The Digital Her Podcast The Journey from IC to Leadership
15 snips
Mar 13, 2025 
Morna McAulay, the Global Head of Data at Booking.com, shares her transformative journey from individual contributor to influential leader. She delves into the mindset shifts necessary for effective leadership and the importance of empathy and active listening. Morna highlights the strides made in women's representation in tech, even as challenges persist. She emphasizes mentorship, the role of support networks, and practical coping strategies for leaders, making the path to leadership feel more accessible and inclusive.
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Accidental Leadership Crucible
- Morna McAulay became a team leader unexpectedly early in her career by stepping into a struggling team and applying a proactive mindset.
- She learned the team knew how to fix problems and her role was to listen, protect, and support them, which shaped her leadership approach.
Own Leadership Mistakes
- Own your mistakes as a leader by apologizing assertively and learning from them.
- People respect transparency and growth, and those resistant to it reflect more on themselves than on you.
Leadership Mindset Shift
- Leadership is about empowering your team with clear vision and removing barriers, not doing the work yourself.
- The role shifts from driving execution to directing strategy and embracing the best ideas, regardless of their origin.
