Unapologetically You… Without the Ego
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about being precise in what you want, adaptable in how you get there, and reflective enough to know when you’re wrong.
That’s what came through in my conversation with Sarah Gonnella, partner at Full Sail Partners, where we dug into what it really takes to lead — without losing yourself, your team, or your sanity.
Being “Unapologetically You” the Right Way
The phrase gets thrown around a lot. But too often, “unapologetically me” is just code for ignoring growth and bulldozing others with quirks or defenses.
Sarah approaches it differently.
She’s unapologetically herself while staying reflective. That means:
Owning mistakes in the moment.
Checking in with what triggered her.
Reframing hard situations as opportunities to grow.
That balance is where confidence replaces ego — and where leaders stop hiding behind the shield of “this is just who I am.”
Precision + Adaptability: The Leadership Duo
Sarah admitted that early in her leadership journey, she assumed everyone thought and worked like her. That mistake forced her to learn two traits leaders can’t survive without:
Precision in outcomes. Clarity on the end goal matters more than micromanaging every step.
Adaptability in process. Great teams don’t all work the same way. They need freedom to approach problems differently — as long as they hit the target.
Leaders who miss this balance either smother initiative (too much precision, no flexibility) or create chaos (too much freedom, no clarity). The art of leading is holding both.
Reflection Over Ego in Business Decisions
The same principle applies to KPIs and systems.
At Full Sail, heavy focus on utilization once backfired. Everyone chased their own billable hours and collaboration died. The lesson? Metrics without reflection can push teams in the wrong direction.
And with tech, Sarah puts it bluntly: don’t automate chaos.
Simplify your process first, then automate. Otherwise, you’re just scaling the mess.
Fun Is a Strategy, Not a Fluff
One of my favorite parts of Sarah’s approach is how she builds culture. On their website, every employee has a professional headshot and a fun headshot.
It’s not gimmicky — it’s intentional. Fun makes employees feel connected, which makes them more committed to clients. Brand isn’t just colors and logos. It’s how your team shows up every day.
Take This With You
If you’re a leader trying to hold it all together (without losing your mind), here’s where to start:
Be unapologetically you — but with reflection, not ego.
Get precise about outcomes.
Stay adaptable with process.
Use mistakes as feedback, not failures.
Simplify before you systematize.
Don’t forget the fun.
Because in the end, the messy parts of leadership aren’t flaws. They’re where the growth lives.