Lead from Her(e): Why Traditional Leadership Is Failing and What Comes Next

Estimated read time: 8 minutes

For years, success in leadership was defined by dominance, decisiveness, and control. These traits—long revered in corporate culture—formed the core of what we now understand as masculine-coded leadership. But here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud:

That system is no longer working.

Since the pandemic, something fundamental has shifted. And while many leaders are scrambling to restore the old way of doing business—make America great again, make Nike great again, make quarterly numbers great again—those with deeper awareness can feel it:

The operating system of the planet has changed.

It’s not a glitch. It’s not temporary.
It’s evolution.
And it’s calling us to lead from Her(e).

Why Traditional Leadership Is Failing

Let’s get real. The corporate world, especially in design-driven industries like fashion, footwear, and tech, is built on a top-down system that prioritizes logic, structure, and measurable outputs. That system gave us hierarchy, performance reviews, and toxic “high performers” who managed up while burning out their teams.

But in the wake of global disruption, emotional awareness and energy have entered the boardroom. Employees are no longer just asking what their leaders are doing—they’re asking how and why.

The old metrics—productivity, profit, prestige—no longer hold the same weight without purpose, presence, and empathy.

The pandemic revealed the fragility of what we thought was strong. It turned up the volume on internal knowing. On emotional intelligence. On collective fatigue. And the truth is, many of us don’t want to go back.

We can’t go back. Because we’ve seen what’s possible when we lead differently.

Post-Pandemic Leadership Trends

One of the most powerful post-pandemic leadership trends is the rise of what I call heart-led leadership—where intuition, emotion, and empathy are recognized not as “soft skills,” but strategic superpowers.

Teams aren’t just following strategy anymore. They’re attuned to energy. They want leaders who can hold space, not just hold meetings. And the demand for human-first cultures is only growing.

This trend is particularly potent in the creative space, where innovation doesn’t just come from a brainstorm—it comes from emotional safety, internal permission, and expansive vision.

The Shift from Masculine to Feminine Leadership Styles

Let’s pause here. When I say masculine vs. feminine leadership, I’m not talking about gender. I’m talking about energy.

Masculine leadership styles tend to prioritize:

• Hierarchy
• Logic
• Control
• Speed
• Individualism

Feminine leadership styles embody:

• Collaboration
• Emotional wisdom
• Intuition
• Reflection
• Inclusion

For decades, we’ve built leadership cultures that reward masculine energy. But in 2025, the world is asking for more balance. The pendulum is swinging. And the emergence of feminine leadership in corporate settings is no longer niche—it’s necessary.

The best leaders today don’t choose one or the other. They integrate both. But here’s the rub: most of us haven’t been taught how to lead this way.

And that’s where the work begins.

Lead from Her(e). It Changes Everything.

Her(e) is not a location. It’s a state of being.

It’s the place inside you that is wise, sensitive, knowing.
It’s the intuitive voice that sees the patterns no spreadsheet can predict.
It’s the felt sense that says something’s off—before data confirms it.

To lead from within is to listen to this inner wisdom.
To lead from Her(e) is to trust it.

That trust is the new leadership muscle.
And yes, it can be terrifying at first. Especially for those of us raised in corporate cultures that taught us to override our instincts, quiet our emotions, and push through.

But here’s what I know from coaching hundreds of women creatives:
Once you start leading from Her(e), you don’t go back.

Because suddenly, things start aligning.
Not just for your team, but for your whole life.

How to Lead with Empathy and Intuition

Let’s break this down practically. What does heart-led leadership for creative professionals actually look like in action?

It looks like:

• Making decisions based not only on logic, but on what feels aligned.
• Listening deeply—not just to your team’s words, but to their energy.
• Creating space for creativity to emerge, instead of forcing it on a deadline.
• Saying “I don’t know” and still holding authority.
• Asking what your body says, not just your mind.

Leading with empathy and intuition requires emotional regulation, somatic awareness, and yes—a little bit of courage to lead in ways that might not look “traditional.”

But make no mistake: these are modern leadership qualities in 2025. And they are essential for building organizations that don’t just survive the next disruption—but thrive in it.

Emotional Intelligence in Executive Leadership

Let’s talk about the elephant in the boardroom: psychopathy.

A 2023 study from Bond University found that 1 in 5 corporate executives display psychopathic traits—the same rate found among incarcerated individuals.

Which makes sense, right? When leadership rewards manipulation, control, and detachment, those who feel less can often climb faster.

But here’s the cost:
High turnover.
Low trust.
Burnout.
Innovation death.

Emotional intelligence in executive leadership is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s a survival skill.

Because the leaders of the future? They’re not just strategic. They’re resonant. They bring presence into the room. They build cultures of safety, not fear. And they know how to hold complexity—not with more control, but with deeper consciousness.

Redefining Success for Women in Leadership

Let’s be honest. Most of us grew up defining success through someone else’s lens. We internalized the idea that to lead meant to “play the game” and beat the boys at it. But what if that game is obsolete?

What if success in leadership isn’t about how many people report to you, or how fast you climbed?

What if it’s about:

• The clarity you hold in chaos
• The energy of the spaces you create
• The authenticity of your impact

This is how we begin redefining success for women in leadership. Not as a mimic of the masculine—but as a full embodiment of our own power. Feminine power. Visionary power. Heart-led power.

Your Invitation: Step Into the New Leadership Paradigm

You don’t need another title to lead this way.
You don’t need permission from HR.
You don’t need to wait until things calm down.

Because the truth is, you already know.

You know the old way is done.
You’ve felt the exhaustion of trying to hold it all together in a system that doesn’t have your back.
And you’re ready to lead from somewhere deeper. Somewhere more true.

Lead from Her(e). It changes everything.

Let that be your new leadership mantra. Your inner compass. Your edge.

Let’s Go Deeper

If this message resonates—if you’re ready to shift from burnout to alignment, from pushing to leading with presence—I invite you into a conversation.

I work with women leaders in fashion, footwear, and design who are ready to transition into their most powerful, embodied leadership yet.

Whether you’re navigating a career pivot, building your own thing, or stepping into your next-level role…

You don’t have to do it the old way.
You don’t have to do it alone.

Let’s redefine leadership together.

Book a free Quantum Leadership Consult here.

Because when you lead from Her(e), everything begins to change.