Brave, not perfect

My guest for this episode is Suzie McInerney, CEO of Six Degrees Executive, leader of 90 people across three states, and someone who's walked the scenic route to get there.

Consumer products. A hatted restaurant. Recruitment. First employee CEO in a founder-led business. Then COVID. Then cancer. And if there's a thread that runs through every chapter, it's this, she's had to learn the hard way that being brave doesn't mean being perfect.

"I don't have time to pretend."

-Suzie McInerney

The one who saw it first

It starts with Tony Oates. Her first boss. GM of a toy business. Within months of starting fresh-faced out of uni, he was sending her to trade shows overseas, pushing her into pitch rooms she had no business being in, and telling anyone who'd listen that she was ready before she believed it herself.

"When someone sees something in you and they push you into the space and all you want to do is run for your life, it can have a profound impact on your confidence."

Tony treated the receptionist with the same respect as the executives around the board table. He didn't shout. He didn't make it about him. He just quietly opened doors and pushed her through them. Years later, when imposter syndrome hits, she still thinks of him. Not because he told her she was good. Because he showed her what leadership looks like when ego leaves the room.

Cracks become craters

Twelve months into the CEO role, COVID hit. The founders, still in the business, still invested, still watching, wanted to help. And Suzie's instinct was to push them away. "I've got this. It's all good." She was defending her position instead of saying the words she needed to say, I'm scared. I don't know what to do. I need help.

Behind closed doors, the cracks became craters. Tears and tantrums she doesn't recognise as herself. The cost of pretending to be fine.

Years later, the pattern repeated. Double mastectomy. Told very few people. Declined every offer of help. Just get it done and move on. No fuss, no pity. That was her being "strong." Until two days before surgery, when the road ran out and the floodgates opened. Twenty-four hours of falling apart because she'd spent months kicking the can down the road.

"It's better to let off a little bit of steam along the way than to pretend you're fine and then to be not."

The work that truly matters

One of the key decisions leaders make is recognising what truly matters versus what seems to matter. The seems to matter stuff can keep you super busy. Back-to-back meetings. Market presence. Productivity as performance.

But the truly matters work? Conversations. Relationships. Social capital. Knowing your people's stories, not just their KPIs. Sitting on the floor. Asking the second and third question when you say "how are you going?" and actually meaning it.

It can feel unproductive. A week with no meetings feels indulgent. But it might be the most important week of the year. Because you can't lead from a diary full of busyness. You lead from knowing how the place feels.

Brave, not perfect

The phrase isn't hers, it might be Brené Brown, but it's become her mantra. Have a go. No one expects you to be perfect. But choosing courage, stepping into the space even when you're scared, that's what leadership asks of you.

She said no to the CEO role at first. Too scared. Not ready. Young kids. Then she put the big boots on and said yes. The founders gave her coaching to unpack why she didn't think she was worthy. She worked through it. And six years in, she's still learning the same lesson, you're never ready. You just have to be brave enough to be imperfect.

This is a conversation about what happens when someone stops pretending and starts leading. No wasted words. No martyring yourself. Just the quiet work of building social capital, letting off steam, and knowing that the conditions are always perfect because you're in them.

Notebook ready.

Play on!