Russell Johnson & Associates

At Russell Johnson & Associates, we support our clients in attaining their full potential for fulfillment and self-actualization. Our methodology, tools, one-to-one consulting, and coaching are designed to meet the complex needs of executives and entrepreneurs. 

Our clients develop the clarity, strategy, tactics, mindset, skills, and confidence necessary to achieve objectives ranging from accelerated advancement to major career change. And we provide ongoing long-term support for further career growth.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

We are dedicated to empowering the individual because our world needs the full contribution of us all, and we all benefit from maximizing the value we create. 

Because services such as recruitment and outplacement are funded by employers, they perpetuate a distortion of the balance of power between the employer and the individual. Superficial services focused on employers' objectives leave countless high-potential people disempowered, unfulfilled, and not knowing why. Yet with career paths becoming ever more complex, we all need to see our career as our business and operate with the attributes of a successful business. 

We aim to help make this the ‘new normal’ rather than the rare exception.

WHAT WE DO

We help our clients develop the empowered mindset, vision, clarity, strategy, tactics, self-marketing skills, and confidence to achieve their full potential for contribution and self-actualization.

Our clients become free from the artificial constraints of the advertised job market. Whether they continue on their current paths, change direction, leave their jobs for self-employment, or vice versa, there’s a lasting difference. Through deepened awareness, clarity, and the skills to capitalize on these, they are no longer trapped in unsuitable careers. 

They work for purposes they want to serve and in roles where they can make their full contribution and enjoy the lives they want.

Founder and CEO

Empowered Careers

Empowered Careers helps people in early professional careers who find themselves stuck in unsatisfying roles to create fulfilling futures. 

Our philosophy corresponds to that of Russell Johnson & Associates, the firm through which we provide the extensive one-to-one support that senior-level clients need.

EPR Careers

I founded EPR Careers after a long search for career fulfillment when the experiences of a takeover at Arby's led me to acknowledge that I needed a new and more fulfilling career path than the corporate one I had been on. 

I was attracted to the autonomy of self-employment; however, I committed to supporting the transition to new ownership at Arby's and stayed on for two more years. Then, I left to devote full time to the search for the transformation I wanted.

I sought high-quality career support but was unable to find it in either the US or my home country, Australia. Recognizing that many executives and professionals needed such support, I established EPR Careers, initially with a partner whose experience in owning a recruitment business added another perspective to mine.
  
Over the ensuing 22 years, I developed a team with offices in Melbourne and Sydney, and we provided services throughout Australia and internationally. I led the development of EPR's services, continually refined our methodology, and built the firm into a global leader in its field. 

I focused on developing and refining our unique approach and we helped many thousands of self-funded clients to achieve their objectives. However, the business model needed more work. 

Others saw opportunities in this and the business was acquired in 2014 by a consortium of staff and former clients. They ultimately closed the firm in 2016. Meanwhile, I reflected on the lessons of my 22 years at the helm of EPR and subsequently launched a new firm incorporating those lessons.

Founder and Managing Director

Arby's

Founded in 1964, Arby’s was an established quick-service restaurant chain, part of the Fortune 500 and New York Stock Exchange-listed Royal Crown group. I joined the company as Director of Franchising with a mandate to expand the franchise system after a decade of stagnation and failed attempts to restart it. 

Over the next six years, I built a high-performing team and transformed the attractiveness of the franchise system and the strength of the Arby's brand. 

Led all franchising activities including planning, marketing, sales, administration, site selection and acquisition, financing, construction, fit-out of restaurant premises, franchisee induction and training, ongoing operational support, and relationships between the company and its franchisees. 

The chain was transformed from a laggard in the restaurant industry into one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing franchise systems and experienced its golden era. I advanced to Chief Franchising Officer and Senior Vice President, reporting to the CEO as equal number two executive of the company. 

Major Achievements:
•	Developed rigorous systems for franchisee support 
•	Quadrupled the number of franchisees
•	Achieved growth of well over 200 new restaurants annually, making the company one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing restaurant chains, employing over 50,000 people, with over 1,850 restaurants and more than 200 under development
•	Despite the turmoil of a takeover in 1984 and over a year without a CEO, the company was independently and repeatedly ranked in the top ten of the approximately 3,000 franchise systems in the U.S. at the time
•	With a new restaurant opening every 39 hours on average, Arby’s became recognized as the most significant turnaround of the period in the American restaurant industry, and one of the greatest franchising success stories of the era.

Chief Franchising Officer and Senior Vice President

International Multifoods Corporation

Joined the Franchise Division of International Multifoods, a Minneapolis, MN-based Fortune 500 and New York Stock Exchange-listed company in a head office role. After gaining initial franchising experience, relocated to Atlanta GA, managing franchise development in the Southern region of the US. Subsequently declined promotion to Director of Franchising at head office and instead accepted a role at the same level but with greater potential at Arby’s Inc.

