From Start-Up to Grown-Up

Hosted by Alisa Cohn

Business Entrepreneurship

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120

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

One of the top startup coaches in the world, Alisa Cohn, talks to founders, creators, advisors, investors and builders of all kinds about their insights and experiences in growing from Start-up to Grown-up.

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60 recent

June 15, 202646 min

120: Miro's Founder on Reinventing a 100-Million-User Company | Andrey Khusid, Founder of Miro

What happens when you've already built a company used by more than 100 million people, and suddenly the world changes again?In this episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Andrey Khusid, Founder and CEO of Miro, to explore one of the biggest leadership challenges founders face: reinventing a successful company while it's still growing.As AI transforms the way teams work, Andrey shares how Miro evolved from a digital whiteboard into a collaborative platform where humans and AI agents create together. He explains why founders must embrace "day one thinking," how to build startup energy inside a 1,600-person organization, and why many leaders struggle when shifting between founder mode and CEO mode.The conversation dives deep into innovation, company culture, organizational transformation, leadership chemistry, experimentation, and what it really takes to stay relevant when technology changes faster than ever.If you're a founder, CEO, executive, or entrepreneur navigating growth, change, or AI disruption, this episode offers a masterclass in adapting without losing your mission.You’ll learn:Why Andrey believes every company is now searching for product-market fit againHow AI is changing the future of collaboration and teamworkWhat "day one thinking" means and why founders need itThe difference between experimentation in scaling versus reinventionWhy conviction matters more than consensus in zero-to-one innovationHow founders can communicate vision when they can't fully articulate it yetThe biggest mistake leaders make when trying to innovate inside large organizationsWhy founder mode and CEO mode are both essential leadership skillsHow AI is reshaping management, teams, and organizational designThe surprising reason culture becomes weaker as companies scaleWhy entrepreneurial talent is becoming more valuable than specialized expertiseHow to create startup energy inside an established businessThe role of trust, feedback, and productive conflict in high-performing teamsWhy leadership chemistry matters more than most executives realizeThe mindset shift required to survive rapid technological disruptionWe talk about:00:00 How Miro evolved from a digital whiteboard to an AI-powered collaboration platform04:00 Day One Thinking, AI disruption, and why every company must reinvent itself06:00 Leading with conviction when the vision isn't fully formed yet10:00 Finding product-market fit again inside a 1,600-person company13:00 Founder Mode vs. CEO Mode and the leadership skills required for both16:00 Learning faster, staying entrepreneurial, and adapting in the AI era19:00 Culture Growth Trips, founder fit, and building a mission-driven company24:00 Rebuilding startup energy, ownership, and accountability at scale26:00 AI, organizational design, and the future of management29:00 Leadership coaching, team chemistry, and creating a culture of trust35:00 Why productive conflict beats politeness and how great teams challenge each other42:00 The hardest lesson about company transformation and Andrey's advice for foundersFollow Andrey onLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khusid/Website: https://miro.com/ Connect with Alisa!Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohnTwitter: @alisacohnFacebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/Website: http://www.alisacohn.comDownload her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

June 1, 202648 min

119: Eric Ries, Author of The Lean Startup, The Corporate Governance Crisis No One Wants to Admit

