Most leadership plateaus don’t come from a lack of skill, intelligence, or commitment.They come from using the wrong kind of power for the level of leadership you’re trying to reach.

Ambition gets blamed far too easily, especially for women and leaders of color. We’re told to slow down, be patient, or practice gratitude when what we’re actually experiencing is misalignment . The expectations are high, the responsibility is real, but the power structure doesn’t match the load. That disconnect is exhausting. Ambition Exposes Power Gaps Ambition doesn’t create burnout.  Carrying leadership without the right power does. Here’s what misaligned power looks like

Influence can move people. Infrastructure is what allows impact to last. I’ve spent years inside movements, organizations, and institutions where everything depended on a few highly capable leaders holding it all together. For a while, it works. Then fatigue sets in. Progress slows. And the system becomes fragile. Influence Is Personal. Infrastructure Is Collective. Influence relies on: relationships credibility presence Infrastructure relies on: systems clarity shared owners