Managed development of fast food franchises in several regions of the U.S. and in Canada.
	Selected franchisees and sites
	Assisted franchisees in real estate, financing and construction negotiations

Regional Franchise Manager

Unfulfilling executive career? Transform it before it traps you.

At 14, I was pulled out of school to get my first full-time job by a family crisis.

That disruption sparked a long journey through many industries and layers of the working world.

From office work to construction and self-employment in Australia, study in the UK and ministry in Africa, then from sales to senior executive roles in the US.

At Arby’s, I advanced to Chief Franchising Officer and led its transformation to one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains globally. 

With a new location opening every 39 hours, we were rated in the Top 10 of over 3,000 franchise systems in the US. 

Then, a corporate takeover harmed the culture.

I resigned to find a meaningful new path, then stayed on for a nearly tripled income. 

Two years later, I resigned again, to buy or create a business aligned with my values.

A few months on, I realized I was lost. 

I sought high-level, values and vision-based career support, and couldn’t find that either.

But that experience led me to finally recognize my calling—to fill that market gap.

Since then, I have spent decades helping executives worldwide align their careers with their deeper values and awaken their dormant clarity, confidence, energy and impact.

My colleagues and I have guided thousands through critical transitions, enabling them to align their careers with who they truly are—and with what they most want to contribute. 

I do this work because I believe that society needs more leaders doing work they find personally meaningful. 

And that begins with taking charge of their careers, rather than surrendering them to systems that meet their lower needs but not their higher aspirations. 

If you’re ready to reimagine what your career can be, let’s explore what’s possible.

📅 Schedule a conversation: https://rjacareers.com/schedule-a-call-rj/

Russell Johnson

Kindness is never neutral.

Even the smallest gesture can shift a mood, open a door, or start a ripple you’ll never fully see. What feels ordinary to you might be unforgettable to someone else.

Every moment is a chance to leave someone better than you found them.

~~ 
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Society promotes conventional paths to career success.   
 
But with accelerating change, conventional paths are becoming ever less reliable.   
 
Courage is key to unlocking your true potential. Consider the following effects:  
 
𝟭. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁  
 
We’re encouraged to pursue external validation in our careers – promotions, raises, accolades.   
 
But true fulfillment requires the courage to align our work with our own values, instead.   
 
𝟮. 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆  
 
Conformity is encouraged. It takes courage to embrace your uniqueness and let your true self shine through.   
 
Only through courage can you inspire others and attract opportunities aligned with your essence.  
 
𝟯. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 (𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀)  
 
Trust is the foundation of meaningful relationships and collaboration. It takes courage to trust yourself, to believe in your capabilities, and to follow your instincts.   
 
Equally important is the courage to trust others, delegate, and rely on them.   
 
𝟰. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱  
 
We tend to equate progress with action. However, true progress often requires us to step back, reflect, reassess, and prioritize long-term growth over short-term gains.   
 
This takes courage. But it allows us to gain clarity and move forward more effectively.  
 
𝟱. 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲  
 
Success requires continual learning, personal growth, and building meaningful connections.  
 
Courage underpins all of these. And it’s strengthened by being used.   
 
Step into your courage and experience the exhilaration of soaring to new heights.   
 
What are some courageous steps you've taken in your career? Share your experiences in the comments below and let's inspire each other to be bold and fearless!  
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

What happens if we dare to define success solely on our own terms? If we commit ourselves to systematically becoming the person we want to be, by aligning our life with what holds meaning for us? 
 
One likely outcome is that we become inspirational leaders. For we’re not totally alone on our journeys. We’re just at different stages of journeys with varying and overlapping degrees of similarity. And those at earlier stages of similar journeys are naturally attracted to those who are further along on them. 
 
Traditional measures of success are increasingly being acknowledged as invalid – misaligned with true success and harmful to the individual and to humanity’s future. So don’t let yourself get away with excuses to delay taking the time to define what true success looks like for you. 
 
The process begins with shifting our focus away from outwardly focused metrics and toward fulfillment through personally meaningful work instead. This single shift could well be the most rewarding change you could make in the remaining years of your career journey and of your life. 
 
Don’t let your potential decline through disuse; it can only be realised through action. 
 
~~ 
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

For many high-potential people, analysis paralysis is the greatest enemy of progress. Here’s a simple 7-step process to escape the web of overthinking and indecision.  
  
1. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: Define your major objective and focus on that. Leave the details for later.  
  
2. 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Take the leap when you’re stuck, learning from outcomes and embracing the power of iteration. Do it many times daily.  
  
3. 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: Engage with mentors, colleagues, or industry experts to gain perspective and challenge your own assumptions.  
  
