One of the most valuable things I have learned is that leadership is not just about having an impressive job title or being the person in charge of a project. Instead, it is much more about initiative, confidence, adaptability, and the ability to help others grow. This idea became especially clear to me after reflecting on the advice shared in the World Economic Forum article “Browse more, take your space, know how you thrive: 9 leaders from Microsoft, Intel, IKEA and more share advice for new grads” and on the guest speakers Brad Snyder from PepsiCo and Tommy Wassell from Tesla, whom we heard at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Technology Managament seminar.

Something that stood out to me in both the article and the guest talks was the idea that leadership starts even before someone gets a management title. In the World Economic Forum article, Linda Lacina highlights advice from several leaders who emphasize taking initiative early, doing more than what is expected, and not being afraid to “take your space” in professional settings (Lacina, 2024). I found this strongly connected to Brad Snyder’s discussion of entrepreneurship within a large company. He pointed out that even in a big corporate environment, there is still room to think entrepreneurially: to notice inefficiencies, come up with improvements, and bring those ideas forward. To me, that is a very practical form of leadership, because it shows that leadership is not only about authority, but also about having the confidence to contribute ideas and create value wherever you are.

Another idea I found meaningful was that leadership changes as your role changes. Brad and Tommy both highlighted that at the start of your career, it is important to build deep technical expertise and become strong at something specific. However, once you move into management, leadership is no longer about proving that you are the expert in everything. Instead, it becomes about supporting your team, helping others become experts, and knowing when to let go of always being the one with the answer. I believe this is an important distinction because many people associate leadership with personal excellence only, while in reality leadership also means creating the conditions for others to succeed.

Lastly, I appreciated the honesty around self-doubt. It was reassuring to hear that even highly successful people experience impostor syndrome. At the same time, both the article and the speakers made it clear that confidence still matters. Confidence does not mean speaking without thought; rather, it means preparing well, researching your ideas, having backup plans, and being ready to explain why your proposal is valuable. To me, this is what effective leadership looks like: not arrogance, but thoughtful confidence.

Overall, this topic made me see leadership as something much more practical and human than I used to. It is about doing excellent work, building trust, taking initiative, and growing into someone who helps others grow too.