Last year, I launched a Spring Leadership Series to think about leadership in nontraditional ways. As 2024 continued, I presented additional ways to think about leadership during my Olympics Leadership Series and Holiday Leadership Series. With a new year upon us, I've invited 25 thought leaders to share their responses to five questions relating to team-building, reading, and leadership. My #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 began the first day of Spring and continues through June 20th, the first day of Summer.
Before we begin, I'd like to applaud two special individuals for providing the inspiration for this series. First, big applause goes to Erika Andersen, a leadership expert and author who I've had the pleasure of knowing for nearly 15 years, and she's appeared on my blog 13 times since 2011. She wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders," and that article serves as the core of the series as its first question. Second, I also applaud Joseph Lalonde, a leadership expert and author of a book called REEL LEADERSHIP, for planting the seeds for last year's Spring Leadership Series on my blog. After I read Joe's book, I started looking at movies as well as works of fiction, TV shows, and TV characters with "leadership-tinted glasses."
For today's post, I'd like to introduce Nathalie Gregg. Based in South Carolina, Nathalie is a Change Agent, Enterprise Leadership Strategist, Adjunct Professor, and Speaker. She empowers women to become their own economic engines. Online, she is a digital superstar and is the founder of the #LeadLoudly movement and Twitter/X Chat, where she inspires women to be bold, confident, and fearless to drive real results.
QUESTION: Leadership expert and author Erika Andersen wrote an article for Forbes entitled, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders." In the article, Erika compared gardening to management and leadership. What are your thoughts, or was there something that stood out from the article?
NATHALIE GREGG: Elite Leadership Isn't Managed — It's Cultivated.
Growth isn't forced — it's engineered. The best leaders don't push; they create conditions where excellence is inevitable.
Listening is power. True influence comes from hearing what others miss. The most elite leaders listen relentlessly.
Pruning fuels performance. Growth demands tough decisions — cut what no longer serves the mission, or be buried by it.
QUESTION: What was the most recent example of inspiring leadership that made an impact on you?
NATHALIE GREGG: One recent example of inspiring leadership that made an impact was Beyoncé's strategic move with her country album announcement at the Super Bowl.
It wasn't just about the music — it was a masterclass in personal branding, reinvention, and owning your narrative. Beyoncé didn't ask for permission to enter a new space; she walked in and made it hers. She positioned herself as the one percent — an artist and entrepreneur who doesn't just follow trends but sets them.
This mirrors exactly what I teach with Lead Loudly: own your voice, position your value, and amplify your visibility. Beyoncé showed us that the most powerful leaders don't wait to be invited to the table — they build the damn table themselves. That's the energy. That's the movement. That's what it means to Lead Loudly.
SHARE THIS: The most powerful leaders don't wait to be invited to the table — they build the damn table themselves. ~@NathalieGregg #SpringLeadershipSeries2025 #DebbieLaskeysBlog
QUESTION: What is your favorite team-building activity, and why?
NATHALIE GREGG: THE CULTURE CODE CHALLENGE: Culture isn't what you say — it's what you build. And a fierce community? That takes vision, boldness, and trust.
In this high-impact simulation, your team will:
(1) Define the three values that drive unstoppable success.
(2) Craft a manifesto so bold that it commands loyalty.
(3) Test your culture under pressure, because real leadership isn't theory, it's execution.
This isn't just a team-building exercise. It's a masterclass in culture, creativity, and commanding influence!
QUESTION: Which book is on the top of your to-be-read pile, and why?
NATHALIE GREGG: Since audacity (willing to take risks) is the new currency of influence, Mark Schaefer's "Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World" is on the top of my pile. It isn't just a book, it's a wake-up call for every leader, entrepreneur, and brand that's still clinging to outdated playbooks.
Because here's the truth: playing it safe is the fastest way to becoming invisible.
(1) Visibility belongs to the bold.
(2) Influence belongs to those who take strategic risks.
(3) Loyalty belongs to brands that move people, not just market to them.
In a world where AI is automating mediocrity, audacity is the differentiator. If your brand isn't making people feel something, then you're not leading — you're blending in.
Mark said it best: safe marketing won't keep the lights on. But you know what will? Owning your voice, amplifying your value, and showing up with fearless visibility.
QUESTION: In the past year, has a TV show, film, or work of fiction stood out as a result of its emphasis on leadership?
NATHALIE GREGG: The Netflix series "The Diplomat" is a global masterclass in power, influence, and leadership under pressure. Keri Russell's Kate Wyler doesn't just navigate crises — she commands them with strategy, presence, and fearless execution. Real leadership isn't about volume — it's about vision, agility, and making bold moves that shift the world.
My gratitude to Nathalie for sharing her leadership insights and for being a part of my #SpringLeadershipSeries2025. Did these questions open your eyes to think about leadership in nontraditional ways? That was the hope!
Image Credit: Braden Collum via Unsplash.
Read Erika Andersen's article, "How Springtime Can Make Us Better Leaders"
https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2015/05/14/how-springtime-can-make-us-better-leaders/
Check out a myriad of resources for Mark Schaefer's book, Audacious:
https://businessesgrow.com/audacious/
Read Nathalie's previous appearances here on my blog:
SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES – Featuring Nathalie Gregg (May 2024)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2024/05/spring-leadership-series-featuring_01322334167.html
Lead, Inspire, and Continue to Evolve (July 2022)
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2022/07/lead-inspire-and-continue-to-evolve.html
Connect with Nathalie at these links:
Website: https://nathaliegregg.com
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NathalieGregg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathaliegregg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathaliegregg
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@nathaliegregg
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