Dare to lead: 5 insights from Brené Brown

Brené Brown—research professor, bestselling author and famous TED-talk speaker—was one of the headline speakers at Amsterdam Business Forum. Host Ikenna Azuike interviewed her on courageous leadership. What does it mean to dare to lead?

Insight #1. Embrace uncertainty
In a world of constant change, uncertainty, and rapid technological advancement, effective leadership has never been more crucial—or more challenging. Uncertainty is keeping leaders awake at night. Many find themselves grappling with decisions about multimillion-dollar investments in technology without a clear strategy or understanding of how these align with their business goals.

• Key takeaway: In a rapidly changing world, you must embrace uncertainty and acknowledge that feeling unsure is part of the process. Accepting this reality is the first step towards courageous leadership.

Insight #2. Vulnerability is a necessity for courage
Many of us were raised to believe that vulnerability is a sign of weakness. But it’s the emotion we experience when we are in uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. So, every act of courage, whether on a battlefield, sports field, or in a boardroom, involves an element of vulnerability. 

As leaders, The real question for leaders isn’t whether we should be vulnerable, but whether we are aware of when we feel vulnerable—and how we show up during those moments.

• Key takeaway: Vulnerability is not a weakness; it’s a necessity for courage. Recognize and embrace vulnerability. It’s key to developing brave leadership.

Insight #3. The barrier to courage is armor
When facing fear, leaders often reach for their “armor”—defensive mechanisms like perfectionism, micromanaging, cynicism, or being overly decisive. “While fear is a natural part of leadership, it’s this armor that truly gets in the way of courageous action,” says Brené. "The person who has the deepest capacity for uncertainty and who can stay aligned with their values and their business goals while in deep uncertainty wins."

• Key takeaway: Courageous leaders are not fearless; they are those who can manage their fear and resist the urge to armor up.

Insight #4 Cultivate a mindset of continuous learning
In today's fast-evolving business landscape, the most valuable leaders are no longer those who know everything; they are the ones who are relentlessly curious and willing to learn. An additional advantage is that continuous curiosity and a willingness to learn and grow in new directions are the antidote to the shame and fear of irrelevance. 

• Key takeaway: The future of leadership lies in curiosity and learning. Cultivate a mindset of continuous learning. It helps you to stay relevant and drive your organization forward.

Insight #5. Create accountable spaces
To foster courageous leadership, organizations must cultivate spaces where people can speak up, share feedback, and show up as their true selves. Brené calls for a shift from “safe spaces” to “brave spaces” or, more importantly, "accountable spaces": spaces where everyone is responsible for ensuring their intentions align with their impact, and they hold themselves and others accountable for creating an open, trust-filled environment.

• Key takeaway: Leaders should model vulnerability and foster environments where accountability, transparency, and open communication are the norms.

One final note: Being vulnerable doesn’t mean oversharing
Vulnerability is about strategic sharing with trusted individuals while maintaining appropriate boundaries. For example, if a founder is struggling with the business's direction, it might not be appropriate to share every detail with the whole team. However, finding a trusted advisor or mentor to discuss those struggles is an act of vulnerable leadership.

So, express vulnerability. But do it with intention, for the right reasons and within the boundaries of your role.