In this heartfelt and unfiltered conversation, Chisom Udeze sits down with Astrid Sundberg, Executive Director of Operation Smile Norway to explore the evolution of leadership, from corporate ambition to mission-driven impact.
Astrid brings over 30 years of experience across scale-ups, start-ups, and global organizations. Together, they unpack what it means to lead with clarity, humility, and emotional honesty, especially in a world where leadership is often caught between performance and purpose.
They cover:
— The difference between people leadership and functional leadership
— Why autocratic systems still linger beneath modern leadership culture
— How grief, burnout, and boundaries can sharpen the way we lead
— Building financially sustainable organizations with soul
— Hiring beyond credentials — the case for intuition and wild cards
— The cost of people-pleasing in leadership — and how to let go
— How to create impact without losing yourself in the processAstrid shares candid stories about leading teams of 200+, navigating career shifts, and leading a nonprofit that honors her late father.At its core, this episode is about the inner work of leadership.
Because sustainable leadership requires self-awareness, boundary-setting, and the courage to evolve.
Astrid’s reflections reveal the often invisible shifts that matter most:
— Moving from people-pleasing to principled leadership
— Letting go of inherited leadership patterns that no longer serve
— Learning to lead from alignment instead of obligation
— Choosing legacy and values over speed or ego
— Creating culture that holds both compassion and accountability
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