When Growth Means Letting Go of What Got You Here with Kate Perkovic

The best leaders aren’t the ones doing it all — they’re the ones who learned they don’t have to.

In a world that glorifies hustle and self-reliance, we’re often rewarded for being the one who carries it all. But what if real leadership begins when we finally let go?

In this powerful episode, George sits down with entrepreneur and systems strategist Kate Perkovic for a raw, insightful, and often hilarious conversation about evolving leadership, emotional intelligence, and what it actually means to grow your business without burning yourself out. Together, they explore the subtle shifts required to move from “I’ve got this” to “We’ve got this.”

Whether you’re a solopreneur trying to do it all or a seasoned leader learning to trust your team, this episode will challenge and expand your definition of leadership, legacy, and leverage.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The hidden cost of being the “strong one” in leadership
• How to stop outsourcing your worth to your accomplishments
• Why systems aren’t about control — they’re about creating capacity
• How Kate rewrote her relationship with achievement and rest
• When leadership is really ego in disguise (and how to catch it)
• What to do when growth feels boring, hard, or lonely
   

Key Takeaways:
✔️Hyper-independence is a trauma response — not a badge of honor.
✔️If your leadership requires you to disappear, it’s not sustainable.
✔️Control is not the opposite of chaos — trust is.
✔️Your business will only grow to the level of your nervous system’s capacity.
✔️Letting go is a strategy, not a failure.
✔️No one wants your burnout badge on their vision board.
✔️Systems aren’t for perfection — they’re for protection.
✔️Leading well means healing first.
 

Timestamps & Highlights:
[00:00] – Intro: When leadership requires a deeper level of self-awareness
[06:12] – Kate’s origin story: burnout, control, and being “the capable one”
[15:40] – Why independence became Kate’s armor
[22:35] – The moment she realized systems weren’t the enemy — they were the invitation
[29:12] – What happens when leadership becomes identity
[37:00] – Leading from wounds vs. leading from wisdom
[45:24] – George on the pain of letting go (and doing it anyway)
[54:17] – When structure feels like a threat to creativity
[1:01:45] – Building a team without losing your voice
[1:09:30] – Business and nervous system regulation: the real growth strategy
[1:17:00] – Kate on legacy, ego, and learning to rest
[1:27:42] – The danger of “quiet quitting” your own business
[1:36:01] – Leadership and identity crisis: who are you when you’re not achieving?
[1:43:20] – Letting your team shine (and staying out of the way)
[1:51:00] – Final thoughts: leading with grace and growth

Connect with Kate Perkovic:
Instagram: @kateperkovic
Website: https://www.kateperkovic.com/home

Your Challenge This Week
What did this episode unlock for you as a leader?
Screenshot the episode and tag @itsgeorgebryant and @kateperkovic with your biggest breakthrough.

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