Why Not Being the Smartest Person in the Room is Good for Your Growth with Lola Oyelayo-Pearson

In this episode, my guest is Lola Oyelayo-Pearson, a digital design and product strategist who works strategically in organisations, helping executive teams build the right cultures, practices and capabilities for their digital ambitions. With over 16 years of experience building digital products, Lola passionately advocates for user-centred thinking and design, even in the most complex technological environments.In this compelling episode of Everyday Leadership, we delve deep into the intriguing crossroads of blockchain technology, decentralization, and how it changes ownership structures. We also bring you an honest discussion on the experience of being the dumbest person in the room. Far too often, you hear the quote, but you dont hear how it actually feels, which Lola shares and why it is not only an opportunity for growth but a necessity for leaders to be the dumbest person in this room.Our conversation further dissects the two types of failureconceptual and executionilluminating practical steps to navigate failure and the benefits of exposing your thought process to encourage collaboration and achieve superior outcomes.We focus on the delicate balance leaders must strike, managing the downside while incessantly striving for the upside. A critical conversation follows on transforming leadership landscapes to empower underrepresented groups, advocating the need to build 'staircases' for continuous support rather than 'ladders' of temporary opportunities. Lastly, we tackle 'the curse of the competent'the propensity for capable individuals to be overburdened with tasks. We provide actionable steps to assert boundaries, ensuring that tasks serve your purpose, not just those of others.In this episode, we explore:[00:04:37] Blockchain technology enables decentralized ownership and more representation.[00:22:29] Exposing your thinking and how that helps create the best outcome.[00:28:08] Transforming the warrior mentality into an intentional alchemist [00:35:53] Quitting her investment banking role and choosing her values and peace of mind[00:46:13] Building staircases, not ladders, to combat inequality in tech[00:56:27] Curse of the competent [01:03:31] Lost in Tech podcast - a human and diverse perspective on the tech industry.[01:07:39] Leadership DefinitionConnect with Lola and listen to the Lost In Tech Podcast If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below.Connect with MeWebsite \ Instagram \ LinkedIn <a href="https://twitter.com/sopeagbelusi">Twitter \ YouTubeEmail: [email protected] Connect with SopeWebsite | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedInDid you find this helpful? If you like this episode, please leave a review or share it with someone who could benefit from listening.  We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at [email protected]