4. 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Create a sense of urgency by setting and meeting deadlines. Make the best choices you can within the given timeframe.  
  
5. 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝟬/𝟮𝟬 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲: Focus on what will yield the greatest results. Prioritize tasks based on their impact and the effort required. Shun trivial details.  
  
6. 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀. Scorch the ego. Accept that you’ll do better in future by making mistakes now.  
  
7. 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: Stay present and cultivate mindfulness through techniques like meditation or journaling. This will help you make decisions with greater clarity.  
  
Overcoming analysis paralysis is a journey, but with the above sequence, you can make confident, decisive choices. Start implementing the above actions today and unlock your true potential.  
  
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

A breakthrough, of any kind, commonly begins with a ‘BFO’ – a Blinding Flash of the Obvious.   
 
For most of us, at certain points in our lives, our greatest need for a BFO lies in redefining what career success means for us. Because we’re built for growth, and few of us can live fully, or fully harness our potential, on a totally linear career path over decades.  
 
Such a BFO is likely to occur only when:  
 
⦿ Our current situation is deeply unsatisfying, and we face and acknowledge this fact 
⦿ We decide that authenticity – being true to ourselves and our values – matters more to us than any advantages we are gaining or stand to gain from sacrificing it 
⦿ We bring a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude to the changes that are necessary.   
 
It takes courage to follow this path, for the world of jobs offers rewards for being a part of the crowd.   
 
But those rewards are shallow. And they grow ever shallower, and finally dry up entirely, as we avoid developing our potential.   
 
In today's world of ever-increasing complexity and need for vision and creativity, our vision of success should be as unique to us as our fingerprint.   
 
The rewards of such a career can include true leadership, deep fulfillment, and the vibrant good health, abundant energy, great relationships, and the joy of living that authenticity generates. They grow ever greater over the years, and soon come to dwarf those of any other version of success. 
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

𝗨𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 – 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀  
 
Collaboration is becoming ever more important to having a job. Yet standing out is essential to advancement. It can be hard to balance these two aspects of success. How can you achieve both?   
 
There’s an unglamorous but essential key. It’s 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 in the things that matter most. The following five applications of it will benefit your career while enriching your life’s journey:  
 
𝟭. 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲: A powerful daily routine is the first step towards consistency. Add small actions that simplify your life while allowing you to achieve more. Make them habits. Then add more of them.  
 
𝟮. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: You’ll occasionally get knocked off course. Accept it as part of the journey and commit to bouncing back, promptly. That mindset supports a self-image of being unstoppable. In turn, that self-image underpins consistency.  
  
𝟯. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: Belief in integrity is nice, but only living it counts. Make your integrity unshakeable. And if you ever find it’s not practiced at the top of your organization, find a better place to work.  
 
𝟰. 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Set time aside regularly to reflect on your progress, celebrate your victories, and especially, learn from your mistakes.  
 
𝟱. 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Success is a journey, so strengthen your self-image as you build on your skills and knowledge, by setting motivating goals and patiently tracking your progress.  
 
Consistency isn't glamorous. It's about showing up, day in and day out. And when practiced in these ways, it will help you attain your true potential.   
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Sometimes the plan is the very thing holding you back.

Growth asks us to release control. The life that fits you now might not be the one you imagined. Letting go creates space for alignment.

When you surrender the script, you discover the story you were meant to live.

~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Retirement is a compelling goal for many. But what if you’re a highly motivated achiever who finds deep fulfillment in achieving worthy goals?   
 
For such a person, disengagement from a part in meeting the needs of society may threaten rather than beckon. For it can diminish aspects of life ranging from relationships to health and wellbeing.   
 
It’s actually a serious social problem and a tragic waste of human potential. But our part in society does not need to end so suddenly.   
 
For highly motivated achievers, the emerging new world of work holds the potential for even more positive impact after retirement from a full-time job. Such paths can provide increased freedom while fully engaging one’s mind and capacity for contribution.   
 
However, they’re rarely available in the world of traditional jobs. To gain them, we must clarify what we want, and seize and maintain control of our identity.   
 
𝗔 𝗚𝗮𝗽 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱  
 
In a society struggling to cope with ever-accelerating change, the need for wise leadership has never been greater. And it’s the natural culmination of what’s known as the ‘hero’s journey’ to contribute to building a better future for society, through hard-earned wisdom and capacity for influence.  
 
Think of the influence that leaders such as Nelson Mandela have had. And remember that we don’t have to be political leaders to inspire and to lead. For leadership is most effective on a one-to-one or small-group basis.   
 
And the need for it exists in all areas of society.    
 
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲  
 
If you are a highly motivated achiever, it’s likely you’ll enjoy your best life by following a non-traditional path. One that allows, and even demands, the best you have to give. For this has always been the natural culmination of a life of commitment to the getting of wisdom, growth, and to contribution.  
 