What if the biggest threat to your company is not competition, but the systems everyone told you to trust?In this episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Eric Ries, creator of the Lean Startup methodology and bestselling author of The Lean Startup, The Startup Way, and Incorruptible, for a conversation about leadership, corporate governance, innovation, and why so many modern companies lose their way as they grow.Eric unpacks the dangerous side of “best practices,” why shareholder primacy often destroys long-term value, and how financial pressure quietly reshapes company culture from the inside out. He also shares the untold story behind Costco’s governance model, why Anthropic’s structure matters in the AI race, and what founders misunderstand about speed, alignment, and leadership integrity.You’ll learn:Why many “best practices” are actually value destroyingWhat Eric Ries means by “financial gravity”How companies lose their mission after founders lose controlWhy Costco became one of the strongest governance models in businessThe hidden danger of shareholder primacyWhy trustworthiness may be the most underrated asset in businessHow Lean Startup was misunderstood by most foundersThe real purpose behind MVPs and rapid experimentationWhy principles create faster companies, not slower onesHow aligned teams move faster with less management overheadWhat Anthropic is doing differently with AI governanceWhy constraints often create breakthrough innovationThe leadership lesson Eric learned from nearly compromising his own principlesHow founders can build companies their grandchildren will be proud ofWe talk about:00:00 Why Eric Ries says builders are “under siege”02:00 The hidden problem with modern business “best practices”05:00 Why shareholder primacy destroys long-term companies08:00 The untold Costco and Sol Price story12:00 How Costco built a governance fortress16:00 Understanding “financial gravity” inside organizations19:00 Why Costco shareholders defended leadership decisions22:00 The problem with management entrenchment24:00 Why corporations should function more like balanced systems26:00 Anthropic’s governance structure and AI leadership30:00 Why checks and balances do not kill innovation32:00 The real philosophy behind Lean Startup35:00 Why principles create speed inside organizations38:00 The overlooked role of trust and alignment40:00 Why great leaders intentionally make things harder42:00 The danger of compromising on core values44:00 Eric’s hardest leadership decision46:00 What founders misunderstand about success and power47:00 How to build companies designed to last generationsFollow Eric onLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eries/Website: https://theleanstartup.com/ Connect with Alisa!Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohnTwitter: @alisacohnFacebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/Website: http://www.alisacohn.comDownload her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

May 18, 20261 hr 6 min

118: Josh Reeves, Co-Founder and CEO of Gusto, The 3-Part Alignment Framework Every Founder Needs Before Their Next Hire [ENCORE]

What if you have been hiring wrong this entire time?In this episode, Josh Reeves, Co-Founder and CEO of Gusto, a $10B people platform serving over 300,000 businesses, joins Alisa Cohn for one of the most practical and deeply human conversations about building teams that actually work.This is not a generic leadership talk. This is a masterclass in how to hire people who genuinely care, how to scale a values-driven culture without losing it, and how to lead through the kind of uncertainty that breaks most founders.Josh shares the three-part alignment framework Gusto uses at every level of hiring, why the skills conversation gets too much attention, how he fires himself from jobs as fast as possible, and what the Platinum Rule taught him about giving feedback that actually lands.You’ll learn:Why values and motivation alignment matter more than skills in the startup hiring processHow to scale a hiring process so culture stays intact past 50, 150, and 2,500 employeesWhat the Platinum Rule is and why it will transform how you give feedbackThe difference between a builder and a manager (and why it matters enormously in a startup)How to recognize when a leader is in over their head before it costs you too muchWhy great talent sometimes fails at the wrong stage companyWhat Josh learned from a previous startup that shaped everything about how Gusto was builtThe one question to ask yourself before committing to any startup ideaWe talk about:00:00 Introduction to Josh Reeves and Gusto02:00 The founding story and what problem Gusto was built to solve08:00 The three-part hiring alignment framework: values, motivation, and skill17:00 How Gusto scaled their hiring culture to 2,500 employees19:00 How the CEO role evolved across 12 years24:00 Symptoms of a leader who is outpacing their role vs. one who came from too large a company29:00 The difference between builders and managers in a startup33:00 Situational leadership and why directive leadership is not the opposite of empowerment37:00 The Platinum Rule and how it changed the way Josh gives feedback48:00 Highs, lows, and leading through uncertainty as a founder59:00 The lesson from his previous startup that shaped everything about Gusto01:03:00 Final advice for founders: imagine describing your company for the 10,000th timeFollow Josh onLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuareeves/Website: https://gusto.com/ Connect with Alisa!Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohnTwitter: @alisacohnFacebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/Website: http://www.alisacohn.comDownload her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

May 4, 20261 hr 2 min

117: Jyoti Bansal, Two-Time Founder, How to Win the AI Race Before Your Competitors Catch Up

