I’m thrilled to introduce On Influence and Impact, a new conversation series designed for founders and C-suite executives navigating the complexities of leadership.
In each episode, I sit down with extraordinary leaders and industry experts to have real, unfiltered conversations about the pivotal moments, challenges, and personal transformations that shape how they lead, build teams, and create lasting impact. This series is about the authentic, behind-the-scenes work of leadership growth.
For our very first episode, I had the honor of speaking with Christian Sutherland-Wong, CEO of Glassdoor.
Christian is not only an accomplished executive but also a leader deeply invested in his own evolution. Our conversation covered everything from the pressure of achievement to the power of vulnerability in leadership.
I encourage you to watch or listen to the full episode, where we dive deeper into the ‘how’ behind each lesson and explore even more insights. But in this post, I want to share five key takeaways that are especially relevant for founders and CEOs.
1. Success is about the trust you build
Like many, Christian’s early career was defined by ambition. Growing up in a working-class family in Australia, he was taught that success meant working hard and achieving. This mindset carried him through roles in consulting and tech, eventually leading to LinkedIn and later, Glassdoor.
But as he stepped into higher leadership, particularly as CEO, he realized something was missing. Success wasn’t just about being the smartest person in the room—it was about relationships, trust, and connection.
“I was very achievement-oriented and had blinkers on to that being the only thing that mattered. But I’ve realized you can’t lead unless you capture the hearts and minds of people, unless you build relationships with them. The best leaders aren’t just smart—they connect, inspire, and create trust.”
The Takeaway
Your ability to lead isn’t solely measured by your personal achievements—it’s measured by the trust and influence you cultivate with others. Ambition alone won’t make you an effective leader. The shift from “How do I succeed?” to “How do I support and empower others?” is what separates good leaders from truly impactful ones.
2. Vulnerability is a leadership superpower
In 2021, a year into COVID, Christian had what he describes as an “Oh, shit” moment. The weight of leading Glassdoor through layoffs, uncertainty, and economic challenges made him question if he was truly the right person for the job.
Instead of retreating into old patterns of control and perfectionism, he leaned into self-reflection, therapy, and deeper personal growth. He realized that vulnerability isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength that fosters trust, connection, and a high-performing team.
“I used to think that if I could be the smartest guy in the room and make the best decisions, I’d be the best leader. But you can’t lead without vulnerability. You need to be open, connect with people, and create a space where they feel safe. That’s what builds real trust.”
The Takeaway
You don’t need to have all the answers. In fact, pretending you do creates distance between you and your team. Your people don’t need a perfect leader; they need a human one. The more you embrace authenticity and transparency, the more engaged and invested your team will be.
3. Trust and speed go hand in hand
One of the biggest shifts Christian made as CEO was prioritizing psychological safety in his leadership team. Early in his career, he operated with sharp elbows, focused on driving results. But over time, he saw how trust accelerates execution.
By fostering an environment where his executive team could be open, honest, and vulnerable with each other, decision-making became faster, alignment became stronger, and unnecessary friction disappeared.
“I’ve observed other teams where politics slow everything down—decisions that should take minutes drag out over weeks. But when there’s trust, people don’t second-guess each other’s intent. We can disagree and commit quickly because we’ve built that foundation of openness. Trust speeds everything up.”
The Takeaway
Trust and speed go hand in hand. When your team feels safe being honest—without fear of judgment or politics—decisions happen faster, alignment happens naturally, and performance skyrockets. If your leadership team struggles with trust, start by modeling it yourself.
4. Choose intention over attachment
Like so many of us, Christian had long equated self-worth with performance. If he didn’t hit the mark, he’d be hard on himself. But part of his evolution as a leader was learning to let go of attachment to outcomes while staying deeply committed to the work itself.
This shift—intention over attachment—helped him lead with greater clarity and resilience. He no longer needed everything to go exactly as planned to feel successful.
“A piece of advice I was given early in my career was ‘Intention, not attachment.’ It’s about being committed to what you want to achieve but not letting your self-worth be tied to whether or not everything goes perfectly. Anytime I feel stressed, I remind myself to focus on the intention—not the fear of failure.”
The Takeaway
Ambition is a double-edged sword. It pushes you to achieve great things, but if unchecked, it can turn into perfectionism and self-judgment. Leadership means holding high standards while also giving yourself (and your team) grace when things don’t go as expected.
5. Community is where it’s at
Christian set a personal intention for 2025: “The Year of Community.” After years of focusing on inner work, he’s now looking outward at his growth, prioritizing deeper relationships—not just at work, but with his family, his local community, and beyond.
“Work is important, but at the end of the day, relationships and connection are the real sources of happiness. That’s why this year, I’m focused on deepening my relationships—with my team, my family, and my broader community. Because leadership isn’t just about the company you build, it’s about the people you invest in.”
The Takeaway
Pouring everything into your business often comes at the cost of relationships. But leadership isn’t just about building companies—it’s about building people. Sustainable leadership means investing in your personal relationships, well-being, and community just as much as your business.
How will you apply this?
Christian’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t just about what you achieve—it’s about how you show up for yourself and others. Growth, trust, and impact start from within, and small shifts can create powerful ripples in your leadership and organization.
So, as you reflect on these five lessons, I have one question for you:
Which one will you focus on this month?
Will you work on building trust within your leadership team?
Will you practice vulnerability instead of trying to have all the answers?
Will you give yourself more grace when things don’t go perfectly?
As I roll out On Influence and Impact, your feedback is invaluable. Hit reply to this email or send me a direct message—let me know what strikes a chord or what topics you’d love to see covered in future episodes.
Here’s What’s Coming Up:
April Underwood, Founder of Adverb Ventures, on making bets on founders
Jami Zakem, CCO at Rising Team, on developing senior talent
Sarah Franklin, CEO at Lattice, on courageous leadership and leading an all-company retreat
Do you know a leader who would be a great fit for On Influence and Impact? Connect us! We’re building a space for real conversations about leadership, and I’m excited to grow this community with you.
Let’s keep the conversation going!
– Amanda
Chapters
Amanda introduces Christian Sutherland-Wong 00:00:00
Christian’s early life and career beginnings 00:01:19
Transition to tech and LinkedIn 00:02:25
Joining Glassdoor and personal growth 00:04:42
Christian’s leadership evolution and challenges 00:05:35
Impact of vulnerability in leadership 00:07:54
Navigating COVID and personal development 00:09:27
Building high-performing teams 00:13:43
Future goals and final thoughts 00:26:04
Interested in exploring my executive coaching practice?
I work with Founders & C-Suite executives on three key levels:
Strategic: I help you gain clarity, decisiveness, and new pathways of thinking to address the strategic challenges of the business.
Leadership: I enable you to evolve and scale your leadership capabilities in line with what the business needs.
Inner Work: I guide you through the inner work that allows you to truly thrive as a human being.
I offer a complimentary discovery session to assess fit. I’d love to hear from you.
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