If you are seeking such a future rather than retirement, feel free to reach out for a discussion.   
 
A life well lived should have a meaningful capstone.  
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Unlock the door to new levels of success in your career with the trifecta of Clarity, Courage, and Consistency.   
 
𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 is your compass in the ever-expanding labyrinth of career paths. It illuminates your direction, defining what you truly want and the steps you need to get there.   
 
Without it, you're adrift.  
 
𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 is your fuel. It's the audacity to challenge the status quo, to step out of your comfort zone, explore new paths, and confront failures head-on.   
 
Courage isn't about being fearless, it's about moving forward despite the fear.  
 
Lastly, 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 is the ‘secret sauce’ that makes you memorable. It's the result of unrelenting commitment to your goals, day in and day out.   
 
It's the fusion of these three elements that births genuine career success. Clarity gives you a compelling vision. Courage helps you to act on it despite its challenges. Consistency brings it to life.  
 
And these three interact with each other. Every advance in one strengthens the potential for advances in the other two.  
 
Remember, success isn't a destination, it's a journey. And on this journey, your Clarity, Courage, and Consistency will be your most trusty companions.  
 
Reflect on these three keys today. Are they driving your career choices? Consider how you can incorporate them more into your professional life.   
 
I'll aim to help over the coming weeks through a series of posts with more detail on each of the three.  
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Most of us recognize that our species is on a slippery slope. Our fascination with the potential for disaster seems to be drawing us toward it.   
 
Is there anything we can each do to help turn the tide?  
 
There is, for necessity is the mother of invention. Evolution is using this principle, pushing and pulling us to replace conflict with cooperation, within our societies and between them.   
 
And we have reached a point where even our talent for denial is faltering. We all know that We can’t go on kicking own goals. Self-extinction would be an ironic fate for a species that has come so far.   
 
Co-operation works; conflict doesn’t. One hand washes the other. None of our problems, except perhaps that of death itself, will appear insoluble once we begin as a species to practice this principle wholeheartedly.   
 
Have you made it your career purpose yet to be an agent of this transformation? If not, why delay? It’s a path that’s available to us all, and no other path can match its rewards.   
 
Because it’s ultimately the foundation of all the best ones.  
 
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Many of us focus in our careers on meeting what Abraham Maslow termed 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 – those basic requirements like safety, belonging, and esteem. The pursuit of these needs can lead us to miss out on ever seeing the bigger picture.  
  
The real prize is the pursuit of Growth and Being needs. These encompass creativity and fulfilling one's potential, or self-actualization. This is where our true capacity for contribution and the impact that we are capable of achieving lie.  
  
We all experience the first set of needs but far too few ever embark on the journey towards the second set. Many achieve financial security, recognition, and status, but then miss out on the richer life that comes from self-actualization and making a meaningful difference in the world, because our roles never highlight its availability.  
  
So, as we navigate our careers and lives, let's remember that while the first prize may seem enticing, the real treasure lies in pursuing our growth and being needed. Let’s not accept sacrificing our true potential to short-term pressures.  
  
~~  
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.  

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Your potential won’t come alive without your belief.

Before anyone else sees it, you have to expect more from yourself. Expectation creates direction. Belief fuels bold action.

You rise when you stop waiting for proof and start living with purpose.

~~ 
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦, Russell Johnson 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 

#SelfActualizedLeadership #LeadWithPurpose #LeadershipDevelopment

Standard Chartered

ED, Hive Technology Leader - Treasury Liquidity and IRRBB

Leading delivery excellence for Functions (Finance, Financial Crime, Digital Foundations, Strategy and Talent, Risk, Legal, Audit).

Head, Functions Delivery Excellence

❉ Led the strategic change program for Regulatory Liquidity and was responsible for the onboarding CFMR, LCR, NSFR, OLAR, Survival Horizon, HKMA, LRF Forecasting, IRRBB, Recovering and Resolution Planning, Funding In Resolution, Fund Transfer Pricing, Data Quality Monitoring - Financial Market Reconciliation, CDE Profiling, LCR DQ and DLRR,. Led the program that delivered the strategic group Regulatory Liquidity platforms covering 19 major markets with cross functional teams across 4 hubs. 

❉ Successfully transitioned Financial Markets Treasury Strats application into Liquidity to generate board metric (OLAR SH, MCO, MWS, NSS, FIR and Recovery and Resolution Planning) reports across 19 markets. Designed, procured, setup the infrastructure and productionized the entire application which was built using Haskell, Mu and GHC.

❉ Leading Technology Obsolescence initiative to decommission legacy platforms in phases, driving efficiencies and savings across financial reporting platforms.

