Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about action. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to lead in a variety of environments, from private equity-backed companies like Rocket Software, to publicly traded enterprises like Pega Systems and IBM, and now as the founder of my own startup CxO4. Each experience, whether managing large corporate teams or captaining my tennis team, has reinforced a common truth: great leadership is built on a few fundamental principles that apply in any setting.
Recently, I had the honor of speaking at WISE Women in STEM Entrepreneurship’s Regional Event at the University of Miami. This event brought together coordinators from universities across the program, all eager to exchange insights on leadership. It was an incredible experience to share my perspective with such an engaged audience, and it reinforced how universal the challenges and opportunities of leadership truly are. My approach to leadership has been shaped by real-world experience across different industries and company structures, and I was excited to distill these lessons into 3 key takeaways.
The 3 Key Elements of Great Leadership
1. Identifying the Right Team
Building a great team starts with choosing the right people. A leader’s most important job is surrounding themselves with individuals who bring the right mix of skills, experience, and mindset. This means balancing IQ (intellectual intelligence) with EQ (emotional intelligence)—because success isn’t just about expertise; it’s about collaboration, adaptability, and shared vision. When people feel valued and understand their role in the bigger picture, they bring their best to the table. Leaders who master this build teams that operate at the top 1% of their field. I’ve written more about this concept in my blog: Becoming the 1%.
2. Executing with Focus
One of the biggest challenges leaders face is cutting through distractions and staying focused on relentless execution, as I explain more deeply on my blog Master Your Focus. A few key principles help keep things on track:
- Set clear targets. A team without well-defined goals will struggle to perform.
- Prepare, prepare, prepare. Preparation is everything. A well-prepared team can adapt quickly and execute effectively, even when things don’t go as planned. I love this tongue-twister: Proper prior planning prevents poor pitiful performance.
- Perfect is the enemy of progress. Although preparation is important, over-planning can lead to stagnation, while decisive action drives results. Execution is what moves the needle.
3. Fail Fast
No leader gets everything right the first time. What sets great leaders apart is their ability to adapt quickly, especially in the time we are living. Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Transform & adapt fast. If something isn’t working, don’t waste time—adjust, iterate, and move forward.
- Angles create angles. Every action generates a reaction. The way we approach challenges creates ripple effects, so leaders must be agile in adjusting their approach. A strategic move today shapes opportunities tomorrow.
- Root Cause Analysis. When facing an issue, ask “Why?” 5 times to uncover the root cause. Only by addressing the real issue can you create lasting solutions.
Final Thoughts
Whether in business, sports, or personal growth, leadership is about making the right calls, staying focused, and adapting to challenges. I look forward to continuing these conversations and sharing more insights along the way. Thanks again WISE for inviting me to share my experiences!
At CxO4, we bring this same leadership mindset to help companies scale—whether they’re expanding into new markets or building high-performing partner ecosystems. Strong leadership is the foundation of growth, and the principles shared are the same ones we apply to drive success for our clients.
Let’s get in touch!