What happens after you “make it”… and realize money was never the point?In this episode, Jyoti Bansal, Founder & CEO of Harness and founder of AppDynamics (sold for $3.7B), sits down with Alisa Cohn for a conversation that cuts deeper than typical startup playbooks.This is not just about building companies. It’s about what happens when the finish line disappears… and you have to decide who you are without it.Jyoti shares the unexpected identity crisis that hit after his exit, why he chose to build again anyway, and what most founders misunderstand about success, sales, and staying relevant in a world that’s changing faster than your roadmap can keep up.From the brutal reality of startup milestones to the urgency of the AI transformation, this episode is a masterclass in how to think, move, and lead when the stakes are real.You’ll learn:Why a worse product can still beat you (and how to prevent it)The hidden identity crisis founders face after a big exitHow to think of entrepreneurship as a craft, not a one-time eventWhy startup growth is about milestones, not perfectionThe real reason most companies fall behind during major tech shiftsHow to operate in “founder mode” when speed is everythingThe difference between product differentiation and go-to-market dominanceHow to build a scalable sales machine (not just hire “charismatic closers”)The hiring framework Jyoti uses to spot elite sales talentHow to align a company fast during high-pressure transformationThe “startup within a startup” model that creates ownership at scaleWhy transparency in numbers builds accountability across the entire orgWe talk about:00:00 The uncomfortable truth after a billion-dollar exit02:00 Why Jyoti came back to build again05:00 The founder identity crisis no one prepares you for08:00 Entrepreneurship as a craft, not a single shot11:00 The milestone framework for building successful companies15:00 The AI transformation and why most companies will lose18:00 Founder mode, speed, and making decisions in real time22:00 Aligning teams when everything is changing fast26:00 Why revenue is the only truth in business29:00 Sales as a competitive advantage 32:00 The myth of “relationship-based” selling35:00 Building a scalable, structured go-to-market machine38:00 How to hire great sales leaders (and avoid getting sold in the interview)41:00 The onboarding mistake most founders make44:00 Transparency, numbers, and company-wide accountability47:00 The “startup within a startup” model explained52:00 Ownership, incentives, and building multiple winning productsFollow Jyoti onLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyotibansalWebsite: https://www.harness.io/Connect with Alisa!Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohnTwitter: @alisacohnFacebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/Website: http://www.alisacohn.comDownload her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

April 20, 20261 hr 1 min

116: Gina Bianchini, Founder of Mighty Networks, Stop Building an Audience. Build Community Instead [ENCORE]

What if the thing you’ve been told to build… isn’t the thing that actually creates results?In this encore episode, Gina Bianchini joins Alisa Cohn to break down why community, not content, not audience size, not algorithms, is the real driver of transformation, retention, and long-term business growth.This conversation goes far beyond theory. It’s a masterclass in how communities actually work, why most founders get it wrong, and what it really takes to build something people don’t just follow… but belong to.Gina shares the exact frameworks behind thriving communities, the psychology of engagement, and the structure that turns passive consumers into active participants.This is also a raw look at entrepreneurship behind the scenes, from navigating dark moments and doubt, to leading with mission instead of ego, to building something that feels inevitable before it’s proven.If you’re building a brand, a business, or a movement, this episode will change how you think about growth.You’ll learn:Why community is the most powerful driver of transformation and resultsThe difference between an audience and a true community (and why it matters)The simple framework behind high-engagement communities that actually lastHow to structure your community for consistency, growth, and retentionWhy giving advice kills engagement and what to do insteadThe role of purpose in attracting and sustaining membersHow founders can navigate doubt, feedback, and uncertaintyWhy entrepreneurship is irrational, and how to stay grounded anywayThe real skill CEOs need to master, and it’s not what you thinkHow to manage energy, not just time, to lead effectivelyWe talk about:00:00 Why community is the foundation of transformation02:30 The founding vision behind Mighty Networks05:00 Growing up in community and why it shaped everything12:30 Founder mental health and why it’s not for everyone14:00 Using mission to move through doubt and dark moments16:00 When investors don’t believe in your vision18:30 How to process feedback without losing your direction22:30 The core elements of building a powerful community29:30 The biggest mistake that kills community engagement31:00 Simple rituals that create deeper connection33:00 Why energy management matters more than time management36:00 The hidden cost of poor leadership energy38:00 Morning routines and protecting creative thinking time44:00 Agreements vs policies inside a company47:00 Building a human system, not a mechanical one50:00 What great leadership actually looks like in practice58:00 Advice for founders building something meaningfulFollow Gina onhttps://www.instagram.com/gbianchini/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginabianchini/https://www.mightynetworks.com/Connect with Alisa!Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohnTwitter: @alisacohnFacebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/Website: http://www.alisacohn.comDownload her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