❉ Led the optimization and transformation of the way we work; created strategy, provided structure, building teams and ensured progress. This resulted in my teams having clear autonomy, clear priorities, certainty and space to complete their work to the best of their ability.

❉ Led the setup of the Functions Scrum Master Community of Practice, bringing together 90 - 120 participants each month sharing best practices, case studies and data. A platform that standardized knowledge, awareness, created excitement and enthusiasm including participation and space for proof-of-concepts.

❉ IGNITE Coach and mentor for women across various domains. Coaching is key to empower an individual to reach his/her full potential, overcoming fear and doubt, embracing constant change.

Head of Change Delivery and Transformation, Liquidity, IRRBB, FTP

❉ Led and delivered IFRS9 reporting to the regulator

❉ Led teams to Implement modeling and analytics, self-service reports,  financial 
aggregation and unified workflows using SAS

❉ Delivered and stabilized Liquidity Regulatory reporting across legacy platforms for IRRBB, LCR and MNE.

Senior Technology Project Manager

❉ Established processes for vendor management office in the Malaysia GBS hub. This role requires working closely with China, Singapore and India vendor management and supply chain management offices.

❉ Onboarding and management of vendor resources into GBS Malaysia hub.

❉ Managing costs, rates, RFQ, RFP, vendor headcount and contracts for GBS Malaysia.

Senior Manager Strategy and Vendor Management Office

❉ Led a geographically dispersed engineering team consisting of Technical Architects, Developers, Project Managers, Solutions Managers and Testers

❉ Delivered solutions across Online Banking, SMS banking, Online Rewards and Recognition, CASA, Deposits, Mortgages and Credit Cards

❉ Managed the end-to-end life cycle of engineering projects, ensuring that they fall within budget and on schedule.

❉ Worked with Product and Business Teams to align the engineering efforts with Business Goals

❉ Improved operational efficiencies, including creating processes and best practices.

Head of Channels (Internet Banking, Online Reward and SMS Banking)

Voices of Change

As the host of Voices of Change, I lead meaningful conversations with leaders who are driving transformation, innovation, and leadership across industries.

This podcast is a platform to highlight real stories, inspire growth, and empower people at all stages of their leadership journey. 

I speak with changemakers, trailblazers, and everyday leaders about how they navigate challenges, lead with purpose, and create impact in their careers and communities.

Every episode is a chance to learn, reflect, and lead differently because real change starts with real stories.

Podcast Host

-Conceptualized and implemented innovative customer engagement, revenue management, and payment solutions, achieving a 30% rise in customer satisfaction and increased market visibility.

-Served as a vital link between Sales Directors, Projects, and Human Resources, optimizing resource allocation across the APAC region and driving a significant 22% productivity increase.

-Amassed in-depth domain knowledge in Telecommunications, particularly in Billing and Routing, resulting in a 15% enhancement in operational efficiency in these sectors

Regional Project Services Manager, APAC

Mahindra Satyam BPO

-Responded to the $2M GE RFP, improving Hangzhou plant efficiency by 30% and market footprint by 25% via a subsequent $3.5M contract with Pfizer in the U.S.

-Established a Business Intelligence & Data Warehousing Centre in Malaysia, boosting skilled job opportunities by 20% and growing fresh graduate hires by 30% annually via university programs.

-Enhanced team productivity & operational efficiency by training & onboarding 15 staff under high-stress conditions.

Head, Datawarehousing and Business Intelligence

CV SOFT Sdn. Bhd.

-Mastered new programming languages (Java, VB, SQL, Oracle, Access) and developed an Access Management System, which was adopted by 3 local universities and 5 small companies, increasing their system efficiency by 40%.

Senior Software Developer

Change Management Leader | Executive Director in Treasury Tech | 20+ Years in Banking Innovation | Keynote Speaker | Empowering Women to Lead & Thrive

I help banks navigate complex treasury transformations without breaking operations.

Most regulatory system migrations are disasters. Mine aren't.

Recently, I led a complete Treasury Regulatory Group Reporting overhaul at Standard Chartered Bank—new platform, new/upgraded applications, new regulations/policies, new processes. Result: zero business disruption, 100% compliance with regulatory deadlines, and stakeholders who were "pleasantly surprised" it went so smoothly.

That's what 20+ years of change management expertise looks like in practice.

What I do today

As Executive Director of Treasury Liquidity & IRRBB (Interest Rate Risk in Banking Books) Technology at Standard Chartered Bank, I design and implement strategic technology systems that keep operations running while we transform them.

Results that matter: • Led cross-functional teams and programs that reduced operational costs by $42M - optimizing yearly • Improved project completion rates by more than 90% and efficiency by 95% • Founded the CIO Scrum Master Community of Practice changing perception and increasing capabilities • Transformed 37 teams across 10 domains into New Ways of Working and much more.

