277. Leading From Within: Self-Awareness, Collaboration, & Human Connection at Work

This episode is about authentic leadership, self-awareness, and the quiet ways competition undermines collaboration in the workplace. Traci sits down with Archana Mohan, Chief Operations and Technology Officer in the finance sector and author of The Thru Line: How Understanding Who You Are Empowers How You Lead.

Archana holds a BA from Brown, an MA from Columbia, and an MBA from Yale, but her most formative credential might be what she's carried from classrooms and boardrooms alike: the experience of not quite feeling like she belonged, and choosing to build something different because of it.

What We Cover:

• Why authentic leadership starts from the inside, not from a title
• The two types of self-awareness and why most leaders only develop one of them
• Listening as the most undervalued skill in the workplace
• How school conditioned us to chase the right answer instead of ask better questions
• Why group impact is exponential, not just additive
• What collaboration actually looks like versus what leaders often mistake for it
• The key difference between competing with someone and competing against them
• Why not having the answer is just as valuable as having one
• How creating space for others to be seen fully changes what a team can achieve

Connect with Archana Mohan: Archanamo.net | LinkedIn | The Thru Line: How Understanding Who You Are Empowers How You Lead.

Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci

Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed.

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.