April 6, 20261 hr 5 min

#115 – Tanay Kothari, Co-Founder & CEO of Wispr Flow: How a 27-Year-Old Founder Is Redefining Leadership, Product, and the AI Revolution

What does it actually take to lead when the stakes are real, the decisions are heavy, and people are counting on you?In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, Alisa Cohn sits down with Tanay Kothari, Co-Founder and CEO of Wispr Flow, one of the most talked-about AI companies right now, to explore what it means to build, lead, and grow at a level most founders never reach.Tanay may be a young founder, but the way he thinks about leadership, people, and decision-making is anything but early-stage. This conversation goes deep into the realities of building a company, not just the strategy, but the responsibility, the trade-offs, and the emotional weight that comes with it.They unpack what founders often get wrong about vision versus execution, why the hardest decisions are usually the right ones, and how to lead teams through uncertainty without losing trust.Tanay also shares his approach to managing people more experienced than him, why understanding how each individual wants to be led changes everything, and how aligning on beliefs, not just decisions, can transform how teams operate.This is a conversation about leadership under pressure, building with intention, and becoming the kind of founder your company actually needs.You’ll learn:What founders get wrong about vision vs. execution, and how to separate the twoHow to navigate difficult decisions, including layoffs, without losing your integrityHow to lead and influence people who are more experienced than youThe power of aligning on beliefs instead of debating decisionsHow to build faster, more effective teams through shared frameworksWhat it really means to take responsibility as a founderThe trade-offs required to build a company, and how to choose them consciouslyHow emotional maturity becomes a leadership advantageWhy great leaders focus on how they show up, not just what they buildWe talk about:00:00 Building from a young age and what drives Tanay03:00 Early product thinking and what makes great products work06:00 The difference between vision and execution in startups09:00 Making hard decisions and leading through uncertainty12:00 The emotional reality of layoffs and responsibility as a founder16:00 The weight of leadership and the trade-offs of building a company23:00 Managing and leading people more experienced than you26:00 Why personalization matters in leadership (“love languages” for teams)29:00 Aligning on beliefs vs relying on authority35:00 Building decision-making frameworks that scale with your team41:00 How small systems unlock massive team productivity46:00 Why entry-level roles are disappearing and what replaces them49:00 Advice for young professionals in an AI-first world55:00 Creating fast feedback loops to build better products58:00 Why most companies build too many products too soon01:01:00 Imposter syndrome and the hidden pressure of leadership01:04:30 Final lessons on leadership, people, and building something that lastsFollow Tanay onLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tankots/Website: https://wisprflow.ai/Connect with Alisa!Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohnTwitter: @alisacohnFacebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/Website: http://www.alisacohn.comDownload her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

March 23, 20261 hr 18 min

#114 - Kim Scott, Radical Respect and Radical Candor: How to Build Teams That Challenge Directly and Care Personally [ENCORE]