Beyond the day job

I speak at conferences on change management and women's leadership. I've also coached 100+ professionals through major career transitions—because navigating change is what I do best.

Let's connect

Looking for a change management expert who delivers results without the drama? 
Let's talk: niraseethacristian@gmail.com

Seetha Cristian

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

I refuse to be Jack.

That's why I carved out time for Juliana Chan, PhD ‘s Find Your Superpower Summit 2025, even with a packed schedule. 

Yes, I had to juggle a few things, but filling my cup with learning and inspiration isn't negotiable.

The energy in that room was electric. 

New possibilities, fresh perspectives, and the kind of conversations that remind you why continuous growth matters.

Here's what I'm taking into action:

🎯 Come with intention, stay open to surprises - The best insights often come from unexpected moments

📈 Your progress is your own - Stop comparing. Define what growth looks like for YOU

🚀 Building your expert ladder takes strategy - I'm committed to becoming a true subject matter expert in my field

🎮 Leadership lessons through Werewolf - Sometimes the best learning happens through play (and yes, I may have been the wolf!)

💡 Action beats perfection - Consistency and persistence trump waiting for the "right" moment

The speakers delivered gold: Juliana Chan, PhD, Daniel Sim, Alex Dwek, Anna Ong, Dr. Jason Leong, Shub Faujdar - thank you for sharing your wisdom and energy.

Now comes the real work: turning insights into action.

What's one thing you're committed to learning or improving this week?

#happyMonday #YouDeserveTheBest

Change Management Specialist | Zero-disruption regulatory transformations for banks & fintechs | I make complex treasury migrations look effortless | Executive Director & Speaker

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The best networking advice? Stop trying so hard to network.

Last night at the Find Your Superpower pre-game summit, I watched something fascinating happen.

The most meaningful conversations started with simple curiosity: "How did you make that career transition?" or "What's been your biggest learning this year?"

Three conversations stood out:

Conversation 1: Met Dinah Poehlmann, who reminded me that we all have different "boats" but share similar storms. Her vulnerability, her aspirations, the effort she puts behind the scene made me realize how much work is behind each polished LinkedIn profiles.

Conversation 2: Asked Hon Mun Y. about his shift from finance to coaching. His answer was surprisingly simple: "I just started reaching out to universities." No grand strategy. Just consistent, proactive outreach that opened doors he never expected.

Conversation 3: Encouraged someone just starting their journey to trust the process. Seeing their excitement reminded me how far I've come and why I love sharing experiences with others.

The pattern? The most valuable connections happened when we focused on learning from each other, not impressing each other.

Sometimes the "pre-game" delivers more value than the main event itself. Thank you Juliana Chan, PhD for creating a space where real conversations can happen.

More pictures coming soon 🙂

P.S. What's the most meaningful conversation you've had at a networking event recently?

Everyone's pressing the accelerator. 🚗

But the smartest leaders are quietly building the foundation.


I learned this the hard way during a major infrastructure migration. 

We were under massive pressure to migrate infrastructure, application, people and processes, and I initially pushed my team to move faster.

The result? 

Everyone was running around headless.. The worst was, nothing was really getting done. 

There was no tangible progress leading towards actual delivery. There were confusion, mistakes we are made assuming things and frustration overall.

Then I stopped. Called a team meeting. Spent 4-6 hours just talking (in different meetings of course) through the "why" behind our approach.

That 4-6 hour "delay" saved us 3 months of rework! 

We all understood and took actions together. This was in alignment to the actual North Star 🌟 

Real change doesn't come from pushing harder. 

It comes from going deeper: → Deeper in trust → Deeper in clarity→ Deeper in how people move together.

The leaders who last don't chase quick wins. They focus on building what will last.

One small shift: Instead of asking "How do we move faster?" Ask, "What do we need to make stronger before we start?"

Because real transformation isn't built on speed. It's built on strength.

P.S. What's your experience? Have you seen teams struggle when speed trumped foundation?
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Follow Seetha Cristian for expert insights and practical tips on Leadership & Change Management.

They said empathy would make me a “soft leader.”

But it became the reason my team never left my side.

I learned this lesson years ago.

One of my team members started missing deadlines.
Back then, I would have called her in and talked about performance.

But that day, I stopped myself.
Instead, I asked, “Are you okay?”

She broke down.
Her mother was in the hospital.
She was trying to manage everything alone.

If I had spoken about targets that day, I would have lost her trust.
But I chose to listen.

A week later, she came back stronger, more focused, and more loyal than ever.

That moment changed how I see leadership.

Empathy doesn’t make you weak.
It makes your people feel safe.

And when people feel safe, they do their best work not because they have to, but because they want to.

Empathy is not a soft skill.
It’s a strong one.

