Kelli Lester - Leadership in Transition: Embracing Change, Vulnerability, and Feedback

Kelli Lester is the Co-founder and Partner at Onyx Rising, a change management consulting firm. Kelli discusses how leaders can navigate uncertainty, empower their teams, and drive innovation. She highlights the importance of leaders’ vulnerability, adaptability, and inclusive decision-making in today’s evolving business landscape. Kelli draws from her experiences navigating mergers, workforce integration, and cultural shifts to offer insights for leaders wanting to improve workplace dynamics and foster meaningful collaboration. Kelli explores strategies for developing high-potential talent, bridging generational divides, and cultivating authentic leadership.     TAKEAWAYS   [01:50] Kelli studies communications to have her own TV show and develops her voice.   [04:00] Working for the Mayor’s office, Kelli needs to understand the pulse of the community.   [04:50] Kelli works at the Census Bureau exploring why people might not want to be counted. [05:54] The Mayor reinforces understanding and serving the community’s needs. [07:02] Mergers and acquisitions at Sara Lee reveal leadership challenges in cultural integration. [08:10] Required field experience to get promoted reveals assumptions that Kelli’s boss questions. [10:12] A human-centric leadership approach creates a more integrated company.   [11:01] Transforming the talent review processes to increase transparency and fairness. [12:00] Layoffs can be done with empathy, when leaders speak the truth and are authentic. [14:20] Organizations often rely on external voices, such as consultants, to challenge leadership. [15:08] A colleague’s feedback helps Kelli adapt and improve team collaboration. [16:46] Leaders must proactively understand individual motivations and work preferences.   [18:51] Modeling behavior as a leader is essential. [19:55] Organizational and personal “whys” drive lasting behavior change. [21:28] Self-awareness helps leaders recognize their thought process and expectations. [24:41] To create an innovative organization, it is vital to learn to seek and receive feedback.   [26:23] Leaders benefit from actively seeking input from those who challenge them. [29:18] Psychological safety enables innovation and trust through vulnerability. [31:56] Exposure to different perspectives strengthens emotional intelligence in leaders. [33:40] Kelli’s leadership model focuses on exposure, inclusion, understanding, and disruption. [34:59] Leaders can disrupt exclusionary behaviors and outdated leadership models. [36:22] Many companies talk about innovation but lack true commitment. [37:01] Risk-averse industries approach innovation as a necessity rather than an opportunity. [38:16] Think tanks help diverse teams generate innovative ideas and solutions. [39:16] Younger employees’ adaptability supports problem-solving and innovation. [39:47] Innovation thrives when integrated into culture, performance, and reward systems. [40:08] IMMEDIATE ACTION TIP: Modern leadership traits include self-awareness, seeking, receiving, and giving feedback, and promoting psychological safety     RESOURCES   Kelli Lester on LinkedIn   Onyx Rising’s website       QUOTES   "There isn't one way to lead. There are also two versions of the truth, right? Two truths can exist at the same time."   "Leaders must involve multiple layers in decision-making for better outcomes."   "We have to learn how to seek and receive critical or negative feedback."   "Exposure to difference is critical. Many times, people are navigating the world thinking everything is set up the same way for everyone."   "If you tell a leader, this is what good leadership looks like, you integrate it into your performance management, you have ways to reward that behavior, then you'll see more and more of it."