What does it actually mean to care about someone at work?In this encore episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Kim Scott, former Apple and Google executive and bestselling author of Radical Candor and Radical Respect, to explore the real cost of silence, bias, and avoidance inside teams.This episode is not theoretical. It is deeply practical. From how to solicit feedback effectively, to how to “disrupt bias without disrupting the meeting,” to how to move through shame and defensiveness, Kim offers a roadmap for leaders who want high standards without losing humanity.If you care about building strong teams, giving better feedback, or creating a culture where people can actually do their best work, this conversation will challenge you in the best way.You’ll learn:Why Radical Candor works and how leaders often misapply itThe hidden damage caused by ruinous empathyWhy silence at work is more costly than discomfortHow to solicit feedback without triggering defensivenessThe difference between bias, prejudice, and bullyingHow to “disrupt bias without disrupting the meeting”How leaders can build psychological safety through vulnerabilityWhy upstanders matter and how to be oneWe talk about:00:00 The painful story behind Radical Candor and why silence cost more than honesty03:00 The Radical Candor framework explained: care personally + challenge directly08:00 Ruinous empathy and the real consequences of avoiding feedback12:00 Why soliciting feedback is the first leadership move18:00 How to ask for feedback without getting fake reassurance24:00 From Radical Candor to Radical Respect: what prompted the new book28:00 The two definitions of respect and why they matter31:00 Bias, prejudice, and bullying, simple definitions leaders can use35:00 How to disrupt bias without disrupting the meeting44:00 Managing shame and defensiveness when your bias is flagged51:00 The cost of silence and the power of being an upstander57:00 Why discomfort is the price of real collaborationFollow Kim onInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/radicalcandorofficialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimm4/Medium: https://kimmalonescott.medium.com/ Website: https://kimmalonescott.com/ Connect with Alisa!Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohnTwitter: @alisacohnFacebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/Website: http://www.alisacohn.comDownload her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

March 9, 202654 min

#113 – Matt Oppenheimer, from Founder to Public Company CEO of Remitly: Why Falling in Love with the Problem Builds Enduring Companies

What does it really take to evolve from first-time founder to public company CEO without losing conviction, culture, or clarity?In this episode of From Start-Up to Grown-Up, Alisa Cohn sits down with Matt Oppenheimer, Co-Founder and CEO of Remitly, the global financial services company serving customers in more than 170 countries.Matt shares the leadership evolution behind building Remitly from an early-stage startup into a publicly traded company. From spotting the broken experience of international money transfers while living in Kenya, to navigating executive transitions, IPO readiness, board dynamics, and imposter syndrome, Matt reflects on the real work of founder to CEO leadership growth.This conversation explores how conviction differs from stubbornness, why great founders fall in love with the problem rather than the solution, and how culture must evolve alongside strategy. If you are building, scaling, or leading a growth-stage company, this episode offers a practical and deeply human roadmap.You’ll learn:Why founders must apply grit to the problem, not the solutionHow to balance curiosity with decisiveness as a leaderThe difference between startup execution and public company leadershipHow to design culture intentionally and evolve it over timeWhy executive transitions are about stage-fit, not loyaltyWhat IPO readiness really requires behind the scenesHow to manage imposter syndrome and board pressureWhy psychological safety with investors mattersHow “towering strengths” create leadership shadowsWhat it means to grow into the CEO your company needsWe talk about:00:00 The origin of Remitly and identifying a global problem03:00 Grit, flexibility, and falling in love with the problem06:00 Growth mindset, curiosity, and listening to feedback10:00 Global perspective and customer centricity14:00 Designing culture from day one18:00 Evolving values as strategy evolves23:00 Hiring executives for stage, not sentiment28:00 Managing leadership transitions thoughtfully33:00 Founder development plans and 360 reviews36:00 Moving from “doing” to leading at scale42:00 IPO preparation and avoiding IPO as the sole goal46:00 Becoming a public company CEO49:00 Imposter syndrome and board dynamics53:00 Advice for founders scaling their leadershipFollow Matt onLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattoppenheimer/Website: https://www.remitly.com/Connect with Alisa!Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohnTwitter: @alisacohnFacebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/Website: http://www.alisacohn.comDownload her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

February 23, 20261 hr 22 min

#112 - Sal Di Stefano, Co-Founder of Mind Pump Media, How Authenticity, Cofounder Alignment, and Physical Strength Shape Great Leadership [ENCORE]

