The Secret to Becoming a Young Leader - Les Csorba | #20

What if the most overlooked trait of a great leader isn’t strategy or charisma—but radical self-awareness?In this episode, we explore how self-awareness can quietly hold you back when you don’t realize what others see, and why most people don’t have nearly as much of it as they think. Les shares what it takes to create the kind of environment where honest feedback isn’t just welcomed—it’s expected.We also get into why so many young people struggle to find their voice as leaders, how to identify blind spots before they hold you back, and why courage has to come alongside awareness if you actually want to grow.Les shares stories from working with Fortune 500 CEOs, including what separates those who stay stagnant from the ones who keep evolving. You’ll also hear surprising lessons from Elon Musk, Jamie Dimon, and even the White House—on how the most respected leaders are the ones who never stop learning about themselves.If you’re trying to become a leader while still figuring out who you are, this episode is for you.

Les T. Csorba is a leadership advisor, executive coach, and partner at Heidrick & Struggles, where he works closely with Fortune 500 CEOs and boards across the energy sector. Before his corporate career, Les served as a Special Assistant to the President at the White House under George H.W. Bush, an experience that shaped his perspective on leadership at the highest levels.He’s the author of the forthcoming book AWARE: The Power of Seeing Yourself Clearly, a behind-the-scenes look into how blind spots shape—or sabotage—leaders. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Corporate Board Member, and on networks like FOX News and CNBC.Whether in the boardroom or coaching one-on-one, Les brings unmatched insight into how courage, character, and clarity set great leaders apart.

PRE ORDER THE BOOK 📚: https://www.amazon.com/Aware-Power-Seeing-Yourself-Clearly/dp/1637634587

Les Csorba: linkedin.com/in/lestcsorba

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Intro Song Credits: Song: Cartoon, Jéja - On & On (feat. Daniel Levi) [NCS Release] Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/onandon Watch: http://youtu.be/K4DyBUG242c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LohNAtR5av4 - Instrumental