© 2023 Created by Sameh Younis
Redesigning Leadership: Lessons in Agency, Boundaries, and Impact
I recently listened to a podcast (“Business Casual” by Mihae Ahn) where she hosted one of our top leaders, Rekha Narang, who spoke openly about her leadership journey. It struck me how authentic and unpolished the conversation was – and how much of it translates directly into the challenges leaders face today.
The best leadership lessons, I find, are not theoretical. They are lived, tested, and shared honestly. Rekha’s reflections weren’t about corporate slogans; they were about sustaining leadership through purpose, clarity, and choice.
And that, to me, is the point: leadership is not about accumulating more achievements – it’s about choosing better, showing up intentionally, and creating environments where others thrive.
Here’s what I took away, and how I believe leaders can apply these lessons.
Language Shapes Leadership
Rekha shared a deceptively simple shift: replace “should” with “could.”
It made me pause. How many times in a week do I catch myself – or others – saying, “I should attend that meeting,” “I should accept that stretch project,” or “I should take on more”? “Should” is loaded with obligation and guilt.
“Could” reframes the choice. I could attend this meeting… but does it align with my priorities? I could accept this project… but will it move me closer to purpose or push me into burnout?
For leaders, this is powerful. Language sets the tone for teams. If we constantly model “should,” we create cultures of obligation. If we model “could,” we create cultures of agency. And agency fuels motivation.
Purpose as a Leadership Filter
Purpose is not static. It evolves. Rekha described how her own purpose has shifted with each stage of her career and life.
That resonated with me. Too often, leaders search for a “final” purpose statement in their 20s or 30s. But purpose matures with experience. What matters is having enough clarity today to use it as a filter.
This is a leadership tool I apply in my own work. When presented with new opportunities, I ask: does this align with my purpose, or is it just noise? If it aligns, I commit fully. If not, I decline – even if it looks attractive on the surface.
Leaders who use purpose as a filter avoid scattering their energy. They direct it where it counts.
Boundaries Are Strategic, Not Selfish
The conversation around boundaries stood out. Many still treat boundaries as selfish or optional. In reality, boundaries are the infrastructure of sustainable leadership.
Rekha emphasized that saying no is uncomfortable, but not saying no is costlier. I’ve seen this firsthand. Leaders who overextend inevitably compromise clarity, performance, and even their credibility.
Boundaries are not walls – they are filters. They define what earns your time and what doesn’t. And when leaders hold their boundaries unapologetically, they give their teams permission to do the same. That models a healthier culture than any wellness program ever could.
The Balance of Grounding and Lifting
Rekha’s metaphor of balance as a yoga pose – grounding and lifting – has stayed with me.
Grounding: stability through self-care, reflection, recovery.
Lifting: ambition, growth, boldness.
Most leaders, myself included, are naturally wired toward lifting. We chase results, set ambitious targets, and measure progress. But without grounding, lifting collapses. We topple under the weight of effort.
This has practical application. When I plan my week, I now ask: Where am I grounding? Where am I lifting? If the balance is off, I know I’ll feel it – through stress, fatigue, or lack of clarity. Leaders who plan both build resilience into their schedules.
Burnout as a Cautionary Tale
Rekha shared her own experience with burnout. It was humbling to hear. Burnout is often invisible until it’s too late – and leaders are particularly vulnerable because they are used to absorbing more.
Her reflection reminded me that burnout isn’t weakness. It’s the cost of too many unchecked “yeses.”
The actionable lesson here: leaders must not only recognize burnout in themselves but actively guard against it in their teams. That means modeling boundaries, encouraging recharge, and normalizing rest as part of performance – not the opposite of it.
Visibility Multiplies Impact
One of the most compelling moments was when Rekha described “picking up the mic.” For much of her career, she was a behind-the-scenes operator. But stepping visibly into leadership spaces created ripples of representation.
I was struck by how powerful this is. When leaders show up visibly – especially those from underrepresented groups – they create new possibilities for others. Someone seeing you in that role may be the reason they believe they can step into it themselves.
Leadership visibility is not self-promotion. It is community impact. And the cost of staying invisible is higher than the discomfort of stepping up.
Redefining Work–Life Presence
The podcast also touched on guilt. Rekha shared how she learned not to carry guilt when work and family priorities clashed. Instead, she made clear decisions and was fully present in whichever space she chose.
This reframed how I think about presence. Leaders cannot be everywhere. But they can decide with intention and release guilt about the rest. Consistency of presence matters far more than constant presence.
DEI as System Design
Perhaps the most powerful lesson was Rekha’s framing of DEI – not as a personal passion, but as systems design.
This struck me deeply as someone working in technology and cybersecurity. Homogeneous teams design blind spots. Blind spots create vulnerabilities.
Diversity isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s the foundation of resilience and innovation. Especially in the age of AI, designing without diverse perspectives isn’t just incomplete – it’s dangerous.
For leaders, this reframing shifts DEI from a side initiative to a strategic necessity. It belongs in boardroom discussions about product design, risk, and innovation – not just HR.
Joy as a Leadership Requirement
Finally, Rekha’s emphasis on joy stood out. Leadership is often framed as duty, responsibility, or sacrifice. But joy is not optional – it’s what sustains impact.
Joy doesn’t arrive by chance. It has to be designed into routines and team cultures. For me, this means planning moments of connection, creating space for celebration, and ensuring that not every meeting is transactional.
Leaders who design for joy build teams that last.
Closing Reflection
Listening to Rekha reminded me that leadership is not about doing more. It’s about choosing better. It’s about aligning to purpose, protecting energy with boundaries, creating visible impact, and designing inclusively.
These are not abstract ideals. They are practices any leader can adopt today. In a world moving faster than ever, they may be the difference between burning out and leading well.
