Why Freelancers Should Adopt a Leadership Mindset with Cynthia Pong
Season 8, Episode 3
Quick question for y’all.
I know you probably think of yourself as a freelancer.
Or even a business owner.
But do you think of yourself as a leader?
I didn’t at first – and it probably took me about six years into working for myself to feel like I had expertise that others wanted from me. That, of course, helped me view myself as a leader.
Leading isn’t necessarily synonymous with being a manager. Nor is it about being a ‘thought leader’ in your industry. It’s how you position yourself, how you talk about yourself, and how you show up every day in your work.
This week on the show, my co-host, Cynthia Pong, argues that all freelancers need a leadership mindset. It’ll serve you as you work for yourself. And if you choose to scale your business, a leadership mindset will also help you serve your team.
Cynthia Pong is an award-winning career and leadership coach, speaker, and author of Don't Stay in Your Lane: The Career Change Guide for Women of Color. An NYU-trained lawyer turned career coach, she founded her company, Embrace Change, to help women of color—and people of color—secure the money, power, and respect they deserve. In 2023, the flagship leadership training program she created and launched, the Leadership Accelerator (which was 134% funded through one month of crowdfunding), won an Anthem Award. Cynthia has been featured in The Atlantic, NBC, CBS, and NPR. She has shared a virtual stage with Magic Johnson and is a LinkedIn Top Voice for Job Search and Careers.
On this episode we’re going to talk about
How to broaden the definition of leadership
Why having a leadership mindset is so important, even in freelancing
The different ways leadership can manifest in your freelance business
The importance of creating lasting systems
… and so much more.
Listen to this episode where you podcast. If you want a worksheet that helps you think through how to incorporate leadership mindset in your own business, sign up over at patreon.com/twcpod at the All-Access level.
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Upcoming Events:
May 13, 12-1:15pm PST: How to create a marketing plan that doesn’t suck
In this 75min workshop, freelance guru Austin L. Church is going to help us come up with a marketing plan that doesn’t suck. Which means you’ll create something you’ll be able to stick with for your long term because it feels attainable to you. I can’t stress how important that is; in order to create habits, the barrier to doing it must be low. This event will be capped and already filling up, so nab your spot here!