And the leaders who understand that never need to raise their voice to be respected.

💬I’d love to hear from you:
What’s one moment that changed how you lead with empathy?
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Follow Seetha Cristian for expert insights and practical tips on Leadership & Change Management.

They told her she wasn’t ready for leadership.

She showed them you don’t need permission to lead.

A young woman once asked me, “How do I act like a leader when I don’t feel like one yet?”

I smiled and said, “Stop acting. Start deciding.”

Because being a leader isn’t about acting strong.
It’s about showing up when it feels hard.
It’s about making choices and learning from them.

When I first mentored her, she kept asking for approval.
She wanted someone to say her idea was good before she spoke up.

So I told her something simple:
“Make the call. Then make it right.”

From that day, she stopped waiting to feel ready.
She started trusting her own voice.
And that changed everything.

A few months later, she was leading her team with calm strength.
People followed her because she was honest, not perfect.

Here’s what I tell every woman stepping into leadership:

You don’t have to be fearless.
You just have to stop making yourself small to make others comfortable.

Confidence doesn’t come first.
It grows when you start moving, even when you doubt yourself.

Tell me this - What one thing you wish someone had told you before you stepped into leadership?

(Your story might be the one another woman needs today.)
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🔔Follow Seetha Cristian to stay updated on my insights around leadership, transformation and change management.

I've led 20+ transformations. 

The ones that fail all make the same mistake in step 3.


After leading everything from $42M treasury migrations to helping drowning project managers, I've developed a 13-step framework that turns chaos into clarity.

My change management framework 👇 

1. Why - Start with purpose, not process 

2. Who is this impacting? - Map your stakeholders first

3. Is there clarity? - If you're confused, they're confused ⬅ This is where most fail

4. Who drives decisions? - Find the real power, not the org chart

5. Who supports vs. resists? - Know your allies and obstacles

6. How do your strengths help? - Play to your natural abilities

7. What's the plan? - Draft with stakeholders, not for them

8. Give clarity at all levels - Senior leaders need it too

8. Offline influence work - The real decisions happen in hallways

9. Communicate through resistance - Pushback means they're listening

10. Understand the resistance - It makes your plan stronger

11. Shape your team - Remove hurdles, add motivation

12. Track tangibly - What gets measured gets trusted

Why step 3 matters 👇 

Yesterday, I coached Andrea—a project manager drowning in constant change with zero stakeholder buy-in. 

She thought she had communication problems.

The real issue? She had clarity but assumed everyone else did too. One conversation about step 3, immediate transformation.

This same principle is why my treasury regulatory overhaul succeeded while others crash spectacularly.

What specific step do you skip most often in your change initiatives?
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Follow Seetha Cristian for expert insights and practical tips on Leadership & Change Management.

I walked into that meeting ready to prove myself.

I walked out realizing I didn’t have to anymore.

That moment made me think deeply about what confidence really means.

When I started leading teams, people would tell me,
“You’re so confident, Seetha.”

But what they really meant was,
“You look calm. You sound sure.”

And that’s where many women fall into a quiet trap.

We start to believe that confidence means we must be perfect.
That we can’t make mistakes.
That if we’re unsure, we should hide it.

But real confidence isn’t about being right all the time.
It’s about trusting yourself even when you’re not sure.

Here are a few things that helped me change how I see confidence:

1️⃣Confidence isn’t the same as knowing everything.
You can be confident and still learning.
It’s okay to say, “I don’t know yet.”

2️⃣Perfection slows you down.
When you wait for everything to be perfect,
you stop yourself from moving forward.

3️⃣Being strong doesn’t mean hiding your fears.
True strength is being honest, kind, and aware of what you feel.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re pretending to be confident,
you’re not missing confidence.
You’re just defining it in the wrong way.

P.S. What’s one thing about confidence you had to unlearn in your own journey?
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Follow Seetha Cristian for expert insights and practical tips on Leadership & Change Management.

Monday doesn't have to feel this heavy.

I get it. 

The weekend disappeared in a flash, and now you're staring down another week feeling like you're already behind.

You're not alone. 

63% of us in Southeast Asia are burnt out Hiring Pain Points in 2025: Key Challenges & Fixes. 

60% of Singaporeans are living paycheck to paycheck Burnout Report 2025 reveals generational divide in levels of stress and work absence - Mental Health UK. 

77% are stressed about rising costs 35 Work Life Balance Statistics [2025]. 

We're tired, stretched thin, and honestly? Just trying to keep up.

But here's what I've learned: how we show up on Monday matters more than we think.

When we drag ourselves into the week with frustration or apathy, we're not just having a slow start. 

We're making it harder on ourselves. Tasks pile up. The week feels impossible. 

And by Friday, we're exhausted but no closer to where we actually want to be.

