5 Ways Authentic Leaders Create Growth, Momentum, and Meaning Together

This week, our Emerging Voices leaned into one simple truth:

Business growth doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens in community.

From Ed McAndrew’s reflection on resilience to Nikki Estes’s heartfelt leadership insights, the message was clear — collaboration fuels clarity, compassion builds confidence, and community creates momentum.

As Harvard Business Review notes, the world’s most effective leaders build trust and alignment by cultivating shared purpose — not just personal performance.

When we grow together, we go further. 💬

Tuesday Reflection: The Power of “Playing the Hand Dealt” with Ed McAndrew

🎥 Watch here: EVU Live: Episode 6 – Lead With What You Have

We opened the week with a reflection from Ed McAndrew’s EVU Live session — a powerful reminder that resilience grows stronger in community.

In his words:

“We’re called to do our best with the hand dealt — not sit on the sidelines upset about it.”

Ed’s three lessons for leaders and teams:

• Shared resilience builds shared results.
• Perspective matters more than position.
• Courage compounds when supported by others.

As McKinsey & Company notes, empowered teams outperform because servant-minded leadership fosters innovation, ownership, and engagement — even in resource-tight conditions.

Midweek Reflection: Clarity, Communication, or Compassion — What Builds Stronger Teams?

💭 Post link: Emerging Voices Reflection

This week’s question got our community talking:

“When resources are limited, what builds stronger teams — clarity, communication, or compassion?”

Nikki Estes said it best:

“Communication is so important, but compassion for life circumstances and skill sets needs awareness too. Clarity gives the best strategy, though it means different things based on people’s roles.”

Her answer resonated deeply because leadership is not just about strategy — it’s about understanding the humans behind it.

According to Harvard Business Review, compassionate leadership helps build trust, morale, and resilience — while communication provides the structure that sustains it.

End-of-Week Poll: What’s the Hardest Part of Leading When Confidence Is Low?

📊 Poll link: Leadership Poll

We wrapped the week by asking:

“What’s the hardest part of leading when resources or confidence are low?”

The results spoke volumes:

🏆 Top Response: Trusting your voice in rooms 🤝 Tied: Admitting “I don’t know” & Comparing yourself to others

These insights echo Forbes, which calls resilience “the most underrated competitive advantage.”

Building confidence isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about showing up, speaking truth, and creating a space where others feel safe to do the same.

Community Highlights: Leadership in Action

Christopher G. Johnson — Leading Beyond the Moment

“It was never about the two days—it was about the day after.”

Christopher spotlighted Talib Jasir’s Afros & Audio Festival — a reminder that leadership extends far beyond the event itself.

Community-centered leadership is about creating ecosystems of ongoing support. As Harvard Business Review highlights, lasting impact comes from continuity, connection, and communication.

🔗Read Christopher’s full post to learn how authentic leadership and resilient community-building can create lasting impact beyond the moment.

Jennifer York — Building Belief Before Funding

“You don’t wait to be funded to start — you build your way into the room.”

Jennifer’s startup journey reflects what Inc. Magazine calls “the power of entrepreneurial communities.”

When founders share progress, challenges, and solutions, they attract more than capital — they build credibility.

🚀 Explore Jennifer’s journey on how belief, traction, and resourcefulness fuel startup growth even when funding is tight.

Nikki Estes — Leadership Through Vulnerability

“The strongest moments in my leadership journey came after I admitted I didn’t have all the answers.”

Vulnerability builds trust — and trust builds teams. According to Psychology Today, authentic leaders who share openly foster deeper collaboration and stronger relationships.

💬 Join Nikki’s conversation about vulnerability, leadership, and trust—and learn why admitting what you don’t know can build stronger teams.

Coming Up: EVU Live — Episode 7 “The Power of Community in Business Growth”

🎙 Tuesday, October 21 at 10:00 AM ET

🔗 Join the LinkedIn Live

Get ready for a powerful conversation with Nikki Estes and Kenneth Lang, two leaders redefining what business growth looks like through connection.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

• Identify communities that align with your goals
• Build trust and influence without burnout
• Turn relationships into long-term collaboration opportunities

💡 As Market Me More shares, “Community is the new capital.” Because when we lift others, we scale together.

Conclusion: Growth Is a Team Sport

This week, our Emerging Voices reminded us that success isn’t a solo act — it’s a shared performance.

• Ed McAndrew taught us that resilience grows in connection.
• Nikki Estes reminded us that compassion fuels clarity.
• Christopher G. Johnson showed how community sustains growth.
• Jennifer York proved that belief builds momentum.

As Harvard Business Review notes, “teams thrive when leaders trade control for connection.”

So, as you enter the next week — ask yourself: Who’s in your community, and how can you grow together?

✨ Stay connected with EVU:

• Follow Emerging Voices Unite to catch weekly challenges, polls, and highlights.

• Subscribe to our Voices in Action newsletter → Subscribe Here

https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7359866253315895296

• Catch the Episode 7 of EVU Live: Ideas that Scale this October 21 at 10 AM ET with Nikki Estes and Kenneth Lang.

• Connect with Nikki Estes on LinkedIn to explore how authentic leadership and vulnerability can strengthen trust, collaboration, and growth across every stage of your journey.

• Connect with Kenneth Lang on LinkedIn to learn how building genuine communities can elevate your visibility, expand opportunities, and transform networking into meaningful business growth.