Leadership Isn't About Having All The Answers

We’ve been taught that good leadership means knowing what to do, having the right answers, and staying in control. But what if it’s less about being certain and more about being curious?In this episode of Lime, Listen & Learn: The People Leadership Lounge, host Abbiola Ballah is in conversation with Emily Pantel, to explore the quiet pressure leaders carry to always have it together.This isn’t a panel. We’re not here for perfect soundbites. This is a lime, a Trinidadian term that means to hang out, connect, and vibe.Abbiola and Emily explore what shifts when leaders make room for questions, not just answers. The conversation moves through curiosity, trust, and vulnerability, and what gets in the way of connection when leadership is driven by fear of not knowing. Grab your snacks and a drink. Come lime with us!This Conversation Touches On:Letting go of the pressure to have all the answersCuriosity as a leadership practiceTrust built through small, consistent actionsVulnerability shaped by identity and contextCreating space for listening, feedback, and self inquiryAbout Our GuestEmily Pantel (she/her) is the founder of Self Over Should career coaching and astrology, helping overworked professionals build authentic careers by challenging what it means and takes to be successful. Focused on workplace culture reform both at companies and within ourselves, her overarching mission is to co-create a workplace cultural shift in which work is a channel for individual and collective prosperity. Over the past 13 years in HR at global organizations, Emily has served as a trusted leadership coach for new managers, seasoned executives, and entry-level employees alike.Learn more about Emily’s work here:Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | SubstackAbout Our HostAbbiola Ballah (she/her) is a people leadership consultant, coach, and facilitator who supports directors & managers navigating the human side of leadership. She is the Founder of Phern Education Studios and the creator of the CLEARER Conversations™ Experience, a signature leadership program designed to help people leaders approach hard conversations with care, discernment, and intention.With over 20 years of experience in leadership development, program design, and organizational learning, Abbiola partners with organizations across the health, education, philanthropy, and nonprofit sectors to design and facilitate people-centered leadership experiences that improve communication, support managers & directors through team dynamics, and rebuild trust. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, she brings a global perspective shaped by long-term, cross-cultural work with leaders and organizations.Learn more about Abbiola's work here:Website | LinkedIn | Instagram