Aligning Founder Vision to Business Strategy with Stephanie Unwin

"My role is catching the ideas and making them happen." – Stephanie Unwin

Is your leadership moving forward, or are you just keeping busy?

In the fast-paced world of executive leadership and entrepreneurship, it can feel impossible to carve out time to think strategically. But what if making space for reflection isn’t a luxury—it’s the key to unlocking long-term success? In this episode of Transformative Leadership Conversations, I sit down with Stephanie Unwin, a seasoned executive and business leader, to explore how prioritizing strategic thinking not only makes you a stronger leader, but also helps you steer your company toward sustainable growth.

Stephanie opens up about the importance of deliberately carving out time for reflection, recharge, and deep thinking—ensuring that leadership isn't just about constant action but also about intentional decision-making that shapes the future of the business.

You'll hear us discuss:

• Why carving out time to think is not a “nice to have”—it’s a leadership necessity. As an executive, it’s easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of daily demands—meetings, emails, and urgent decisions that take up most of your day. However, without setting aside dedicated time to reflect, refine strategy, and gather your thoughts, leaders risk losing sight of the bigger picture.
• The secret to balancing high-energy execution with moments of clarity. Leading a company often feels like an unending sprint. While constant action and execution are important, Stephanie explains how never taking a step back to pause and think can lead to burnout, decision fatigue, and reactive leadership.
• Why founders and executives must stay aligned on vision, values, and risk-taking. Whether you’re working for a founder or running a startup yourself, one of the most critical components of leadership is alignment. Stephanie dives deep into why executives must ensure that their vision, values, and approach to risk-taking are in sync with the founders or leadership team.
• How to navigate change without losing sight of the bigger picture. The business world is in a constant state of flux—markets shift, technologies evolve, and customer demands change. Leaders who resist change or get bogged down by every shift risk falling behind. Stephanie shares her approach to staying agile, adapting to changes, and continuously innovating without compromising the company's core mission and values. .
• The underestimated power of trusting your team and leveraging their insights. No leader has all the answers, and the most effective leaders are those who recognize the importance of collective intelligence. Stephanie highlights how fostering a culture where team members feel empowered to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and contribute to strategic discussions can greatly enhance decision-making.

Resources

Stephanie Unwin on LinkedIn

Winnie da Silva on LinkedIn | On the Web | Substack | Email - winnie@winnifred.org