What actually drives long-term growth, in business, leadership, and life?In this replay episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with Sal Di Stefano, co-founder of Mind Pump Media, to explore what it really takes to build something that lasts. From turning a podcast into a multi-revenue media company to navigating cofounder relationships, conflict, and personal growth, Sal shares hard-earned lessons from nearly a decade of building Mind Pump without venture capital or shortcuts.This conversation goes beyond tactics. Sal breaks down why authenticity creates trust at scale, how to know you’ve chosen the right cofounders, and why being “right” is far less important than staying aligned. He also shares how prioritizing physical health and personal boundaries made him a stronger leader, not a weaker one.If you’re a founder, creator, or leader who wants sustainable growth without burnout, this episode offers a grounded, honest look at what actually works.You’ll learn:Why authenticity is a growth strategy, not a branding tacticHow to recognize cofounder alignment before problems surfaceWhy being right can hurt teams and trustHow physical health supports better leadership decisionsWhat Mind Pump did differently to build loyalty and longevityWe talk about:00:00 Leadership responsibility, health, and personal accountability01:00 Introducing Sal Di Stefano and Mind Pump Media03:00 Why long-form podcasting enabled real connection and trust05:10 Turning Mind Pump into a multi-revenue media business09:10 Building trust before monetizing and letting the audience lead13:45 Early revenue growth and turning down misaligned sponsors18:30 Finding the right cofounders and values alignment22:15 Conflict, disagreement, and committing as a team30:45 Navigating growth, the pandemic, and unexpected momentum36:10 Authenticity, vulnerability, and being recognized in public40:20 Boundaries, family, and redefining success as a leader45:00 Focus, leverage, and choosing what actually moves growth49:20 Serving existing customers before chasing new ones53:40 Why great leaders and coaches must be great communicators57:40 Final reflections on leadership, health, and the long gameFollow Sal onX: https://x.com/mindpumpsalPodcast: https://mindpumppodcast.com/ Website: www.mindpumpmedia.comConnect with Alisa!Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohnTwitter: @alisacohnFacebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/Website: http://www.alisacohn.comDownload her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon

February 9, 202651 min

#111 – Dr. Becky Kennedy on Why Great Leaders Stop Managing Feelings and Start Building Trust

What does it actually mean to lead with authority and empathy, without burning out, people-pleasing, or losing yourself in the process?In this episode, Alisa Cohn sits down with clinical psychologist, parenting expert, and bestselling author Dr. Becky Kennedy to explore why the skills that make great parents also create the strongest leaders.Dr. Becky introduces the concept of sturdy leadership, a grounded approach that rejects both authoritarian control and emotional over-accommodation. Instead, it teaches leaders how to hold boundaries, stay regulated during conflict, and repair relationships when things go sideways.This conversation unpacks why leadership is not about managing everyone’s feelings, how guilt often disguises emotional over-responsibility, and why repair after rupture is more powerful than perfection. You’ll learn how to handle defensiveness, set boundaries without shame, navigate imposter syndrome, and build trust through consistency and self-leadership.You’ll learn:What “sturdy leadership” really means and why authority without aggression builds trustWhy setting boundaries often triggers guilt and how to tell guilt apart from emotional over-responsibilityHow repair strengthens relationships more than getting it right the first timeHow to handle defensiveness, emotional reactions, and resistance at workWhy scripts and practice reps are essential leadership skills, not crutchesHow predictable conflict shows up at work and how to lead through it calmlyWhy imposter syndrome never fully disappears and how to lead anywayWe talk about:00:00 Why parenting is leadership training and why leadership is human work03:45 What sturdy leadership is and why extremes fail06:20 The “sturdy pilot” metaphor and how leaders create safety in turbulence10:30 Authority vs empathy, and why feelings should not dictate decisions14:40 Boundaries, guilt, and emotional over-responsibility at work18:50 Why empathy doesn’t mean absorbing other people’s emotions22:30 Handling defensiveness and emotional reactions in professional settings31:45 Predictable conflict, patterns, and solving the real issue36:10 Repair after rupture and why it builds trust faster than perfection42:30 How unrepaired moments erode connection and performance45:20 Imposter syndrome, self-leadership, and staying in the driver’s seat49:00 What Dr. Becky wishes she had known earlier about growth and leadershipFollow Dr. Becky onInstagramYouTubeTikTokFacebookWebsiteConnect with Alisa!Follow Alisa Cohn on Instagram: @alisacohnTwitter: @alisacohnFacebook: facebook.com/alisa.cohnLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisacohn/Website: http://www.alisacohn.comDownload her 5 scripts for delicate conversations (and 1 to make your life better) Grab a copy of From Start-Up to Grown-Up by Alisa Cohn from Amazon