What if we flipped it?

What if Monday became the moment we choose momentum over survival mode? 

Not fake positivity. Just intention. 

A quiet decision to bring energy instead of dread. To focus on what moves us forward instead of what weighs us down.

You've already made it through tougher weeks than this one.

So today, choose to step into Monday strong. 

Choose motivation over resignation. 

Choose to believe this week can be different—because it starts with how you decide to feel right now.

You've got this. Let's go.

If someone in your network needs this reminder today, share it with them. Sometimes we all need that Monday reset. 🔄
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🔔Follow Seetha Cristian to stay updated on my insights around leadership, transformation and change management.

When teams lose their way, I don’t rush to fix them.
I use something called the Change Compass.

Because most of the time, the problem is not the people.
It’s the direction.

Here’s a simple 3-step tool I use to help teams get back on track.

✅Step 1: Recenter on the North Star

Start by asking one question.
Why are we doing this in the first place?

You’ll be surprised how often teams forget the real reason behind their work.
When the “why” is not clear, even a good plan can feel lost.

✅Step 2: Check the Compass Points

Every team has four points:

↳ Strategy
↳ Structure
↳ Mindset
↳ Momentum

If one point slips, the others shake too.
Find the weak point and focus there first.

✅Step 3: Realign through Small Wins

You don’t build alignment in meetings.
You build it through small wins that show everyone,
we are moving again.

The Change Compass is simple.
But it brings calm when things feel messy.

And that calm often shows what true leadership looks like.

If your team feels a little off track,
which point do you think needs your attention right now?
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Follow Seetha Cristian for expert insights and practical tips on Leadership & Change Management.

No one talks about this.

How change starts with excitement and ends with people feeling tired.

Because transformation fatigue is real.

We started a big project with huge goals.
The team was full of energy in the beginning.
Everyone was giving their best.

But after some months, the energy dropped.

Meetings got shorter.
Updates started to sound the same.
And the reason behind the change got lost in daily work.

People were not against it.
They were just tired.

Here is what helped me bring some energy back:

1️⃣Remind everyone of the reason.
Most people don’t lose interest because they stop caring.
They lose it because they forget why it matters.
Talk about the purpose again and again.

2️⃣Celebrate small wins.
When we skip progress, people feel unseen.
A short moment of recognition can lift everyone’s mood.

Change is not a race.
It is a long journey that tests how much people can hold on.

As leaders, our job is not just to manage the work.
It is to care for the energy of the people doing it.

P.S. Have you seen a team get tired in the middle of a big change?
What helped them find their spark again?
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Follow Seetha Cristian for expert insights and practical tips on Leadership & Change Management.

37 teams later, I stopped trying to lead change.

I started learning from it.

When I began working on transformation, I thought my job was to push people to change.

To make things move faster.
To fix what wasn’t working.

But after working with 37 different teams, I learned something else.

Change doesn’t happen because you push harder.
It happens when you start to understand people better.

Here are 3 lessons that changed how I lead 👇

1️⃣Clarity before speed.

↳ In the beginning, I thought speed was the goal.

↳ But most teams move fast without knowing where they’re going.

↳ Now, I slow things down until everyone knows why we are doing something not just how fast we can do it.

2️⃣ Empathy before execution.

↳ You can’t lead people if you don’t see what they feel.

↳ Change is scary. It brings fear, doubt, and loss of comfort.

↳ When I started asking simple questions like, “What feels hard about this change?” everything got easier.

3️⃣Consistency before celebration.

↳ Real change isn’t one big win.

↳ It’s doing small things every day until they become normal.

↳ Now I don’t rush to celebrate results, I celebrate steady effort.

These lessons didn’t come from books.

They came from real people.
From teams that taught me that transformation starts within us first.

I’d love to hear your take - Which of these three lessons speaks to you the most?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.

And if this post made you pause or reflect,
share it with someone who’s leading change right now.
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🔔Follow Seetha Cristian to stay updated on my insights around leadership, transformation and change management.

The hardest part of leadership isn't pushing people forward.


It's knowing when to step back.

A colleague I've mentored for years came to me feeling stuck. Unfulfilling job, difficult boss, interview anxiety holding her back from better opportunities.

I jumped in with both feet. Offered to be her accountability partner. Created action plans. Checked in regularly.

But the more I pushed, the more she pulled away.

"I don't want to be judged," she finally told me. "I'll do what I can within my ability."

That's when it hit me. I wasn't supporting her journey—I was trying to direct it.

True leadership means meeting people where they are, not where we think they should be.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone is space to grow at their own pace, while staying ready to help when they're truly ready.

P.S. What's the most valuable lesson you've learned about supporting others in their growth?
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Follow Seetha Cristian for expert insights and practical tips on Leadership & Change Management.

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