What a Global Stage Taught Me About Leadership, Impact, and Getting Out of Our Own Way

I don’t do fluff. I don’t do surface-level conversations. And I sure as hell don’t do playing small. So when I found myself immersed in a global leadership impact event—surrounded by powerhouse speakers and academics from across the globe tackling some of the biggest issues of our time—I knew I was exactly where I needed to be.

I walked into the Women’s Leadership and Empowerment Conference (https://www.wleconference.org/) in Bangkok expecting to be challenged, maybe even a little uncomfortable (especially since this is my second year at this conference and I learned so much last year). What I got was a masterclass in what happens when people stop pretending they have all the answers and start collaborating for real change.

Global Leadership Impact: The Conversations That Matter

We love to talk about leadership, but let’s be honest—most people don’t go deep enough. At this conference, there was no skimming the surface. We dove headfirst into the realities of resilience, justice, power, and survival. The speakers didn’t just talk about problems; they dissected them, exposed the raw truths (often their own truths), and demanded action.

Here’s just a glimpse of what shook the room:

• Leadership Through Adversity – We explored how overcoming trauma fuels powerful, empathetic leadership. Women who had faced abuse, neglect, imprisonment, and systemic barriers weren’t just surviving—they were leading.
• The Feminization of Poverty – Let’s get real: women are being criminalized for being poor. This session ripped apart the myth that poverty is just an economic issue—it’s a direct pipeline to prison, violence, and generational struggle.
• Health & Healing on a Global Scale – From cervical cancer survivorship in Pakistan to mental health advocacy and sexual compliance in Hong Kong, these conversations weren’t just about disease. They were about who gets access, who gets ignored, and who gets to live.
• The Power of AND – A personal favorite: the idea that we don’t have to choose between two identities, two paths, or two beliefs. Leadership isn’t black and white. We are complex beings, and embracing that duality is where true power lies.
• Leading with Purpose (Without Burning Out) – Because let’s be real—if you’re trying to do it all, you’re doing too much. This talk was a wake-up call for every overworked entrepreneur and leader trying to be everything to everyone.

Collaboration: The Real Game Changer

If I walked away with one hard-hitting lesson about global leadership impact, it’s this: we don’t change the world alone.

Too many business owners, leaders, and change-makers are out here trying to build an empire in a vacuum. We hoard ideas, we hesitate to ask for help, and we act like we have to have it all figured out before we make a move (*cough, this was me for SOOOO long). Spoiler alert: we don’t.

The speakers I met? The women leading movements, challenging governments, and disrupting industries? They weren’t doing it solo. They were leveraging global connections, shared experiences, and radical collaboration to amplify their impact.

You don’t need to be the expert on everything. You need to find the people who know what you don’t and build with them. Whether you’re running a business, launching a movement, or simply trying to create a meaningful life, your impact is only as strong as the people you surround yourself with.

Final Takeaway: Do The Damn Work

In the end, these conversations don’t mean much if we’re not willing to act. So here’s the challenge:

• Look at your business, your leadership, your life. Where are you trying to go it alone?
• Who do you need to connect with, collaborate with, or learn from?
• Where are you playing small because you’re afraid to ask for help?

The world doesn’t need more people talking about change. It needs more people doing the damn work.

And if you’re ready to shake things up, challenge the norm, and build something that actually matters—I want to hear from you. Let’s do this.

#RebelLeadership #GlobalImpact #BreakTheRulesAndBuild