Why do highly talented leaders sometimes struggle to succeed? Sandy and executive coach and Duke professor Sanyin Siang explore how fit — not talent alone — shapes fulfillment and performance. Sanyin shares three defining moments: immigrating from Taiwan at seven, losing her academic scholarship, and stepping beyond her comfort zone into leadership work that revealed her strength as a connector.
Their conversation examines trust and integrity, including the importance of self-awareness, candid feedback, and telling difficult truths with care. They also consider what makes work energizing, how unclear expectations and unsupportive management can erode even a meaningful role, and why leaders should assess the work, the boss, the team, and the conditions for success — not just the title.
Listeners will leave with a richer framework for matching strengths to context, building trust, and pursuing impact over status.
In this episode, you will hear:
- Belonging, assumptions, and adapting across cultures
- Learning from failure and asking for support
- Trust, integrity, self-awareness, and candid feedback
- How talent, work, and role conditions combine to shape success
- Finding agency, energy, and purpose in a role
- Building self-awareness and resilience through good relationships
Connect with Sandy Ogg:
Website: https://www.sandyontalent.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandyogg/
X: https://twitter.com/SandyOnTalent
Instagram: @SandyOnTalent
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