How I Work My biggest leadership mistakes from 2024 (Part 2)
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Aug 6, 2025 Sabina Read, a clinical psychologist and a close friend of Amantha Imber, dives into the aftermath of a challenging year in Amantha's professional life. They discuss how Amantha clawed her way out of burnout and rebuilt trust within her team. Topics include the dangers of long tenure stifling innovation, the significance of radical transparency versus oversharing, and the emotional toll of leadership decisions. Their candid exchange highlights the importance of creating psychological safety and the surprising moment when team culture shifted.
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Shadow Side of Long Tenure
- Long tenure in a company can create resistance to new ideas using old experiences as reasons not to innovate.
- This phenomenon, seen even in an innovation-focused company like Inventium, hampers growth and fresh thinking.
Missed AI Opportunity Story
- Amantha's early Gen AI idea was dismissed in 2023 despite her extensive personal use.
- Later, investing in it became a major revenue source, showing the risk of squashing innovative ideas.
Emotional Toll of Potential Failure
- Facing potential business failure felt terrifying, mainly due to the impact on employees losing jobs.
- Closing the business felt like a personal and monumental failure beyond just financial loss.