I want this episode to help you see it differently: It\u2019s not a flaw.  It\u2019s proof that you\u2019re leading. Resources \u2192 Subscribe to The Blueprint \u2192 Learn more & book a call with our team to learn if the Pop Leadership Academy is right for you! \u2192 Learn more about our Owner + Practice Manager Business Intensive: June 12\u201313 at The Gwen, Chicago \u2192 Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm Additional Ways to Connect: Book a Discovery Call: Ready to scale with intention? Let\u2019s map out your next strategic move. ","author_name":"Business on Top with Kaeli Lindholm","author_url":"https:\/\/klcconsultants.com\/podcast\/","html":"